*Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson on Monday accused Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif. of being a “hypocrite” in a scathing letter he sent the congresswoman about her criticism of President Trump’s approach to combating homelessness in California.
In the letter, Carson accused Waters of lacking “basic manners” over the letter she sent to Trump last month saying his “shamelessness knows no bounds,” according to a copy obtained by The Hill.
“My mother always taught me that people shouldn’t throw rocks, especially while they live in a glass house,” Carson wrote. “Because of that wise lesson, I was a little surprised to read your hostile letter to President Trump regarding the record number of homeless Americans in California, particularly in your district.”
Waters’ letter to the White House addressed the reported plan to tear down homeless camps in Los Angeles.
“Your shamelessness knows no bounds,” Waters wrote. “From day one of your presidency, you have attacked our democracy and now you have set your ire on the 550,000 Americans who on any given night experience homelessness.”
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Carson shot back at Waters over the remarks, writing: “Shamelessness is a career politician of 30 years laying blame. Shamelessness is allowing more than 55,000 Americans to live on the very streets they represent.”
Waters congressional district encompasses the southern part of Los Angeles county.
“Basic manners elude you and it seems that instead of producing results, you’re more interested in producing cheap headlines at the President’s expense — like a true career politician,” said Carson.
In response, Waters said in a statement to The Hill that “Carson is like a duck out of water” and called him a “complete failure at HUD.”
“Most recently, it was reported that he and this disgraceful President want to raze homeless camps, round up persons experiencing homelessness and force them to live in unused and unsuitable federal buildings,” she added.
“All of this demonstrates his lack of competence as HUD secretary and the cruelty of this Administration. Instead of whining about his inability to get on my schedule, he should take some time to focus on the over half a million people experiencing homelessness in this country.”
Waters noted her bill to provide billions in funding to solve the city’s homelessness issue, arguing that “we have yet to see any productive solutions come out of this dysfunctional and corrupt Administration.”
“[Carson] should contain his tantrums and leave his mother out of this,” she said.
“[The administration] has consistently pushed harmful housing policies and proposed slashing and eliminating key housing funding for those most in need,” Waters said.
In his letter, Carson said that “the most important thing we can do at the federal level for housing affordability is to provide for a thriving economy where jobs are growing, wages are rising, and unemployment is failing.”
“Thanks to Trump’s policies, that is exactly what we have today — a booming economy,” he wrote.
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