A coalition of left-handed activists and lawyers from Los Angeles, who recently secured a substantial $177 million in contracts from City Hall, is now backing Marissa Roy, a candidate supported by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) for the city’s top prosecutor. This raises significant questions about oversight and accountability.
Documents related to the campaign indicate that Roy is closing in on current City Attorney Heidi Feldstein Soto, who has a considerable $686,341 in funds available. Just a few days ago, the City Council approved funding for nonprofits aimed at providing legal assistance to tenants on the brink of eviction.
Details from campaign finance submissions reveal that a significant portion of Roy’s funding comes from lawyers affiliated with these groups. As of the end of December, 145 private attorneys had donated $186,380 to her campaign, which is about 43.6% of the $427,664 she raised, excluding personal loans totaling $35,000.
Rick Caruso, a real estate developer, noted that the intertwining of taxpayer funding and political activity raises alarming issues. He remarked, “The same organization that just received $177 million is now supporting candidates who are part of the DSA,” expressing concerns over the potential misuse of these funds to bolster political power for groups under scrutiny.
Feldstein Soto has voiced her apprehensions regarding oversight and financial accountability tied to past tenancy agreements with the same organization, mentioning that they failed to adequately document how taxpayer money was spent.
Moreover, a fundraiser for Roy was organized by Becky Dennison, a housing justice policy manager at the Los Angeles Legal Aid Foundation (LAFLA), which recently gained the largest sum from the city’s tenant rights agreement. This agreement allocates approximately $106.6 million over three years for eviction defense legal services.
The funding package also directs significant resources to various politically active housing organizations, further complicating the relationship between politics and funding. Activists attending City Hall debates have been vocal in their demands.
Attorneys from LAFLA have been involved in major legal cases, such as blocking ordinances aimed at managing homeless encampments in the city. Caruso emphasized the need for an independent investigation into how the $177 million taxpayer allocation is being used, particularly in light of how it potentially undermines efforts to address homelessness.
Roy’s campaign has also received support from other legal advocates in the housing sector, who stand to benefit from the same funding derived from the recent allocation.
Notably, Roy has criticized anti-camping laws that limit the rights of homeless individuals near sensitive areas and has proposed a halt on prosecuting misdemeanor offenses, such as trespassing and public intoxication.
The connections deep within City Hall extend further, with Roy’s ties to City Commissioner Kenneth Mejia also raising eyebrows. He plays a role in overseeing city expenditures, but scrutiny seems limited, as concerns about the influence of political affiliations grow. Former City Commissioner Laura Chick stressed the importance of independent oversight when significant public contracts are involved, stating, “There has to be independent oversight so the public knows where that money is being spent.”
Scott Myers, a congressional candidate, shared worries about the political entanglements affecting City Hall, commenting on the alignment of the Legal Aid Foundation’s goals with those of the DSA officials approving funding.
Myers concluded, “Their comrade, City Commissioner Kenneth Mejia, also a DSA member, is never expected to audit this $1,025 per hour legal bill.” Inquiries have been made to both Roy’s campaign and Mejia’s office regarding these contributions and their ties to taxpayer-funded endeavors.
