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Angry Housing Residents Ask Commissioners To Resign

LOS ANGELES (CBS) —  Public housing residents ask for the resignations of commission members after we expose their extravagant spending. David Goldstein follows-up on his report last week outlining commissioners living high on the hog while traveling on city business.

"Step down Commissioner Del Angel. The residents of the developments don't want you and neither do other developments."

Public housing residents called for the resignations of commisioners with the Housing Authority of the City of LA. It came as commissioners abruptly ended their monthly meeting instead of hearing from resident in the audience who were reacting to our investigation.

"All the commissioners should step down."

The outcry comes days after we revealed the seven commissioners spent $185,000 over the last two years on travel and fine dining. Mostly attending housing-related conferences.

The panel oversees public housing for thousands of LA's neediest families — but we obtained their travel records and found some stayed at swanky hotels like Ritz-Carlton's from coast to coast. Commissioner Margarita Garr ran up a nearly $2,000 tab at the Ritz in Laguna for just a 4-day conferences.

"No reaction? No reaction?"

She had nothing to say but residents said plenty.

"We'll just keep on fighting until they step down. This is just the beginning that's all."

"None of them have a right to have that job. They do this again. They don't let us speak."

We also found some commissioners were double dipping on meal money. Getting a per diem check ahead of time which is supposed to cover food, but then charging room service and other meals.

"Thank God they're getting caught. Now everything is getting exposed."

Because of our investigation the Mayor's office is looking into the travel and double dipping. And we understand several city council members were also briefed and may be looking into it as well."

"We don't want you representing us no more."

After residents were turned away, they vowed to go to the city council which oversees the commission. And ultimately, the mayor who appointed them, in the hopes of getting satisfaction.

David Goldstein, CBS2 News

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