L.A. Supervisorial Candidates Address Homelessness, Sheriff At Forum

NORTHRIDGE, CA — Six candidates for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, District 3, faced off on key local issues such as homelessness, Sheriff Alex Villanueva and the environment at a forum on Thursday.

Six candidates will vie in the June 7 primary election for Supervisor Sheila Kuehl's seat representing the massive District 3, which covers much of the San Fernando Valley and communities from Malibu to Hollywood.

The primary election may not be the end of the race for Kuehl's seat. If any single candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, he or she will become the next supervisor. But should the vote end up more divided, the two candidates with the most votes will face off in the Nov. 8 general election.

Thursday's forum was jointly hosted by The Acorn, Circling the News, the Santa Monica Daily Press and the Westside Current.

Participants included candidates Craig Brill, state Sen. Henry Stern (D-Malibu), Jeffi Girgenti, Bob Hertzberg, Roxanne Beckford Hoge and West Hollywood Council Member Lindsey Horvath.

Homelessness

Five of the six candidates agreed homelessness was the key issue facing Los Angeles County. Hoge instead singled out corruption as the key issue.

Candidates weighed in on a number of decisions and existing county programs. All candidates but Stern agreed they would abolish the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority; Horvath added a caveat that some replacement service must first be created.

The L.A. Homeless Services Authority, the agency primarily responsible for addressing homelessness in Los Angeles County, has come under intense scrutiny in recent years and faced internal turmoil, The Guardian reported. Residents and experts have criticized the county's use of public funds and the reported underfunding of support services.

"The freedom to die on the street is no freedom at all," Stern said to audible audience agreement.

Candidates were asked whether the board should fight a 2020 lawsuit by the L.A. Alliance for Human Rights, which claimed the city and county have failed to address the homelessness crisis, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The Los Angeles City Council agreed to build housing to accommodate 60 percent of people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles in a settlement with the Alliance. The county notably was not part of the agreement, according to the Los Angeles Times.

All candidates agreed the lawsuit was a waste of precious resources that could have better been used to actually address homelessness. Some felt the lawsuit was an opportunity to solve long-existing issues. Many, like Horvath, said the county must use a settlement to stop wasting time and money, not as an excuse to ignore the core problems addressed in the lawsuit.

Hertzberg and Hoge expressed frustration at the seeming pettiness of fighting such a lawsuit. "Can't you get your act together?" Hertzberg asked.

Controversial Public Authorities

Candidates were asked about elected officials who have faced criticism in recent years, including Sheriff Alex Villanueva and Los Angles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer.

Candidates were asked whether the county's public health director should be a medical doctor.

Brill and Girgenti said they would prefer a medical doctor in the position. Horvath said the role should go to the most qualified person. Hertzberg called for a hospital-like management structure instead of asking the health director to handle such a massive job.

Stern criticized the Board of Supervisors for hiding behind Ferrer throughout the pandemic and allowing her to become the key target of Angelenos' frustrations.

Candidates addressed the fraught relationship between Villanueva and the Board of Supervisors. Hertzberg again encouraged authorities to ignore the noise and meet in a more mature, private manner. Stern asked for reform to the county's policing, including mental health and other training. Brill and Girgenti both called for increased funding for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Horvath emphasized that she already maintains a working relationship with Villanueva in her capacity as a council member for West Hollywood, which includes working through disagreement.

Environmental Issues

Candidates were asked whether they would ban plastics. Only Hoge and Brill said no. All other candidates said yes. Stern specified that he would ban single-use plastics.

Many candidates disagreed on the use of electric vehicles within the district. Stern and Horvath both offered emphatic support for electric vehicles and favored relying more heavily on renewable energy sources. Hertzberg said choosing between an electric and gasoline-powered car presented a false choice but agreed the district must find ways to incorporate more clean energy.

Hoge, Girgenti and Brill all expressed opposition to electric cars.

Notable Moments

As always, some flashy moments caught the audience's attention.

At the close of the forum, Stern had his own hot moment when he dismissed three candidates and referred to himself, Hertzberg and Horvath as the "real" candidates. Stern's comment came shortly after Hoge thanked organizers for including her, Brill and Girgenti. The three were not present at two prior debates that included only Horvath, Hertzberg and Stern.