LOS ANGELES — As encampments multiply from Echo Park to Venice, homelessness has been the top issue in the L.A. mayoral race. Billionaire developer Rick Caruso and City Council member Kevin de León want the city to create its own mental health department. Caruso said he would hire 500 mental health and addiction case workers, dispatch mental health workers to respond to 911 calls, and crack down on illegal drug sales. De León, a Democrat, believes the current patchwork system for dealing with mental health and substance use has failed. A county commission has called for creating a czar-like position to direct all county homeless services.

Source: Los Angeles Times April 28, 2022 09:14 UTC