Sex. Lies. Abuse.
Go online to see the detailed accusations against Los Angeles County sheriff ’s deputies on the so-called Brady list.
The eloquent picture of a homeless camp under the 4th Street Bridge near downtown by Los Angeles Times photographer Robert Gauthier on the front page of Monday’s California section was a sad echo of Baroque painter Giacometti Ceruti, who painted Italian peasants.
Or does it remind me of the photographs of New York’s or London’s slums, of migrant mothers during the Dust Bowl, of indigenous people lined up in front of missions staring into the camera?
We have voted for large sums of public money in the past few years to address this complex issue. Where is the progress? Are city leaders in endless committee meetings? Do they have no beginning point? Can no one agree on first steps? What is happening?
The photo is a haunting reminder of the problem, but surely progress is being made, right? Why don’t we hear about it? Janice Segall Pasadena
Certainly your idea of converting motels to housing for homeless people is better than tents on the sidewalks. But I have an even better idea.
Why doesn’t the state construct large housing complexes for homeless people on park-like grounds and staff the sites with doctors, nurses and guards to ensure good health and community safety? Doesn’t that sound like a better solution? Or does it resemble too much the institutions we had in the past?
Most of these people are not just homeless; unfortunately they’re mentally unwell. And sticking them in motel rooms with kitchens isn’t going to make the problem go away. James Johnson New York
Czars, change agents, disruptors, rainmakers — none are needed to address homelessness. What we need is for our elected leaders to lead.
But effective action is unlikely, because some of the most dedicated voters are adherents of NIMBYism. As a result, the desire to provide additional housing takes a back seat to the desire to maintain property values and lifestyles.
Phrases like “neighborhood character” are used, but ultimately this translates to “we just don’t care that much.” Ed Salisbury Santa Monica