Los Angeles City Council agrees to pay an outside firm $2.2 million to audit its homelessness programs after facing criticism for failing to curb the worsening crisis. A federal judge requested the audit, and a coalition has sued the city for not meeting a 2020 settlement agreement to address homelessness. Despite record levels of taxpayer dollars being spent, the homeless population in Los Angeles and California continues to rise, with over 181,000 people considered homeless in 2023. The audit aims to provide insight into how local, state, and federal dollars are being used for homeless services.
California voters narrowly approve Proposition 1, requiring counties to address the homelessness crisis by authorizing $6.38 billion in bonds to build mental health facilities and housing. Governor Gavin Newsom supported the measure, which aims to provide housing for over 11,000 residents and allocate $1 billion to help homeless veterans. The funding will come from a 2004 tax on millionaires, and critics argue that it could worsen the problem by forcing rural counties to divert money from existing programs to comply with the new requirements.
California voters have passed Proposition 1, a $6.38 billion bond ballot measure, to address the state's homelessness crisis, imposing strict requirements on counties to spend on housing and drug treatment programs. The measure, championed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, aims to allocate funds from a voter-approved tax for mental health services to housing and programs for homeless individuals with mental illnesses or substance abuse issues. While supporters see it as a historic reform, opponents fear it may threaten other vital programs and services.
California voters are divided over Proposition 1, a ballot measure aimed at addressing the state's homelessness crisis and mental health system. Governor Gavin Newsom campaigned for the measure, which would authorize over $6 billion in bonds for mental health care, substance abuse treatment, and housing for the homeless. While some support the proposition as a necessary step to tackle the crisis, others, including social providers, have concerns about its potential impact on existing programs. The measure's fate remains uncertain as ballot counting in California could take days, and it has become a focal point in the ongoing efforts to address the state's significant homelessness challenges.
Wealthy Californians are leaving their LA mansions in droves, fleeing to states with lower taxes and more affordable housing due to the recently enforced 'mansion tax' and issues such as rampant crime and the homelessness crisis. Celebrities like Hilary Swank, Mark Wahlberg, Matt Damon, and Joe Rogan have all left California for states like Colorado, Nevada, and Texas. The exodus is driven by the desire for more financial freedom and a better quality of life, with some citing the high cost of living and the worsening homelessness epidemic in Los Angeles as key factors in their decision to relocate.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has been working to address the city's homelessness crisis by implementing housing relief programs, such as "Inside Safe," which has brought nearly 2,000 people off the streets and provided temporary housing for nearly 22,000 residents. However, the lack of affordable housing stock remains a challenge, with only 3,500 unhoused people finding permanent housing. The city is exploring options like using vacant residential hotel rooms as interim housing, but there is a need for 456,000 more housing units to meet the demand. The Biden administration has set a goal of reducing homelessness by 25% in the next two years, and Secretary Marcia Fudge is working to streamline the process of building new affordable housing. Mayor Bass has also sponsored bills to create more permanent housing and expedite the building process on public lands. The city aims to address the homelessness crisis before major upcoming events like the FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics.
California's prison system releases inmates without requiring them to have housing, contributing to the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles County. A U.S. citizen has been detained by North Korea after crossing the border from South Korea. Centrist Republicans warn against far-right lawmakers' aggressive funding demands, potentially triggering a government shutdown. Four deaths of women in Portland, Oregon, within three months are linked, with one person of interest identified. RFK Jr. faces backlash for sharing a Covid conspiracy theory, drawing criticism from both Republicans and his own family. The Powerball jackpot reaches $1 billion.
California Governor Gavin Newsom appeared on Fox News' Sean Hannity show and discussed the state's homelessness crisis. Newsom defended his former city, San Francisco, against criticism and pushed back on the reasoning behind the closure of a downtown Whole Foods. He also mentioned plans to use law enforcement resources to combat crime linked to the fentanyl crisis. Hannity teased a part two of the interview for later this week.
