When Taxation Does Feel Like Theft

Nonprofits continue shaking down local government for more public funds with little accountability.

Mere weeks after voters in Los Angeles approved a local ballot measure that would permanently raise regressive sales taxes in order to throw an additional $1 billion a year at failed homelessness nonprofits, an audit found that in 2017 alone, L.A.’s Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) doled out $48 million in public funds that is unaccounted for.

The grants, which are referred to as “advances” in the audit, were meant to be loans to homeless service providers. But 8 years later, little of that cash has been paid back. U.S. District Judge David O. Carter demanded to know which nonprofits took the funds, saying he wanted “those gifted providers on the record,” and that “this court is not going to forgive and forget,” the possible theft of public resources.

Two days later on November 21st, the judge got his answer. Among the worst offenders were: