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Garcetti Wants Funds, Land and Medical Aid From Feds To Fight Homelessness
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti speaking about his plans to address homelessness in the city, Feb. 6, 2020. (Caroline Champlin/LAist)
Is L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti really going to work with his archenemy in the White House on homelessness? There has been much rumbling about such a deal in recent months but few details.
Garcetti said Thursday he’s still working with the Trump administration to secure federal help to address homelessness in the city.
That help could come in the form of surplus federal land for new homeless shelters and medical aid.
“There’s not actually many sticking points, a lot of it’s logistics,” Garcetti said.
How much money can we expect from the feds? Unclear.
“Everybody wants to know a number. Not yet,” Garcetti said. The federal government is asking Garcetti to match their offer, which the mayor says he might be able to do with the help of state funding recently offered to L.A.
And with what strings attached? Unclear.
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“There’s also an ongoing discussion of law enforcement, as well,” Garcetti said, hinting at pressures from the federal government to enforce anti-camping laws.
On that one, the Trump administration may be at odds with the Supreme Court, which recently declined to revisit a lower court's decision upholding the rights of homeless people to sleep outside.
“The Supreme Court has been very clear, you can’t have that discussion about people not camping unless you have a bed for everyone.”
Garcetti says he plans to continue discussions with Carson at a symposium on homelessness at USC next week.
GO DEEPER:
- What Is The Federal Government Doing To End Homelessness In LA? (LAist)
- LA Politicians Are Working With Trump On Homelessness (LAist)
- LA Explained: Homelessness (LAist)
- The State of Homelessness in America (White House Council of Economic Advisors)
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