*This is a sneak peak from our new patron-exclusive interview series: HOT BUTTON. To listen to the full interview where we dig into homelessness, the Olympics, and whether Kenneth can do your taxes, become a patron for as little as $5 a month at www.patreon.com/bitchuationroom.*

How can a city both be one of the most expensive in the world and broke AF? Something’s clearly not right. Los Angeles is home to 3.8 million people and 1 million taquerias. And every issue the country faces, from housing shortages to busted social services, Los Angeles has it in spades. So what’s going on and where’s all the taxpayer money going?

Francesca sat down with the person who oversees Los Angeles’ money: Kenneth Mejia. He’s a long-time housing rights activist and certified public accountant, and since 2022 when he became Los Angeles’ controller, has been putting LA’s finances on blast. Through social media, dashboards on homelessness and strategic billboards, Kenneth is showing Angelenos just where their money is going. Spoiler: it’s mostly to the cops.

They discuss everything from the exorbitant police budget that includes half a billion dollars in liability claims, to why homelessness services are not being delivered to the some 40,000 unhoused Angelenos, and the very flawed approach to “affordable housing”. Finally, how much is the Olympics going to cost Los Angeles and will it make that money back?

SUPPORT KENNETH’S RE-ELECTION AND GET SOME CORGI SWAG GO TO: https://www.mejiaforcontroller.com/

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