Deborah LaShever
Ref: Cost of cleanup of Homeless at Venice Beach. LaShever had requested a cost breakdown.
Dear Chad Moinar,
Thank you for your response to my request for records for a full accounting of expenditures for the frequent “clean up” sweeps on Ocean Front Walk. I now understand that your office does not attend to those stats, as you stated in your email, and so you do not know how much this program is costing. I do not mind gathering that information for you and the citizens of Los Angeles. I think the information will be instructive and show that the frequent sweeps on OFW are hugely expensive and that the same money could be better spent humanely and effectively solving the same issues the city is endeavoring to solve through the “clean up” sweep process–and actually much, much more.
If you would then, please include a list of the dates of all the sweeps this year, all the departments that are included in them and the heads of those departments or the best contact people there for this information.
Also any and all records of what expenses the Council office has incurred regarding the sweeps so far, including, but not limited to, employee time in arranging the details and any meetings or field trips regarding this issue, printing costs, materials etc.
I am extremely concerned, I must say, that the Council office does not have any idea of the expense involved in these sweeps yet persists in using city dollars to fund them, especially since the Free Volunteer Storage Program uses a miniscule amount of city funding–if any–and needs expansion desperately and immediately, has had for many months, and would probably make these sweeps unnecessary, given the opportunity.
With the money we would save on these punitive type of “clean ups” we could expand the Free Voluntary Storage Program, fund the building of more public restrooms–that everyone in Venice, conservative and progressive alike, knows we desperately need–and get services in Venice to help people get off the street! Maybe even a few emergency beds as there is not one on the entire Westside of Los Angeles. Not one.
I appreciate your time on this matter.
Deborah,
I am appalled at your lack of understanding of the situation in Venice. Even after all of these years.
You’re concerned about the cost to the city, yet you’d gladly spend that money elsewhere. But only if it suits your purpose. What I find disappointing is your lack of understanding that this cleanup is needed specifically because of the situation you’ve helped encourage. You’ve advocated that the homeless and disenfranchised come to Venice and the results of that action are clear. Now a cash strapped city has to shell out _more_ money to take care of the issues associated with your continued encouragement of homelessness in Venice.
For all of your talk about wanting to help people, have you even once considered your neighbors? My opinion is that you only specifically care about how people perceive you by trying to do good for the less fortunate. Unfortunately, your actions have caused discomfort and harm to more people than you’ve actually helped.
Richard Duncan
Venice CA
Rick,
Love to know what you base your assertions on. I have stats from other communities that have put into effect the very low cost and effective programs I am advocating. The residents, businesses, local government and unhoused are all very pleased—even after some people–like you–discouraged it at the beginning. People are not suffering as much and getting off the street without causing grief to others in the community. Great stuff!
Don’t get why you are so pissed off about promoting a program like that. Don’t you want positive change? Do you get off on people suffering?
I am advocating for extremely effective programs. I understand the situation, possibly more than you do. Where is your research? I have mine. It works. Don’t know why you would rather advocate for ineffective, expensive, punitive programs that do not help anyone and waste tons of money when very low cost, humane, effective solutions are available.
I have never advocated unhoused people to come to Venice. Pure fiction on your part. I am for getting the people already here in housing and on their feet asap and to help them not to suffer as much on the way there. What is your beef about that?
If you were hurting and hopeless would you desperately love some help? Why do you deny others this human gesture? I would help you too, Rick, if you needed it….I really would. Believe it or not. Even if you do come off like an asshole. I have no ulterior motive. I believe in Justice and Compassion. Period.
Weird, huh? But true.
Peace,
Deborah