A federal judge hugged an official who failed to occupy a $2.4 billion taxpayer fund aimed at solving homelessness in Los Angeles.
US District Court Judge David Carter threatened to appoint a recipient of a court order if the officials failed to improve their efforts to explain the money they spent. According to In the laist report.
“We'll pay your bill. Understand this.”
City leaders who faced Carter's rage during the hearing in downtown Los Angeles included Democratic Mayor Karen Bass, chairman of the Louisa County Board of Supervisors Kathryn Berger, city administrator Kenneth Meziah and city council President Marchech Harris Dawson.
Carter's criticism focused on the homeless service agency in Los Angeles, saying that despite numerous audits over a decade, he was unable to track the money for years and was not responsible for the contractors for the funds he received.
“This is a late train wreck,” he told them.
“No one is asking our provider what they did or what services they provided. Some providers may have committed scams, or they may never know. There may be providers who provide great services. Carter said.
“If we're so short of money, why can't these providers sue?” he asked. “These parties owe you that money. Are they waiting for us to do the old man or die? Go and get that money.”
Mayor Bus has also been criticized for refusing to allow city controllers to audit the “Inside Safe” initiative. The city attorney argued that it would be inappropriate for the controller to audit the mayor's program without her consent.
The controller cited the city's charter saying the audit was within the power of his office.
“People, you have to settle this, or the courts will intervene,” Carter warned.
Bass tried to argue that while more needs to be done about homelessness, those efforts need to be focused on people's needs rather than “on the administration.”
“We'll pay your bill. Understand this,” Carter replied.
The judge either fulfilled responsibility until May or gave the recipients the opportunity to take over the spending. He admitted that they took over the “confusion” from former officials, but Carter demanded that they be straddled.
“I'm your worst nightmare,” Carter told them. “I can make your life miserable.”
Authorities are considering ending Rahasa, but the mayor said she would oppose the proposal.
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