FREE
LAPD bicycle officer injured in traffic crash in Koreatown
City officials announce $3 billion settlement of LA homelessness lawsuit
M O N D AY, A P R I L 04- A P R I L 10, 2022
VISIT SANGABRIELSUN.COM
LA County report: Central entity needed to address homelessness ‘crisis’ BY CITY NEWS SERVICE
L
os Angeles County must “reject the status quo” and develop a more cohesive way of addressing homelessness, with the current system too fractured and ill-equipped to handle the breadth of the problem, a county commission concluded Wednesday. “The region is in crisis, but the system serving persons experiencing homelessness is not set up to operate in crisis mode,” according to the report from the Blue Ribbon Commission on Homeless, which was established by the county last year to perform a comprehensive review of the homelessness issue and the system of responding to it. The report lists a series of concerns, many of which were expressed last year by Los Angeles city officials, most notably the lack of an authoritative regional agency charged with responding to the issue. “The voices of the system lamented that key government entities and service providers too often operate in silos rather than as an integrated network,” according to the report. “There is role confusion among these entities, and as a result, they are hampered in supporting people experiencing homelessness.” While the report’s authors credited the quasicity-county Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority for some successes -- particularly during the COVID- 19 pandemic -- they lamented that it operates with limited abilities that hamper what it can accomplish. “Its decision-making authority is limited by design, with little or no authority over funding, prevention, housing acquisition, substance abuse and mental health treat-
| Photo courtesy of Nathan Dumlao/Unsplash
ment, among other issues,” according to the report. “We refer to this as the LAHSA `conundrum.’ The conundrum has led many to falsely rely on LAHSA, creating a
great deal of consternation for stakeholders.” The report also cites a lack of “vital infrastructure” in the city and county. “While many county
and city departments touch homelessness, none
See Homelessness ‘crisis’ Page 3
N O. 63
V O L U M E 11,
Arcadia City Council unanimously appoints Michael Danielson to represent District 5 At the March 29, 2022, Special City Council Meeting, the Arcadia City Council unanimously appointed Michael Danielson to fill the District 5 vacancy created by the passing of Council Member Roger Chandler. The appointment became effective immediately and will continue for the unexpired term through November 2022. “On behalf of the City of Arcadia, I want to congratulate Mike on his appointment to the City Council,” said Mayor Sho Tay. “The residents of District 5 and the entire Arcadia community will benefit from Mike’s leadership, compassion, and dedication to our city. My colleagues and I look forward to working with him on the City Council.” Originally a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Mr. Danielson moved to Los Angeles in 1978 and worked as a freelance musician for several world-renowned artists including Jerry Lewis, Milton Berle, Joel Grey, the Four Tops, the Temptations, as well as theatrical productions for Siegfried & Roy and Disneyland, among others. Council Member Danielson is a 36-year resident of Arcadia and a retired Arcadia Unified middle school music teacher. Affectionately known around Arcadia as Mr. D., in 2020, Mr. Danielson was recognized as one of sixteen teachers named Los Angeles County Teacher of the Year from a pool of nearly 70,000 teachers countywide. During his distinguished career, Mr. Danielson has taught over 10,000 students and received numerous awards for his instruction including the Profile in Excellence Award (twice), Rotary Teacher of the Year (twice), Arcadia Teacher of the Year, and the National Endowment of the Arts
Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence in the State of California. Mr. Danielson was also the president of the Arcadia Teachers Association for several years and was commended for unifying teachers and district administration through listening, transparency, honest dialogue, and principled decision-making. In addition to his significant involvement in teaching and mentoring Arcadia’s youth, Mr. Danielson is also active in the Arcadia Rotary and is an Elder and music worship team musician for Arcadia Friends Community Church. He currently serves on the Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation Board and has volunteered his time as an AYSO Soccer Coach, Scoutmaster for Troop 111, and coordinated several music groups for Downtown Arcadia events. “I am incredibly honored by the appointment to the City Council to represent the residents of District 5 and the city we all call home,” said Council Member Danielson. “Arcadia is a wonderful place with so much to offer to so many. My life’s work has been dedicated to public service and I look forward to uplifting our community in this new and exciting way.” Mr. Danielson is a graduate of the University of Michigan and University of Southern California, holding several degrees in Music Performance and Music Education. He and his wife, Blennie, raised their two children in Arcadia, and both graduated from Arcadia High School. For more information about the appointment of Council Member Danielson, please contact the City Manager’s Office at (626) 574-5403.