Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva continues to shed light on the homeless industrial complex that is plaguing LA County.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors have pledged an additional $609 million towards homeless initiatives while taxpayer funds continue to be pilfered and mismanaged which results in the homeless numbers trending up.
The County spent $14 million on a functioning hotel in the city of Compton to house the homeless during the pandemic and its been vacant for nearly two years awaiting “repairs”.
WHOA! Missing from the L.A. Times' sparse reporting on the collapse of Skid Row Housing Trust is their attempt to raise $75 Million in a direct sale stock offering tied to distressed mortgages. Who is behind it? https://t.co/IdW75uh6Lv pic.twitter.com/FHfnOTZqpr
— Esotouric's Secret Los Angeles (@esotouric) February 9, 2023
Skid Row Housing Trust has 29 properties under its umbrella with the Los Angeles Times reporting they have a 20% vacancy rate. The premise of the housing trust was to keep people housed and keep rents affordable. They have an annual deficit of $13 million.
During the pandemic @LACountyBOS received state funds under #ProjectRoomKey to house the homeless. this motel in #Compton kicked everyone out and it’s been closed ever close to a year. THIS is your priority @HollyJMitchell @ComptonCityHall not taking away our rights. pic.twitter.com/pHN9q6KFAY
— 2UrbanGirls (@2UrbanGirls) July 9, 2022
The Los Angeles Times has remained a partner in these deals as they tout the “need” for taxpayers to approve bond measures and the developer’s need to “build, build, build”.
In South LA, an affordable housing project broke ground in late 2020 to build nearly 50 units out of shipping containers. According to the area’s neighborhood council website, the units were supposed to be ready for move-in during the summer of 2021. Three years later the project looks to be about 50% complete. Total cost to taxpayers? $22 million of voter-approved funds.
Took this photo of this housing development back in 2021, after construction began the year prior. Why is it taking three years to stack 52 units? The @ECSWANDC website says tenants would move in Summer 2021. @mhdcd8 @KarenBassLA it cost $22 MILLION! #MeasureHHH https://t.co/vqRA1NOYBp pic.twitter.com/dXgLGF6xt8
— 2UrbanGirls (@2UrbanGirls) February 8, 2023
When former Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nury Martinez called for an outside audit of the homeless count numbers, shortly thereafter audio was leaked where she openly questioned where the homeless funds were going and Mark Ridley-Thomas’ role in the homeless problem. The audio also painted her as a racist and she was forced to resign.
The Sheriff also stood in the way of this hustle and with the coordinated effort of the Board of Supervisors, local media, unions and nonprofits on the receiving end of these funds, that feed the homeless industrial complex he was voted out.
