LA Mayoral Candidates Karen Bass and Rick Caruso Spar Over Crime, Homelessness in Only Televised Debate

thewrap.com:

Los Angeles’ homeless problem, the lack of affordable housing, and public safety dominated the first and only televised mayoral debate Wednesday between billionaire developer Rick Caruso and Congresswoman Karen Bass.Both candidates agreed that homelessness is wrecking the city, and when asked to describe the state of the city in one word, Bass chose the word “crisis.” Caruso said: “We’re beyond crisis.” Caruso said he would “call a state of emergency” to help get people off the street and into shelters. “We have people living and dying on the streets,” he said. “The premise is to get them into shelters and get them safe.

Then offer them the services they need.”He said he wants to immediately provide an additional 30,000 beds in homeless shelters, while providing more psychiatric care and drug addiction services to the homeless. “People don’t feel safe,” Caruso said. “I believe our city is in trouble and I want to help.” But Bass said she doesn’t think more shelter space is the answer.“The shelters have become so dangerous that people don’t want to be in the shelters,” Bass said. “You have to move people out of shelters and into permanent, supportive housing.”She added: “The way we deal with affordability is to increase the supply.” Caruso said he would “open the doors to City Hall” to help businesses get what they need to succeed. “I’m pro-business,” Caruso said, adding that he would like to streamline regulation, especially when it comes to new construction. “I’m a builder and I know how to build,” he said.