LA Times: A federal judge has found that L.A. city officials doctored records in a case over homeless camp cleanups

This most certainly boils down to one person or a small group with power trying to abuse their power to protect their own egoes. When governments put forth such strong efforts to block something or otherwise be intransigent, it is always due to some official's personal feelings.

A federal judge has found that Los Angeles city officials altered evidence to support the city’s defense against allegations that it illegally seized and destroyed homeless people’s property.