To the editor: Steve Lopez’s column, “$60,000 ‘casitas’ and large awnings: Caruso, Bass pitch cheaper homeless items,” appeared within the paper the identical day that Ezra Klein’s piece, “The Approach Los Angeles Is Attempting to Resolve Homelessness Is ‘Completely Insane,’” was revealed by the New York Occasions. Each columns have been based mostly on interviews with L.A. mayoral candidates Karen Bass and Rick Caruso.
Klein, citing the almost $600,000 per-unit value of constructing in L.A., is extraordinarily pessimistic and means that the following mayor may not be any extra profitable than the present mayor in addressing homelessness. Lopez is extra optimistic. He writes of visiting a $60,000 pre-fabricated house and a 232-unit constructing that got here in round $220,000 per unit.
Lopez’s conclusion: “The dueling housing pitches from the 2 candidates are an excellent factor. Including cheaper housing to the combo, and chopping down building time, is a step in the fitting path.”
Klein’s conclusion: “The politics of the reasonably priced housing disaster are horrible. The politics of what you’d want to unravel it are even worse.”
The homelessness drawback in L.A. will enhance over time. Lopez has a greater tackle the long run.
Bruce Wessel, Santa Monica
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To the editor: Offering housing is just one piece of addressing homelessness. If it’s the only focus of Caruso and Bass, they each lack big-picture pondering.
The purpose must be for homeless individuals who don't need to stay homeless to turn into self-sufficient.
For these pressured into homelessness as a result of job loss, present interim housing and monetary assist, and get them jobs that will contain coaching for brand new expertise. For individuals who need assistance with psychological well being, we have to home and assist them and assist them get appropriate work, which can contain coaching.
Others could also be past assist or are blissful the best way they're. These circumstances are extra difficult. However, there are solutions to all the things.
Sid Pelston, Marina del Rey
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