Karen Bass is dealing with backlash after suggesting homeless individuals use methamphetamine to remain awake at evening as a result of they’re afraid of being assaulted whereas asleep.
The feedback got here throughout a press convention Wednesday because the LA mayor defended her administration’s response to the disaster.
“You sleep out on the street for a few weeks, and inform me that you simply’re not going to remain sane or use meth so that you simply don’t fall asleep,” Bass stated.
After reporters requested her to make clear the comment, Bass replied: “What I stated is, is that I do know that individuals have used meth to remain awake at evening, so that they don’t go to sleep as a result of they’re nervous about being assaulted.”
The feedback ignited rapid backlash on-line, with critics accusing Bass of attempting to justify meth use as a substitute of addressing town’s rising habit and public security issues.
“They suppose the homelessness induced them to have a drug drawback. For this reason it should by no means get mounted. The medication and psychological well being are what induced the homelessness,” one person wrote.
One other commenter stated the metropolis’s homelessness response was pushed by monetary incentives relatively than options, writing: “They don’t suppose that.
“They only know there are individuals gullible sufficient who do, they usually know the gravy practice ends if these scams are ever delivered to gentle. Their total working system is constructed on deception.”
The feedback additionally come as methamphetamine continues to drive Los Angeles County’s overdose disaster.
County well being officers reported methamphetamine was concerned in almost 60% of overdose deaths in 2025, making it the commonest drug detected in deadly overdoses.
Greater than 1,400 individuals died in methamphetamine-related overdoses the earlier yr.
The controversy additionally revives debate over town’s harm-reduction insurance policies.
Following a main federal drug raid in MacArthur Park in Could, Bass stated she supported ending syringe distribution on the park, the place close by enterprise homeowners have argued this system attracts open-air drug use.
At final test by The California Put up, nevertheless, the syringe distribution program was nonetheless working within the space.
Homelessness stays the defining problem of Bass’ reelection marketing campaign.
Los Angeles spends greater than $1 billion yearly on homelessness packages.
The California Put up reached out to the mayor’s workplace for remark.
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