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Federal judge overseeing homelessness settlement with LA will consider holding city in contempt
A view of L.A. City Hall in downtown.
(
Makenna Sievertson
/
LAist
)
Topline:
A federal judge is expected to consider whether to hold the city of Los Angeles in contempt of court for allegedly failing to keep up with its obligations in an agreement to provide shelter for unhoused residents.
Why now: U.S. District Judge David O. Carter scheduled a hearing for next week after meeting in court Wednesday with representatives from the city and a group of downtown business and property owners known as the L.A. Alliance for Human Rights.
The occasionally tense meeting was the latest to gauge progress in a long-running legal settlement over the city’s response to the homelessness crisis.
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Carter set the contempt hearing for next Wednesday, giving city officials time to produce documents the court has requested and for both sides to subpoena witnesses, potentially including L.A. Mayor Karen Bass.
How we got here: During the hearing, Carter pointed to several delays attributed to city authorities.
For example, the monitor the judge appointed recently to help to make sure the city stayed on track under the settlement said he had trouble setting up interviews with city employees.
The monitor, Daniel Garrie, reported in court documents that he was told to refer all requests to the city’s attorneys, which he said “slowed progress.”
The judge warned that failure to comply with his orders could “result in sanctions” for the city.
What the attorneys say: Elizabeth Mitchell, lead attorney for L.A. Alliance, told LAist the court made clear there had been a lack of transparency from L.A. officials.
“I think the city has made it a pattern and practice of obfuscating, delaying, avoiding accountability and really fulfilling its obligations,” Mitchell said after the hearing. “They're spending a tremendous amount of effort and money to avoid their obligations.”
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Bradley Hamburger, an attorney with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher , the law firm representing the city, declined LAist’s request for comment after the hearing.
What's next: Carter set the contempt hearing to start Nov. 19 at 9 a.m.
Read on … for more about how we got here.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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