San Francisco mayor ships out homeless, cracks down on encampments
San Francisco is paying its homeless population to move away as reported on Friday, Aug. 24. The new campaign to address homelessness by Democratic Mayor London Breed reportedly divided the city. Some in the city criticized Breed’s new approach to tackling the Bay City’s homeless problem. The program pays relocation costs to move homeless individuals to communities where they have family or previous ties.
The program, known as “Journey Home,” covers the costs of bus, plane or train fare and a meal stipend. However, Humboldt County officials, where some in the program relocated, accused San Francisco of failing to follow up on people sent off. The county argues that simply shipping people out of the city does not solve the problem.
“We don’t need to be a dumping ground,” Humboldt County Supervisor Rex Bohn said. “Our cost for taking care of a homeless person that has nothing up here… it’s expensive.”
Breed’s office said the accusations are “overblown,” and contended that San Francisco only sent five people to Humboldt County. Her office also said Humbold County sent four people to San Francisco.
However, Humbold County officials claimed that its program verifies participants’ family, friends and employment opportunities and conducts follow-ups. Meanwhile, Breed’s spokesperson said that San Francisco contacts family and friends of program participants but said there is no follow-up requirement.
Breed’s new campaign has also forcefully cleared out growing tent encampments across the city since the U.S. Supreme Court ruling granted cities greater power to kick out homeless populations in public areas. Critics claim that it is criminalizing something many people have no control over, but Breed told CNN the city gave people a choice to live in shelters.
On the day the CNN crew went to homeless encampments, those being forced out said that they were told there were no shelters available.
Homeless advocates also argued that sweeps of homeless encampments do not solve the problem. They said many crucial documents needed to pay citations and for housing and employment get lost in the shuffle.
Breed said her initiative to address the homeless crisis in San Francisco, which shows 8,300 people on the streets, is in the early stages and she will assess the program’s effectiveness in the coming months.
What Elmo taught us about Americans’ mental health
It started out as a simple question, but it quickly shed light on something much more complicated. In January 2024, Sesame Street’s Elmo made an innocent post on X.
“Elmo is just checking in,” the character said. “How is everybody doing?”
That opened the floodgates. Thousands of people responded, voicing their issues with “existential dread,” mental burnout and overall dissatisfaction with daily life. That inspired Sesame Workshop, the popular kids’ show’s nonprofit, to take a deeper look at the state of well-being in America.
Sesame Workshop teamed up with research company The Harris Poll to survey more than 2,000 Americans aged 16 and older. They asked what people’s well-being priorities for the future are.
Ninety percent said mental health was a big concern, compared to 89% who said the same about physical health, economic security and personal finances, and having “a safe place to call home.”
More than two-thirds (67%) of those surveyed said they wish their parents had been more honest about their own mental health struggles. And nearly three-quarters (73%) of Americans said they wished they’d learned more about how to manage their emotions when they were children — including 84% of parents who took the survey.
Newsom: Cities, counties must visibly reduce homelessness or lose state funds
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that he will start reallocating state funds from cities and counties that fail to show clear progress in addressing homelessness. Newsom called for visible improvements to a growing issue that has long challenged the state — a rising homeless population.
This latest measure is a response to cities and counties that, according to Newsom, are not doing enough. The governor also said they are not fully utilizing what he describes as “an unprecedented amount of resources” provided by the state.
California has the largest homeless population in the country. Around 180,000 of the 653,000 individuals experiencing homelessness nationwide residing in the state.
Earlier this year, Newsom signed an executive order directing state agencies to clear homeless encampments from state-owned land and urged local governments to implement similar measures.
This week, Newsom took direct action by helping workers clear a homeless camp in Los Angeles. He used the opportunity to sharply criticize local officials for not effectively using state resources to reduce homelessness.
“I want to see results, not just read about them or see the data,” Newsom said. “I want to see people back on their feet and the streets cleaned, with tents removed.”
Newsom echoed the frustrations of millions of Californians who want to see tangible results. If local governments do not show visible progress, their state funding could be at risk. Newsom indicated that funds might be redirected as early as January, which is when the state reviews its budget.
While there is broad agreement that the number of people living on the streets is unacceptable, finding solutions remains contentious. Some municipalities have pushed back against Newsom, arguing that removing encampments could lead to vulnerable individuals being arrested.
In response, Newsom emphasized that his executive order does not address citations or criminalize homelessness.
“This is not about criminalization,” Newsom said. “What’s criminal is neglecting people who are struggling, suffering, and dying on our watch. That’s criminal.”
Arson attacks disrupt train travel ahead of Paris Olympics opening ceremony
With just hours to go before the Olympics opening ceremony, arson attacks disrupted traffic on France’s high-speed train lines. And following a Supreme Court ruling banning sleeping in public spaces, California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order to remove homeless encampments. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, July 26, 2024.
Arson attacks disrupt train travel ahead of Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Authorities are investigating what’s being called “a malicious attack” on France’s high-speed rail network. According to authorities, arsonists set a series of coordinated fires to disrupt travel just ahead of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.
It’s already causing delays and is expected to “severely impact” commuters until at least the end of Sunday, July 28. The railway operator said the fires were deliberately set to damage its installations.
This incident is likely to add some apprehension ahead of the much-anticipated Paris Olympic Games.
France has beefed up its security surrounding the world event in unprecedented levels. There will be more than 45,000 police, 10,000 soldiers and 2,000 security agents deployed, as well as several snipers and drones keeping watch from above as the games officially get underway.
Officials: Man pushing burning car into gully started California wildfire
Wildfires are raging in the west and the impact of the wildfire smoke is being felt as far as the East Coast. It’s California’s largest wildfire of the year, dubbed “The Park Fire,” burning north of Sacramento near the city Chico.
Authorities said they know how it started and have a suspect in custody. They said 48-year-old Ronnie Dean Stout II of Chico, California, pushed a burning car into a dry gully just before 3 p.m. local time on Wednesday, July 24. He has been arrested on suspicion of arson.
The Park Fire is larger than the size of the city of Atlanta and is only 3% contained.
It’s also not the only fire consuming the time and energy of firefighters and officials. Hundreds of wildfires are spreading throughout California, Oregon and Canada, forcing thousands of evacuations.
In Oregon, fires have been ablaze for days, burning nearly 1 million acres.
The impact of wildfire smoke across the nation is expected to worsen throughout the weekend.
California governor issues executive order to remove homeless encampments
The order offers guidance on how to remove the encampments in a humane way. It also makes it clear the decision to remove encampments is up to individual cities.
California has the largest unhoused population in the country, with more than 180,000 people experiencing homelessness.
U.S. arrests Mexican drug cartel leaders “El Mayo” and “El Chapo’s” son
U.S. authorities said they’ve arrested a Mexican drug kingpin who’s evaded capture for decades. Federal agents lured Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada across the border into Texas, where they took him into custody.
“El Mayo” is described as the leader of the powerful Sinaloa cartel, which authorities said has been flooding the U.S. with deadly fentanyl.
Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the son of the cartel’s infamous co-founder and former boss Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, was also arrested. “El Chapo” is currently serving a life sentence in a U.S. prison.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized with COVID-19 and double pneumonia
Former Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein — who’s been sentenced to 16 years in prison after being found guilty of rape — has been hospitalized. His representative said Weinstein is facing a “myriad of health conditions,” including COVID-19 and double pneumonia.
The 72 year old is currently awaiting retrial in Manhattan on sex crime charges after his conviction was overturned on appeal in April. He is tentatively set to be retried in November.
His rape sentence comes out of a conviction in Los Angeles, but he’s being held in a New York prison while waiting for retrial.
Ohio court rules ‘boneless’ chicken wings can have bones
According to the Ohio State Supreme court, customers who order boneless wings should not expect them to be boneless. The ruling stems from a case brought on by a man who said he developed medical problems after a tiny bone fragment became lodged in his throat after he ate boneless wings at a restaurant in 2016.
He sued the restaurant for negligence and breach of warranty. However, the Ohio justices ruled that the term “boneless wings” actually refers to the cooking style and said in its ruling that it’s “common knowledge that chickens have bones.”
American canoeist Casey Eichfeld looks for gold at historic 4th Olympics
This is the fifth installment in our weeklong series taking a closer look at Team USA members and their sports as the Paris Olympics get underway.
Casey Eichfeld is many things: a husband, father, Olympian and a self-described Disney fanatic.
“We got married at Disney World in Epcot,” he told Straight Arrow News, confirming he and his wife’s Disney devotion.
Straight Arrow News asked him to explain the rules of the sport. He gave a concise explanation:
“Canoe slalom is a series of gates hanging over a whitewater river. Athletes have to navigate those gates and there will be 18 to 25 of them. Fastest time wins. If we touch a gate we incur a 2-second penalty. If we miss a gate, go through it upside down or the wrong direction, we get a 50-second penalty. And that’s really about it.”
But that’s far from it when we’re talking about Eichfeld who will be making history in his sport for most Olympic appearances. He was, in a way, born for canoeing.
“My parents had a boat waiting for me before I was born so I don’t know if I was really given that much choice,” Eichfeld said with a laugh.
So once he started he said everything clicked — a perfect fit like Cinderella’s glass slipper — and he fell in love with the sport.
In 2008, he qualified for his first Olympics in Beijing at 18 years old. It was an experience he called “super surreal,” especially being part of the opening ceremony.
“That’s one of the memories that will stay with me all of my life, particularly my first opening ceremonies,” Eichfeld said. “There’s 550 of us, we’re walking through the tunnel into the bird’s nest and everyone’s chanting ‘USA!’ ‘USA!’ It gives me chills every time I think about it.”
Eichfeld said it’s not just the memories on the water that stick with him. He said he has plenty of other stories to share.
“I have a memory of hanging out at our athlete’s lounge in our village building, chilling out, watching other sports — Michael Phelps walks in,” Eichfeld recalled. “He’s like, ‘Hey are there any Uncrustables left?’ I said, ‘Dude, I got you.’ I took him right to the fridge that had them, had a coffee together, chatted a little bit. “‘It’s cool to see you. I’m not at all starstruck.’”
After placing 7th at the Rio Games in 2016, his highest placement yet, but then not qualifying for Tokyo 2021, Eichfeld contemplated retirement. He was starting a family and wondering if it was time to turn the page on his Olympic quest, but, like Moana, the water called to him.
“I had to make the decision: if I’m going to do this, I’m going to do this,” Eichfeld said. “There’s no messing around with this. If I’m going to take the time to be away from my family, as much as I need to be, then I really need to put the effort in and it paid off.”
At 34 years old, Eichfeld is now the veteran among his Team USA crew. He’s already thinking ahead, not just about his Olympics dreams, but the ones coming true at home, too.
“I’m really happy with my decision [to compete], now I get to make that decision again,” Eichfeld said. “We got a home Olympics coming and we have a baby boy coming at the end of October. So big, big year for me.”
“I like to add big things to my Olympic years. In 2016, my wife and I got married in December and this time, we’re having a baby two months after the Olympics. So why not make it a big year, a really memorable year?”
With his family in Paris motivating him, Eichfeld is looking to bring home the gold this time around and then celebrate in style.
“I want to prove that I belong here and even in my advanced age that I can still throw it down,” Eichfeld said. “So I’m fighting for the podium. I want to be up there. And then when I get home I want to go Disney.”
Colorado church wins legal battle to shelter homeless
Since 2019, The Rock Church provided housing for the homeless by sheltering them in RVs parked in the church’s parking lot in Castle Rock, Colorado. However, town officials attempted to block the church’s efforts in 2021, 2022 and 2023, saying the church was violating zoning laws. A judge decided on Friday, July 19, that the church can continue providing shelter for homeless individuals in Castle Rock.
In January, the church filed suit against the city, claiming the city was infringing on the church’s First Amendment right to religious freedom as well as the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. The law protects religious institutions from discrimination in zoning.
In the lawsuit, the church stated that because of the town’s actions, “the church must now turn away homeless or displaced individuals and small families in the town of Castle Rock rather than provide them with temporary shelter and other aid, contrary to the church’s religious beliefs and religious mission.”
U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Domenico sided with the church.
“The church has also demonstrated that it will suffer irreparable harm absent a preliminary injunction allowing it to carry on with its on-site temporary shelter ministry,” Domenico wrote in his decision. “The fact that the church has already had to turn away homeless families in need, in violation of its sincerely held beliefs that it must serve and house them on its property, makes this harm all too clear.”
The pastor of the church, Mike Polhemus, spoke with CBS News Colorado on Monday, July 22.
“From the very beginning of this ministry, we’ve only ever wanted to obey our call to reach out, love, and serve the needy around us,” Polhemus said. “We are grateful the court upholds our constitutional rights to do so.”
Town officials told CBS News that they have “retained defense counsel to rigorously defend the zoning authority of communities.”
Paris busing out thousands of homeless people ahead of Olympic Games
French President Emmanuel Macron has promised the 2024 Olympic Games will showcase the splendor of Paris. However, to fulfill that promise, the French government reportedly wants to keep Paris’ homeless problem out of view. The government is allegedly considering bussing thousands of homeless migrants out of the city and into other towns ahead of the Olympic Games on July 26.
The New York Times reported that around 5,000 people have been evicted under the program over the past year.
Macron’s administration said that the program is voluntary and has denied that the effort is connected to the Olympics. Paris is currently dealing with an emergency housing shortage and the city’s homeless population sits at 100,000 people, which is around half of the homeless population in France.
However, a Paris government official seemed to contradict Macron’s assertion that the evictions are not related to the upcoming 2024 Games. In an email to a French newspaper, the official said the goal is to “identify people on the street in sites near Olympic venues and remove them before the Games.”
Beginning last year, police raids on homeless encampments and abandoned building increased.
The city maintains that it relocates the homeless and provides them with housing in other cities. However, many migrants told The New York Times that they were lured into the program with the promise of housing and social services only to discover that the process could lead to deportation.
Others interviewed by the Times said that they never knew the program was voluntary given that they were surrounded by police with the offer to relocate.
After arriving in their new cities, relocated individuals live in shelters temporarily and are screened for asylum. Several, however, have instead received deportation orders. Those eligible can receive long-term housing but around 60% of people are denied.
The chance of deportation has lawyers advising people not to get on the buses and instead to take their chances on the streets.
Supreme Court clears path for homeless bans in western states
The Supreme Court gave Western states the green light Friday, June 28, to ban homeless encampments on sidewalks and public spaces. It’s one of the most significant homelessness decisions in decades. The ruling in Grants Pass v. Johnson overturns a Ninth Circuit decision that blocked cities from enforcing penalties on the homeless.
These penalties include fines for first-time offenders, bans on repeat offenders from public parks, and jailing persistent violators for up to 30 days.
The appeals court had called the laws a form of cruel and unusual punishment.
The high court overturned that ruling, saying enforcing anti-camping laws doesn’t violate the Eighth Amendment. This decision comes at a time when many U.S. cities are facing increased homelessness due to high housing costs and the end of COVID-19 aid programs.
Many state and local leaders see these bans as essential for public health and safety, but critics argue they criminalize homelessness.
Leading California Democrats, including Gov. Gavin Newsom and San Francisco Mayor London Breed, have been vocal in urging the Supreme Court to take this action.
“Today’s ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court provides state and local officials the definitive authority to implement and enforce policies to clear unsafe encampments from our streets,” Newsom said in a statement. “This decision removes the legal ambiguities that have tied the hands of local officials for years and limited their ability to deliver on common-sense measures to protect the safety and well-being of our communities.”
Justice Neil Gorsuch, writing for the conservative majority, argued that the Eighth Amendment focuses on the type of punishment after a criminal conviction, not on criminalizing certain behaviors. He emphasized that enforcing public camping bans is a matter for local governments, not federal courts.
In dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, argued that the ruling undermines protections for homeless individuals. She stressed that the decision disregards the realities of homelessness and the complex reasons people refuse shelter.
Why a Taylor Swift concert is inflaming Scotland’s homeless situation
Swift’s Eras Tour, which is the first to gross over $1 billion worldwide, is expected to draw approximately 210,000 fans and could inject over $125 million into the Scottish economy. This influx has led to a spike in demand for hotel rooms.
Shelter Scotland’s director, Alison Watson, reported that some homeless individuals have been relocated to other nearby cities. One person offered temporary housing more than 120 miles away, calling the situation a “blatant injustice.”
“It simply should not be the case that hosting a major event at Murrayfield has significant knock-on effects for people experiencing homelessness in Edinburgh,” Watson said.
In 2023, Edinburgh declared a housing emergency, which was followed by a national housing emergency declared by the Scottish government on May 15.
Despite legal requirements to provide emergency temporary accommodations for the homeless, which can include hotels, the Edinburgh City Council maintains that it is not displacing tenants specifically for the concerts. However, securing suitable accommodations during the event has proven difficult.
“It is a symptom of the housing emergency we face in Edinburgh that at times we must use tourist accommodation to house homeless households,” Jane Meagher, the council’s housing chair, said.
Meagher added that tourist accommodations are reluctantly used as a last resort to house homeless people. Efforts are underway to find suitable alternatives for affected residents.
Jury to hear opening statements in Trump’s first criminal trial
The 12-person jury is set to hear opening statements in former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial. Learn more about what is in the $95 billion foreign aid package passed by the House. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Monday, April 22, 2024.
Jury to hear opening statements in Trump’s first criminal trial
Monday, April 22, marks the first time in U.S. history that opening statements will be delivered in a criminal trial against a former American president. Prosecutors will present their case to the 12-person jury in a Manhattan courtroom, accusing former President Donald Trump of engaging in an “illegal conspiracy” intended to “conceal criminal conduct that hid damaging information” from voters ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
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Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments given to adult film star Stormy Daniels by Trump’s then-attorney, Michael Cohen. Prosecutors allege that when Trump repaid Cohen, he covered up the payments in his company’s records. Trump has denied any wrongdoing, and his lawyers have argued the payments to Cohen were legitimate legal expenses.
Both Cohen and Daniels are expected to testify in the trial, which is estimated to last six weeks. Trump also said he would be willing testify.
Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, will give the opening statement for the defense, where he is expected to argue that both Cohen and Daniels are unreliable witnesses with biases against the former president.
Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker is expected to take the stand as the first witness for the prosecution.
If convicted, Trump could face up to four years in prison for each count.
Homeless encampment case heads to the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Monday, April 22, in a case questioning whether cities can fine and jail the homeless for sleeping on public property or if such actions constitute “cruel and unusual punishment.”
However, a federal appeals court ruled that the ban violates the Eighth Amendment, as it punishes individuals who have no other living options and the city does not provide adequate housing. Grants Pass contends that fines and short-term jail sentences are not cruel and unusual, seeking a definitive ruling from the Supreme Court.
The decision could significantly influence how cities nationwide manage homeless encampments.
House passes $95 billion foreign aid package, including bill on TikTok
The House passed a foreign aid package over the weekend, a victory for Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., as he managed dissent within his own party and turned to Democratic colleagues for support. The $95 billion package supports Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, replenishes U.S. arms, and includes measures to seize Russian assets and regulate TikTok, divided across four bills.
The legislation directs $60 billion to aid Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, including military support efforts against Russian aggression.
The package includes $26 billion for Israel, with significant funding for missile defense systems and other military operations to counter threats from Iran.
In the Indo-Pacific, the proposal dedicates about $8 billion to strengthen U.S. and allied military capabilities, highlighting concerns over potential Chinese actions against Taiwan.
The fourth bill includes policies for selling TikTok, using Russian assets to fund Ukraine aid and increasing sanctions against international drug trafficking. This bill now heads to the Senate.
Israeli military intelligence chief resigns over Oct. 7 warning failure
This marks the first resignation of a senior figure following Hamas’ terror attack and the ongoing war. Haliva has previously stated that he failed to warn of Hamas’ assault on Oct. 7 and takes full responsibility. In his resignation letter, he expressed that he will forever carry the burden of that “black day” and the pain of the war.
Haliva served with the Israeli Defense Forces for 38 years.
U.S. journalist, held hostage nearly seven years in Lebanon, dead at 76
Anderson was kidnapped in Lebanon in 1985 and held captive for nearly seven years by Islamic militants. After his release in 1991, he wrote the best-selling memoir “Den of Lions,” detailing his harrowing experience. Anderson passed away at his home in Greenwood Lake, New York.
He spent his later years on a small horse farm in Virginia, enjoying a peaceful life despite ongoing struggles with PTSD. He was 76.
Mary J. Blige, Cher, Foreigner among Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees
The inductees include Mary J. Blige, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Kool and the Gang, Ozzy Osbourne and A Tribe Called Quest. Additionally, the late Jimmy Buffett will be honored with the Musical Excellence Award.
California audit shows state has not been tracking billions spent on homelessness
California spent more than $24 billion between 2018 and 2023 to address the state’s homeless issue. Now the question is: Has the money spent been effective? According to a new state audit, no one really knows.
On Tuesday, April 9, California State Auditor Grant Parks released a report revealing the state hasn’t been keeping track of where those billions of dollars are being spent and if they are helping to solve the issue.
According to the audit, more than 180,000 Californians experienced homelessness in 2023 — a 53% increase from 2013.
To combat the crisis, more than 30 homeless and housing programs dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness in the state spent billions of dollars over the last five years.
Now, the state doesn’t have enough data or transparency to understand why conditions did not improve in many California cities, according to the audit.
The report states that in 2021, California’s Interagency Council on Homelessness — created in 2017 to allocate programs and resources to the homeless — stopped consistently tracking where and how it was spending its state funding.
“The state auditor’s findings highlight the significant progress made in recent years to address homelessness at the state level, including the completion of a statewide assessment of homelessness programs,” a statement provided to The Associated Press said. “But it also underscores a need to continue to hold local governments accountable, who are primarily responsible for implementing these programs and collecting data on outcomes that the state can use to evaluate program effectiveness.”
Among other findings, the audit revealed that homeless services in two major California cities, San Jose and San Diego, failed to track their spending as well.
“The state must do more to assess the cost-effectiveness of its homelessness programs,” the report concluded.