Let’s See… A New Police Headquarters? Or More Homeless Shelters?
It’s just not surprising to see homeless advocates picketing against the groundbreaking ceremony of a $400 million LAPD headquarters in downtown Los Angeles. Both the mayor and the police chief were there to kick off the event.
With the controversial LAPD police activity in downtown Skid Row, and the plight of homeless people in that area becoming more apparent, both advocates and the police are going to clash.
Advocates say that the $400 million for a new headquarters could be better spent on helping the city’s homeless population. City officials believe that the new headquarters will provide better tools for law enforcement officers to reduce crime.
The same advocates were at the grand opening of Disney Hall a handful of years ago, making the same statement.
The reality is that there is money out there to address homelessness. It is just a matter of priority… do we spend it on education, more freeways, a crackdown on gangs, reduction of crime, or helping the homeless?
So what’s the priority… struggling with traffic? Helping people get off the streets? Or reducing crime?
Let’s look at in human terms… starting with the most vulnerable first.
(1) Crime (affects all people), (2) gangs (affects some parts of the city), (3) homelessness (affects 1% of the population), (4) education (children—you can’t go wrong with that), and (5) traffic (not a life and death issue)?
Or… Homelessness, crime, gangs, education, and traffic?
Of if we are going to invest in the future first… Education, gangs, crime, homelessness, and traffic?
It’s just a matter of priorities… (and who is making them)
With the controversial LAPD police activity in downtown Skid Row, and the plight of homeless people in that area becoming more apparent, both advocates and the police are going to clash.
Advocates say that the $400 million for a new headquarters could be better spent on helping the city’s homeless population. City officials believe that the new headquarters will provide better tools for law enforcement officers to reduce crime.
The same advocates were at the grand opening of Disney Hall a handful of years ago, making the same statement.
The reality is that there is money out there to address homelessness. It is just a matter of priority… do we spend it on education, more freeways, a crackdown on gangs, reduction of crime, or helping the homeless?
So what’s the priority… struggling with traffic? Helping people get off the streets? Or reducing crime?
Let’s look at in human terms… starting with the most vulnerable first.
(1) Crime (affects all people), (2) gangs (affects some parts of the city), (3) homelessness (affects 1% of the population), (4) education (children—you can’t go wrong with that), and (5) traffic (not a life and death issue)?
Or… Homelessness, crime, gangs, education, and traffic?
Of if we are going to invest in the future first… Education, gangs, crime, homelessness, and traffic?
It’s just a matter of priorities… (and who is making them)
posted by LA's Homeless Blog at
7:45 AM
2 Comments:
Forgive me if this is a stupid question, I just stumbled onto your site, but what happens to the old LAPD building once the new multi-million one is erected? Are they going to tear it down or can it be retrofitted as housing for the homeless?
I live in the Tampa Bay area so can commiserate with the homeless of L.A. in terms of police brutality and indifference. We were all disgusted by the tent-slashings a couple of weeks ago in St Petersburg by the cops. I can attest that not all cops are bad people, these folks were just doing what they were told to do. But it stll stinks and was uncalled for, especially since most of the tents were fairly new ones donated by the public.
What people fail to realize is that a majority of the homeless in Los angeles choose to live this life style. No rules, and no payments. They see it as freedom. Trust me, I work the streets. Secondly, they don't want to live in the zoned homes for the homeless because then they cannot use cocaine, the most common and often used drugs in the city of LA. Third and final, these are all facts, I deal with a majority of the homeless and they are called Transients. They want no responsibility and don't want to work. They choose there conditions, and this is a fact!
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