Former Vice President Kamala Harris is unemployed, and now, not welcome back in her swanky Los Angeles-area neighborhood.
After leaving Washington D.C. last Monday, Harris’ return to her Los Angeles home was meant to be a grand affair after she was flown to Los Angeles by an all-woman aircraft crew, she served food to wildfire evacuees and then thanked firefighters at a county fire station in Altadena.
But reports have surfaced that her neighbors do not want her back in the neighborhood, prompting Harris to suddenly disappear.
According to the New York Post, upon Harris’ return to to ritzy Brentwood district in northern Los Angeles, the former VP’s entry brought jeers from some neighbors — and more traffic.
“I don’t care that she’s back, except that they block off the road whenever she comes to town,” said one resident who lives around the corner from Harris.
“I’m embarrassed that she lives here, and I’m embarrassed that she represented the United States,” said one neighbor, a real estate investor who identified himself by first name, Lewis.
In the wake of weak showings by Mayor Karen Bass and Gov. Gavin Newsom during the worst disaster in Los Angeles history, Harris publically tried to endear herself to her hometown.
“We wanted to come out … and just let people know that we see them and that they are cared for,” she told reporters from an LA County fire station mere hours after landing at LAX on Monday, after serving meals at a World Central Kitchen food station.
But reports say the next morning, Harris was nowhere to be seen, but least four black SUVs guarded her $4.8 million home in earpieces and sunglasses.
Lewis has been bitterly disappointed with Democratic leaders like LA Mayor Karen Bass and Gov. Gavin Newsom, particularly in the way they’ve handled crime, immigration, and wildfire preparedness.
Last Friday, Harris she vowed not to “go quietly into the night,” implying that she’ll stay active in politics, including broad speculation that she could run for governor.
But Harris’ neighbors want her as far from California politics as possible.
“Karen Bass, Gavin Newsom, they’ve destroyed my state. Kamala Harris will do exactly the same. I’d rather she find another state to destroy,” he said.
Some residents were happy for the return of who they see as a hometown hero.
“It’s tragic that she’s not in the White House, but it’s a delight to have her as a neighbor,” said retired lawyer Peggy Garrity.
Her neighbor, interior designer Morlene Keller, agreed.
“I wish she were back in Washington, but I’m happy to have her back,” she said.
Yet both Garrity and Keller recognized that their feelings don’t necessarily represent those of Brentwood — or Los Angeles in general.
“This neighborhood is a mixed bag. It’s not only super wealthy, and even among the wealthy, there is a mix of progressives and conservatives. Mostly, people find it annoying when they block off Sunset Boulevard,” Garrity said.
One resident, who preferred not to be named, doesn’t mind the politician living nearby.
But she said she has no business in California politics and would never vote for Harris in any election.
“She’s a good neighbor, but maybe she should just go back to the private life,” she said.