May 14, 2009

In the United States of America we are allowed freedoms that many other nations do not enjoy. We have freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom from unlawful searches and seizure. Yet for many in the skid row area, there seems to be a lack of freedom to voice their opinions about issues within their residences.

Recently, several brutal murders occurred here which prompted meetings with many tenants of low income supportive housing. They have expressed to me that they desire stronger police presence to deal with the criminal element that live in and loiter around the buildings they are trying to rehabilitate in. But other tenants tell me that they have always wanted to speak out about the conditions that they were forced to live in, but intimidation plays a role in suppressing their ability to speak out. They also advised that some managers have a very anti-police attitude; they would rather give those that break the law the freedom to engage in overdosing, narcotics sales, and prostitution. It is all done under the mantra of “harm reduction,” rather than providing a real improvement of the quality of life within locations designed to provide a safe haven for those trying to conquer their addictions and have a sustained sobriety.

As a result, many of these hotels go unchecked because the managers and advocacy groups who say they are the voices of skid row give the perception to law enforcement that they do not desire our assistance in separating the wolves from the sheep in their buildings.

Over the past 11 years in Skid Row it has been my experience that you cannot have sobriety, and lawlessness bedded together, and expect the majority of people to change their lives for the better. As I have said many times in regards to the Safer Cities Initiative, it is our strong desire to create an environment conducive to change in the lives of skid row residents. So with that, I would like to dispel a few myths about SCI, so that the skid row community, not “radical” skid row advocates, can come forward and voice their desires.

SCI is not here to get rid of skid row programs that are desperately needed to help the majority of skid row resident with a desire to change. We clearly understand the missions and other services in skid row are the most important facet of change in skid row.

We are not here to shut down your hotel, or housing program. In fact, in the past we have spoken out against the closure of these programs, because until other cities in LA County open up their hearts and minds to the plight of the mentally ill and homeless, the rehabilitative aspects of skid row must remain.

We are not trying to get rid of the homeless. Of course we would love to see homelessness end with more housing and programs, but until that happens we are only one piece of the puzzle to helping the homeless by bringing safety and order, so the second and most important component (the service providers) can thrive and reduce the recidivism rate. That can only happen when we restore order and reduce the temptations that for many in the skid row area causes them to fall back into the trappings that landed them here in the first place.

In the realm of individual freedoms, one does not have the right to sell or store narcotics in these hotels, or in the streets, nor do they have the right to traffic women, or engage in any other illegal activity within these hotels.

We as law enforcement recognize that the majority of residents in these hotels are not hardened criminals, but decent people seeking shelter as they try to deal with addiction, or mental illness, or simply need an affordable place to stay. Yet I will not turn a blind eye to the many that are engaged in criminal activity in these hotels. I can say this boldly because I have been in some of these hotels, and arrested dealers within them, and have been and am currently receiving information from skid row community members about illegal activities within them. For the management of these hotels to refuse our assistance in ridding their hotels of these individuals is a disservice to those truly trying to rehabilitate. I must state in fairness that I have had the pleasure of working with some of these hotels in the past in improving the lives of their residents, and these locations are still standing. I would like to extend this invitation to others to work in partnership with us. To hotel management that refuse to report these criminals or deter them from entering their facilities under the guise of civil liberty, shame on you. Your political world view is not as important as helping individuals better their lives and ensuring they are safe where they live.

I encourage anyone that has the desire to speak out against this criminal activity to come forward, because that is your absolute right to do so. We will also deal with anyone who comes against you or treats you unfairly for doing so. You do not need anyone to speak your mind for you. For those who have showed that courage over the last three years of this SCI endeavor, I thank you for your courage.

God bless you all

Senior Lead Officer Deon Joseph