California’s Voting System Criticized by Caitlyn Jenner

Fox News contributor Caitlyn Jenner has voiced her disapproval of California’s voting system, asserting that she doesn’t trust it entirely. She particularly highlights universal mail-in voting and ballot collection, claiming changes made during Governor Gavin Newsom’s tenure amid the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to its unfairness. Jenner also mentioned that Bill Essary’s office indicated California is obstructing federal audits of its voter rolls.

Federal Action Against LA Homeless Services

In a significant move, the head of President Trump’s agency has halted funding for the Los Angeles agency that coordinates billions in homelessness aid. The decision is prompted by accusations of “obvious fraud,” mismanagement, and a failure to protect taxpayer funds. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is suspending federal support for the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), with the HUD inspector general now probing potential misconduct at the agency, as outlined in a letter addressed to LAHSA Board President Wendy Gruell and CEO Geeta O’Neal.

This letter elaborated on issues such as conflicts of interest, financial mismanagement, and an overall lack of oversight at LAHSA, particularly as city and county officials have aimed to take control. This move brings one of the country’s largest homelessness organizations under direct federal scrutiny, following criticism regarding the funding of numerous homelessness programs while the crisis continues unabated in Los Angeles. LAHSA has received nearly $1 billion from federal sources alone since 2021, along with funding from city and county budgets.

HUD emphasized that cutting off LAHSA from federal programs was necessary to fulfill its goals in Los Angeles. The agency’s failures have reached a point so severe that both the County of Los Angeles has ceased funding for it, and the City of Los Angeles is contemplating a similar action.

Notably, LAHSA’s previous executive, Va. Lesia Adams Kellum, resigned last year due to her involvement in the diversion of $2.1 million in federal funds to her husband’s nonprofit. According to HUD, a judge found that LAHSA had committed “obvious fraud” for continuing to seek funds even though a shelter was operating at just half its intended capacity.

In addition to these findings, HUD pointed out that there were recent issues, like being unable to verify the presence of around 2,300 housing sites managed by LAHSA. Alarmingly, for 70% of contracts related to these sites, previous year’s expenses were undisclosed.

Further, a public audit revealed a troubling trend of delayed payments to service providers, complicated by poor record-keeping, which rendered it impossible to effectively monitor contracts. Alarmingly, LAHSA was reported to have not spent over $513 million in public funds allocated for the 2024 fiscal year, largely attributed to staff shortages and outdated technological systems.

On another front, Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson commended the initiatives taken by HUD Secretary Scott Turner, President Donald Trump, and J.D. Vance, who leads the White House Task Force on Combating Fraud. Ferguson criticized Los Angeles for misusing taxpayer dollars that ought to have been spent on aiding vulnerable populations, stating, “Instead of offering roofs and care for the homeless, Los Angeles enriched left-wing NGOs. This disgrace ends today.”

In the backdrop of these developments, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and local officials referred to recent data as evidence of progress in addressing homelessness. LAHSA reported a consecutive decrease in countywide homelessness for the second year running, marking what Bass claims is historic progress for the city’s homeless crisis.

However, the figures still indicate that over 72,000 individuals are experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County. Critics maintain that even with a slight decline, it doesn’t overlook the years of misallocation, encampments, and multiple audits revealing dysfunction in the area’s homelessness system.

HUD’s decision comes on the heels of the city and county already beginning to withdraw from LAHSA. The City Council has started exploring ways to sidestep the agency altogether and contract directly with service providers, while the county looks to redirect substantial annual homelessness funds to a newly formed division, reflecting a push for increased accountability.

By halting funds to LAHSA, HUD is making a clear statement about the necessity of responsible management of public aid intended to combat homelessness. The agency’s recent correspondence noted the importance of addressing the misuse of taxpayer dollars in efforts to alleviate the homelessness epidemic in America.