Arrrgh! 'Tis be California's landlubber homelessness crisis! Ye see the irony, the hypocrisy, and Governor Newsom's lack of proper cap'n skills!
2023-11-28
Avast ye mateys! If ye be scannin' the streets o' Santa Monica or Venice, ye'll see the likes o' mayhem and chaos. 'Tis clear as the open sea that Gov. Newsom and California's response to the scurvy homeless crisis be a dire disaster indeed! Arrr!
San Francisco recently hosted the APEC conference, where President Biden met with President Xi Jinping of China. In preparation for the event, the city government made efforts to clean the streets, which are infamous for the filth left by the homeless population. Even California's liberal newspapers criticized this hypocrisy, pointing out that the city can clean up for international events but not for its own citizens who deal with the problem daily.Governor Gavin Newsom acknowledged the hypocrisy and also faced criticism for making California unaffordable, leading the director of LA's homeless service organization to leave the state. Newsom's response was to pour more taxpayer money into failed initiatives like Project Roomkey, which forced hotels and motels to house the homeless, causing issues such as theft and sexual violence.
Meanwhile, cronies within the system benefitted from these programs, with shady deals and corruption coming to light. Instead of practical solutions, politicians in Sacramento prefer ideas generated within the swamp.
Florida offers an example for California to follow, as it has successfully reduced its homeless population through a tough-love approach. Urban centers like Miami have cleared out homeless encampments while partnering with community organizations to provide housing.
To solve the homeless problem in California, Newsom should adopt Florida's approach and focus on affordable housing. Lower building costs, faster approvals, fewer mandates, less litigation, and lower impact fees are all necessary. Homelessness is a tough challenge, but with smart thinking and common sense, a no-nonsense attitude can pave the way forward.