Hmm. It’s that time of year — making a list and checking it twice and all that.
I have a list of stories I intended to write this year but never quite got to them. Let me play a little catchup before it’s too late.
Reverend Andy Bales, executive director of the Union Rescue Mission, gave a talk to the Brentwood Community Council earlier this year. He has a lot of experience when it comes to dealing with the issue of homelessness.
He has always been firm in his approach: Addicts need to go cold turkey and get clean. Those with mental health issues need to get help. Going too easy on people doesn’t help them. Tough love is required. Formerly homeless individuals need structure.
Leaving homeless people on the streets too long is the worst thing we can do – the damage done to the individual becomes worse and worse – and the recovery will be that much harder and take much longer.
Given Andy’s track record of success, it’s hard to argue with him.
Andy is moving back to the Midwest after spending many years on Skid Row. This will be a big loss for Los Angeles, but Andy deserves a break. Good luck, Reverend Bales! You will be missed! Thank you for all you have done for Los Angeles – and all the individuals you helped along the way.
More and more housing for formerly homeless veterans is opening up on the VA campus. I know everyone wishes more progress could be made faster, but let’s at least acknowledge the good that is happening. Brentwood resident Tom Safran and his team, including his son, Jordan Pynes, are playing a huge role in all this.
I recently attended a Thanksgiving gathering at Building 207 on the VA campus, which opened almost exactly a year before. Building 207 has 60 units of beautiful housing for formerly homeless veterans.
Earlier this year, Arnold Schwarzenegger donated 25 tiny homes that are now parked on the west side of the VA property. Every tiny bit adds up.
In October, several gathered over at the Brentwood Country Club to celebrate the formation of the Brentwood Community Council 25 years before. Former CD11 City Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski, original founder of the BCC, was there; it was good to see her.
Recently, Traci Park held a “one year later” celebration at the Westchester district office for those who helped her with her 2022 election campaign.
She did something similar to celebrate the holidays. Mayor Karen Bass showed up.
Traci made the point that a LOT of progress has been made in the last year, with homeless encampments all over CD11 now having been cleared. Many formerly unsheltered are now in temporary or even permanent housing. This progress is obvious for all to see.
Great work, Traci!
My good friend Bob Inadomi, general manager at Vicente Foods, was recently honored by Traci Park alongside Mike Adams, whose parents started Vicente Foods 75 years ago.
I was there; it was a lot of fun. Bob has been GM for 25 years now; I’ve known him since he first arrived. Vicente Foods has been a steady advertiser in the Brentwood News from the very beginning.
Bob is very wise and observant. If you ever want to know what’s really going on in Brentwood, ask Bob.
I said to Bob during the gathering, “We should do a selfie.” A nearby shopper immediately jumped behind us and asked, “Can I be in it, too?”
A Vicente Foods shopper joined our selfie.
We said, “Sure. Why not?”
Maybe that should be our mantra in 2024: Sure, why not?
Happy holidays, all!
