NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.—Several hundred local leaders and business owners gathered in Newport Beach to celebrate a new tradition at the first State of the County Luncheon July 19. During the event, county officials discussed such things as public safety, homelessness, government finances, and residents’ quality of life. “We need to make sure law enforcement has…

A former employee of a San Diego homeless center pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud July 20 for stealing over $70,000 in government checks meant for the homeless. Charisse Elaine Alexander, 55, worked at the San Diego Day Center for Homeless Adults—also known as the Neil Good Day Center—in April 2021, where she…

LOS ANGELES—A judge on July 19 ordered a Sylmar homeowner and the more than 50 people residing in RVs illegally parked on the owner’s property to vacate within four days. According to reports, the homeowner, identified as Cruz Florian Godoy, allowed roughly 20 RVs onto the property, charging each RV owner about $500 a month…

A Santa Monica city councilman was attacked July 16 around 2:45 p.m. while walking along the Third Street Promenade, an outdoor dining and shopping street, with his wife after asking a man he believed to be homeless to pick up his trash. “I asked him if he could pick up the trash and put it…

“Nine thousand gallons [of sewage] a month are going into the wastewater system. That’s the storm drain system, not the sewer. The storm drain carries it straight to Santa Monica Bay,” said Barry Coe, regarding the monthly wastewater of the 600 recreational vehicles (RV) that are being used by homeless persons in the Harbor Gateway…

LOS ANGELES—Despite major investments in housing and intervention programs, the number of people experiencing homelessness in the Los Angeles area continues to climb, with results of the most recent count released on June 29 showing a 9 percent year-over-year increase in homelessness in the county, and a 10 percent jump in the city. According to…

Costa Mesa is taking strides to expand affordable housing in the city, as officials June 20 approved $4 million towards the conversion of a Travelodge motel near the John Wayne Airport into 76 permanent supportive housing units for those at risk of homelessness. Councilors voted 4–1, with Councilman Don Harper opposed, to move forward with…

San Diego’s first new Safe Sleeping program site in the Golden Hill neighborhood will open on June 28, offering legal camping for those experiencing homelessness, Mayor Todd Gloria announced. The city’s Central Operations Yard has the capacity to hold 136 tents, each in a space measuring 13 feet by 13 feet. The number of people…

A federal judge earlier this month rejected the city of Santa Ana’s request to dismiss a lawsuit against them by a Christian nonprofit organization, which claims the city is blocking religious exercise by preventing them from providing food to the homeless. At issue is the city’s denial of an occupancy certificate to the nonprofit—called Micah’s…