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Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
SF mayor unveils new ‘vision' for tackling homelessness, addiction
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — On Monday, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie unveiled what his office is calling a 'new vision' to tackle the city's homelessness and drug problem. The plan, which the mayor's office has dubbed 'Breaking the Cycle,' features a series of actions broken down by timeframe. The executive directive, which Lurie signed on Monday, is intended to outline a roadmap with immediate actions and longer-term reforms aimed at tackling SF's 'enduring homelessness and behavioral health crisis.' In the first 100 days of the plan, city departments will be responsible for actions that include launching a new street teams model, deploying emergency housing vouchers, reassessing policies for distribution of fentanyl smoking in public spaces, and merging the Journey Home and Homeward Bound programs, among other things. Chuck Schumer book tour postponed, including SF event In the first six months of the program, the mayor is instructing city departments to expand short-term response capacity by 1,500, expand treatment capacity, improve case management, and encourage regional partners to build capacity to meet responsibility for their residents. Within a year, the plan aims to maximize Medi-Cal, CalAIM and Prop 1 benefits, improve technology and data systems and evaluate the city's current organizational structure for health, homelessness, and human services, and housing programs. 'These reforms will better support the city's most vulnerable residents while keeping public spaces safe and clean and ensuring responsible management of taxpayer resources,' Lurie's office said. The new roadmap, Lurie's office said, builds on work his administration has already been doing since the mayor announced the 'Fentanyl State of Emergency Ordinance' on his first day in office. 'I believe our city must be judged by how we care for our most vulnerable residents, and today, we are outlining immediate actions and long-term reforms to address the crisis on our streets,' Mayor Lurie said. 'This directive will break the cycle of homelessness, addiction, and government failure by transforming our homelessness and behavioral health response.' The mayor promised to being in a 'new era of accountability' and deliver outcomes designed to 'get people off the street and into stability.' Despite millions, and possibly billions, of dollars being spent over several decades, San Francisco is still faced with a persistent homelessness, drugs, and behavioral health crisis. According to the mayor's office, roughly two people die every day from overdose in the city.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Los Angeles Times
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Mailbag: Policy questions arise as homeless disappear in Fountain Valley
In response to the Feb. 26 TimesOC newsletter, 'How will Trump's policies hit O.C. where it hurts? Officials working to end homelessness look at uncertainties,' my husband and I frequently walk the Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley. We have noticed the homeless gathering in some areas of the park. A few days ago, we lost our car keys and retraced our steps for two days straight. On the first day, we asked several homeless groups if anyone had found any car keys. They were all very friendly and wished us luck. On the second day, the homeless groups were nowhere to be found. They left behind some heartbreaking messages scrawled on cardboard and nearby walls. Meanwhile, we were very thankful that a park employee at the office found our keys. They were very helpful. Our question is, where does the administration think the homeless are going to go? From place to place until — what? We do understand there are many concerns and safety issues. But how and where do the homeless get vital information about resources they may already have available to them without face-to-face communication? Most have no cellphones, no television, no internet, no way to travel to known shelters and food banks, except for hearing the news by word-of-mouth. Many need desperate help. In other words, it is up to law enforcement, first responders, advocates, informed volunteers, printed signage and fliers, etc., to inform them. How well are these approaches working? As one example, CalAIM is a multiyear program that was approved in 2021. It is currently scheduled to expire in 2026. However, a person has to know this program exists and most importantly they must 'qualify' to receive benefits. Some people choose to live on the street no matter what. They do not want anything to do with 'shelters.' Where do they go? They still need resources to move from place to place. Where are the funds going to come from in Orange County, where federal dollars for its Continuum of Care are threatened? How will the funds be managed? The situation remains overwhelming. It seems all we, the American people, can do is to protest, boycott, send money, and volunteer. But most of all we must be an informed voter — before we can't. Vicki MikoCosta Mesa Despite a huge outpouring of vocal opposition from community residents, the Huntington Beach City Council is moving forward with an ill-advised and destructive plan to place a damaging installation in our public Central Park. The so-called Symphony of Flowers is proposed to occupy a large section in the middle of Central Park for six months every year, from September to March, with a disruptive light show and music lasting from 5 to 11 p.m. daily. The contract is for three years with options to renew. In addition to charging for admission to several shows per night, the city proposes to sell access to the parking spaces associated with the Central Library, which is usually open until 9 p.m. most days. This installation will damage the grass and plants in the proposed area, as well as disrupt the environment for the birds and animals who inhabit the park and the people who enjoy the park on a daily basis. And it will disturb the residents for miles around the park with excessive traffic, noise and sound pollution! And it is not even likely to bring in the pitiful amount of revenue that is projected in the proposal. This is another boondoggle with smelly political overtones, and Huntington Beach residents do not want it to pollute our park! Diane BentleyHuntington Beach
