1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,920 Speaker 1: It is the News Blitz with Randy Wang on Talk 2 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 1: radio seven ninety KABC. We're here every single day from 3 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:10,760 Speaker 1: five to six talking about the local issues that matter 4 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:13,000 Speaker 1: to you most and taking your phone calls at eight 5 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:16,040 Speaker 1: hundred two to two two five two two two one, 6 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 1: eight hundred two to two two five two two two, 7 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 1: your emails at Randy Wang Radio at gmail dot com, 8 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:27,600 Speaker 1: and search for the KABC News Blitz wherever you get 9 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 1: your podcasts. It's that time of year the Los Angeles 10 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:38,680 Speaker 1: Homeless Services Authorities annual homeless count, where volunteers go around 11 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 1: neighborhoods and they can't get too close for safety reasons. 12 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:44,879 Speaker 1: But if they see a tent, they count it. They 13 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:47,519 Speaker 1: see an RV, they count it. They see someone with 14 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:50,559 Speaker 1: a sleeping bud under an overpass, they maybe count it. 15 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:55,760 Speaker 1: Although you remember last year, for some reason, LASA decided 16 00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 1: they weren't going to count the beaches. That's interesting. In fact, 17 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:04,800 Speaker 1: the count is slightly suspect every single year, especially after 18 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 1: two years of Karen Bass showed all of these decreases 19 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 1: that people weren't really seeing, especially in the most visible 20 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:16,399 Speaker 1: places where you see homelessness. Skid Row, I always say 21 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:19,240 Speaker 1: that I have my own barometer for how Los Angeles 22 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:22,319 Speaker 1: County is doing on the homeless, and it is how 23 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:25,679 Speaker 1: many fires take place in the supulvit A Basin. The 24 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:29,080 Speaker 1: supulvit A basin where Balboa Park is and where they 25 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 1: want to host three Olympic events in just two years, 26 00:01:32,319 --> 00:01:34,720 Speaker 1: has a whole bunch of people living in it, and 27 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:38,600 Speaker 1: those people set fires. And last year over two hundred 28 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:41,399 Speaker 1: and fifty fires were set in the basin. So no, 29 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:44,360 Speaker 1: I don't think the number is down. But let's hear 30 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 1: what LASA has to say. Here is their press convince 31 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:52,640 Speaker 1: from last night. Oh it's on Channel thirty five, so 32 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:55,280 Speaker 1: we get to have the royalty free music start us 33 00:01:55,320 --> 00:01:59,720 Speaker 1: off here. It's kind of haunting for a homeless count 34 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:02,560 Speaker 1: although I don't know what the appropriate music would be. 35 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:08,959 Speaker 2: Hi, everyone, my name is Guita O'Neill and I'm the 36 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:10,520 Speaker 2: interim CEO for LOSSA. 37 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:16,320 Speaker 1: Now why is Gita O'Neil the interim CEO for LASA, Well, 38 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 1: that's because Karen Bass's hand picked CEO for LASA, Doctor 39 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:25,680 Speaker 1: Felicia Adams Kellum had to resign in shame. She says 40 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:28,000 Speaker 1: that just her time was done, but there were so 41 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:32,800 Speaker 1: many reports, including a lawsuit that was an eight hundred 42 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:36,400 Speaker 1: thousand dollars settlement with a staffer who was whistleblowing on 43 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:40,200 Speaker 1: a whole bunch of things. The information finally did come 44 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:43,360 Speaker 1: to life about all the ways that they were spending 45 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:47,239 Speaker 1: money they weren't accountable for. Doctor Felicia Adams Kellum writing 46 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 1: a check to her husband's nonprofit from LSA, some inappropriate 47 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 1: behavior at a party in DC, just to name a 48 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 1: few things. She comes from, by the way, the Saint 49 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 1: Joseph Center in Venice, which was I always found suspect 50 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 1: the homeless organization that Mike Bond had wanted to make 51 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 1: sure we spent as much money as possible on, even 52 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 1: though when he was city councilor for Venice, homelessness was 53 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:15,400 Speaker 1: never worse. Doctor Alicia Adams Kellum was paid four hundred 54 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:18,000 Speaker 1: and thirty five thousand dollars a year and no longer 55 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:20,560 Speaker 1: works for LOSA. So now we have Gita instead. 56 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:23,560 Speaker 2: Hi everyone, my name is Guita O'Neill and I'm the 57 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:27,079 Speaker 2: interim CEO for LASSA. Welcome to our launch. 58 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:29,840 Speaker 1: Twenty guys. You can fade out the music. She's into 59 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:30,679 Speaker 1: this thing already. 60 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:33,760 Speaker 2: To our launch twenty twenty sixth the Greater Los Angeles 61 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:36,000 Speaker 2: Homeless count It's kind of our super Bowl. So we're 62 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:37,000 Speaker 2: glad you guys are here. 63 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 1: Okay, this goes for not just government agencies. This goes 64 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:53,400 Speaker 1: for any business, any entity. Stop calling whatever your big 65 00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 1: thing is, your super Bowl. Just stop it. It's a cliche. 66 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:03,000 Speaker 2: And thank you to Adam Murray for letting us use 67 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 2: this lovely space today at the Inner City Law Center. 68 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 2: I'm proud to be joined by this fantastic group of 69 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:11,440 Speaker 2: leers tonight, including. 70 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:14,440 Speaker 1: Boy the butt kissing is beginning because, of course, this 71 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 1: agency has nothing but success. 72 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 2: Is to report Councilman Nitthia Ramen. 73 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:24,279 Speaker 1: Oh. Of course, Nitthia is a special case. You remember 74 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:28,360 Speaker 1: the entire scandal that went on at the La City Council, 75 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:33,560 Speaker 1: you know, the one with Nuri Martinez and Kevin dal 76 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 1: Leone Frankly and Gil Sadillo where they were diving up 77 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 1: where they're dividing up the city in a redistricting scam. 78 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:46,120 Speaker 1: That whole situation was so that they could move Nitthia 79 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:50,200 Speaker 1: from Korea Town into Sherman Oaks. And they thought if 80 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:53,880 Speaker 1: they did that, the homeowners in Sherman Oaks would reject 81 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:57,039 Speaker 1: the insanity that is Nitia Ramen, and she would not 82 00:04:57,120 --> 00:05:03,360 Speaker 1: get reelected. Turns out, Nithia made it to a over 83 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 1: fifty percent showing in the June primary in twenty twenty 84 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:10,880 Speaker 1: four and won that race out right, So that didn't work. 85 00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:14,520 Speaker 1: But Nythia has been a disaster. Doesn't seem to matter 86 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 1: to the voters of Los Angeles. 87 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:21,600 Speaker 2: Councilman Nythia Rahmen, las At Chair Amber Chic and Danielle 88 00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 2: Orbina from Supervisor, Soalsa's office. 89 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:26,760 Speaker 1: I want to Kilda couldn't even show up for this. 90 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:30,559 Speaker 1: Now the county has somewhat divorced themselves from LASA. In fact, 91 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:33,360 Speaker 1: Lindsay Horvath and Catherine Barger have started up their own 92 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:35,760 Speaker 1: homeless department, which is made up of almost the same 93 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 1: amount of people and it's the same ideology, so we're 94 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 1: going to get the same result, but now we're paying 95 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 1: for more. 96 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:42,720 Speaker 2: I want to give a special thank you to our 97 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:47,279 Speaker 2: Lived Experience Advisory Board Treasurer Martin Hogan. That's a job 98 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:50,839 Speaker 2: for joining us and grounding us all in why the 99 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:54,920 Speaker 2: Homeless count is so important. For the next three nights, 100 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 2: LASSO will be joined by thousands of volunteers at nearly 101 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:02,279 Speaker 2: one hundred and fifty sites across. 102 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 1: LA County unless they skipped the beaches. Again. 103 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:08,160 Speaker 2: This year, we're conducting the largest point in time count 104 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:12,679 Speaker 2: in the entire nation. They do so at this time 105 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:16,920 Speaker 2: of great change in our Los Angeles homeless response. For 106 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:20,120 Speaker 2: the first time, there we go, there we go. 107 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, I gotta talk it to the mike. For the 108 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:23,560 Speaker 1: first come on GITA. 109 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 2: For the first time since Los Angeles began conducting an 110 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 2: annual homeless account, unsheltered homelessness went down two years in 111 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:34,839 Speaker 2: a row. This is both in the city and in 112 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 2: the county in years twenty twenty five, twenty twenty four, 113 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:39,560 Speaker 2: and twenty twenty five. 114 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:42,760 Speaker 1: And wait, you just said twenty twenty five twice. 115 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:46,279 Speaker 2: Okay, and we all know that did not happen by accident. 116 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:51,680 Speaker 2: It happened because this community here chose collaboration, data, and 117 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:53,359 Speaker 2: innovation over despair. 118 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:57,520 Speaker 1: I just heard platitude. Platitude, platitude. 119 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 2: Last year's homeless count showed something many Angelino's have been 120 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:05,240 Speaker 2: waiting to see, proof that all of their efforts were 121 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 2: finally working. 122 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:10,360 Speaker 1: And where is that proof? Hey? Please, you know this 123 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 1: is an open forum. If you have seen with your 124 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:16,720 Speaker 1: own eyes significant improvement in the county over the last 125 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 1: two years, something that was disgusting and now it's pristine. 126 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:24,360 Speaker 1: Please give us a call eight hundred two two two 127 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:27,200 Speaker 1: five two two two one eight hundred two two two 128 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:30,160 Speaker 1: five two two two Because if there are successes, we 129 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:33,440 Speaker 1: should celebrate them. But when they don't have any specifics, 130 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:36,320 Speaker 1: I have a hard time believing it, especially when you 131 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 1: look at the most visible place in the whole world 132 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 1: for homelessness, skid Row, and it looks as awful as 133 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:44,840 Speaker 1: it ever has. So where is all this money going? 134 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:49,720 Speaker 2: The partnership represented here tonight is turning policy into. 135 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:52,400 Speaker 1: Progress and cliche. 136 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:53,280 Speaker 2: And tense into front doors. 137 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:56,240 Speaker 1: I wonder how much she's getting paid to be the 138 00:07:56,240 --> 00:08:00,559 Speaker 1: interim director, because Velicia Adams Callum was getting four hundred 139 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 1: and thirty thousand dollars a year for this job. 140 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:06,240 Speaker 2: But today the progress is at risk. Since April twenty 141 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:10,440 Speaker 2: twenty five, our rehousing system has begun to feel the 142 00:08:10,520 --> 00:08:16,200 Speaker 2: real and immediate impact of funding reductions. This month we 143 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:19,680 Speaker 2: were forced to pause time limited subsidies, which are our 144 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:23,520 Speaker 2: rental subsidy, one of the most fastest and most effective 145 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:27,800 Speaker 2: tools in moving people from the street into stable housing. 146 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:31,440 Speaker 1: Yes, because if you ever wondered what permanent support of 147 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 1: housing means. It means that you, the textpayer, are subsidizing 148 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 1: that rent. 149 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:39,959 Speaker 2: By the end of this fiscal year, nearly sixty percent 150 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:45,640 Speaker 2: of our time limited subsidy will be gone. This is 151 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:49,720 Speaker 2: not the only pressure point. The federal continuum of care 152 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:55,120 Speaker 2: funding is uncertain, putting thousands of placements at risk. Had 153 00:08:55,160 --> 00:09:00,199 Speaker 2: emergency housing vouchers are also set to expire. Potentially we're 154 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:04,080 Speaker 2: seeing thousands of Angelinos back into homelessness by the year's end. 155 00:09:04,679 --> 00:09:07,160 Speaker 1: Okay, it sure seems like, you know, we're starting to 156 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 1: upfront a whole bunch of reasons for why the number 157 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:10,520 Speaker 1: is going to go up. 158 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:13,720 Speaker 2: State homeless funding has been delayed and cut by about 159 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:15,840 Speaker 2: fifty percent. And here it. 160 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, you can't blame this on the feds. The state 161 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 1: has cut their local allotments, something called HAP funding. 162 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:24,480 Speaker 2: And here at home, even the county is staring down 163 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:26,959 Speaker 2: a three hundred million dollar funding gap. 164 00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:31,319 Speaker 1: Everyone's cutting your budget. So to be clear, of course, 165 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:34,640 Speaker 1: this is the same organization that literally could not account 166 00:09:34,679 --> 00:09:38,280 Speaker 1: for millions and millions of dollars spent even with an audit, 167 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:41,280 Speaker 1: a court ordered audit, they still can't tell you where 168 00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:41,960 Speaker 1: the money went. 169 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:46,720 Speaker 2: So to be clear, all is not going to get 170 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:52,000 Speaker 2: better when proven solutions lose funding. Homelessness doesn't stay flat, 171 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:52,920 Speaker 2: it may rise. 172 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 1: What's the proven solution? Where's the proof in that? 173 00:09:57,840 --> 00:10:02,360 Speaker 2: As remaining homeless count calculations are finalized, we face the 174 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:06,480 Speaker 2: very real possibility that the next numbers will show an increase. 175 00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:09,400 Speaker 1: No, oh, and Karen Bass is going to run reelection. Well, 176 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:13,720 Speaker 1: here's the thing. The June primary is going to probably 177 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:18,960 Speaker 1: happen before these numbers are released, and she might win 178 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:22,200 Speaker 1: that outright with more than fifty percent of the vote. 179 00:10:22,679 --> 00:10:25,240 Speaker 1: So wouldn't that be fun? 180 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:26,560 Speaker 2: Not because solutions. 181 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:28,280 Speaker 1: Now, of course this is the county as well as 182 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:31,439 Speaker 1: the city, but the city is the vast majority of this. 183 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:34,560 Speaker 1: Not because it's like what seventy five thousand in the 184 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:37,120 Speaker 1: county and forty eight thousand in the city. Most of 185 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:40,000 Speaker 1: it is the city of Los Angeles, a city I 186 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:41,880 Speaker 1: would like to move out of, not. 187 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:46,359 Speaker 2: Because solutions failed, but because the resources did. 188 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 1: Can I play that for you one more time? 189 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:55,240 Speaker 2: We face the very real possibility that the next numbers 190 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:59,360 Speaker 2: will show an increase, not because solutions failed, but because 191 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:00,320 Speaker 2: the resources instead. 192 00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:05,200 Speaker 1: The interim chief of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority 193 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:09,800 Speaker 1: says their solutions work, but they don't have enough money, 194 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:12,680 Speaker 1: and the numbers are going to go up. This is 195 00:11:12,720 --> 00:11:15,959 Speaker 1: what they're saying before the count So I'm going to 196 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:18,480 Speaker 1: open up the phones right now at eight hundred two 197 00:11:18,559 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 1: two two five two two two one. Eight hundred two 198 00:11:21,679 --> 00:11:24,720 Speaker 1: two two five two two two. Do you think the 199 00:11:24,840 --> 00:11:28,000 Speaker 1: problem in Los Angeles County when it comes to homelessness 200 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:30,920 Speaker 1: is that they just don't have enough money to solve 201 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:34,520 Speaker 1: this problem? Do you think more money is the answer here? 202 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:37,360 Speaker 1: Because didn't we just double the homeless tax in Los 203 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:41,439 Speaker 1: Angeles County? Yes, we did. Los Angeles County opened up 204 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:44,640 Speaker 1: a new department, and immediately we're in a deficit because 205 00:11:44,679 --> 00:11:47,840 Speaker 1: they still say they don't have enough money. Do you 206 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:51,040 Speaker 1: think a lack of money is the reason that the 207 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:54,680 Speaker 1: problem persists in Los Angeles eight hundred two two two 208 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:57,600 Speaker 1: five two two two one. Eight hundred two two two 209 00:11:57,679 --> 00:12:01,440 Speaker 1: five two two two call in and react to this statement. 210 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 2: We face the very real possibility that the next numbers 211 00:12:05,679 --> 00:12:09,600 Speaker 2: will show an increase, not because solutions failed, but because 212 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:10,560 Speaker 2: the resources did. 213 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:13,840 Speaker 1: It wasn't that our solutions failed, it's that we just 214 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:15,080 Speaker 1: didn't have enough money. 215 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:19,520 Speaker 2: Los Angeles has shown that progress is possible. The question 216 00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:22,240 Speaker 2: is now whether we will protect it or walk away 217 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:23,400 Speaker 2: from it when it's working. 218 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:28,440 Speaker 1: Also, can we clarify where is it working? Please tell me, 219 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:30,280 Speaker 1: show me the street corner. 220 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 2: These changes mean our mission tonight is more important than ever. 221 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:37,120 Speaker 2: This makes the effort of loss of staff and all 222 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:40,640 Speaker 2: of our volunteers over forty five hundred volunteers in this 223 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:45,160 Speaker 2: count alone, more than ever important. Over these three nights, 224 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:49,480 Speaker 2: the information gathered from this year's homeless count is going 225 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 2: to be invaluable to policymakers at all levels of government, 226 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:56,480 Speaker 2: the county, the state, the city, and the federal government. 227 00:12:56,720 --> 00:12:58,920 Speaker 1: Although I don't know, it seems that if the number 228 00:12:58,920 --> 00:13:00,920 Speaker 1: goes up, they need more money. If the number goes down, 229 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:04,640 Speaker 1: they need more money. I don't know what to say. 230 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:07,120 Speaker 1: All right, enough of Gita, let's hear what Nathia has 231 00:13:07,160 --> 00:13:07,600 Speaker 1: to say. 232 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:09,000 Speaker 2: Thank you so much? 233 00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:12,560 Speaker 3: Can you hear me? Wonderful? Thank you so much Gita 234 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:16,240 Speaker 3: for that introduction and for taking on a leadership role 235 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:19,520 Speaker 3: at a time when this leadership is so crucial. And 236 00:13:19,559 --> 00:13:21,760 Speaker 3: I want to thank everyone at LASA and at the 237 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:25,040 Speaker 3: Inner City Law Center for hosting us here. Tonight. 238 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 1: Boy, it's starting like an acceptance speech at the OSCARS. Already, 239 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:29,480 Speaker 1: over the last. 240 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:32,240 Speaker 3: Two years, as Gita said, we have seen measurable drops 241 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:34,680 Speaker 3: in unsheltered homelessness in the city of Los Angeles. 242 00:13:34,760 --> 00:13:38,880 Speaker 1: Thanks where, Please just tell me where? Tell me the 243 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:44,120 Speaker 1: street that is cleaner now than it was two years ago. Please, 244 00:13:44,679 --> 00:13:45,640 Speaker 1: I'll drive by. 245 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:49,800 Speaker 3: It thanks to incredible work and investments. Although we all 246 00:13:49,840 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 3: know there is so much more work to be done. 247 00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:56,440 Speaker 3: The Los Angeles homeless count is only one, though, of 248 00:13:56,520 --> 00:14:00,360 Speaker 3: many tools that we can use for measuring progust press 249 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:03,160 Speaker 3: and for addressing our humanitarian crisis. 250 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 1: We can also measure it by how much money we spent. 251 00:14:06,360 --> 00:14:09,440 Speaker 3: An accurate count is required by the federal government in 252 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:12,640 Speaker 3: order to get resources, and it allows us to target 253 00:14:12,679 --> 00:14:17,040 Speaker 3: services and progress. But going forward, the tools that voters 254 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:20,280 Speaker 3: voted in through Measure A will actually give us multiple 255 00:14:20,320 --> 00:14:22,720 Speaker 3: ways to measure progress on homelessness. 256 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:25,600 Speaker 1: And I want to make sure you remember that because 257 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 1: later on in the hour we're going to go through, 258 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:32,160 Speaker 1: we're going to actually see what those goals are and 259 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 1: what the current statistics of the Measure A website have, 260 00:14:36,120 --> 00:14:38,720 Speaker 1: because it's up and the numbers are bizarre. 261 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:41,280 Speaker 3: That voters voted in through Measure A will actually give 262 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 3: us multiple ways to measure progress on homelessness and multiple 263 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:50,360 Speaker 3: ways to hold a system accountable accountability. 264 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:53,080 Speaker 1: Eight hundred two two two five two two two is 265 00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:55,760 Speaker 1: the telephone number one eight hundred two to two two 266 00:14:55,800 --> 00:15:00,640 Speaker 1: five two two two. Do you think the problem with 267 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:05,120 Speaker 1: our inability to solve the homeless problem in Los Angeles 268 00:15:05,160 --> 00:15:08,360 Speaker 1: County is just because we don't have enough money. Let's 269 00:15:08,400 --> 00:15:13,600 Speaker 1: go to Scott and Glendora Scott, Hello, Oh, how you 270 00:15:13,640 --> 00:15:15,200 Speaker 1: doing doing great? 271 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:20,280 Speaker 4: So I think that the homeless problem there are three 272 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:24,400 Speaker 4: different categories right rough, categories of homeless people. Some of 273 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:26,840 Speaker 4: them are in a definite hardship and don't want to 274 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:29,200 Speaker 4: be homeless, and those ones we should throw money at 275 00:15:29,240 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 4: and help them to rehab. But they I think that 276 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:35,440 Speaker 4: there's a lot of them out there, and I work 277 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:36,760 Speaker 4: in the field and I talk to a lot of 278 00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:38,880 Speaker 4: them regularly. There's a lot of them out there that 279 00:15:38,960 --> 00:15:42,240 Speaker 4: love being homeless. There's a zero responsibility situation and that's 280 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:44,400 Speaker 4: what they really love. And then there's the drug addicts. 281 00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:47,240 Speaker 4: So the second two groups, I think they all need 282 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:50,120 Speaker 4: to go to jail and get rehabbed. That way, and 283 00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:53,760 Speaker 4: there's no amount of money that can fix it. And 284 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:57,960 Speaker 4: I think that the you know what we've shown in 285 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:01,000 Speaker 4: the past, were throwing money at it absolutely doesn't work. 286 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:03,880 Speaker 4: And the only way we're going to get around this 287 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:10,360 Speaker 4: whole thing is to not enable these people enablement. Like 288 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:13,840 Speaker 4: any drug situation, anybody's been through AA or whatever like that, 289 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:17,440 Speaker 4: they'll tell you it doesn't work. So as long as 290 00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:19,400 Speaker 4: we're paying for them to have a comfortable life with 291 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:21,560 Speaker 4: no responsibility, they will continue to do so. 292 00:16:22,120 --> 00:16:25,520 Speaker 1: As my opinion, I think you make a really, really, 293 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:28,520 Speaker 1: really strong point. Thanks so much for the call, Scott. Look, 294 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:31,640 Speaker 1: there is so much enabling going on, and that enabling 295 00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:34,600 Speaker 1: has led to thousands of deaths in our streets every 296 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:38,960 Speaker 1: single year, which you could also argue would make up 297 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:42,600 Speaker 1: for the reductions that we're counting for in homelessness. Even 298 00:16:42,680 --> 00:16:45,320 Speaker 1: though we're not seeing a reduction of MacArthur Park, we're 299 00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:48,360 Speaker 1: not seeing a reduction in skid Row. Those areas are 300 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:51,680 Speaker 1: even looking worse, even as Karen bessays, we're inviting the 301 00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:54,880 Speaker 1: world here. Eight hundred two two two five two two 302 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:57,760 Speaker 1: two is the telephone number one eight hundred two two 303 00:16:57,880 --> 00:17:01,000 Speaker 1: two five two two two The inner head of LOSSA 304 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:04,199 Speaker 1: says we're losing funding, which means the numbers are going 305 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:04,720 Speaker 1: to go up. 306 00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:08,560 Speaker 2: We faced the very real possibility that the next numbers 307 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:12,640 Speaker 2: will show an increase, not because solutions failed, but because 308 00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:13,600 Speaker 2: the resources did. 309 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:17,159 Speaker 1: Do you think the problem with Los Angeles' solutions to 310 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:20,639 Speaker 1: homelessness is just that there's not enough funding. Give us 311 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:22,960 Speaker 1: a call eight hundred two two two five two two 312 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 1: two one. Eight hundred two two two five two two two. 313 00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:29,199 Speaker 1: We'll take your calls next and we'll go through the 314 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:33,320 Speaker 1: measure a dashboard. It's the News Blitz with Randy Wang 315 00:17:33,440 --> 00:17:38,240 Speaker 1: on KABC. It's the News Blitz with Randy Wang on KABC. 316 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:40,640 Speaker 1: If you'd like to email us, I try to read 317 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:42,479 Speaker 1: and respond to every email that I get. You can 318 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:46,880 Speaker 1: do so at Randy Wangradio at gmail dot com. That's 319 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:50,639 Speaker 1: Randy Wang Radio at gmail dot com. Scott writes in 320 00:17:50,680 --> 00:17:53,320 Speaker 1: and Scott is a hawk on this subject. The reduction 321 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:56,160 Speaker 1: of homelessness in the city of Los Angeles was officially 322 00:17:56,320 --> 00:17:59,040 Speaker 1: just one thousand and eight and twenty twenty four. In 323 00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 1: twenty twenty five, it was just fifteen fifty three. None 324 00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:05,720 Speaker 1: of these public officials will ever acknowledge that the homeless 325 00:18:05,760 --> 00:18:09,840 Speaker 1: deaths are embedded in this some supposed homeless reduction. I mean, 326 00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:13,040 Speaker 1: let's not forget when Karen Bass ran for mayor in 327 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:17,280 Speaker 1: twenty twenty two, she ran because of the human suffering 328 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:19,720 Speaker 1: that was on the streets where she said five people 329 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:23,040 Speaker 1: were dying of overdose every single day, which would be 330 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:27,520 Speaker 1: about eighteen hundred people. Now the number is seven, so 331 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:32,280 Speaker 1: that means twenty five hundred. We're losing two overdose and 332 00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:34,560 Speaker 1: that is a tragedy. But that is a tragedy that 333 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:38,560 Speaker 1: we are enabling every single day. And what do you know, 334 00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:42,399 Speaker 1: the new mixes of the drugs aren't there. Narkhan doesn't work. 335 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:46,199 Speaker 1: So Unici Hernandez sending narkhn and in MacArthur Park. That 336 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:52,640 Speaker 1: is not solving the problem. We'll continue with the LASA 337 00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:55,080 Speaker 1: press conference on the homeless count that is going on 338 00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:59,720 Speaker 1: right now, and since Nitia brought it up, we'll start 339 00:18:59,720 --> 00:19:04,119 Speaker 1: looking looking at Measure a's dashboard where we can track 340 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:07,560 Speaker 1: the progress of Measure A. We're gonna go into the 341 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 1: Measure A progress tracker and see where that doubling of 342 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:15,320 Speaker 1: the sales tax is going to and the numbers that 343 00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:18,560 Speaker 1: they are claiming, whether they are good or bad. And 344 00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:22,600 Speaker 1: let me just say, with the briefest overview, the numbers 345 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:27,160 Speaker 1: that are in this measure a dashboard are kind of shocking. 346 00:19:27,840 --> 00:19:30,440 Speaker 1: Eight hundred two two two five two two two is 347 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:33,320 Speaker 1: the telephone number one? Eight hundred two two two five 348 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:36,200 Speaker 1: two two two. Do you think we're just not spending 349 00:19:36,359 --> 00:19:39,200 Speaker 1: enough money on our homeless problem? What do you say? 350 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:41,640 Speaker 1: Give us a call eight hundred two two two five 351 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:44,800 Speaker 1: two two two one. Eight hundred two two two five 352 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:47,439 Speaker 1: two two two. We'll take your calls and we'll go 353 00:19:47,480 --> 00:19:50,760 Speaker 1: through the measure a dashboard next. Might even have time 354 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:55,200 Speaker 1: for Nthea. It's the News Blitz with Randy Wang on KABC. 355 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:58,200 Speaker 1: It is the News Blitz with Randy Wang on Talk 356 00:19:58,320 --> 00:20:02,200 Speaker 1: radio seven ninety ka BC. We're here every single day 357 00:20:02,240 --> 00:20:04,800 Speaker 1: from five to six talking about the local issues that 358 00:20:04,840 --> 00:20:07,160 Speaker 1: matter to you most and taking your phone calls eight 359 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:09,919 Speaker 1: hundred two two two five two two two one eight 360 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:12,680 Speaker 1: hundred two two two five two two two your emails 361 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:15,840 Speaker 1: at Randy Wang Radio at gmail dot com and search 362 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:19,879 Speaker 1: for the KABC Newsblitz wherever you get your podcasts. The 363 00:20:20,040 --> 00:20:23,560 Speaker 1: Los Angeles Homeless Services Authorities annual count is going on 364 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:27,199 Speaker 1: right now, but because of cuts that are happening to 365 00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:31,840 Speaker 1: funding from federal sources, state sources, and county sources. They 366 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:33,520 Speaker 1: say the number is going to go up this year. 367 00:20:33,720 --> 00:20:37,240 Speaker 2: We face the very real possibility that the next numbers 368 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:41,399 Speaker 2: will show an increase, not because solutions failed, but because 369 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:42,320 Speaker 2: the resources did. 370 00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:45,400 Speaker 1: Do you think the failure to deal with the homelesses 371 00:20:45,480 --> 00:20:48,480 Speaker 1: Los Angeles County is just a lack of funding? Eight 372 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:51,480 Speaker 1: hundred two two two five two two two. Let's start 373 00:20:51,520 --> 00:20:53,200 Speaker 1: with John and Long Beach. John. 374 00:20:53,240 --> 00:20:58,439 Speaker 5: Hello, Hey, Randy, Hey, Randy, how are you? Uh? You know, 375 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:01,399 Speaker 5: I was working downtown a couple of weeks ago, just 376 00:21:01,920 --> 00:21:05,280 Speaker 5: we were right on the outskirts of skid row. And 377 00:21:06,119 --> 00:21:08,639 Speaker 5: you know, every time I go there, it gets worse 378 00:21:08,680 --> 00:21:11,640 Speaker 5: and worse and worse. And I don't think those people 379 00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:14,560 Speaker 5: are doing anything. My daughter worked for the City of 380 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:18,840 Speaker 5: Long Beach and she worked with some of those agencies. 381 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:22,480 Speaker 5: And I have another young friend that works downtown who's 382 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:25,560 Speaker 5: a social worker like my daughter, who works for one 383 00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:28,680 Speaker 5: of those agencies, and she was all gung ho when 384 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:32,280 Speaker 5: she went to work for him. She's so disenchanted. She's 385 00:21:32,320 --> 00:21:35,040 Speaker 5: worked there less than a year. She's about ready to 386 00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:39,480 Speaker 5: walk out because she said they don't do anything. They've 387 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:43,480 Speaker 5: got all these big bosses that walk around and they 388 00:21:43,640 --> 00:21:47,320 Speaker 5: do not do anything for anyone. They just try to 389 00:21:47,359 --> 00:21:50,919 Speaker 5: shuffle them off to somewhere else, give them a sandwich, 390 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:55,200 Speaker 5: and send them back out on the street. And she's 391 00:21:55,240 --> 00:21:59,359 Speaker 5: always trying to advocate for these people, and she basically 392 00:21:59,520 --> 00:22:04,200 Speaker 5: was kind of told, but not directly, just don't don't 393 00:22:04,240 --> 00:22:07,240 Speaker 5: make any waves while you're here, you know. So, no, 394 00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:11,480 Speaker 5: it's not funding. It's a lot to the people in 395 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:15,679 Speaker 5: charge caring about anything, and stuff in their own pockets 396 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:19,680 Speaker 5: and all their friends pockets full of cash. 397 00:22:19,720 --> 00:22:21,840 Speaker 1: Well, and to that point, John, we have seen such 398 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:25,800 Speaker 1: a massive attrition rate in the people who did get 399 00:22:25,800 --> 00:22:28,280 Speaker 1: into this work for the right reasons, the ground level 400 00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:31,960 Speaker 1: social workers. They quit because they are so disillusioned by 401 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:34,760 Speaker 1: how the system works and how the system doesn't actually 402 00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:36,760 Speaker 1: help the people they say they're trying to help. 403 00:22:37,960 --> 00:22:43,240 Speaker 5: Exactly exactly. That's why my daughter quit working for she well, 404 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:47,080 Speaker 5: she worked for a city agency and you know, in 405 00:22:47,160 --> 00:22:50,240 Speaker 5: health and human services, and that was their job to 406 00:22:50,359 --> 00:22:52,959 Speaker 5: advocate for these people, and they really didn't do anything. 407 00:22:53,359 --> 00:22:56,800 Speaker 5: She said, everybody that worked there was so apathetic. And 408 00:22:56,840 --> 00:23:01,480 Speaker 5: she went there, you know, all concerned and gonna help anybody, 409 00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:05,280 Speaker 5: and her boss basically told her, well, you know something, honey, 410 00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:08,840 Speaker 5: this may not be the job for you, and they 411 00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:12,840 Speaker 5: made it so miserable on her that she finally left 412 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:14,040 Speaker 5: because of that reason. 413 00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:18,119 Speaker 1: I hear stories like that every single day, and I 414 00:23:18,160 --> 00:23:20,640 Speaker 1: am not surprised at all. And they do not care. 415 00:23:20,720 --> 00:23:23,439 Speaker 1: All they care about is keeping the funding going, keeping 416 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:27,159 Speaker 1: their friends pockets lined. When it comes to actually solving 417 00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:30,000 Speaker 1: the problem, we have not seen noticeable results. John, Thank 418 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:32,800 Speaker 1: you so much for the call, as always appreciate it. 419 00:23:32,840 --> 00:23:35,480 Speaker 1: By the way, I'm checking out the new website for 420 00:23:35,520 --> 00:23:38,360 Speaker 1: the new County department. You can go to homeless dot 421 00:23:38,520 --> 00:23:41,960 Speaker 1: La County dot gov and they've got their measure a hub. 422 00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:44,159 Speaker 1: We'll look at that in a minute. But speaking of 423 00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:46,720 Speaker 1: skid Row, which again is the most visible place maybe 424 00:23:46,720 --> 00:23:48,520 Speaker 1: in the whole world for this where we have not 425 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:51,680 Speaker 1: really seen any kind of impact when you go down there, 426 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:54,600 Speaker 1: what they do page They actually have an initiative, the 427 00:23:54,640 --> 00:23:58,640 Speaker 1: skid Row Action Plan. What is the skid Row Action Plan. Well, 428 00:23:58,640 --> 00:24:01,560 Speaker 1: it's a roadmap that aims to medically expand housing and 429 00:24:01,640 --> 00:24:04,760 Speaker 1: other homeless services downtown while supporting the development of a 430 00:24:04,880 --> 00:24:08,720 Speaker 1: culturally vibrant and thriving skid Row community. Okay, well that 431 00:24:08,760 --> 00:24:12,320 Speaker 1: hasn't happened yet. Specifically, the plan sets priorities to support 432 00:24:12,359 --> 00:24:15,480 Speaker 1: safety and wellness in skid row by expanding access to 433 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:21,000 Speaker 1: interim and permittent housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and other supportive 434 00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:25,160 Speaker 1: services and economic opportunity. Now, the one that you really 435 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:29,200 Speaker 1: have to pay attention there is harm reduction, because harm 436 00:24:29,240 --> 00:24:32,840 Speaker 1: reduction leads to a lot of this money that is 437 00:24:32,840 --> 00:24:35,840 Speaker 1: supposed to go help people get off of skid row 438 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:39,159 Speaker 1: keep them there. What do I mean, Well, let me 439 00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:42,640 Speaker 1: give you an example of harm reduction. There is an 440 00:24:42,720 --> 00:24:46,719 Speaker 1: organization they actually have a storefront in skid row and 441 00:24:46,960 --> 00:24:53,200 Speaker 1: they're called Homeless Healthcare Los Angeles. And they are not doctors. No, no, no, 442 00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:57,560 Speaker 1: no no. The nonprofit Homeless Healthcare Los Angeles is paid 443 00:24:57,840 --> 00:25:03,280 Speaker 1: by your tax dollars to pass out needles and pipes 444 00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:07,280 Speaker 1: and other paraphernalia to the people on skid row. There 445 00:25:07,320 --> 00:25:12,119 Speaker 1: are literally drug dealers standing outside the storefront constantly because 446 00:25:12,160 --> 00:25:15,199 Speaker 1: there is no enforcement, and we wonder why the problem 447 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:18,280 Speaker 1: doesn't get any worse. So what exactly is the skid 448 00:25:18,359 --> 00:25:21,520 Speaker 1: Row Action plannable in twenty twenty two. According to the 449 00:25:21,560 --> 00:25:25,119 Speaker 1: twenty twenty two Homeless count about forty four hundred people 450 00:25:25,119 --> 00:25:28,600 Speaker 1: were experiencing homeless and skid Row, and of those over 451 00:25:28,640 --> 00:25:32,320 Speaker 1: twenty seven hundred were unsheltered. As the epicenter of homelessness 452 00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:35,480 Speaker 1: of the nation, skid Row also experienced the highest overdose 453 00:25:35,560 --> 00:25:40,280 Speaker 1: rope rate in the country in La County. Acknowledging the 454 00:25:40,320 --> 00:25:43,119 Speaker 1: importance of creating a healthy and safer community in a 455 00:25:43,160 --> 00:25:45,760 Speaker 1: neighborhood that has been shaped by decades of structural and 456 00:25:45,800 --> 00:25:50,560 Speaker 1: systemic inequalities, the Border Supervisors passed emotion introduced by Hildesleis 457 00:25:50,640 --> 00:25:53,720 Speaker 1: to create this action plan. So what does it do? 458 00:25:54,680 --> 00:25:57,600 Speaker 1: So far? I haven't found it. In June twenty twenty three, 459 00:25:57,720 --> 00:26:01,000 Speaker 1: Housing for Health and Partners were awarded sixty million dollars 460 00:26:01,040 --> 00:26:03,600 Speaker 1: by the state to provide housing and services to an 461 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:08,280 Speaker 1: estimated twenty five hundred individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness on skid Row. 462 00:26:08,560 --> 00:26:12,040 Speaker 1: Well is in that about half? Because the problem's not 463 00:26:12,119 --> 00:26:15,160 Speaker 1: half better, you could argue the problem is just as bad. 464 00:26:15,760 --> 00:26:18,080 Speaker 1: This funding served as a catalyst for the skid Row 465 00:26:18,119 --> 00:26:21,200 Speaker 1: Action Plan, a two hundred and eighty million dollar initiative 466 00:26:21,240 --> 00:26:25,639 Speaker 1: developed in collaboration with community members, business owners, and service providers. 467 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:29,240 Speaker 1: So far, they haven't said where any of this money 468 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:32,199 Speaker 1: is going and what this plan is. Some of their 469 00:26:32,240 --> 00:26:36,080 Speaker 1: projects are increasing the availability of safe interim housing and 470 00:26:36,200 --> 00:26:39,920 Speaker 1: opening more pathways from interim to permanent housing. Increasing the 471 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:43,520 Speaker 1: availability and access to safe permanent housing, Creating a safe 472 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 1: services space that centralizes access to a wide range of 473 00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:51,159 Speaker 1: care services, expanding access to health and behavioral healthcare. Creating 474 00:26:51,160 --> 00:26:54,000 Speaker 1: a harm reduction health hub that increases the safety and 475 00:26:54,040 --> 00:26:56,880 Speaker 1: well being of those who use drugs through holistic support. 476 00:26:58,720 --> 00:27:01,320 Speaker 1: Should I read that one one more time? What is 477 00:27:01,359 --> 00:27:04,639 Speaker 1: the skid Row Action plan. It's to create a harm 478 00:27:04,680 --> 00:27:08,120 Speaker 1: reduction health hub that increases the safety and well being 479 00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:14,680 Speaker 1: of those who use drugs through holistic support. I don't 480 00:27:14,680 --> 00:27:17,920 Speaker 1: think it's working. Eight hundred two two two five two 481 00:27:17,960 --> 00:27:20,640 Speaker 1: two two. Is the telephone number one? Eight hundred two 482 00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:23,560 Speaker 1: two two five two two two. When we come back, 483 00:27:23,880 --> 00:27:26,879 Speaker 1: we'll read your emails and we'll find out what is 484 00:27:26,920 --> 00:27:29,840 Speaker 1: in the measure. A hub that is supposed to hold 485 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:33,960 Speaker 1: your local elected officials accountable for the doubling of the 486 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:37,040 Speaker 1: sales tax that we voted for. Eight hundred two two 487 00:27:37,080 --> 00:27:39,880 Speaker 1: two five two two two one eight hundred two two 488 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:42,720 Speaker 1: two five two two two. It's the news Blitz with 489 00:27:42,800 --> 00:27:46,480 Speaker 1: Randy Wang on KABC. It's the News Blitz with Randy 490 00:27:46,520 --> 00:27:49,480 Speaker 1: Wang on KABC. If you'd like to email us, you 491 00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:53,359 Speaker 1: can do so at Randy Wangradio at gmail dot com. 492 00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:56,199 Speaker 1: Greg writes it and says, how bad is it that 493 00:27:56,480 --> 00:27:59,760 Speaker 1: LA's Homeless Counting Day is their super Bowl? I work 494 00:27:59,800 --> 00:28:02,639 Speaker 1: on the streets of LA every day. It has not 495 00:28:02,800 --> 00:28:05,239 Speaker 1: gone down. And if they want more money, show us 496 00:28:05,280 --> 00:28:07,200 Speaker 1: what has been done with the money they've been given. 497 00:28:07,280 --> 00:28:11,000 Speaker 1: First PS, you said the lady before Geta resigned in shame. 498 00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:16,159 Speaker 1: She resigned. But I don't think they're capable of shame. Okay, 499 00:28:16,240 --> 00:28:19,440 Speaker 1: I got a little homework assignment for you. If you're 500 00:28:19,480 --> 00:28:21,760 Speaker 1: at home and you're on your computer, I want you 501 00:28:21,800 --> 00:28:25,000 Speaker 1: to follow along with me as we're going to try 502 00:28:25,040 --> 00:28:29,639 Speaker 1: to track the progress towards Measure A goals that is 503 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:32,320 Speaker 1: the doubling of the homeless tax. So go to the 504 00:28:32,359 --> 00:28:36,800 Speaker 1: new website Homeless dot La County dot gov. Then you're 505 00:28:36,800 --> 00:28:41,320 Speaker 1: gonna click on measure A Hub. Then you're gonna scroll 506 00:28:41,400 --> 00:28:44,400 Speaker 1: down till you see a button that says track progress 507 00:28:44,440 --> 00:28:47,760 Speaker 1: towards measure A goals. We're gonna be looking at that 508 00:28:48,360 --> 00:28:51,960 Speaker 1: the progress that has already been made with your homeless money, 509 00:28:52,080 --> 00:28:55,560 Speaker 1: according to Los Angeles County. And this is according to 510 00:28:55,960 --> 00:28:59,960 Speaker 1: LASA and the other systems that they have, and the numbers, 511 00:29:01,040 --> 00:29:04,880 Speaker 1: according to them don't even look good right now. So 512 00:29:05,360 --> 00:29:08,400 Speaker 1: we'll give you those numbers next. You can check this 513 00:29:08,480 --> 00:29:11,400 Speaker 1: out for yourself. As far as I know, nobody has 514 00:29:11,440 --> 00:29:15,040 Speaker 1: actually looked at this website before, because if they had 515 00:29:15,440 --> 00:29:19,200 Speaker 1: believe you'd be these numbers would be reported because they're 516 00:29:19,240 --> 00:29:22,200 Speaker 1: worse than the numbers you think they are. Eight hundred 517 00:29:22,200 --> 00:29:25,080 Speaker 1: two two two five two two two is the telephone number. 518 00:29:25,320 --> 00:29:28,680 Speaker 1: It's the news Blitz with Randy Wang on KABC. It's 519 00:29:28,720 --> 00:29:32,440 Speaker 1: the News Blitz with Randy Wang on KABC. Before we 520 00:29:32,480 --> 00:29:35,640 Speaker 1: get to the measure A tracker, let's go to Valerie 521 00:29:35,640 --> 00:29:40,680 Speaker 1: and Redondo Valerie. Hello, Paul. 522 00:29:40,840 --> 00:29:43,600 Speaker 6: You know they're doing this homeless count and they're counting 523 00:29:43,600 --> 00:29:47,480 Speaker 6: all these people. How about all the animals that all 524 00:29:47,560 --> 00:29:51,520 Speaker 6: these homeless people are breeding for drug money. There are 525 00:29:51,680 --> 00:29:56,560 Speaker 6: countless dogs being neglected and abused on skid row. It's 526 00:29:56,640 --> 00:30:01,520 Speaker 6: absolutely heartbreaking what our city leader have allowed to happen 527 00:30:02,080 --> 00:30:06,640 Speaker 6: all on their watch. It has become so rampant the 528 00:30:06,720 --> 00:30:10,440 Speaker 6: trafficking down there, and it's frustrating because there is no 529 00:30:10,560 --> 00:30:15,320 Speaker 6: word on this in the media. We're euthanizing animals right 530 00:30:15,360 --> 00:30:19,240 Speaker 6: and left in Los Angeles County, and these people that 531 00:30:19,320 --> 00:30:23,160 Speaker 6: are living on these lawless streets that are doing drugs 532 00:30:23,480 --> 00:30:27,479 Speaker 6: are basically free to just have these animals continue to breed, 533 00:30:28,040 --> 00:30:30,760 Speaker 6: and no one's taking these dogs away from them. It's 534 00:30:30,840 --> 00:30:32,280 Speaker 6: absolutely infuriating. 535 00:30:33,040 --> 00:30:35,400 Speaker 1: Well, we have all of these ordinances that are supposed 536 00:30:35,440 --> 00:30:39,000 Speaker 1: to go against backyard breeders, but where it's literally happening 537 00:30:39,120 --> 00:30:41,520 Speaker 1: on the street in your face, the city of the 538 00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:44,000 Speaker 1: county don't want to do anything about it. And you're right, 539 00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:46,280 Speaker 1: it is the suffering that is going on out there. 540 00:30:46,320 --> 00:30:48,760 Speaker 1: You know, yes, there is human suffering going on out there, 541 00:30:48,920 --> 00:30:51,280 Speaker 1: but the canine and dog suffering that is going out 542 00:30:51,320 --> 00:30:54,560 Speaker 1: there is inconscionable. And the fact that we just look 543 00:30:54,600 --> 00:30:57,920 Speaker 1: the other way is a failure on every single level. 544 00:30:57,920 --> 00:31:00,560 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for the call. Appreciate it. Okay, 545 00:31:01,200 --> 00:31:03,960 Speaker 1: so let's go ahead and look at the tracker here. 546 00:31:04,520 --> 00:31:08,120 Speaker 1: The measure a goals because the first thing that you're 547 00:31:08,160 --> 00:31:13,000 Speaker 1: going to notice is that when it comes to the 548 00:31:13,120 --> 00:31:17,040 Speaker 1: first goal is how many people they say they serve 549 00:31:17,240 --> 00:31:19,600 Speaker 1: every single year. And I would imagine that these are 550 00:31:19,720 --> 00:31:22,760 Speaker 1: individual people because off the top of your head you 551 00:31:22,840 --> 00:31:26,280 Speaker 1: probably believe that the number that number that got counted 552 00:31:26,360 --> 00:31:28,520 Speaker 1: last year and the year before in the county is 553 00:31:28,560 --> 00:31:33,920 Speaker 1: somewhere around seventy thousand. Well, according to the La County 554 00:31:33,960 --> 00:31:37,600 Speaker 1: measure a tracker in twenty twenty four, the number of 555 00:31:37,600 --> 00:31:41,600 Speaker 1: people that they served was one hundred and thirty two thousand. 556 00:31:42,280 --> 00:31:47,960 Speaker 1: So that's double the number now they say, so already, 557 00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:50,640 Speaker 1: I'm like, wait a second, there's one hundred and thirty 558 00:31:50,680 --> 00:31:54,040 Speaker 1: two thousand, and that counts as sheltered and unsheltered. But 559 00:31:54,240 --> 00:31:59,840 Speaker 1: that is a massive, massive number. Now the unsheltered population 560 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:02,600 Speaker 1: and they say has gone down. They say that the 561 00:32:02,680 --> 00:32:05,840 Speaker 1: unsheltered population in the county as of twenty twenty five 562 00:32:06,360 --> 00:32:10,240 Speaker 1: is only forty seven thousand. So does that mean that 563 00:32:10,760 --> 00:32:15,120 Speaker 1: the other seventy thousand are in shelters? And how many 564 00:32:15,200 --> 00:32:19,280 Speaker 1: of them exit because they have like a statistic how 565 00:32:19,280 --> 00:32:23,840 Speaker 1: many went into interim housing. Well, last year in twenty 566 00:32:23,880 --> 00:32:27,880 Speaker 1: twenty four, they had twenty two thousand that were unsheltered 567 00:32:27,880 --> 00:32:30,440 Speaker 1: that went into interim housing. But wait, isn't that half 568 00:32:30,440 --> 00:32:34,040 Speaker 1: of the unsheltered number. It already sounds confusing, right, Well, 569 00:32:34,080 --> 00:32:36,160 Speaker 1: how many of those people in interim housing, which is 570 00:32:36,240 --> 00:32:40,320 Speaker 1: like motels and shelters went to, of course, permanent supportive 571 00:32:40,360 --> 00:32:43,920 Speaker 1: subsidized housing. Well, in twenty twenty four. Of that twenty 572 00:32:43,920 --> 00:32:47,280 Speaker 1: two thousand, it was about five thousand. Nowhere here is 573 00:32:47,320 --> 00:32:51,240 Speaker 1: a number of how many people got their lives together 574 00:32:51,880 --> 00:32:56,000 Speaker 1: to the point where they are now able to support themselves. 575 00:32:56,240 --> 00:32:59,640 Speaker 1: They now have job, they now have their own apartment. 576 00:33:00,520 --> 00:33:04,080 Speaker 1: There's no statistic for when they stop becoming a ward 577 00:33:04,080 --> 00:33:07,200 Speaker 1: of the state. So the number just keeps seem to 578 00:33:07,200 --> 00:33:09,320 Speaker 1: be going up, and you wonder where all the money 579 00:33:09,360 --> 00:33:13,560 Speaker 1: is going. Well, if nobody ever actually exits homelessness, if 580 00:33:13,560 --> 00:33:16,760 Speaker 1: they never actually get their lives back on track, if 581 00:33:16,760 --> 00:33:22,040 Speaker 1: we're just constantly supporting them, that's completely unsustainable. Okay. Now, 582 00:33:22,080 --> 00:33:26,800 Speaker 1: according to Loss's own numbers, how many people say that 583 00:33:26,840 --> 00:33:32,200 Speaker 1: they have a serious mental illness about fourteen thousand. I'm 584 00:33:32,240 --> 00:33:35,400 Speaker 1: not buying that. You have to I guess self, diagnose yourself. 585 00:33:35,560 --> 00:33:38,080 Speaker 1: How many say that you have a substance use disorder? 586 00:33:38,560 --> 00:33:42,760 Speaker 1: That's about nine thousand. But that's only if you only 587 00:33:42,800 --> 00:33:45,240 Speaker 1: say you have a mental illness fourteen thousand. If you 588 00:33:45,400 --> 00:33:49,320 Speaker 1: only have substance use, that's nine thousand. If you have both, 589 00:33:49,640 --> 00:33:53,280 Speaker 1: that's twenty one thousand. So twenty one thousand plus nine thousand, 590 00:33:53,400 --> 00:33:56,760 Speaker 1: that is thirty thousand plus fourteen thousand. You're looking at 591 00:33:56,760 --> 00:34:00,680 Speaker 1: about forty four thousand according to La County's own numbers 592 00:34:01,080 --> 00:34:04,480 Speaker 1: of people that are on the streets every single day 593 00:34:04,880 --> 00:34:09,080 Speaker 1: that are either seriously addicted to drugs or severely mentally 594 00:34:09,160 --> 00:34:13,800 Speaker 1: ill or both. That is a failure on every single 595 00:34:14,080 --> 00:34:16,640 Speaker 1: level because every day we're not taking care of the 596 00:34:16,719 --> 00:34:21,080 Speaker 1: mentally ill is. These people cannot take care of themselves. 597 00:34:21,480 --> 00:34:24,239 Speaker 1: And all of the laws that we have passed to 598 00:34:24,320 --> 00:34:27,279 Speaker 1: reform our mental health services system hasn't been enough. Care 599 00:34:27,320 --> 00:34:30,560 Speaker 1: court hasn't been enough. And the fact that we allow 600 00:34:31,440 --> 00:34:34,600 Speaker 1: thousands of drug addicted to lay about and die on 601 00:34:34,600 --> 00:34:36,760 Speaker 1: the streets every day, that is a failure as well. 602 00:34:37,400 --> 00:34:42,320 Speaker 1: How many people went into permanent housing and remained housed 603 00:34:42,360 --> 00:34:44,400 Speaker 1: like they didn't leave the program, Well, we only have 604 00:34:44,480 --> 00:34:48,160 Speaker 1: numbers up till twenty twenty two for that. Okay, now 605 00:34:48,160 --> 00:34:50,960 Speaker 1: here's the statistic that I'm trying to really wrap my 606 00:34:51,000 --> 00:34:54,440 Speaker 1: head around. And this is probably the one that I 607 00:34:54,520 --> 00:34:58,000 Speaker 1: don't know if I'm buying, and maybe it tells a 608 00:34:58,040 --> 00:35:02,799 Speaker 1: completely different story. But if you remember the first page 609 00:35:02,840 --> 00:35:06,480 Speaker 1: of the measure, a tracker shows that they served one 610 00:35:06,560 --> 00:35:11,799 Speaker 1: hundred and thirty two thousand people in LA County in 611 00:35:11,880 --> 00:35:15,400 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four, which again is way higher than the 612 00:35:15,480 --> 00:35:20,240 Speaker 1: number we thought it was. They have on page five 613 00:35:20,280 --> 00:35:26,200 Speaker 1: of this a number that is the service participants who 614 00:35:26,239 --> 00:35:29,400 Speaker 1: are newly homeless, like not ones that have been on 615 00:35:29,440 --> 00:35:31,480 Speaker 1: the streets for years, like when you see the stories 616 00:35:31,480 --> 00:35:33,239 Speaker 1: of people on skid row and they've been there for 617 00:35:33,280 --> 00:35:35,440 Speaker 1: a decade. Some have been there for the two decades. 618 00:35:36,400 --> 00:35:40,440 Speaker 1: Newly homeless, I would imagine, means that you became homeless 619 00:35:40,480 --> 00:35:45,120 Speaker 1: that year. Well, according to LA County in twenty twenty four, 620 00:35:45,320 --> 00:35:47,359 Speaker 1: and again these are the years before all of these 621 00:35:47,400 --> 00:35:51,880 Speaker 1: funding cuts, that number was eighty one thousand. So of 622 00:35:51,920 --> 00:35:58,040 Speaker 1: the one hundred and thirty thousand, eighty thousand were newly homeless. Yeah, 623 00:35:58,200 --> 00:36:01,200 Speaker 1: unless a whole bunch of people are moving here, because 624 00:36:01,200 --> 00:36:02,960 Speaker 1: this is where all the services are, and this is 625 00:36:03,000 --> 00:36:05,719 Speaker 1: also where we're pretty lacks on the drug laws, these 626 00:36:05,840 --> 00:36:09,799 Speaker 1: numbers are very difficult. So here are the goals. Goal 627 00:36:09,880 --> 00:36:13,400 Speaker 1: Number one is to decrease unsheltered homelessness. They want to 628 00:36:13,440 --> 00:36:18,520 Speaker 1: do that and by twenty thirty, and currently they are 629 00:36:18,640 --> 00:36:22,560 Speaker 1: thirty percent of the way there. Goal number two they 630 00:36:22,560 --> 00:36:25,239 Speaker 1: want to decrease homelessness among people with mental health and 631 00:36:25,239 --> 00:36:29,600 Speaker 1: substance use disorders. Currently they are so far behind on 632 00:36:29,640 --> 00:36:35,359 Speaker 1: the progress they are at negative seventy percent. Goal number three, 633 00:36:35,800 --> 00:36:40,720 Speaker 1: increase the people permanently housed. They are negative five percent 634 00:36:40,800 --> 00:36:44,560 Speaker 1: to their progress on that one, and of course, decrease 635 00:36:44,600 --> 00:36:48,000 Speaker 1: the people falling into homelessness. According to their own numbers, 636 00:36:48,560 --> 00:36:51,840 Speaker 1: the county is negative one hundred and twenty three percent 637 00:36:52,280 --> 00:36:56,960 Speaker 1: on that goal. Now, this just started in twenty twenty four. 638 00:36:57,200 --> 00:36:59,680 Speaker 1: They've only had the funding for a year. But they 639 00:36:59,680 --> 00:37:02,480 Speaker 1: claim that they're going to meet all these goals by 640 00:37:02,560 --> 00:37:06,759 Speaker 1: twenty thirty and I'm here to tell you no, they're not. 641 00:37:07,320 --> 00:37:09,560 Speaker 1: So check this out for yourself. There's a lot more 642 00:37:09,640 --> 00:37:11,920 Speaker 1: data on here, but so far all of the data 643 00:37:12,040 --> 00:37:15,279 Speaker 1: is really really bad. But what are we gonna do? 644 00:37:15,760 --> 00:37:18,680 Speaker 1: Text ourselves even more because they'll definitely have enough money 645 00:37:18,719 --> 00:37:21,200 Speaker 1: to spend on this. Thank y'all so much for being 646 00:37:21,239 --> 00:37:23,240 Speaker 1: a part of the show. Thank you for your calls 647 00:37:23,320 --> 00:37:26,360 Speaker 1: and your emails. You ever missed an episode of this show, 648 00:37:26,480 --> 00:37:28,480 Speaker 1: or you want to go back and listen to the backlog, 649 00:37:29,360 --> 00:37:32,360 Speaker 1: Search for the KBC News Blitz wherever you get your podcasts. 650 00:37:32,400 --> 00:37:36,080 Speaker 1: It's The News Blitz with Randy Wang on kab C