Gov. Wilson’s Veto
Re “Rotten Weather, Rotten Timing,” editorial, Aug. 21: Gov. Pete Wilson’s veto of $1 million to support the continued use of National Guard armories for winter shelter could not have come at a worse time.
With 84,000 people homeless on any given night in Los Angeles County, the armory beds represent a crucial boost to the system. There are 11,000 year-round homeless shelter beds in L.A. County, and the armories play a critical role by helping to provide 2,000 additional beds during the winter, which this year, with the coming of El Nino, is predicted to be the worst in decades.
Without the armories, our community faces extremely limited or perhaps no alternatives in meeting the winter shelter demand. In light of welfare changes and their anticipated impact on homelessness, the governor’s veto decision seems very unwise. Now is not the time to leave the homeless out in the cold.
RUTH SCHWARTZ
Executive Director
Shelter Partnership
Los Angeles
As California faces the “worst winter in decades” (Aug. 20), vetoes of funds for the homeless, the sick and poor, disabled children and unborn babies and their mothers show that Grinch Wilson’s small heart has just shrunk three more sizes.
BONNIE COMPTON HANSON
Santa Ana
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