proposal, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass went big on homelessness. As a candidate last year and now as mayor, Bass has been almost exclusively focused on helping ease the crisis and her $13-billion proposed spending plan reflects that by allocating $1.3 billion for existing and new homelessness programs — a record amount, her office said. She’s right to prioritize the humanitarian crisis on L.A.’s streets.
She also wants to expand the city’s reach in providing services. Bass proposes hiring 13 outreach teams to work out of her office on Inside Safe. And rather than relying on the county to provide mental health and substance abuse care, Bass calls for using $23.5 million from settlements with opioid and tobacco companies to contract directly with treatment providers so the beds are available when individuals in temporary housing want help.
The mayor’s budget also proposes adding staff in the planning and building departments to more quickly permit affordable and mixed-income housing developments. That’s important because homelessness is not solved by moving people into shelters and hotels rooms; it requires building more permanent housing that people can afford.
opinion Just place this people in jail if found with stolen material and drugs
opinion On her way to being the worst mayor in LA history. She’s our Lori Lightfoot. Should have elected Caruso.