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homeless crisis

REQUEST FOR STATE OF EMERGENCY REGARDING THE HOMELESS CRISIS 1024 249 SIB Staff

REQUEST FOR STATE OF EMERGENCY REGARDING THE HOMELESS CRISIS

REQUEST FOR STATE OF EMERGENCY REGARDING THE HOMELESS CRISIS AND REFUSAL BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO RESPOND

August 2, 2021

On June 23, 2021, I sent the Board of Supervisors a letter outlining the severity of the homeless crisis and requesting a local state of emergency be declared.  

Sheriff’s Response Letter July 23, 2021 – PDF

On JuOn June 28, 2021, I received a letter from County Counsel (Rodrigo A. Castro-Silva), which was generic, downplayed the issue, and contained no response from the Board of Supervisors.

County Councel Response Letter – July 23, 2021 – PDF

On July 28, 2021, I sent the Board of Supervisors another letter which stated in part the “robust services” being provided are not working.  I asked the Board of Supervisors to directly respond to the issue, rather than County Counsel.  I further stated, “Despite whatever dissagreements you may have with me, we must unite together on this important topic to save lives.”  Additionally, “If I do not receive a response, I will assume County Counsel’s response is the position you are taking in the matter, and I intend on making the June 28, 2021, correspondence public.”

Sheriff’s Response Letter July 28, 2021 – PDF

On July 30, 2021, I receivedOn July 30, 2021, I received another letter from County Counsel (Rodrigo A. Castro-Silva), titled “Inappropriate Disclosure of Priviledged Attorney-Client Communications.”  The letter ended by stating, “the attorney-client privilege may be waived only by the holder of the privilege, which is the Board.”  Yet still no response from the Board.

County Councel Response letter – July 28, 2021 – PDF

II have been a vocal critic of the failures of elected officials in regard to the homeless crissis and the homeless industrial complex which has been created.  If you believe our elected leaders need to display the same transparency they demand of others, then ask them why they refuse to respond and want the correspondence on this issue kept secret.   

Board of Supervisors Office Number – Graphic

Sheriff Alex Villanueva

Sheriff Addresses the Homeless Crisis in Los Angeles County 150 150 SIB Staff

Sheriff Addresses the Homeless Crisis in Los Angeles County


Sheriff Villanueva Addresses the Homeless Crisis and Provides Statistics in Los Angeles County 

On Wednesday, June 23, 2021, Sheriff Alex Villanueva and Lieutenant Geoffrey Deedrick from the Sheriff’s Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST), along with business owners from the Venice Beach Boardwalk, held a press conference to address the homeless crisis in Los Angeles County and the direct effect on businesses throughout Los Angeles County and the Venice Beach Boardwalk.

Sheriff Villanueva showed various clips of news reports that portrayed the homeless crisis on the Venice Beach Boardwalk and explained that regulating public space and public safety are necessary to combat the homeless crisis.

Sheriff Villanueva stated that Venice Beach is within Los Angeles County and is the second most popular tourist destination in Southern California. The tourism industry brings approximately 50 million visitors to Los Angeles per year, contributing an estimated18 billion dollars to the local economy.

The people of Los Angeles County are being directly and indirectly affected by the homeless crisis. According to the Los Angeles County Homeless Count, ten years ago, the homeless count was approximately 40,000 and today that number doubled to approximately 80,000. Various measures, including Measure H, have passed to help the homeless. But some non-profit organizations intended to assist the homeless are more of a benefit to executive officers, directors, physicians, etc. Some nonprofit organizations (such as Share Your Share Inc. and Safe Place for Youth) have no financial data available. While billions of dollars are destined to help the homeless, very little money gets to the source of the problem. In the last ten years, six and a half billion dollars was destined to the homeless, and no progress was done. Instead, the number of homeless individuals doubled in the last ten years.

Bob Carlson, owner of a skateboard and snowboard brand founded in Venice, has lived in the popular city for 30 years and has seen firsthand what the homeless population has done to Venice Beach.  A few years ago, he had the necessity to hire a full time security guard, and two weeks ago the security guard was viciously attacked on the parking lot of his business when he told a homeless man that he could not drink on the parking lot.  He was so badly wounded that he almost bled to death. It took the Los Angeles Police Department almost an hour to respond. Doctors informed Carlson that two vital arteries were barely missed and his employee was lucky to be alive. Carlson said the people in Venice Beach are “on their own” and thanked Sheriff Villanueva for his efforts.

The Sheriff’s Homeless Outreach Services Team is a dedicated group of law enforcement professionals who are making a difference in the well-being of the homeless, one person at a time. The HOST team consists of a lieutenant, one sergeant, and four deputies. From its inception, the mission of HOST was to positively impact the homeless crisis in Los Angeles County, while enhancing public safety and preserving the rights and dignity of persons experiencing homelessness. Their approach is simple, yet effective. Their outreach efforts include contacting the homeless and assisting them in accepting services to include transportation and relocation, among others.

Sheriff Villanueva concluded the press conference by sharing that on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, he sent a letter to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors requesting them to declare a local state of emergency regarding the homeless crisis in Los Angeles County, stating, “Enough is enough. We need to kick it into high gear.”   

Full Press Conference

Click here to view the Power Point Presentation from the Conference – PDF (embedded videos below)

List of 501 organizations – PDF

Expenses PDF

BOS Letter – PDF

Homeless Spending County/City PDF

Chief Laura E. Lecrivain has been a member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (Department) since 1995.  She oversees Countywide Services Division which includes the Community Partnerships, Community Colleges, Parks, and County Services Bureau.  Prior to her promotion to chief, she worked as a commander for Countywide Services Division and Custody Division. 

As a captain, Chief Lecrivain commanded the Twin Towers Correctional Facility (TTCF) where she was responsible for over 800 personnel and the care of 3,000 mentally ill inmates arrested in Los Angeles County (County).  The TTCF is the largest mental health facility in the United States and houses the County’s most severe mental health inmates.  

During her time on the Department, Chief Lecrivain had the privilege of working an array of assignments.  As a deputy, she worked Century Station patrol, detective bureau, and Operation Safe Streets (OSS).  Later, as a sergeant, Chief Lecrivain worked at the Men’s Central Jail, Compton Station, OSS, and Administrative Services Division.  Upon her promotion to lieutenant, Chief Lecrivain worked as a watch commander at Palmdale Station, and later at Compton Station.   

Chief Lecrivain is lifetime resident of Los Angeles County.  She holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Management, and a Masters’ Degree in Leadership from the University of Southern California.  In her spare time, Chief Lecrivain enjoys spending time with her family and Dodger baseball.  She also loves reading and enjoys running.