Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’s authority to manage the city’s homeless programs faces a significant challenge as legal proceedings unfold in court.
City Administrative Officer Matt Szabo emerged as a key figure in the city’s defense during the seven-day hearing this past week.
Szabo, a long-time fixture in previous mayoral administrations, was called upon to defend the city against claims made by the L.A. Alliance for Human Rights.
This nonprofit group sued the city in 2020, arguing that its response to the homelessness crisis was inadequate.
Throughout the hearings, the alliance sought to have a federal judge take control of the city’s homelessness services away from Bass and the City Council, proposing that a third party be appointed to oversee the programs instead.
Szabo stood before U.S. District Judge David O. Carter for most of the trial, steadfastly supporting the city’s efforts and often countering criticisms leveled against its homelessness policies.
He assured the court that the city is committed to fulfilling its obligation of providing 12,915 additional homeless beds by June 2027, a requirement established by a settlement agreement with the L.A. Alliance.
His presence in the witness chair was not just procedural; it shielded both Bass and other city officials from testifying, as he argued their case vigorously.
City lawyers were frequently on the offensive, filing numerous objections against the alliance’s inquiries, sometimes even before questions could be completed.
Judge Carter cautioned them about this behavior, emphasizing that hasty interruptions could hinder the experiences of less seasoned witnesses.
He particularly noted that Szabo remained composed under pressure.
The alliance’s legal team not only included Bass but also City Councilmembers Monica Rodriguez and Traci Park on its witness list, arguing their public statements about the city’s response to homelessness indicated a system in need of overhaul.
During her State of the City address, Bass described the response system as “broken,” a claim that alliance attorney Matthew Umhofer leveraged to strengthen their position for receivership.
Umhofer argued the city was not effectively addressing the issues within the system but merely exacerbating them.
In defense of Bass, her spokesperson Zach Seidl clarified that the mayor referred to systemic issues within the homeless response framework, emphasizing that she is aware of the obstacles faced while calling for change.
The city’s freshly appointed legal team from Gibson Dunn asserted that Bass and her associates were protected by the “apex doctrine.”
This legal principle aims to prevent high-level government officials from being compelled to testify except under extraordinary circumstances.
In an attempt to present their side effectively, the city only summoned Szabo and Etsemaye Agonafer, Bass’s deputy mayor for homelessness, as witnesses.
This was a stark contrast to the alliance’s original plan to bring in 15 witnesses for their case.
Agonafer spoke for nearly four hours, detailing achievements made through the Inside Safe program, which transitions individuals from encampments into hotels and motels.
As proceedings continued, Umhofer withdrew his subpoenas seeking to compel Bass and others to testify, citing a desire to avert further delays.
However, he criticized Bass for her absence, labeling it a cowardly move, as he believed they had accumulated enough evidence to recommend that city officials should no longer oversee homelessness initiatives.
On the final day of testimonies, Elizabeth Mitchell, another attorney for the alliance, summarized the trial’s significance by declaring that the response system to homelessness in Los Angeles had effectively been put on trial.
With a focus on the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, known as LAHSA, the alliance utilized the questioning phase to underscore systemic issues that have persisted for many years.
Szabo acknowledged that LAHSA has encountered data collection challenges, but he maintained that the city is diligently monitoring the beds in accordance with its settlement obligations.
Judge Carter expressed skepticism about the city’s focus on detail, demanding records concerning compliance with another agreement in the case known as the “roadmap.”
The roadmap agreement, which is set to expire on June 30, required the city to produce 6,700 additional beds for homeless individuals.
During the court proceedings, Carter raised concerns about potential inconsistencies in the city’s reporting of “time-limited subsidies,” suggesting that funds allocated to assist the homeless might have been erroneously applied to both the roadmap and the obligations within the settlement agreement.
Szabo informed the court that city officials are currently compiling the necessary records for the judge.
Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez, representing the Hollywood district, voiced his support for Szabo while commending Bass’s commitment to tackling homelessness.
He highlighted a report from LAHSA indicating progress achieved last year.
Soto-Martínez stated, “We’re doing things that are showing results,” emphasizing that while the approach isn’t perfect, continued effort is being made to resolve the homelessness crisis.
In other developments at the city level, Mayor Bass and local officials expressed outrage over a series of federal immigration enforcement actions in the Westlake and Cypress Park neighborhoods.
Supervisor Hilda Solis condemned the sweeps, calling the affected individuals “hardworking Angelenos” who contribute significantly to the local economy.
Bass stated, “We will not stand for this,” expressing her anger in her role as a mayor of a city with a strong immigrant community.
Alongside the immigration enforcement concerns, Bass announced on Friday that the city has enlisted AECOM, a global infrastructure firm, to assist in rebuilding efforts after a devastating fire in Pacific Palisades.
This firm will work in partnership with Hagerty Consulting, which was contracted earlier by Bass for recovery efforts.
Shifts in political support were also highlighted, with businessman and gubernatorial candidate Stephen J. Cloobeck, who previously praised Bass, now expressing support for her opponent Rick Caruso.
In the aftermath of the recent spate of firestorms, Bass faced scrutiny for deleting text messages related to those events, alongside discussions of similar deletions by L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger.
Earlier this year, then-Fire Chief Kristin Crowley cited mechanical failures as part of the reasons for inadequate fire response in Pacific Palisades.
Yet reports revealed that many of the cited engines had been out of service for prolonged periods, raising additional questions about readiness and resource management.
As state lawmakers prepare to amend the California Environmental Quality Act, major changes could soon allow for streamlined processes in urban housing developments, impacting future projects in Los Angeles.
Additionally, L.A. County has reached a settlement agreement worth nearly $2.7 million for a teenager assaulted in Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, an incident that brought attention to alleged misconduct within the facility.
Legal battles are also unfolding as a 70-year-old homeless man fights eviction from a state-owned house located in the path of the now-abandoned 710 Freeway extension.
Benito Flores has occupied the vacant residence for several years and has even constructed a treehouse in the backyard to resist eviction attempts by law enforcement.
On a positive note, the long-anticipated LAX/Metro transit center at Aviation Boulevard and 96th Street has officially opened, providing essential services for commuters heading to and from Los Angeles International Airport.
Currently, shuttle buses are operating to facilitate transit every 10 minutes between the new transit hub and LAX.
Lastly, the LAFD mourns the loss of Michele Kaemmerer, the first transgender captain in its history, who passed away last month at the age of 80.
Kaemmerer joined the department in 1969 and led a trailblazing life, overcoming challenges while pioneering a path for future generations in the fire service.
Her widow, Janis Walworth, emphasized her positivity despite prejudice she encountered along her journey.
As they navigate contentious issues, LA’s city officials are tasked with addressing a plethora of challenges relating to homelessness, public safety, and infrastructural recovery while aiming to serve the diverse interests of the Angeleno community.
image source from：https://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2025-06-07/this-los-angeles-official-testified-for-four-days-so-karen-bass-wouldnt-have-to
