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A growing coalition of state legislators, city leaders, community groups and labor unions have voiced strong support for Los Angeles County’s move to secure state authority to submit a local “millionaires’ tax” for voter consideration.
The legislative effort is a crucial component of the County’s far-ranging fight against homelessness.
The local “millionaires’ tax” was the most popular option among voters surveyed in a recent poll to provide essential ongoing funds to combat L.A. County’s homeless crisis. A one-half-percent tax on personal income over $1 million per year would generate an estimated $243 million annually for homeless services in the County.
This week, 29 state legislators signed an open letter to Gov. Jerry Brown and top legislative leaders urging approval of a budget bill that would give the Board of Supervisors the authority to place the “millionaires’ tax” before voters, should a Board majority determine that it represents the most promising funding option.
The Los Angeles City Council also weighed in with a resolution urging state legislative support for the County’s proposal, which would authorize counties across California to seek voter approval for their own “millionaires’ tax” to confront mounting homelessness in their communities.
Meanwhile, labor unions representing tens of thousands of workers across L.A. County and the state have called upon legislative leaders in Sacramento to give Los Angeles County the funding tools it needs to improve the lives of an estimated 47,000 homeless individuals. They include SEIU local 721, the California Nurses Assn. and the Los Angeles County Probation Officers Union, AFSCME Local 685.
“For us, these are not just numbers,” SEIU Local 721 President John Schoonover said of the homeless crisis in L.A. County. “They are women, children and men who desperately need resources.”
Two Los Angeles County Supervisors today said they were encouraged by support for the County’s efforts in Sacramento and stressed the importance of the proposed local “millionaires’ tax.”
“I am really grateful for all the support this common sense proposal is generating,” said Supervisor Sheila Kuehl. “We have an unprecedented opportunity to create a sustainable and substantial revenue source to fund our efforts to end homelessness. Legislators and members of the public alike understand that this is the critical time to act.”
Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, who has been advocating for the County in Sacramento, said: “The Board of Supervisors appreciates the support of members of the state legislature, city officials from across L.A. County and engaged community leaders. They recognize the dire need for counties throughout California to identify and secure ongoing revenue to combat the homelessness crisis.”
The effort to seek a sustained revenue stream grew out of the most comprehensive effort ever undertaken by the County to attack the causes of homelessness and lift thousands of individuals off the street and into better lives.
In February, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved 47 strategies recommended by the Homeless Initiative to confront the crisis across multiple fronts. The plan was developed through a collaborative process involving 30 cities and more than 100 community organizations. The County is now moving to swiftly implement key strategies.
As part of a multifaceted attack on homelessness, the County also supports the state senate’s “No Place Like Home” proposal, a $2 billion bond measure that would fund statewide construction of permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless persons with mental illness.
For a comprehensive look at the County’s Homeless Initiative, please go to http://priorities.lacounty.gov/homeless/
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3 Comments
What a scam! Of course, just throw more money at it and that will solve everything. What a joke.
I agree with Jim- California is a breeding ground for poor money management- services going to illegals and helping people that don’t need it as badly as the homeless.. most are mentals and are in dire need of medical intervention- others are by circumstance- California is not affordable and the weather attracts a lot of homeless. Some choose the life…
This is the same rhetoric we always hear about every issue, “We need more money!” You’ll note that there is not one single statement of fact in this report to tell us -the citizens -how this money is to be managed, distributed, or used. Nor does it mention any oversight. We know from past voter approved measures that once the money starts flowing in, those in charge -our voted officials -find ways of removing oversight and/or redirecting the money to some other pet project. Here, the politicians are trying to get the middle income and low income earners to vote for some other Californians to pay more, but not themselves. Don’t let yourself be played by the politicians -what ever tax bracket you might be in -send the politicians a message -vote NO on this bad idea!