Los Angeles City Council to Vote on Homelessness Settlement Monitor
The Los Angeles City Council is scheduled to vote today on a proposal to hire a monitor to oversee the city’s progress in creating shelter beds for its homeless population, as mandated by a federal lawsuit settlement.
City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto is recommending former City Controller Ron Galperin and data analyst Daniel Garrie to jointly serve as the monitor in the L.A. Alliance v. City of Los Angeles case. This comes after a federal judge determined the city failed to meet its obligations under the settlement, which requires 12,915 shelter beds to be created by June 2027. U.S. District Judge David Carter previously expressed frustration with the city’s responsiveness, stating in court documents that the city has shown “a consistent lack of cooperation and responsiveness — an unwillingness to provide documentation unless compelled by court order or media scrutiny.”
The proposal has drawn criticism from City Controller Kenneth Mejia’s Office, which argues that hiring outside contractors is “financially irresponsible” given the city’s current budget challenges. Officials from the City Controller’s Office stated they are already equipped to provide the necessary oversight, having conducted homelessness-related audits and built a public homelessness dashboard. This dispute highlights the ongoing debate over how best to allocate resources to address Los Angeles’s significant homelessness crisis, which impacts quality of life and economic stability throughout the region. More information about homelessness in Los Angeles can be found at the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.
The lawsuit, initially filed in March 2020 by the L.A. Alliance – a coalition of business owners and residents – accused the city and county of failing to adequately address homelessness. The council members rescheduled the vote on the monitor proposal at the recommendation of the City Attorney. Officials expect to discuss the matter further and potentially approve the contract during today’s meeting.
