Los Angeles Unhoused Become Targets

Latest

A notice for the Special Enforcement Zone in Los Angeles that prohibits sitting, sleeping, and lying on the public sidewalk / Photo by Chris Venn

Los Angeles CA — Last week in Los Angeles three homeless people were shot on the streets. This happened in the middle of the night as each person was alone.

In her first year in office, Mayor Karen Bass had $250 million to spend on housing. This is the one-year anniversary of her “Inside Safe” program. As part of this program, only 200 people have been housed.

“A lot of this is coming from failed politicians. People are tired of seeing all this money spent. Here it is one year and there are 46,000 unhoused people living on the street” says General Dogon of the LACAN Human and Civil Rights Committee.

There was a 24-hour news cycle covering of these killings. What about the consistent violence of six people a day dying in Los Angeles from being unhoused?

When Karen Bass became mayor of Los Angeles, she stated there was a homeless crisis.

The mayor claims 20,000 people have been housed, but this is just “shelter shuffle.” $3,200 a month is being spent by the city on hotel rooms, lining hotel owner’s pockets. This is way too much for a hotel when you have condos renting for $1,500 in downtown Los Angeles.

This is the same thing as Triple H in 2016 where $1.2 billion in bonds was raised, with the support of 77% of the voters, to build housing. In September 2020, estimated building costs rose to $531,000 per unit.

“This is why we see the killers. It is because city hall is breeding them,” said General Dogon.

When decent people see this, it is pissing them off. Everyone doesn’t have the same understanding. City council policies grow those kinds of attacks because as they continue to fail to provide actual housing, people grow more and more frustrated, and they end up targeting the vulnerable.

“All this money with barely any results is going to be a lot of trouble unless we make a serious change to the cost.” —General Dogon

+ Articles by this author

The People’s Tribune opens its pages to voices of the movement for change. Our articles are written by individuals or organizations, along with our own reporting. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors. Articles entitled “From the Editors” reflect the views of the editorial board. Please credit the source when sharing: peoplestribune.orgPlease donate to help us keep bringing you voices of the movement for change. Click here. We’re all volunteer, no paid staff. The People’s Tribune is a 501C4 organization.

Featured

Japanese Internment Survivors, Faith Leaders Demand Texas ICE Detention Center Close

Faith leaders and Japanese internment camp survivors held a 45 mile pilgrimage demanding the closure of the only federal family detention center, described as inhumane and a tragic “repetition of American history.”

Progressives? Conservatives? Left? Right? Who Do They All Represent?

The billionare class paints the economy as very good based on rising stock market episodes that don’t filter down to most blue-collar people. Let’s concentrate our efforts on those fighting for the needs of the many.

A Somali Perspective on Life in Minnesota

The words “Nobody wants you here,” may have been directed at one Somali family, but they do not define Minnesota’s Somali community. By listening to the voices of Somalis themselves, a different story emerges, one of belonging, resilience, and community.

50 Years Later: The Man Who Refused to Let Allensworth Disappear

While a historical site cannot bring back the haven of possibility that the town of Allensworth in the state of California once was, its presence forces a reckoning for anyone it reaches — a ceaseless act of resistance in itself.

ICE Killings Are Increasing, But So is the Resistance

If we allow ICE, as a servant of the powerful, to kill or deport our working class sisters and brothers then we are not only immoral, we’re setting ourselves up to be next in line for the detention centers.

More from the People's Tribune