Archive
ANNOUNCEMENT RE NEW HCIDLA
Skid Row community activist-
ISSUES AND SOLUTIONS (2007-present)
Board of Directors
Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council (2008-Present)
Former VP, Outreach and Communications (2011-2012)
Department of Mental Health (2012-2013)
From: Los Angeles Housing Department <lahd_notifications@lacity.org>
To: General Jeff <Skid Row group>
Sent: Friday, June 28, 2013 3:18 PM
Subject: ANNOUNCEMENT RE NEW HCIDLA
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Skid Row 3 On 3 StreetBall Games (Round (4))
Skid Row 3 on 3 Streetball Leagues Games From The Heart Of Skid Row’s Gladys Park
L.A. County homeless ranks rise by 16%, to more than 58,000
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Homeless people’s tents and tarps on Winston Street near San Pedro Street in downtown Los Angeles last February. The county’s homeless population is up 16% over the last two years, according to a report released Friday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times / February 27, 2013
More than 58,000 people in Los Angeles County are homeless, an increase of 16% over the last two years fueled by the lingering devastation of the recession and rising rents and housing prices, according to a survey released Friday.
The increase marked a sharp departure from homeless counts in 2011 and 2012, which showed the numbers of county residents without shelter dropping from 3% to 7% over previous years.
The biggest increases were among single men and people who have been without permanent shelter for a year or more. The study showed marked drops in homelessness among veterans and families.
The disappointing findings came despite more than $80 million in state, federal and local funds pouring into housing and other services last year through the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, a joint agency of the city and county that has overseen counts every two years since 2005.
It could get worse. More than $80 million in federal stimulus funds the county received for emergency housing since 2009 dried up in August, said Michael Arnold, the Homeless Services Authority’s executive director.
According to the Los Angeles County Probation Dept., Gov. Jerry Brown‘s realignment program has diverted more than 15,000 low-level felons to Los Angeles County jails and probation programs. Arnold said that has resulted in thousands of people being released early into the community without adequate services or housing.
“The environment has conspired to make it look bad for Los Angeles,” Arnold said. “We really need the economy to recover at a faster pace.”
Homelessness tends to lag economic recovery, Arnold said, as people hit with job loss or other setbacks struggle to stay afloat then finally run out of options.
“It takes a long time to burn through your resources and become homeless,” Arnold said.
At the same time, housing costs are rising with the improving economic outlook. Only 46% of California residents can afford to buy a home, and L.A. County rents are in the top 10 of any state, Arnold said.
In 2009, the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area was $1,361. In 2013, that jumped to $1,421, according to a study by the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
The number of emergency shelters has dropped by 8%, also because of the downturn, officials said.
Homelessness among veterans dropped 23%, from 8,131 in 2011 to 6,291 in January 2013, when the new count was conducted. Family homelessness is down 28%. Arnold said that’s a direct outgrowth of federal aid for veteran families.
A Los Angeles business task force on homelessness, in a statement, attributed the local rise to a spike in “hidden homeless” — people who stay in garages or backyards who aren’t easily detected.
“Clearly this group needs further examination and attention from all those who are invested in ending homelessness,” the task force said in a statement.
UPDATE ON LAPD’s “UNJUST” CASE INVOLVING NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILMAN:
From L to R: General Jeff, Skid Row community activist, Rev. Andy Bales, CEO of Union Rescue Mission, State Assemblymember Mike Davis, Crushow and his family, Skid Row community
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10:53am Jun 13 |
UPDATE ON LAPD’s “UNJUST” CASE INVOLVING NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILMAN:
(Please keep in mind that this is a pending legal matter and I have been advised by my legal team against sharing any detailed specifics that may adversely affect the outcome of our case)……Appeared in court yesterday in order to have my “second”attempt at a first arraignment…learned that the City Attorney’s office has assigned a “special prosecutor” just to handle my case, only……BUT, he didn’t appear in court……”third attempt” at first arraignment next month……Even with a “manufactured” case against me, I learned from my counsel that they were already offering a plea bargain deal…….WHAT????????…You gotta be kidding me…..This ain’t a game show DEAL OR NO DEAL, this is my life— NO DEAL!!!!!!!!!……PROVE your “illegitimate” case in court!!!!…..Anyway, what they offered was NO jail time, 24 month’s summary probation AND (here’s the kicker) stay out of Skid Row for the duration of my probation period (which means a “minimum” of 2 years)……….Ah-HA!!!!!!!!!!!
So NOW we start getting to the bottom of all this…….It appears as though “They” want General Jeff OUT of Skid Row!!!!!!!!…..But why?????….and at what cost?????…..It appears as though “THEY” would choose to taint my name and reputation rather than respect my “ABOVE BOARD” methods to improve the Skid Row community for it’s residents…..WOW!!!!!!!
Please do me a favor, since I cannot speak publicly to this, if you read this- Can you PLEASE share your thoughts???
And again, for the record, I am NOT a drug dealer, do NOT condone the drug trade (why would I when it is the main obstacle that is hampering my positive community activist efforts?) and continue to be harassed and attacked in a multitude of ways when I am humbly sacrificing my own life in order to help the less fortunate from a street perspective (and for FREE nonetheless)…..Yeah, it’s not the non-profit way, but does that mean it’s wrong???
This country was founded on the principal concept of “We, The People”….Does that not apply to us in Skid Row and are we not capable of recreating the efforts of our founding fathers??……What say you??
Mayor of Skid Row 