Los Angeles Times Columnist Defends City Conditions Against Mayoral Candidate Criticism

Los Angeles Times columnist Gustavo Arellano responded to mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt's description of city conditions in a Tuesday article. Arellano stated that Los Angeles "is nowhere near as apocalyptic as they make it out to be," citing statistics on homicides, burglaries, and unsheltered homelessness.

Pratt has argued that drug addiction drives most street conditions in the city. During a debate, Pratt stated that "93% of this is a drug addiction problem" and that many individuals on the street seek fentanyl or methamphetamine rather than shelter beds.

" The columnist also questioned the idea of a "factory-reset option" for the city, listing past decades that included economic challenges, earthquakes, riots, and legal segregation. " The column also addressed proposals for noncitizen voting in local elections, noting existing participation in neighborhood council and school board votes in some California cities.

Arellano has previously written about noncitizen voting in Los Angeles elections.