Free Republic

Embattled Los Angeles developer Shangri-La Industries, which has left a trail of unpaid debts, unfinished projects and foreclosure threats since it took $114 million from the state to convert motels into housing for the homeless, is now accusing its former chief financial officer of embezzling millions of dollars to fund an extravagant lifestyle. Shangri-La, which is being sued by state housing authorities for breaching the terms of its agreement under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature Project Homekey program, alleges in a lawsuit that former CFO Cody Holmes, 29, engaged in bank fraud and check kiting in 2022 and 2023 with Shangri-La’s...

A local council meeting in an affluent San Francisco neighborhood descended into chaos when hundreds of 'rowdy' residents began booing plans to place homeless people in a nearby hotel. Crowds of angry Millbrae residents packed out their local community hall on Friday to protest 'Project Homekey' proposals to house 100 rough sleepers at the La Quinta hotel on El Camino Real, close to the city center. So many people turned up that hundreds had to stand outside the 300-man capacity hall to hear proposals outlined by San Mateo County Executive Mike Callagy. But Callagy's speech was quickly 'drowned out' by...