1 week before election, Long Beach leaders face accountability questions over homeless response – NBC Los Angeles

With just one week before Long Beach voters head to the polls, city leaders are standing by the leadership overseeing the city’s homeless response despite mounting criticism over oversight failures, controversial contracts and rising homelessness.

NBC Los Angeles spent weeks asking Long Beach elected officials a direct question: Do they still have confidence in the leadership of the city’s Homeless Bureau?

“I do, absolutely,” Long Beach City Manager Tom Modica said when asked whether he still has confidence in the leadership of the Homeless Bureau. “They’ve done everything we’ve asked them to do.”

Modica defended the bureau despite a series of controversies that have intensified scrutiny over the city’s homeless response, including an audit that exposed red flags tied to a $24 million contract with a homeless services provider later fired by the city, a failed tiny home project that cost taxpayers nearly $3 million and more than 60 reported deaths in city shelters between 2021 and 2024.

Homelessness in Long Beach has also continued to rise during that period.

“When things happen, things are going to happen,” Modica said. “What I look for is, how do you respond to those? So this team has responded.”

Mayor Rex Richardson also defended the city’s accountability systems, though he stopped short of directly endorsing specific Homeless Bureau leadership.

“I have utmost confidence that the city of Long Beach … our author, our entire team, our city management,” Richardson said. “We are going to hold every single contractor accountable.”

The mayor noted that staffing decisions are handled by the city manager’s office.

NBCLA reached out repeatedly to every member of the Long Beach City Council over several weeks, asking whether they still had confidence in the leadership overseeing the city’s homeless response.

Some answered directly. Others declined or did not respond.

At the city-sponsored Pride parade, Councilmember Kristina Duggan initially appeared reluctant to discuss the issue.

“We are doing Pride today,” Duggan said initially. After further questioning, Duggan answered directly.

“I have confidence that we’re moving to a good place,” she said. “I have confidence in the Homeless Bureau.”

Councilmember Cindy Allen also expressed confidence in the city’s homeless leadership while acknowledging concerns about oversight.

“I do think there have been issues with contracting, and better monitoring of these contract to make sure taxpayer dollars are not being taken advantage of,” Allen said.

Councilmember Mary Zendejas and Vice Mayor Roberto Uranga left the Pride event before NBCLA could ask them the question in person.

Uranga’s office later said he was unavailable and referred questions to city staff.

Zendejas and two other councilmembers never responded to repeated requests for comment.

Councilmember Joni Ricks-Oddie’s office referred NBCLA to the City Manager’s Office and the Health Department for comment.

Councilwoman Tunua Thrash-Ntuk’s office pointed to the ongoing audit into the city’s homeless contracting issues, saying she remains committed to accountability but did not directly answer whether she still has confidence in current leadership.

When NBCLA approached District 5 Councilmember Megan Kerr at the same Pride event, she declined to answer the question.

“You know what, we are here to celebrate pride. I’m going to go onto my float, and we can talk about that another time,” said Kerr.

NBCLA told Keer we have been trying to talk with her for two weeks. Kerr then entered a golf cart and left the event area.

“Have a great Sunday. Enjoy,” she said before driving away.

NBCLA contacted Kerr’s office again to offer another opportunity to answer the question.

As of publication, her office had not responded.