There is no question that House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA) has been a leading figure in the #Resistance to President Donald Trump, particularly with his push for multiple House investigations into the president, including the impeachment inquiry that failed to convince the Senate to oust him.
But with all Schiff’s focus on taking down the White House, it seems the Democrat’s constituents back in California are starting to feel neglected. Breitbart reports that a Republican challenging Schiff for his congressional seat this fall says Schiff has “abandoned” his district in and around Los Angeles — including its growing homelessness problem.
The GOP challenger, L.A.-based attorney Eric Early, is keying in on an important issue for voters in California’s 28th District; a recent poll from the University of Southern California showed that nearly a quarter of voters in the state (22.9%) “put homelessness or housing as their top issue” heading into election season.
“He’s done nothing”
Early was recently joined by a reporter from FOX 11 in Los Angeles as he toured Schiff’s congressional district and spoke to those living on the streets. Based on what he heard, Early says it’s time for some new leadership.
“Mr. Schiff has completely abandoned our district in the 20 years he’s been in office,” Early told FOX 11. “He’s spent too much time in Washington seeking the limelight. It’s time for a congressman to be here who actually cares about our district.”
Indeed, it seems Schiff’s political ambitions are at the front of his mind. Fox News reports that Schiff has been rumored to be positioning himself for a run at the U.S. Senate seat currently occupied by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), who is 87 years old and could soon announce her retirement.
But whatever Schiff may be planning, it certainly isn’t having any impact on the homelessness problem in his home district, according to Early.
“It’s a mess out here, it’s terrible,” the Republican said. “He’s done nothing, or virtually nothing for our district, certainly not a darn thing for homelessness.”
“Leaving these folks out here to die”
Schiff fired back at the criticism from Early in his typically smug manner: though the congressman declined to be interviewed directly by FOX 11, his office released a statement accusing Early of being an outsider who is simply gunning for Trump’s endorsement.
“These attacks from Eric Early, who is from out of the district and knows little of our community, are characteristic of someone who once described himself as Trump’s biggest supporter in California,” the congressman’s team said in a written statement to the network. “They may please Trump, but do not impress our constituents.”
Early, however, will not be dismissed so easily, and has vowed to continue honing in on the homelessness issue in his bid to unseat Schiff. Along those lines, he has also proposed taking legislative action to rebuild the nation’s mental health system and even to remove homeless individuals from the streets — involuntarily if necessary — in order to improve American communities.
“We need somebody strong enough to fight and say we are going to forcibly move these people off the streets if they don’t come voluntarily,” Early told FOX 11. “That may not look, quote-unquote, compassionate, but I believe it’s much more compassionate than leaving these folks out here to die.”
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