Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
LA County Says It Will Appeal Judge’s Rejection Of Major Homelessness Settlement
Unused shelter beds in Los Angeles.
(
Maya Sugarman
/
KPCC file photo
)
L.A. County officials announced late Friday they plan to appeal a judge’s rejection of their settlement deal to resolve a long-running federal lawsuit over L.A.’s systemic failures to confront homelessness.
The backstory
U.S. District Judge David O. Carter tossed the settlement deal last week, saying the county needed to promise more mental health and drug treatment beds and give him authority to make sure they follow through. “Bare minimum” was how he described the county’s plan when he rejected it last week. But the county says the judge was wrong to refuse to end the case.
The county proposed 1,000 new mental health beds over the next few years and money for another 450 people to get services at existing board and care facilities. But Carter pointed to a 2019 county report finding 3,000 new mental health beds were needed to keep up with demand — a number that’s only grown since then, he said.
Support for LAist comes from
County officials are pushing back
The county filed a motion Friday stating their intent to appeal.
County lawyers wrote that they’re appealing because Carter is going beyond his authority by “attempting to dictate the County’s budget priorities and policy choices” in a case that’s been settled.
“The County regrets that it must take this step, but we feel it is necessary to prevent the parties from wasting needless time, money, and energy in court when everyone’s efforts should now be focused on helping those who need it most,” said Mira Hashmall, the county’s lead attorney in the case, in a statement.
Plaintiffs and advocates respond
The original lawsuit was filed over two years ago by a group including business owners and unhoused L.A. residents called the L.A. Alliance for Human Rights. David Conway, an advisor to the alliance, said:
Support for LAist comes from
“Instead of providing enough mental health beds to meet the needs of those experiencing homelessness, the county has decided to waste taxpayer money on an appeal that it has no chance of winning.”
Attorneys for unhoused advocacy groups say they agree with the county that the case should end under the existing settlement deal.
“Forcing the parties to litigate this is a waste of time and resources and a distraction from the work that will actually solve this crisis,” said Shayla Myers, an attorney representing advocacy groups in the case like Los Angeles Community Action Network.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
There are no reports of injuries after a blast and ensuing fire, which could be seen for miles on Thursday night. -
The FCC voted to end E-Rate discounts for library hotspot lending and school bus Wi-Fi. -
About half the Pacific Airshow’s 2025 lineup has been grounded because of the federal government shutdown. -
USC says it’s reviewing the letter also sent to eight other prestigious schools nationwide. California's governor vowed that any California universities that sign will lose state funding. -
Scientists say La Niña is likely, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a dry winter in Southern California. -
According to a grand jury report the contractor took advantage of strained relations and political pressures to “force” the city to pay hundreds of millions of dollars to settle disputes.
Best of LAist