U.S. District Judge David O. Carter is set to consider holding Los Angeles in contempt for allegedly failing to meet its obligations under a homelessness settlement. The decision follows a meeting on Wednesday with representatives from the city and the L.A. Alliance for Human Rights, a group of downtown business and property owners. The meeting, described as tense, aimed to assess the city’s progress in addressing the homelessness crisis.
Judge Carter has scheduled a contempt hearing for next Wednesday, giving city officials time to provide requested documents and subpoena witnesses, including potentially L.A. Mayor Karen Bass. According to the Daily Journal, the judge questioned whether the city’s outside lawyers were profiting from delays in implementing the settlement, ordering records of their contracts to be produced. The city has been criticized for not providing data on its plans and spending for shelter beds as agreed in the settlement.
The city council recently approved nearly $5 million for the law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, up from an initial $900,000 contract. The firm requested a pause in proceedings while the city appeals Carter’s appointment of monitors without city council approval.
The special master overseeing the case reported that Los Angeles failed to provide necessary data and documentation for oversight. Judge Carter expressed concern over the city’s response, stating, “It causes me concern that you’re simply reacting to pressure being applied.”
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