In defiance of Gov. Gavin Newsom's recent executive order, officials in Los Angeles have taken a unified stance against the directive to dismantle homeless encampments across the city. The Board of Supervisors for Los Angeles County cast a unanimous vote on Tuesday, solidifying their "care first, jails last" strategy and rebuffing any notion of using incarceration as a tool for managing the city's homeless population.
During the proceedings, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass alongside Supervisor Hilda Solis expressed disapproval of criminalizing homelessness, as reported by NBC Los Angeles. "Just by sweeping people off the streets off sidewalks and putting them in jail is not going to settle this issue," Solis declared. The staunch opposition to Newsom's order appears rooted in a deeply held belief that punitive measures are not the answer to the complex crisis at hand.
Reflecting on the county's limitations, Supervisor Kathryn Barger voiced concerns at a recent meeting, she supports the Governor's directive but the infrastructure to manage the aftermath of encampment clearance isn't ready, as mentioned by KTLA. "My position has and continues to be that I do not believe the criminalization of homelessness is the right path," Barger stated. The county's law enforcement, led by Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, has also sided with the supervisors, stressing that homelessness itself is not a criminal act.
Amid the tension, some residents have called for the county to evaluate their current strategies. One concerned citizen reached out during a board meeting, urging for a reevaluation, especially in areas where mental health and drug rehabilitation services seem to be lacking. "We don’t see adequate delivery of mental health services or drug rehabilitation services...it seems [the county is] taking too long in implementing SB 43, you do not protect the public space and our residents are suffering from negative ramifications from prolonged encampments," the resident stated as stated by KTLA.
