I too agree that reducing policing in the skid row neighborhood would lead to an increase in crime and find it hard to believe that anyone that ever visits there would disagree.

In my opinion any group of community leaders should be encouraging the mayor to hire more police, like we’ve been promised for years, and police other high-crime areas of the city more like they police skid row not to let the area slip back toward what it once was.

I wish you the best in your attempt to steer government. I already feel you are one of the most effective people and run one of the most effective organizations but ….. ahhh … the elusive “but” … you are going up against the city of Los Angeles that is one of the most poorly run organizations one will find, only slightly ahead of AT&T which holds last place.

I would not be surprised to hear excuses of lack of funds or changes in policy. I am not a big fan of our government on any level. I spent 1968 and part of 1969 in Vietnam and that experience and the way I saw them treat military folks from then until now is just criminal. The highest percentage of homeless people may still be ex vets today.

Law enforcement and the LAPD in general? The officers on the street are first rate folks. They are underpaid and put their lives on the line every day. I walk the streets of Skid Row many times each week in the day and in the evening. I see the police response time to many situations and have watched and listened to their approach to many calls. First rate is all I can say. These folks work in one of the most unstable areas in the city if not the most unstable.

If anything there needs to be additional resources put toward the law enforcement effort. This is not the time to take resources away and loose what movement is in progress in a positive direction. But …. I will not be surprised if things take a different direction.

My last blog piece was on the effort for the people of Haiti and touched a little on the subject of your letter Andy. I see so much effort going to other places when there is still so much that needs to be done in our own backyard.

I don’t want to diminish any thoughts toward the other missions and shelters but I do wish to state from my own observation that you and your staff at the Union Rescue Mission can stretch a dollar farther than just about anybody. I think you and your staff might be a resource worth listening to when it comes to the allocation of resources in downtown Los Angeles. Our current mayor has enough on his plate and a very big part of being a wise person is knowing how to allocate and yield to the expertise of others. Andy Bales; you continue to demonstrate qualities and have a long term proven track record that has no political agenda. You are fair, wise, economically estute and hopefully our mayors office will reach out for your expertise. But …. (sorry for another “but” ) …. if our local government continues down their current path and things decline I will not be surprised.

I wish you the best. I am not a very religous person but I have become a bit more involved or open to some of these ideas since I became directly involved in the streets with many of the homeless and have learned much more about the infrastructure in Los Angeles in which you are major part.

Regards,

Myles S. Rose