VOICES-When will LA’s elected officials finally stand up and side with the Neighborhood Councils and declare the State of Emergency for Homelessness and lack of affordable housing?
The LA Neighborhood Council Coalition and the West LA Sawtelle NC both have passed motions asking their council members and the Mayor to make the declaration.
IN the LA Times last week, an article about Veteran homelessness, it quotes the Mayor as stating his trip to Washington was a priority because he was looking at an APP he follows and realized that Veteran Homelessness had spiked in Los Angeles.
REALLY! It took an APP to open his eyes? Anyone want to but a bridge?
The West LA Veterans Administration readily admits they have 1500 VA Vouchers for a room, but no place to put them. It is no wonder nobody wants to fund the West LA NC request for the St. Joseph's Center to bring in outreach people to help with West LA Homeless. Because the real truth is, there are NO HOMES to place them in.
As for the West LA VA: They have 200 acres of unused or under utilized land. Why not emergency shelter like tents.
Vince Kane, a VA Higher up representing the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from DC, says tents are inhumane. REALLY? Every soldier going to war ends up in a fox hole or tent.
The veterans living on the streets would love to have a tent. Is it not inhumane to leave them on cold sidewalk or on a cardboard box?
Where are their priorities?
Maybe the city council, the Mayor and the leaders from Washington should all sleep on our sidewalks for the next month.
Watch how fast housing is developed.
I challenge every Councilmember, the Mayor and all representatives from the Veterans Administration to walk with me for a day … LA then tell me there is no State of Emergency.
(Jay Handal is chair of the West Los Angeles Neighborhood Council and Co-Chairs the Neighborhood Council Budget Advocates Committee.)
-cw
CityWatch
Vol 13 Issue 53
Pub: Jun 30, 2015
