GOP Candidate Slams California's Homelessness Crisis as 'Political Scandal'

Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton has labeled California's escalating homelessness crisis a "political scandal," asserting that Democratic leaders have fostered the situation through failed policies and excessive spending on government-funded nonprofits.

During a tour of Los Angeles' Skid Row, an area known as the epicenter of the state's homelessness problem, Hilton observed sprawling encampments, visible drug use, and trash-strewn sidewalks. "The homelessness crisis, as if it's some kind of natural disaster that can't be helped," Hilton told Fox News Digital. "No, it is not a crisis. It's actually a scandal. It's a political scandal because the people in charge, they've caused this with their policies."

Federal and local authorities, including the FBI, DEA, and LAPD, recently arrested 23 individuals in a drug trafficking investigation targeting alleged dealers operating in and around Skid Row. This crackdown occurred as voting began for the Nov. 3 governor's race, where homelessness has emerged as a central campaign issue.

Hilton criticized what he described as a "crony game" involving real estate developers and nonprofits that he claims financially benefit from the crisis. "We've got a small number of real estate developers who are in on this, and they get all the contracts to build these apartment units for people that don't help them at all, because the other part of it isn't being done in terms of drug addiction or whatever," he stated.

He further contended that the focus on "harm reduction" by some nonprofits incentivizes the continuation of the problem. "The point about these non-profits is that they're part of this philosophy, the ideology of harm reduction, all the things we've talked about, which means that they are not actually trying to solve the problem," Hilton said. "Because if they solve the problem, they don't get paid anymore. So they have an incentive to keep it going."

This criticism comes amid ongoing concerns about the misuse of taxpayer funds. In September, the founder of a Los Angeles-area homelessness nonprofit was charged with wire fraud for allegedly misusing public funds, including nearly $50,000 for a trip to Tahiti, after receiving over $118 million in government contracts.

Hilton argued that addressing homelessness requires enforcing existing laws and clearing encampments. "My plan is very simple. How we get clean streets in California. Number one, enforce the law, get people off the streets," he said. "Letting people live like this... is the opposite, it's cruel."

During Hilton's visit, one woman living on Skid Row admitted to ongoing drug use but expressed interest in a treatment program. She moved to Los Angeles from Syracuse, New York, partly due to hearing about California's methadone clinics. "I like being on drugs, but if I have to quit, then I most definitely will," she told Hilton.

Another individual, who identified himself as Adrian and described himself as a "patriotic American communist," also voiced dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party's approach to homelessness. "Oh, definitely not. I have to be honest, I'm a leftist, and so the Democratic Party isn't for me. I'm more left than they are," Adrian said.

Volunteers on Skid Row also expressed disappointment with local leadership. Venus, a volunteer who distributes food, criticized Mayor Karen Bass, stating, "We all loved her from the beginning, but she lied about the homeless... She didn't do her job."

Hilton also directed criticism at his Democratic opponent, Xavier Becerra, accusing him of taking voters for granted and avoiding debates. "If you can't be bothered to earn people's vote, then you don't deserve people's votes. He's not campaigning. He's backing out of every single debate. I mean, I've never seen anything like it. It's complete contempt for the voters and for California," Hilton remarked.

Hilton expressed optimism about his chances in the upcoming election, suggesting that Californians are weary of the status quo. "I know everyone says, well, it's California, Republican can't win. I don't know. I think people are sick of all this," he said. "And they're sick of Becerra just taking them for granted, and I think we can win this election."