The political machine is back in full swing after the November election. Maybe nationally it will be business as usual? Locally here in Los Angeles they are trying to raise sales tax... again. Drive consumers to Orange County or Ventura to buy that big screen TV, appliance or your next car and save hundreds or thousands of dollars.
The voters in California approved a measure to give the public school system even more money even though our state government has proven themselves as totally inept at managing money. California is 47th in the nation when it comes to spending per student and yet our government had the gall to ask for more money. From my point of view they should have let the system fail and rebuilt it from the ground up. We should have sent a message to our folks in Sacramento. Guess we will get what we asked for, get what we deserve ... again.
The voters in California approved a measure to give the public school system even more money even though our state government has proven themselves as totally inept at managing money. California is 47th in the nation when it comes to spending per student and yet our government had the gall to ask for more money. From my point of view they should have let the system fail and rebuilt it from the ground up. We should have sent a message to our folks in Sacramento. Guess we will get what we asked for, get what we deserve ... again.
Meanwhile, here is Los Angeles, the homeless mecca of the nation, things continue to get worse regardless of what the media reports.
No longer are the primary residents people with substance abuse, alcohol abuse or mental illness the primary residents of skid row. They are now families, children, out of work people who have lost their jobs and run out of unemployment benefits, returning veterans from the mid east and folks who have lost their homes to big banks and big business.
I count folks on the street each month. I see the number tell a heartbreaking story. But, rather than trust my numbers let me use some numbers to compare two recent months, September 2012 and October 2012 from Union Rescue Mission, the largest mission in the nation.
The above are the figures for only TWO months and the increase from one month to the next. From where I sit things are not getting better. No longer are the primary residents people with substance abuse, alcohol abuse or mental illness the primary residents of skid row. They are now families, children, out of work people who have lost their jobs and run out of unemployment benefits, returning veterans from the mid east and folks who have lost their homes to big banks and big business.
I count folks on the street each month. I see the number tell a heartbreaking story. But, rather than trust my numbers let me use some numbers to compare two recent months, September 2012 and October 2012 from Union Rescue Mission, the largest mission in the nation.
| Total Mental Health Clinic Sessions - 62 vs 110 |
| Total Health Center Visits - 496 vs 537 |
| Total Dental Clinic Visits - Individual Patients Seen - 453 vs 664
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Feel free to pass this piece along to others via the link. If you would like to help just go to www.urm.org. There are many ways you can help. You can donate in many ways in any amount. You can even donate $10 from your cell phone and feed five people in a mater of moments. (To donate $10 to Union Rescue Mission, text the letters URM to 85944. You will receive a confirmation text message. Reply with the word YES to complete the transaction. )
Thank you.
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