tent city sprining up outside LA

[writersmom]

Here's a couple interesting links for you.

One outside LA and one outside Alberta, Canada.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=jmeHiFZUWtE (California)

(WARNING:This one has horribly anti-semetic comments below it,which I don't get at all but I thought it was the best one as far as showing the whole place.)

This is the Alberta one:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=VVDCOzupz5k

( The guy is very outspoken and could grate on nerves)

I don't think I posted the links right.

Sara

[Christopher Clemons]

Wow, makes me start to think back to the conditions described in the Grapes of Wrath. :ohno

[Tammy]

I think we will see alot more of this.

[firstoftwelve]

This is how many locals have lived in Hawaii for years. My SIL said they've created "property lines" between the tents and have multiple generations now living there. Amazing.

[can4christ]

Here's a couple interesting links for you.

One outside LA and one outside Alberta, Canada.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=jmeHiFZUWtE (California)

(WARNING:This one has horribly anti-semetic comments below it,which I don't get at all but I thought it was the best one as far as showing the whole place.)

This is the Alberta one:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=VVDCOzupz5k

( The guy is very outspoken and could grate on nerves)

I don't think I posted the links right.

Sara


What bugs me is when people say it's the governments responsibility. If people do not suffer the consequences of their choices or behavior, they do not learn from the experience. They continue the same behavior (drinking, drugs, overspending etc.). I am not saying I want anyone to be homeless, however most were buying homes and spending money they couldn't afford or didn't have. I know, been there done that. We live in the "I want it now" times and we need to learn.

I heard a pastor say that "Patients isn't something we have while we are waiting for something, it's how we behave while we are waiting." We tend to behave like impatient children.

[Jaybird74]

In the L.A. area, I fear that many could be on the brink of homelessness. Rents are out of control, housing prices through the roof - and the occupancy rate of apartments is around 95% - 96% occupancy rate.

If someone loses their job due to downsizing, they could become homeless within months because of the cost of living out here - especially if they don't have some family in a stable environment.

I don't know what the situation is out in Ontario - but it's been in the news for quite some time. It's not just druggies, junkies, or illegal immigrants living out there. Yes, some vagrants choose to live in that fashion - in a gypsy-type lifestyle. But others may have mental/health conditions keeping them from keeping a job - thus, their homeless state. It's really sad to see people living like that.

So I guess now, they'll go somewhere else - under an overpass or a bridge near the freeway (where many live) - or they'll come out here to the beach (if the law allows people out on the beach - most do not). Problem with the beach is people getting mugged, hurt - or even murdered - and no one knows who they are, family to contact, etc. There was a homeless man - no older than 25 - murdered on Venice Beach just a few weeks ago.

Just some insight. L.A. is quickly becoming the area of the haves vs. have-nots - and if prices keep going up, many will be moving because it's too expensive to live out here.

[topekaclark]

Working with homeless people, 9 times out of 10 it's not a choice that was made with a clear mind. Yes, the housing market appears to be playing a role in it however many are individuals with mental illnesses.

It's a revolving door, they get the treatment and meds needed but once on their own, they will often stop taking their meds. I know where we live we were once known for our wonderful mental health agencies but doors closed due to the state cutting funds and doing away with programs.

Usually they will begin to self-medicate with substances and then the homeless shelters won't take them, leaving them on the streets.

As far as the individuals that over extended themselves, that is truly a sad situation and I have yet to see the lenders being held responsible.

[Pagemistress]

Just some insight. L.A. is quickly becoming the area of the haves vs. have-nots - and if prices keep going up, many will be moving because it's too expensive to live out here.


One reason for the expense is that California pays crippling taxes in the things we buy. Where I live (L.A. County) has an 8.25% sales tax and when you add on the fuel taxes, property taxes, etc., the average Californian doesn't have much left to spend. They were just talking last week about RAISING the gas tax 50 cents a gallon in order to "discourage" use of gas! A year ago, there was an attempt to get "the rich" to pay for free preschool by yet another tax. Of course, if there wasn't enough to pay for the preschool by taxing "the rich" then the bill made provisions to tax middle-class earners to make up the difference. Thankfully, that bill didn't pass but you can see the direction this state is going. There are less smokers now that the cigarettes are taxed to oblivion (and smokers can't smoke them anywhere anyway) so the state is looking around for a way to raise more revenue. Taxes, taxes and more taxes.

[Jaybird74]

One reason for the expense is that California pays crippling taxes in the things we buy. Where I live (L.A. County) has an 8.25% sales tax and when you add on the fuel taxes, property taxes, etc., the average Californian doesn't have much left to spend. They were just talking last week about RAISING the gas tax 50 cents a gallon in order to "discourage" use of gas! A year ago, there was an attempt to get "the rich" to pay for free preschool by yet another tax. Of course, if there wasn't enough to pay for the preschool by taxing "the rich" then the bill made provisions to tax middle-class earners to make up the difference. Thankfully, that bill didn't pass but you can see the direction this state is going. There are less smokers now that the cigarettes are taxed to oblivion (and smokers can't smoke them anywhere anyway) so the state is looking around for a way to raise more revenue. Taxes, taxes and more taxes.

I can empathize, since I live in L.A. County as well. However, we don't have it as expensive as some on the East Coast, believe it or not. And try living in the Bay Area . . . fat chance of being able to afford anything there.

Our illustrious governor is trying to raise more and more taxes - and there's a proposition out there (Prop 98) trying to do away with rent control. You take rent control away - especially in places like Santa Monica that has such laws in place (for a reason - the number of older people living here on fixed wages is astounding - they came to Santa Monica to retire - for a reason), there's gonna be a REAL mess. Property management firms have gotten WAY . . . TOO . . . GREEDY. You go to Westwood - or Santa Monica - and you'll see vacant store fronts - plenty of them. WHY?!? Rental prices. They're astronomical. The only ones who could possibly afford them are the large chains (which places like the people's republic of Santa Monica and the people's republic of Venice DO NOT WANT . . . . I know - I live there).

Homeowners in the westside of the city are sick of the rising property taxes - what are they going to pay for?!? Fabian Nunez's trips to Europe?!? (thank goodness we voted him out . . . ). Corruption, corruption, corruption - from City Hall in Downtown all the way to Sac-to.

There are only certain places in the L.A. area I would want to live and feel safe - and also be able to get to my job without sitting in traffic for 34546554 hours. Meanwhile, huge swaths of areas of the metropolis are overrun by illegals (thanks special order 40) who are putting 5 families into a 1 BR apartment. The streets are infested with gangs, violence, drugs and such. And there's nothing that City Hall is going to do about it.

(case in point: the teenage football player recently gunned down by an illegal alien gangbanger - who had just gotten out of jail (here) the day before - did they check his status while in jail? No. Now an innocent, promising teenage football player is 6 feet under - due to an illegal gangbanger - one of thousands in the city).

If there was a day where someone wasn't murdered, or robbed at gunpoint, or ran over by a hit-n-run driver, or assaulted, I'd be surprised.

And wait . . .they want people in SO-CAL to stop using GAS?!?!

:lol2

:pound

:rofl

that's so absurd I have to laugh.

[Logicon]

Has anyone done a survey to see who these people are and where they come from? They could be people coming to LA to find out they could not afford to live there or find work. They could be foreigners who can't find employment. They could be the old established poor who just don't have the ability to pay rent and utilities. I think someone should establish who they are how they ended up there, and why there.