When Decentralization Meets NIMBYism, LA Homelessness Explodes

DOWNTOWN LA-Let’s start with a simple math equation: Decentralization+Nimbyism = More homeless persons living on LA’s sidewalks. 

This is all you need to know to conclude that the exploding  homelessness across the city will not subside anytime soon. This same simple math also suggests that a decrease in homelessness won’t happen anytime soon, either. 

Here’s why: Skid Row has existed in Downtown Los Angeles for well over 100 years. The current attempt to spread out low-income housing for the homeless instead of concentrating it in one specific area has existed for about 10 years. 

This “spread-it-out” concept is officially called “decentralization.” It’s the “college fight song” for almost all who live Downtown. Remember the saying: “Just because you say something over and over again, doesn’t make it true.” Longtime Downtown residents are being joined by young hipster-types who have bought into the same “futuristic vision” of a homeless-free Downtown. But what should be noted is, the folks that have been here the longest are also singing the softest. This may suggest that their hopes are starting to falter. 

What has been conveniently omitted from the decentralization marketing “lyrics” is the presence of NIMBYism (“not in my backyard”) -- a totally different fight song that’s being sung by almost everyone who doesn’t live in Downtown. 

So if there is one side that wants homeless housing spread out -- but the other side doesn’t want it in their neighborhoods -- then where does it end up? In essence, who wins? 

That battle still hasn’t even acknowledged itself, but the one thing that’s clear is who loses – and that is the homeless. Without anyhomeless housing being built, the current backlog of people needing housing is starting to overwhelm the entire city.  Sadly, it will continue to expand at an alarming rate. 

One doesn’t have to be Albert Einstein to compute these mathematical components. 

Ultimately, the whole city of Los Angeles is in danger of becoming “the loser.” 

In addition, with the 2024 Olympic bid looming, how can Los Angeles be taken seriously by the international sports world? They are watching us and will soon be making judgments to determine whether to bring their multi-billion-dollar machine to the City of Angels. 

What’s almost guaranteed is the fact that, as City officials attempt to ramp up their smoke and mirrors marketing campaign to fool the IOC (International Olympic Committee -- the folks who make the final decision), the “mathematicians” will try to out-influence one another about where the homeless housing should be built. 

The sad part here is that, even while there are sure to be ongoing disputes, discussions and eventually town hall meetings, the homeless folks will still be left out in the cold for the entire duration of this “Math-Off.” 

We already know the homeless always get the short straw – something they didn’t pull for themselves. It was handed to them. 

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So what is definite? The high-concentration of child molesters and sexual predators won’t ever be decentralized…or will they? The severely mentally ill who are classified as “51-50” won’t be forced into mental institutions any time soon…or will they? The mental institutions won’t be decentralized…or will they? But wait, no one wants a state-of-the-art mental health facility in their neighborhood…down the street from homes, schools and senior centers, right? Surely there will not be massive homeless storage facilities all over the city…or will there? 

So who’s going to win? Does Downtown have enough power to manipulate and influence the “computations” made by the rest of LA? Or will Los Angeles put Downtown in its place – maybe even in the “corner” wearing a mathematical dunce cap? Obviously, LA’s powerful allies from Sacramento and Washington DC will come into play. 

And who will be the guaranteed winners? The Skid Row non-profits -- the fat cats -- who are the current caretakers. They will continue to get nothing done during this excessively-long dispute, yet they will continue to reap all the“for the time being” allocation funding that’s available. Talk about “bad math”…wow. 

Since Skid Row is already here and not going anywhere…then why not improve it?  Again, the simple math makes sense. 

Here’s another question: If decentralization happens, won’t Skid Row just spread out and take over a larger area across Los Angeles? 

Seems like LA needs some new mathematicians at the decision-making table to add up all this “bad math.” 

I’m not a Trojan but the USC song “Fight On” seems appropriate here.

 

(General Jeff is a homeless activist and leader in Downtown Los Angeles.) Edited for CityWatch by Linda Abrams.

-cw

 

 

CityWatch

Vol 13 Issue 88

Pub: Oct 30, 2015