LA Voters Criticize Policies Attributed to Mayor Bass Without Knowing They Are Hers

Many Los Angeles voters have voiced criticism of policies aimed at addressing homelessness and policing, describing them as ineffective "band-aids" before being informed that these proposals are associated with Mayor Karen Bass. The feedback emerged as Bass faces public dissatisfaction ahead of the upcoming mayoral election on November 3, where she is competing against challenger Nithya Raman.

Residents expressed skepticism regarding the city's expenditure of hundreds of millions of dollars on programs like Bass's "Inside Safe" initiative, which moves individuals experiencing homelessness into temporary hotel accommodations while awaiting permanent housing. One voter, Val Villanueva, questioned the suitability of hotels for individuals facing mental health challenges or withdrawal symptoms, suggesting that more structured recovery centers with readily available support services would be more appropriate.

Villanueva stated that Bass's approach to homelessness, which he characterized as moving people violently and involving police raids on encampments, is a significant reason he is considering voting for challenger Nithya Raman. "I think the city’s become quite complacent. And it is just gradually on a decline," Villanueva remarked.

Adrian Guess, an undecided voter, supported spending taxpayer money on housing for the homeless but emphasized the need for accompanying services such as mental health support, addiction treatment, and financial literacy education. "If you only give them housing, but you don’t do the other side, then you’re just putting a bandaid on the problem," Guess said.

Amy Zhao voiced concerns about the financial investment in current homelessness strategies, stating, "I think that’s a lot of money to be spending, especially because I pay a lot taxes myself. So I think there are better ways to manage the homelessness issue. I think throwing money at it is not necessarily the best way to go about it." Zhao indicated she is not voting in this election.

Regarding a potential expansion of the police force by approximately 1,000 officers, a proposal attributed to Bass, some Angelenos also expressed reservations. Villanueva argued that the police force is not currently being used efficiently and that adding more officers might not address the core issues. "I’m noticing a bit of aggression from them a lot of the time, which I think wouldn’t be remedied by, you know, adding 1,000 plus police officers. I don’t think we necessarily need more untrained officers. We need better trained officers," he said.

Caitlene Navalta suggested that the city should focus on addressing the root causes of incidents that necessitate police intervention rather than solely on punishment. "For example, let’s say, like, you have some youth that are going through some problems that prompt people to call the police for. You also got to think about, okay, well, why is the youth doing this? Like, do they have other resources they can turn to with their time?" Navalta, who declined to disclose her voting preference, stated.

Other residents showed general support for public safety investments, provided they are implemented responsibly. Morgan Huang emphasized the importance of respect for all individuals, while Zhao suggested that a benefit could be realized if hiring practices are responsible. Guess echoed the sentiment that police involvement should be paired with social services, stating, "So if you are going to expand with police, you also should expand in the other areas as well."

Voters surveyed appeared more receptive to certain policies proposed by Raman, such as increasing housing density and maintaining restrictions on short-term rentals like Airbnb, even before knowing her affiliation with these ideas.

When asked about allowing duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes in areas traditionally zoned for single-family homes, Lucas Robles supported the idea, citing global overpopulation trends. "I think it might be a good idea because overpopulation in the world is a very common trend right now. I think we should probably build more vertically instead of horizontally," Robles, who remains undecided, commented.

Zhao expressed support for increased housing density, noting its potential to lower property values. "I can’t afford a house. So, like, honestly, if it brings down, like, the price of some of those properties, like, sure. I mean, I don’t see a problem with that," she said.

Villanueva strongly advocated for maintaining restrictions on short-term rentals, arguing that platforms like Airbnb have strayed from their original purpose due to perceived greed. "It is kind of evolving into something very different where people are buying a bunch of houses and then they’re remodeling them for cheap and then they are just renting them out for so much," he stated.

Guess agreed with the need for Airbnb restrictions, believing they inflate housing prices for local residents by converting housing stock into tourist accommodations. Robles, however, held a differing view, asserting that property owners should have the autonomy to use their homes as they see fit, including for short-term rentals.