Los Angeles, California – Officials at the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) are facing scrutiny for refusing to release public records related to allegations of significant wrongdoing that led to $800,000 in taxpayer-funded settlements. LAist, a local news outlet, has been denied access to documents detailing wrongful termination and whistleblower retaliation claims filed by two former executives who departed the agency in 2024.
The two executives are Kristina Dixon, former chief financial and administration officer, and Emily Vaughn Henry, former data and IT director. Their terminations occurred during Va Lecia Adams Kellum’s first year as LAHSA’s chief executive. LAist initiated its request for these public records over a month ago, following an agenda item at LAHSA’s March 11 governing commission meeting that indicated the claims would be discussed. Meeting minutes subsequently revealed that the commission had settled the claims and stated that information would be “available upon request.”
However, LAHSA has since declined to provide LAist with the claims documents outlining the allegations. This decision is being challenged by public records attorneys who assert that withholding these records is a clear violation of the California Public Records Act. David Loy, a public records attorney at the First Amendment Coalition, stated that courts have consistently ruled that such records must be disclosed to the public. He emphasized that the fact that settlements were reached and taxpayer money was used further strengthens the public’s right to access this information. Loy described LAHSA officials’ refusal as “unlawful,” asserting that the records “clearly should be available to the public.”…