Progressives Oppose Homeless Shelter Plans, In Favor of…Doing Nothing?

Approximately 40% of the homeless Nationally are on the West Coast, with 20% in California alone. A high proportion are in San Francisco and Los Angeles, to the consternation of businesses and residents, due to the high percentage of drug-use, public-health and harassment issues (since up to 50% of homeless are mentally-ill). Moderately Liberal Mayors London Breed and Eric Garcetti have proposed relocations to homeless treatment centers, but are outflanked by Conservatives (who want to roust homeless with no follow-up “get-tough” policies) and Progressives (who believe that homeless treatment centers are cruel and essentially want to do nothing).

Homelessness has become rampant in West Coast cities. Statistics show that a large percentage are drug-dependent and/or mentally-ill, yet largely opposed to homeless shelters/treatment facilities

It may be safe to say that when it comes to the homeless, almost no one agrees on a solution. The problem may be the final accounting for the “liberalization” of mental health in the 60s (related to “maybe the treatment is worse than the disease” opinions stated in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and actually a cost-cutting move), increased housing costs, the prevalence of drugs and alcohol, and a kind of slothfulness ushered in by the Hippie generation. But before I go full George Will on you, let me describe the dilemma faced by Liberal-Moderate West Coast Mayors, who wish to address a public health crisis while appeasing irate business and residential constituents. They are…