Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has skipped more than half of the meetings held by the L.A. Homeless Services Authority Commission since appointing herself to the board three years ago, according to an LAist analysis of public records.
Bass missed 13 of 21 LAHSA Commission meetings held between mid-August 2025 and the present. Since naming herself to the governing board in late 2023, she has been absent for 25 out of 47 total meetings. That attendance record exceeds the threshold required to trigger potential removal under the agency’s bylaws, which state that commissioners absent four times within a year may be subject to notification and replacement.
Mayor’s Office Response and Board Oversight
A spokesperson for the Mayor’s Office told LAist that, regardless of Bass’ absence record, she has stayed up to date on the actions of LAHSA, the regional agency responsible for managing homelessness responses. Ilanna Morales stated that Bass’ four other appointees alerted her when her attendance was needed and kept her informed of board activities. “She was on the Commission to make key decisions and participate in key discussions that impacted the City,” Morales said.
The LAHSA Commission is responsible for making policy and funding decisions for the agency, including approving its nearly $500 million budget and contracts with local shelters and nonprofit service providers. L.A.’s mayor chooses half of the voting members on the 10-member commission, while county supervisors choose the rest. At least six members must be present to open a public meeting or hold a vote.
LAHSA communications director Ahmad Chapman stated that the agency did not notify Bass or any other commissioner about absences because the commission consistently achieved quorums and fulfilled responsibilities, leaving the agency with discretion over notifications.
LAHSA Commissioner Justin Szlasa emphasized that attendance is critical for active participation in the deliberative process. “If people don’t show up, they can’t do that,” Szlasa told LAist. Conversely, Wendy Greuel, a commission member and former L.A. city controller, said Bass’ attendance has not been problematic, asserting that Bass understands homelessness and has been more engaged than any mayor in her history.
Attendance Patterns Across Other Appointees and Committees
Public records show that other commissioners have also accumulated multiple absences over 12-month periods. Tanisha Saunders, an appointee named by Bass, missed 12 of 21 commission meetings between Aug. 15, 2025, and Aug. 15, 2026. Since her appointment in May 2023, Saunders has missed 18 of 53 meetings. Greuel defended Saunders, noting her lived experience and full-time job managing a permanent supportive housing site, adding that Saunders routinely confirms quorums ahead of time.
In addition to full commission meetings, members serve on working committees. Records show Bass served on LAHSA’s audit committee until January but did not attend a single meeting, recording five straight absences before another commissioner replaced her. Saunders, who serves on the same audit committee, missed just one of 13 audit committee meetings.
Precedent of Elected Officials on the Board
While Bass was the first L.A. mayor to appoint herself to the LAHSA Commission, she was not the first or only elected official to do so. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath appointed herself nearly a year earlier in an effort to reform LAHSA. After serving two years and concluding the agency could not make necessary changes, Horvath last attended a meeting on Nov. 15, 2024. Within months of her resignation, the Board of Supervisors voted to divert more than $300 million in annual funding away from LAHSA following reviews finding financial mismanagement.
LAHSA’s broader future remains uncertain. The Trump administration suspended the agency from federal grant activity in June due to financial mismanagement. Although a judge paused the suspension following a lawsuit filed by LAHSA, a trial is scheduled for April 2027.
Homelessness and the Mayoral Race
The attendance findings surface as Bass fights for reelection in November, a race in which homelessness remains a central issue. While previous annual counts showed two years of decreases, this year’s count found street homelessness rose 8% in the city of L.A. During a recent mayoral debate hosted by the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association, Bass pledged to shift away from pricey motel rooms toward cheaper types of shelter and services on city-owned land.
During the same debate, Bass criticized her opponent, Councilmember Nithya Raman, for missing City Council votes. Raman responded that some of her absences stemmed from attending assigned city representative board meetings, noting that Bass had appointed her to some of those boards. Bass also chairs the board of directors for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, a role required by her mayoral position, where she has also faced criticism for absences.
Bass’ self-appointed three-year term on the LAHSA Commission expired on June 30. While LAHSA and a mayoral spokesperson confirmed she remains a member, they did not confirm whether she formally reappointed herself. The next LAHSA Commission meeting is scheduled for Friday at 9 a.m. at 637 Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles, with a remote live stream available.
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