LA needs to clean up its homeless mess before the Olympics. But City Hall’s plan should alarm everyone

Los Angeles City Council has approved an expanded homelessness response ahead of the 2028 Olympics, continuing an approach the opinion article argues has not reduced homelessness. It says the city should use the Games as a chance to develop lasting solutions for residents, rather than make a temporary effort to improve conditions for visitors.

The article says the plan would spend more on services and provide hotels or other housing without requiring sobriety or treatment. It cites the latest official count, which found nearly 45,200 people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles, a 3.4% rise this year, despite the city spending several hundred million dollars annually on services. It also points to San Francisco’s temporary street clearances before a 2023 visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping as an example of conditions quickly returning once crews left.