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Does California Need A Homelessness 'State Of Emergency'?
A homeless woman sleeps on a pile of belongings on the street near the Los Angeles Mission on December 22, 2017.
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FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images
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Does California Need A Homelessness 'State Of Emergency'?
Governor Gavin Newsom's task force on homelessness met Friday in Los Angeles to discuss ideas for more quickly getting people off the streets.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, who co-chairs the task force, has recently called on California officials to declare a “state of emergency” on homelessness. He has said that could help ease environmental regulations that can hold up new shelters and housing developments, and that a state of emergency is appropriate given the scale of the problem.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
