CommentsLA SKID ROW POLITICS-Skid Row is commonly known as “The Homeless Capital of America,” so any court decisions directly affect the epicenter of homelessness in the United States.
This week, the U..S Supreme Court wasted no time in delivering a resounding defeat to the latest “effort” (if it can be called that) to what’s now known as “The Boise case,” but legally, City of Boise v. Martin – Case Number 19-247.
With a long list of its own failed legal attempts to criminalize homelessness, both the County of Los Angeles and the City of LA jumped on the Boise bandwagon and piggybacked all the way to the highest court in all the land – The U.S. Supreme Court (You know, Roe v. Wade, Brown v. Board of Education. . .Yeah, THAT Supreme Court.)
As a homegrown Angeleno, it is absolutely embarrassing for the second largest city in America to sheepishly follow the desperate acts of such a small-town effort in Boise, Idaho. So much for Los Angeles’ long-standing reputation of having the brightest minds, powerful influencers and savviest politicians.
If this was a heavyweight boxing match, the political heads of both the City and County of Los Angeles cheaply qualified themselves for the undercard of the main event by each filing amicus briefs -- the County on September 17, and the City on September 25.
Keep in mind, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals already knocked out Boise in a one-sided title bout last year. But somehow, Boise pulled key strings and miraculously was granted an instant title bout against the heavyweight champion of America: The United States Supreme Court.
Like Mike Tyson in his prime, the Supreme Court knocked out Boise, LA County, City of LA, et. al. in less than 90 days. Many in the sold-out crowd (pun intended) were still getting their popcorn and snacks ready and didn’t get to their seats in time to witness the devastating and powerful left hook from the Supreme Court’s well-known arsenal of punches.
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which was sitting ringside, immediately jumped for joy as Boise (and Los Angeles) lay flat on the canvas. The referee never even bothered to count because it was quite clear to everyone that this bout was instantly, and completely, over.
So what now for the City and County of LA? Not only are their collective egos bruised and battered, but when one looks at their horrendous records of combating homelessness, many wonder why they’re even licensed to continue political boxing. Clearly, they can’t fight, have extremely limited skills and always lose in big matches. Time for a complete rethink and overhaul of their collective political boxing careers.
LA City Attorney Mike Feuer selfishly and subliminally self-promoted himself as he filed the amicus brief, not the City of Los Angeles. In what appears to have been a “moment to grandstand” and propel himself as the leading candidate to be the next Mayor of Los Angeles, he failed miserably and has now exposed his own long list of political failures regarding homelessness which can only equate to significant incompetence -- not the qualities needed to lead our great City towards the 22nd Century.
Also suffering greatly from this lopsided defeat on the County of Los Angeles’ side are Janice Hahn and Mark Ridley-Thomas, who were the shocking and decisive votes, respectively, that backed Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s foolish motion to begin with.
Hahn’s family legacy will take a credibility hit, but it’s Ridley-Thomas, as the deciding vote, who will (and should) suffer the most. Just as Feuer used “Boise” to catapult his political career, it must also be noted that Ridley-Thomas is currently registered as a candidate for an LA City Council seat.
One can only think that the aforementioned politicians wanted their resumes to reflect that they “made it to the Supreme Court” which only serves their personal agendas (stories to tell their grandchildren) rather than to represent the millions of constituents who voted them into office to represent We the People.
Going back to Ridley-Thomas, by comparison, former-LA City Council President Herb Wesson stepped down once he began his campaign as a candidate for the LA County Board of Supervisors (Ridley-Thomas’s soon-to-be-vacant seat). Why hasn’t Ridley-Thomas stepped down yet?
How can he competently represent the 2nd Supervisorial District while simultaneously campaigning for his next political position on the LA City Council?
Even further, how can Ridley-Thomas be Co-Chair for Governor Gavin Newsom’s brand-new $1-billion dollar Task Force on Homelessness, which began on July 1, 2019, to create new and positive homeless solutions, when Ridley-Thomas just sided against homeless individuals and families by siding with Boise’s criminalization stance?
Obviously, it is time for We the People to demand that Governor Newsom drop Ridley-Thomas quicker than that Supreme Court 1st-round KO and replace him with someone who reflects a more compassionate, and even progressive, outlook on statewide homelessness.
For us in Skid Row, as they say in boxing, “We’re done with these bums!”
To all those who ask, “What can I do to help?” I say, start by calling, emailing, speaking to, making political signs, protesting and/or all the above, calling on the Governor of the State of California (Newsom) to immediately remove Ridley-Thomas as Co-Chair of the Governor’s Task Force on Homelessness.
We just got rid of Peter Lynn, former Executive Director for Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), who recently resigned as a result of constant pressure from We the People. So there’s proof that our collective voice matters. And is being heard.
With all the talent in this city, county and state, there’s no freaking way that Los Angeles should be following the lead of small-town politics and getting knocked on its AZZ!
Right now, I’m embarrassed to be an Angeleno. How ’bout you?
(General Jeff -- Jeff Page -- is a homelessness activist and leader in Downtown Los Angeles. Jeff’s views are his own.) Edited for CityWatch by Linda Abrams.
