In total, 65% of respondents agreed that police should be more involved in cleaning up the streets “in order to address the health crisis that is mounting due to unsanitary conditions caused by homeless encampments,” the Los Angeles Times reported. Similarly, 63% agreed that homeless people “shouldn’t be allowed to degrade residential neighborhoods or block access to offices and commercial buildings, so police departments should prevent people from sleeping on the street.”
Of the 901 registered voters surveyed countywide, 39% said they “strongly agreed” with each of those statements.
“We need to make it illegal to live on the street and we need to start sorting people out, meeting their needs, whether it’s mental institutions or drug issues,” said Tim Russell, a voter who was part of a focus group conducted with the poll. “Whatever their issues are, we need to start addressing those.”
A majority of L.A. County voters say officers should have a larger role in cleaning up unsanitary conditions in homeless encampments. Most poll respondents, however, didn’t blame a lack of police enforcement for causing the recent rise in homelessness in L.A. County.
Among those in the focus group, there also was widespread consensus that it would be unproductive for law enforcement to be primarily involved in interacting with homeless people because it wouldn’t be a long-term solution. Still, a significant number of the participants felt that it should be against the law to sleep on public property.
The results of both the poll and the focus group point to rising public anger and a sense of helplessness over encampments, as the homeless population has skyrocketed to nearly 60,000 countywide and government has struggled to keep up with the growing number of tents and makeshift shelters that have spread into almost every corner of L.A., The Times reported.
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Ignacio P. says
The majority of the homeless are drug abusers. Its not a disease, it’s a choice. Homelessness is not a choice by those who strive to be good law abiding citizens. Hard times happen to everyone. Sometimes its much worse for others. Give the help to where it will be appreciated.
Magnetlady says
There are LAWS ”ON THE BOOKS” regarding Vagrancy…The Liberals are ruining our State by NOT enforcing our laws. We passed a measure several years ago to provide MORE HOUSING & support for the Homeless, now there are MORE Homeless folks…Where has that money gone to?? We need to clean up our streets, we don’t need more people camping in front of businesses or in our neighborhoods…There are serious health issues that we need to do to help these people.. Mental Health, Drug Addiction, etc are on the RISE! However, there are some Homeless people that want to be homeless, sadly!! I don’t like seeing these communities with human feces, urinating in public, needles & drug deals going on in any neighborhood…The Cities & County need to get their ACT TOGETHER & get this mess cleaned up yesterday, instead of pouring a lot of TAX PAYER MONEY into helping ”Illegals fight DEPORTATION”…
Ignacio P. says
You are absolutely correct in your statement. Too bad liberalism is a serious mental disorder and they’ll never seek out the help they need but instead will blame others for their actions.
Mark says
Being a liberal I think we need to spend more of our hard earned money on these drug addicts/homeless people and less police/law enforcement. We also need to elect more liberals to our city, state and federal government.
Eric says
It’s only going to get worse, we are run by liberals who are anti law enforcement. Brace yourself and be happy for who you voted for.
Poll says
The poll numbers should not surprise anyone.