Officials for the city of Los Angeles are considering imposing zoning restrictions and building codes on the McMansion tents popping up in homeless neighborhoods across the city. So far, the construction and growth of these lavish encampments has gone completely unregulated, but city officials are hoping to put a stop to that.
“It’s like the wild west out there,” said Tim Allen, the city’s building inspector. “These folks are installing showers, air conditioners and electric ranges, and were not collecting any fees for it.”
Government officials would like to get involved with the planning and development of the homeless neighborhoods which have experienced explosive growth in recent months.
“The tents are too close together. In some cases you have a little one bedroom pup tent next to a luxurious McMansion with an outdoor wading pool. This is no way to manage growth,” said the city’s urban planner, Brett Michaels.
Not to pass up on a potential source of state revenue, California Governor Gavin Newsome is hoping to bring these areas under the state’s authority. Following the defeat of a proposed property tax increase on Californians during a Covid shutdown and one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, Governor Newsom is pushing a bill that would impose property taxes on the homeless tent communities popping up across the state.
“These aren’t just guys sleeping in cardboard boxes under a bridge. These are folks constructing high-end, luxury hobo encampments,” said the governor. “If you’ve got enough resources to build the homeless tent of your dreams, then you can kick a little over to the State of California.”
Governor Newsom courted controversy again this week when he was photographed with friends dining at LA’s ritzy and exclusive tent dining establishment, Paris Lavatory.
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