Bass’ $250 million plan for Inside Safe approves a

Nabil Anas

Global Courant 2023-05-13 07:47:27

Mayor Karen Bass’ first city budget cleared a major hurdle Friday, with a five-member committee clearing the way for her to spend $250 million on Inside Safe, her strategy to fight homelessness.

The city council’s Budget, Finance and Innovation Committee compromised with Bass over efforts to gain additional oversight of Inside Safe, which has moved the unhoused Angelenos into hotels, motels and other facilities.

Councilors have sought greater oversight of the program, which has brought in about 1,200 unhoused people so far. Bass warned last week that the committee’s push for additional review — setting aside some of the money for the program to be approved later — would send City Hall back to the days when there was a “lack of urgency” on the area of homelessness.

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The mayor’s proposed budget now goes to the full city council, which is expected to make a decision on Thursday. The next fiscal year starts on July 1.

Zach Seidl, a spokesperson for Bass, said in a statement that the mayor and her team are reviewing the commission’s actions.

“This is one step in a multi-step process and the mayor looks forward to continuing her work with the City Council to bring in Angelenos as soon as possible,” he said. “The mayor is confident that the cooperation with the city council that has been established over the past five months will continue.”

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