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CA mayor declares 'homelessness can’t be a choice,' suggests arresting those who repeatedly refuse shelter

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CA mayor declares 'homelessness can’t be a choice,' suggests arresting those who repeatedly refuse shelter

San José Mayor Matt Mahan proposed a new policy Thursday, saying there should be consequences for homeless people in the city if they refuse to accept shelter.

The issue of homelessness has plagued numerous urban areas of California, particularly since the pandemic. While the state has worked to offer shelter to the homeless, many of them refuse to accept it. The mayor’s new “Responsibility to Shelter” proposal puts part of the responsibility on homeless people themselves to accept state help or face arrest. 

After noting at a press conference that newly constructed housing would allow unhoused locals, regardless of their sobriety, to bring their pets, partners and belongings, the mayor lamented that nonetheless, “Instead of taking advantage of this taxpayer-funded housing, 1-out-of-3 people in this area who are offered housing refuse to come indoors.”

SAN JOSE MAYOR’S SECURITY GUARD ASSAULTED DURING ON-CAMERA INTERVIEW

The San Jose Mayor spoke about his proposal to tackle the homeless crisis.

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“Homelessness can’t be a choice, especially when over 200 people die on our streets each year,” Mahan said. “I’m proposing that after three offers of shelter, we hold people accountable for turning their lives around, because we all have a responsibility to end this crisis.”

Mahan argued that the mental health and addiction issues that often put people on the streets leave them unable to make rational decisions. “That does not mean that we should throw up our hands and give up on them.” Instead, he suggested, “It means we need to help them break the destructive cycle that is harming themselves and the larger community.”

According to a press release from the mayor sent to Fox News Digital, “Accountability will escalate the more times that individuals refuse shelter within an 18-month period. If passed by the City Council, after the first two refusals, unhoused residents will be given written warnings. Those refusing for a third time will be subject to arrest for trespassing.”

“[Mahan] believes that after three offers of shelter, the City has done what it can to help people turn their lives around and other levels of government need to step in,” the release continued. “The Mayor hopes that greater accountability and a brief interaction with the criminal justice system will help people get the treatment they need that only the County can provide.”

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San José Mayor Matt Mahan proposed a new policy Thursday, saying homeless people in the city should be jailed if they refuse to accept shelter three times. ((Aric Crabb/MediaNews Group/East Bay Times via Getty Images))

The “Responsibility to Shelter” initiative proposal still requires official approval from the City Council, but locals have stressed the need for a solution.

Firefighter Greg Tuyor, who appeared at the press conference, warned that the local homeless crisis is a huge burden on local officials, saying, “We responded to service to one individual nearly 400 times in a year,” and that they were having to check in on this person “multiple times a day.”

The mayor’s office did not respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.

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Montana

Montana nurse and Guard member earns national Air Force recognition

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Montana nurse and Guard member earns national Air Force recognition


GREAT FALLS — For Staff Sgt. Brianna St. Lawrence-Brody, service does not only happen in uniform.

Outside the gates of the base, she works at Benefis as a nurse, Great Falls Public Schools as a school nurse, and comes home as a wife and mom of four. For the Montana Air National Guard, she serves as a command post controller with the 120th Airlift Wing in Great Falls.

(WATCH: Montana nurse and Guard member earns national Air Force recognition)

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Montana nurse and Guard member earns national Air Force recognition

This year, St. Lawrence-Brody was named the U.S. Air National Guard’s Outstanding Airman of the Year in the Non-Commissioned Officer category.

She said the recognition came as a surprise, especially because her path into the Guard started later than others.

“I joined very late in life,” St. Lawrence-Brody said. “I joined the Guard right before I turned 40. So for me, every opportunity that’s presented, I want to take the bull by the horns and just run with it and do the best of my ability.”

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, she joined the Guard after finishing nursing school. She said she went straight from nursing school into helping open a COVID unit, while also working at Benefis.

She said that experience was the start of one journey, but not the whole of what she wanted to accomplish.

St. Lawrence-Brody joined the Guard for the opportunities, the challenge and to help build a future for her four children.

“It’s a little bit of a competition for myself,” she said. “Like, if I can do it, why not try my best to achieve it?”

120th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

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As a command post controller, she assists in helping move information during emergencies and major events.

“Outside, obviously, I’m a nurse. Inside the Guard, I have nothing to do with the medical field, which is kind of amazing,” St. Lawrence-Brody said. “It keeps me on my toes.”

She explained balancing the Guard, two civilian jobs and four children takes support from her family, her employers and her unit. She said Benefis and GFPS have been supportive of her military service.

Her nomination included her deployment experience, training work overseas and involvement across the wing. St. Lawrence-Brody said she deployed to Ramstein Air Base in Germany, where she worked with an operations center supporting entities connected to Africa.

But, she says this recognition is not the finish line.

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“This award, it’s not necessarily a landing pad for me,” St. Lawrence-Brody said. “I want to use it as a springboard.”

brianna award duality.jpg

120th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

St. Lawrence-Brody hopes her story encourages others to keep taking on new opportunities, even when they feel uncertain.

“Get comfortable with being uncomfortable and be okay with doing things afraid,” she said. “I think when you get to be okay with doing things afraid, that’s where you’re going to find the growth.”

She has already won at the Air National Guard level, but she recently traveled to Washington, D.C., as part of the broader Air Force Outstanding Airman of the Year process, which includes nominees from the Guard, Reserve and major commands across the Air Force.

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Nevada

Officials elevate response efforts to combat eastern Nevada wildfires

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Officials elevate response efforts to combat eastern Nevada wildfires












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Officials elevate response efforts to combat eastern Nevada wildfires | Local Nevada | Local























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