Karen Bass

So what I'm trying to work on right now is how do we have a project that brings in, that we can address the scale?

Because what I don't want to see happen

is the troops come to Skid Row and round everybody up in a alligator Alcatraz type facility.

I don't want to see that happen.

So I'm very concerned about that.

I'm not so much concerned about troops marching up and down our streets.

Like, you know, they did a little bit in June.

June 6th was the day we were invaded.

Okay, so you know the law has changed.

When the Supreme Court upheld Grants Pass, now the police could technically make that encampment move.

Prior to that in our city, and I'm pretty sure in our state too, but definitely in our city, the police can't just do that.

And that is because of a series of lawsuits that advocates waged, which it is not that I disagree with those lawsuits, but I wish that there was more focus on a solution because no one wants it.

I don't care how big your heart is or what your beliefs are.

Nobody wants an encampment on their front lawn.

And but but I'm going to tell you the secret to encampments.

Number one, we have an outreach team all with lived experience.

But the secret is you take everybody together.

That was not what the city was doing before.

They were picking individuals out and leaving the encampments there.

And I think a lot of people did not respect the fact that encampments are small communities.