to the editor: As always, columnist Steve López is right (“For mayoral candidates and for all of Los Angeles, this is the conversation we need to have about homelessness.” June 6). It shouldn't take an election year to get much-needed attention on homelessness. This is a problem that has a solution, and cities like Bakersfield and Houston give us plans.
Before the pandemic, Bakersfield reached “functional zero” level of homelessness by aligning local agencies, nonprofits, and outreach volunteers to get people off the streets permanently. In the Houston metropolitan area, there is a “Housing First” initiative called The way home. Like the Bakersfield program, it unifies local government and coordinates a database to find solutions. These are just a few examples of how you can begin to solve the homeless crisis in Los Angeles.
In Los Angeles, we have become immune to seeing these human beings who never set out to become a statistic of hopelessness and despair. We look the other way because it is easier than admitting that our city has two faces: one of opulence, wealth and beauty and the other of misery, dirt, chronic diseases and stone sidewalks hard and cold as a pillow.
There is no panacea for a perfect city, but every human being deserves a chance. Not just in an election year, and not just because officials want to hide the unpleasant truth from visitors to the 2028 Olympics.
People are fed up and want a change. Isn't it time? A city is only as good as the people who live in it, and we have to do better, much better.
Frances Terrell Lippman, Sherman Oaks
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to the editor: When looking at the “problem” of homelessness, different people see different things. Some see our homeless brothers and sisters who have fallen through the safety net, while others see a dangerous blight on our neighborhoods and businesses.
While both can be true, of course, a person's perspective dictates their approach toward a solution. That is, should we help or should we eliminate?
I suggest that too often the voter's lens is determined not by careful analysis but by unexamined habitus. AND that may be the real problem of homelessness.
Lee McCoy, Sherman Oaks
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to the editor: Lopez's column about the need for mayoral candidates to talk about homelessness was spot on.
What's hard for me is defending my state to my friends, who say California is a failure at addressing the problem and that we've spent billions but the gains are negligible. My question is, who keeps track of spending and where does all the money go? My fear is that the executives or leaders responsible for the spending will earn ungodly salaries and it won't be enough to reach the worker bees trying to solve the problem. I wish the Los Angeles Times had a tracker that constantly reported on spending.
Pearl Wayne, Westlake Village
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to the editor: López reflects on the problem of homeless people in Los Angeles.
This humanitarian and civic crisis has been decades in the making. It was the result of economic changes, substantial job losses and high costs of living. Added to this was the lack of civic leadership and refusal to address this problem in the 1970s. When the number of homeless people was beginning to increase noticeably, residents were still not taking responsibility for their resistance to solutions (NIMBY and other barriers), but with expectations of quick solutions. Then there was the incompetent management of funds provided by voters to address homelessness issues.
The program and the financial scandals are inexcusable. And we know that health problems (mental and physical) and drug addiction add to the overwhelming challenge. I share the desperation and frustration of my fellow residents, especially after we voted to raise taxes on ourselves to provide money for solutions. However, a problem of human abandonment that has been going on for more than 50 years will not disappear in five or ten years.
Our fellow human beings need and deserve our help. We have to hold the civic leadership and responsible agencies accountable, and be patient. I don't think the problem is intractable, but the solutions aren't quick and easy campaign bits either.
I hope one or more candidates or members for mayor and council pay attention to López's column.
Jo Ann Dawson, Northridge
