Vice President Kamala Harris' frequent Los Angeles visits have stirred some discontent among neighbors and Democrats alike.
Kamala Harris has been spending a significant amount of time at her Brentwood, Los Angeles mansion, raising concerns about her absence from key political duties, New York Post reported.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who resides in a $2.7 million Brentwood mansion, has found herself at the center of a simmering unease not just among fellow Democrats but also the residents of her upscale neighborhood. Her stays in LA have increased to 59 days in 2023 from 46 days the year before, which has not gone unnoticed.
The presence of Vice President Harris in Brentwood entails heightened security, translating into street closures—a matter that has angered some of her neighbors. According to one resident, these security measures are "Very annoying to be their neighbor." The high-security presence sometimes blocks access to homes and disrupts the daily routine, which has gradually built a sense of frustration among the community members.
Scrutiny and concern have extended beyond the boundaries of Brentwood. Some members of the Democratic Party express worries that Harris's time away impacts her ability to campaign effectively. Such concerns came to a head following critical national developments, like the Supreme Court's decision regarding Roe v. Wade in June 2022.
Despite criticisms, Harris' visits to Los Angeles are more than just leisurely. Alongside enjoying personal downtime with her husband, Doug Emhoff, at locales such as Brentwood Country Mart, Harris has engaged in politically charged activities, including fundraisers and donor meetings, particularly with influential figures from Hollywood.
Reflecting on her role and national responsibilities during a speech, Vice President Harris once shared her broad perspective on leadership and duty.
"I, maybe with a bit of bravado, will repeat what I think we all say: So goes California, goes the nation," Harris told the California Democratic Legislative Caucus back in January 2023.
The background of these visits includes her address in January 2023 to the California Democratic Legislative Caucus, where she highlighted the influence of California on the broader national landscape. This was symbolic of how Harris, despite criticisms, has tried to balance her national responsibilities with her ties to California.
This pattern of political leaders retreating to personal residences is common to Vice President Harris. President Biden has spent a total of 328 days during his presidency at his homes located outside Wilmington and Rehoboth Beach, illustrating a precedent for such periods spent away from Washington, D.C.
Despite this context, reactions have been vividly strong when considering Vice President Harris's choices, possibly due to her high-profile position and the complex times the nation is navigating through.
A poignant demonstration of public sentiment was when, right after the controversial overturn of Roe v. Wade, a neighbor boldly displayed a sign urging Vice President Harris to "return to Washington, DC."
Indeed, Vice President Kamala Harris's residence in Brentwood, her engagement with Southern California's affluent and influential circles, and her familiar retreat to familiar settings speak to a blend of personal comfort and strategic location. Yet, as her endeavors ongoingly unfold against the backdrop of American politics and civic expectations, each stay in Los Angeles continues to be more than just a homecoming—it's a delicate dance of optics and obligations.
