Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has defended controversial statements that went viral last week about providing comprehensive dental care for individuals struggling with drug addiction. During a campaign event at the Original Pantry Cafe on Thursday, Bass argued that comprehensive healthcare, including new teeth, was important for curbing the city's homelessness crisis.
'How many people that you meet that are unhoused don't have teeth at all?' she said. 'They don't have teeth. Why? Because meth rots your teeth. You can't succeed without teeth. So there needs to be comprehensive healthcare provided to people.'
The comments sparked backlash from conservatives who accused her of wasting taxpayers' dollars while failing to address the root problems of homelessness and drug addiction.
Bass was asked to clarify her comments during a wide-ranging interview with local ABC affiliate, KABC-TV, on Friday. She was pressed on who would pay for the new teeth, and Bass doubled down, saying the funding was already in place from Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal is California's state-funded health insurance program that provides free or low-cost healthcare to eligible residents.
'When I say comprehensive health care, it's actually what people can get from Medi-Cal. The problem is that the linkage isn't made with the people and the services,' Bass explained. When asked to clarify whether it would be taxpayers who would foot the bill, she responded: 'It's already paid for. We already pay for it. It's the linkage that hasn't happened.'
Bass also responded to the backlash that she was failing to prevent excessive drug use in the first place. The mayor agreed that preventative measures should be put in place and pointed to her initiative that used lawsuit money from the tobacco industry to establish contracts with substance abuse organizations providing resources for addicts.
'The issue with dental is - you want people to be productive. You want them to have a job. You want them to no longer need public assistance,' Bass continued. 'So while someone is in interim housing, waiting for permanent housing, let's help them get their act together so they will be successful and down the line will not need public assistance.'
Medi-Cal typically does not cover dental implants, as they are considered elective procedures. The state insurance provides essential dental work, including exams, X-rays, cleanings, fillings, crowns, root canals, dentures, tooth removal and emergency services.
Homelessness is at the crux of the Los Angeles mayoral election. It is one of the defining issues for Angelenos, with over 67,000 people in the city displaced at the end of last year, according to the Los Angeles Homeless Authority. Bass is running for re-election against progressive Councilwoman Nithya Raman, former reality star Spencer Pratt and entrepreneur Adam Miller.
Although Bass has been widely criticized for her handling of the 2025 wildfires and her stance on the homelessness crisis, she has defended her record on the campaign trail. During a two-day forum on homelessness last week, Bass said she fast-tracked 42,000 units to maintain housing stability and launched the Inside Safe initiative to get people off the streets.
Raman criticized Inside Safe, arguing that the program kept people in temporary housing for a year or more. Pratt, who did not attend the recent forum, has taken a hardline approach toward homelessness, telling Joe Rogan on the comedian's podcast that he would arrest individuals in encampments and instill mandatory treatment.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Bass' campaign team for comment.
