Karen Bass’ rationalization of meth use by the homeless is insane

NY Post ^ | 07/16/2026 | Richie Greenberg

[DFG]

Taxpaying Angelenos write big checks every year. They dump billions into homelessness services –– and the tents, needles and suffering still turn neighborhoods into obstacle courses.

Then Mayor Karen Bass drops her latest pearl of wisdom: Homeless folks use meth “to stay awake for protection on the city’s dangerous streets.”

Bless her heart.

This isn’t compassionate; it’s Olympic-level mental gymnastics that insults every working stiff paying the tab while watching their city circle the drain.

It perfectly explains why Bass’s approval hovers in the 32%–36% range, with disapproval in the 57%–66% zone in recent polls.

Let’s be real about how ludicrous her statement is.

LA’s streets are dangerous because of the unchecked addiction, open-air drug markets, and policies that treat hard drugs like optional accessories.

Meth isn’t some clever night-watchman hack –– it’s a brain-melting chemical that delivers psychosis, paranoia, rotting teeth and the exact chaos that makes sidewalks unlivable.

Bass reframes it as a rational survival tool, as if the real villain is insufficient empathy instead of the self-inflicted cycle her approach enables.

We’ve seen the numbers: Hyper-pure meth drives chronic homelessness, trapping people in sleepless, tormented states that kill any shot at recovery.

Calling it “protection” doesn’t help users; it just gives policymakers cover to keep funding the same failing system.

Look at Inside Safe program: Thousands moved indoors at taxpayer expense, yet roughly 40% bounced right back to the streets.

Bass’s tone-deaf moment fits the broader pattern that’s tanked her popularity.

Polls show that Angelenos are fed up with homelessness theater despite the eye-watering spending. Unsheltered counts dropped 17.5% over two years (per Bass’s favorite stat) but overall numbers are still higher than pre-pandemic.

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TOPICS: US: California
KEYWORDS: bassackwards; homeless; karenbass; meth

[Tell It Right]

Follow the money. How are her finances tied to meth?

[Liz]

This shows perfectly why globe-trotting Mayor Bass’ disapproval is in the 57%–66% zone:
She says the homeless use meth “to stay awake for protection on the city’s dangerous streets.”

[al baby]

Hitler is her hero so its kinda true. hitler had his men jacked up on meth to fight for days on end

[SaveFerris]

(Karen Bass’ rationalization of meth use by the homeless is insane)

DEMOCRAT LESBIAN Karen Bass is insane 🥴🥴🥴 🤪🤪🤪

[Liz]

Mmmmmmm....but being on meth to fight is a bit
different than being on meth to face street crime.

[Verginius Rufus]

She is running for re-election. Homeless meth users could provide the margin of victory for her, so it’s not insane...from her perspective.

[red-dawg]

The meth-heads will be the ones living in the new public housing being built in Pacific Palisades.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

“Polls show that Angelenos are fed up with homelessness theater”

But not so fed up to send in Spencer Pratt to clean it up.

[Red6]

“to stay awake for protection on the city's dangerous streets.”

The human has an infinite ability to rationalize.

We're able to come up with some sort of argument to support anything.

Once you lift away any concept of morality and natural law, what is truly natural, function, and need to be consistent, you end up with no more than a form of mass consensus, a type of mob-rule.

You can have someone stick scissors in a babies head at birth, and someone can argue this is a great deed because it reduces CO2 and the threat of climate change. Anything goes in reality: https://www.cnn.com/2013/03/04/us/pennsylvania-gosnell-trial

[Tommy Revolts]

Bass’s approval hovers in the 32%–36% range, with disapproval in the 57%–66%

That doesn't matter, they will elect her again.

[BenLurkin]

The Party thrives on ignorance.

[A_perfect_lady]

Then Mayor Karen Bass drops her latest pearl of wisdom: Homeless folks use meth “to stay awake for protection on the city’s dangerous streets.”

Why are the streets so dangerous, Karen?