Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt, a challenger to incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, is drawing attention for remarks about where people experiencing homelessness might go if he takes office. In interviews reported by multiple outlets, Pratt argues that a tougher approach in Los Angeles would cause the city’s unhoused population to leave, and he specifically points to Seattle as a destination. The Los Angeles Times and The Hill report that Pratt told an ABC 7 Los Angeles reporter that Seattle would “welcome” those individuals. Fox News similarly describes his view that his policy would force people to move from Los Angeles to other cities such as Seattle.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson responds publicly to the comments, according to The New York Post and the Los Angeles Times, saying Pratt’s proposal reflects a real consideration for her city. Coverage across outlets portrays Pratt’s remarks as an assertion that inter-city movement occurs when cities change enforcement and service strategies, while Seattle and Los Angeles local leaders are left addressing how such claims relate to their respective homelessness policies.
