LA Mayor Karen Bass on what Spencer Pratt knows about job of mayor: 'I don't think he has a clue'
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is in a tough re-election fight following the worst natural disaster in the city's history, the Palisades Fire.
In her first term, the city has also seen a drop in film and television production and a rise in the cost of living, not to mention the stubborn issues of homelessness and public safety that not all residents feel have improved on her watch.
ABC7 Eyewitness News political reporter Josh Haskell sat down with Bass for a one-on-one interview on Friday.
Haskell asked: "How do you convince such an angry electorate that you deserve four more years?"
"Well, first of all, it's super important that I explain about the accomplishments that have been done. The fact that homelessness is down 17.5% two years in a row, it is the first time we've seen a decline in street homelessness. Around the country, homelessness went up 18%. Crime is down to 60-year low in terms of our homicide rate. We go through spikes here and there, and when we do, we respond aggressively," Bass said.
WATCH: Extended interview with Mayor Bass
Haskell asked: "On homelessness. I know that street homelessness is down, but roughly 40% of those who have gone through Inside Safe have ended up back on the street. What is being done to address that?"
"Well, first of all, the number one thing that has been lacking is the services. So once we get people off the street, making sure that we address why they fell on the street to begin with. Josh, 60% of the people in Inside Safe have remained housed. I think it's really important to build on that success, but what L.A. needs to do in the next four years that I plan to accomplish is building out a more cost-effective system to deal with people when they get off the street and not put them into permanent housing immediately. You can't go from a tent into an apartment and expect to function on your own," said Bass.
Even with the progress of Inside Safe, it's an extremely expensive program that Bass' rivals in the race including Councilwoman Nithya Raman say isn't sustainable long-term. There's still over 40,000 homeless in the city of Los Angeles.
On public safety, Bass wants to increase the size of the Los Angeles Police Department as officer overtime hours continue to skyrocket. Bass' proposed budget would hire 510 new officers and give over $2 billion to the LAPD. The mayor may encounter push back once again from the City Council.
"I feel in general I work very well with the council members. Of course we have differences and of course to get something done, if I need to work around them, you better believe it, but I don't think that's going to happen this time in the budget. I think the council realizes that we cannot save money based on the back of our public safety. We cannot compromise public safety," said Bass.
"Why do you think someone like reality TV star Spencer Pratt is doing well in this race?" Haskell asked.
"Oh, I think he's tapping into the anger and frustration that people have. I think he's doing that. But I think we're a celebrity-driven culture," Bass answered.
"Do you think that Spencer Pratt knows what it takes to run the second largest city (in the country)?" Haskell asked.
"I don't think he has a clue," Bass answered.
"A clue about what?" Haskell asked.
"How to run the nation's second largest city," Bass said.
"Then why are some Democrats supporting him?" Haskell asked.
"Well, I mean, we'll see. The election is, you know, ends on June 2nd," Bass answered.
WATCH: See all of Josh Haskell's interviews with 4 mayoral candidates
