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Measure H
Op-EdOpinionPolitical

Measure H

Assemblymember Mike A. GipsonMarch 7, 2017

Measure H, also known as the “Los Angeles County Plan to Prevent and Combat Homelessness,” will be on the March 7 ballot. This measure seeks to institute a quarter-cent county wide sales tax to pay for services that benefit homeless individuals. The average consumer will pay a little more than a dollar a month to provide life altering programs to those in need. Services include mental health, job training, substance abuse treatment, emergency and affordable housing, prevention and support services for homeless children, families, foster youth, veterans, and many more. If passed by a two-thirds majority vote, this tax will last for 10 years. It is estimated to generate $355 million a year for these programs which are vital to keeping people off the streets. Measure H will not solve the problem overnight but represents a large investment in an even larger problem.

Sentinel Endorses Yes on H
EditorialsNewsOp-EdOpinionPolitical

Sentinel Endorses Yes on H

Sentinel News ServiceMarch 1, 2017

A human tragedy of major proportions has been growing steadily in Los Angeles County with no signs of declining, despite the slow but encouraging economic rebound from the Great Recession that hit our nation, state and local community with full force in 2009.

Measure H
Op-EdOpinion

Measure H

Jacqueline WaggonerMarch 1, 2017

Measure H will end homelessness for 45,000 families and individuals across the county and prevent homelessness for 30,000 within five years

Assemblymember Ridley-Thomas Announces Legislation to Enable Emergency Declaration for State’s Homelessness Crisis
NewsPolitical

Assemblymember Ridley-Thomas Announces Legislation to Enable Emergency Declaration for State’s Homelessness Crisis

Sentinel News ServiceFebruary 2, 2017

Assemblymember Sebastian Ridley-Thomas introduced legislation that would expand the current definition of a “state of emergency” to now include homelessness. With the expanded definition, the proposed bill, AB 220, would allow the state to provide more resources toward fighting homelessness. “The rapid growth of individuals living without housing has accelerated dramatically and is threatening California’s economic stability,” said Ridley-Thomas. “Communities statewide have erroneously been forced to deal with the burden of a homeless crisis on their own, which endangers the health and safety of tens of thousands of residents, including men, women, youth, and seniors. It’s time for the State

Funding The Homeless Fight: Let The Voters Decide
Op-EdOpinion

Funding The Homeless Fight: Let The Voters Decide

Mark Ridley-ThomasJuly 13, 2016

Faced with what may be the most critical moral, civil rights and social justice issue of our time, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is considering asking voters to approve a tax to fund the fight against homelessness.

Homeless Crisis One-on-One
NewsPolitical

Homeless Crisis One-on-One

Sentinel News ServiceJune 15, 2016

In its continuing fight to secure adequate ongoing funding to combat homelessness, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors reached out to the state’s top lawmakers in Sacramento for one-on-one talks.

Funding the Fight Against Homelessness
LocalNewsPolitical

Funding the Fight Against Homelessness

Sentinel News ServiceMay 14, 2016

Following the announcement of a 6 percent increase in the homeless population, Supervisors Mark Ridley-Thomas and Sheila Kuehl will ask the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to seek authority for a potential ballot measure that would raise funding needed to address the crisis. The Board has been weighing options for raising the money needed to pay for programs to help the homeless, including a parcel tax, marijuana tax, transaction and use tax, redirection of Measure B revenue, and a tax on personal income exceeding $1 million per year. In order to preserve the last option, an amendment to State law

City Sets Aside $12.4 Million for Homeless
LocalNews

City Sets Aside $12.4 Million for Homeless

City News ServiceDecember 19, 2015

The city of Los Angeles has set aside $12.4 million to help house the homeless and provide more temporary shelter during El Nino storms expected this winter, Mayor Eric Garcetti and Los Angeles City Council members announced last week. The funding, proposed by Garcetti and approved by the City Council, includes $10 million for “rapid re-housing” subsidies for nearly 1,000 transients to help them with rent or move-in costs. The remaining funds will increase shelter beds this winter by more than 50 percent — to a total of 1,300. These beds will be targeted to those living in the Los