SouthernWorldwide.com – Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is facing significant criticism following her suggestion that taxpayer funds should be allocated for dental care for individuals struggling with methamphetamine addiction, a stance she defended by stating that many cannot rebuild their lives without teeth.
Bass, who is currently seeking a second term as mayor in a competitive June primary election, made these remarks during a recent candidate forum focused on the city’s escalating homelessness crisis.
“How many people that you meet that are unhoused don’t have teeth at all?” Bass questioned during a discussion. “They don’t have teeth. Why? Because meth rots your teeth.”
“You can’t succeed without teeth,” she elaborated. “So there needs to be comprehensive healthcare provided to people.”
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The mayor’s comments immediately drew sharp criticism from conservative voices, who accused her of sidestepping the fundamental issues driving homelessness and drug abuse in Los Angeles.
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Conservative journalist Dustin Grage voiced his strong disagreement on the social media platform X, adopting the persona of a Los Angeles resident impacted by the city’s dual crises. “A homeless drug addict just tried to stab me,” he wrote. “Karen Bass: ‘It’s okay, we’re going to provide them free teeth so they can be successful now.’”
Despite Bass’s assertions of progress, Los Angeles continues to grapple with one of the largest homeless populations in the nation. Critics argue that the crisis has worsened under her leadership.
According to a count released in early February 2025 by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, over 43,000 individuals in Los Angeles were experiencing homelessness.
Katie Zacharia, a former Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman, also took issue with Bass’s remarks, pointing out the perceived lack of focus on the underlying drug epidemic.
“Symptoms, never the disease,” Zacharia commented.
Theo Wold, a former Trump assistant attorney general, expressed his disbelief on X. “Clueless Karen Bass said that the worst part about meth addiction is that it ruins your teeth,” he posted. “To paraphrase Norm MacDonald: Last time I checked, I thought the worst part about meth addiction was meth!”
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Mayor Bass, 72, a seasoned Democrat who previously represented a Los Angeles congressional district from 2011 to 2022, is facing considerable electoral pressure from both her left and right flanks.
On her left, Los Angeles City Council member Nithya Raman, 44, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, is campaigning on her progressive credentials.
Meanwhile, former reality television personality Spencer Pratt, 42, has emerged as a surprise contender. He has gained traction by criticizing Bass’s handling of the devastating 2025 Los Angeles fires that destroyed his home and many others.
Pratt has also been vocal about Bass’s perceived failure to address the city’s persistent homelessness and public safety challenges.
Although Pratt is a registered Republican, the Los Angeles mayoral election is officially nonpartisan.
The primary election, scheduled for June 2, is widely anticipated to result in a runoff, with the top two candidates advancing to the general election in November.
