Kari Lake, Arizona’s Republican nominee for governor, launched a complete plan for a way the state can tackle its homelessness disaster. Her options are a breath of recent air and stand in stark distinction to the failed insurance policies pushed by the federal authorities, California, and Phoenix.
Greater than 500 homeless individuals died on Phoenix’s streets within the first half of 2022—which implies town is on the trail to earn the unlucky title of the deadliest metropolis for the homeless in America. Most of those deaths have been attributable to drug use, however one in ten have been homicides. For context, Los Angeles sees round 2,000 homeless deaths a 12 months, with a metro homelessness inhabitants greater than six occasions larger than Phoenix’s.
Lake highlights many circumstances of the violent crimes dedicated by homeless people. And whereas the homeless are at elevated danger to be victimized by crime, the perpetrators are principally their homeless friends. As she writes, “The widespread denominator in these crimes are homeless people with uncompensated Extreme Psychological Sickness, Identified Substance Abuse (DSA) points, or a mixture of the 2.” Provided that three-quarters of the homeless dwelling on the streets endure from critical psychological sickness, three-quarters are hooked on medication or alcohol, and the bulk have each afflictions, Lake is right to deal with the underlying circumstances that trigger homelessness.
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An aerial view exhibits individuals strolling previous a homeless encampment within the afternoon warmth on July 21, … [+] 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photograph by Mario Tama/Getty Photographs)
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Step one to tackling homelessness is to wash up the streets. As Lake writes, “By enabling power avenue homelessness as a way of life, suppliers and politicians are creating extra of it.” Her plan particulars how the state can construct sufficient shelter choices in order that regulation enforcement can implement native ordinances that prohibit avenue tenting. It additionally lays out an in depth course of for a way these people will transfer by means of numerous voluntary or obligatory therapy applications. Her plan makes it clear that homeless people selecting to remain on the streets, and the related waste, illness, and violence that ruins neighborhoods and results in homeless deaths, will now not be inspired—and even tolerated—in Arizona.
Whereas nonprofits and localities that profit financially from the worsening homelessness disaster argue that Lake’s plan criminalizes homelessness, it isn’t compassionate to permit mentally ailing, addicted people to endure and die on the streets. Fortunately, Lake’s place is seen as commonsense by Arizonans. A Cicero Institute ballot of Arizona voters discovered that eight in ten need the state to ban avenue tenting. Each assist and powerful assist for banning avenue tenting was larger for Hispanics and African People than it was for whites.
Help was even stronger when voters have been requested to decide on if it was higher for the federal government to “prioritize shifting homeless people from the streets to native shelters or low-cost designated tenting amenities the place there may be required participation in therapy or different companies,” or to “prioritize offering homeless people dwelling on the streets with everlasting housing with free lease, with no necessities for sobriety or therapy.” The ballot discovered 84 p.c selected shelters and obligatory therapy whereas solely 7 p.c selected everlasting housing with no required therapy.
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Given these overwhelming outcomes, most Arizonans would probably discover it stunning that the unpopular strategy of providing Everlasting Supportive Housing (PSH) to unravel homelessness has been mandated by the federal authorities for practically a decade. And most states have relied on this failed strategy. For instance, Arizona has created greater than 7,000 everlasting properties for the homeless since 2010, which is greater than sufficient to accommodate each one that was dwelling on the streets on the time. However since then, the variety of homeless people dwelling on the streets has elevated by greater than 50 p.c. Cities throughout the nation have seen related horrible outcomes, most notably San Francisco.
The federal PSH funding mannequin really rewards individuals for committing crimes and utilizing medication by shifting them up in housing precedence. Making issues worse, there aren’t any necessities for psychological well being or habit therapy for these in PSH. With the foundation causes of homelessness left untreated, is it any surprise that the Nationwide Academy of Sciences decided, “there isn’t a substantial revealed proof as but to show that PSH improves well being outcomes.” Fortunately, Lake firmly comes down on the facet of “treatment-first” as an alternative of “housing-first.”
Housing first was began below the George W. Bush Administration, earlier than it was expanded and mandated below President Obama. Simply as there was a bipartisan consensus to do this strategy, now there’s a bipartisan push to alter techniques. Homelessness reform payments in Missouri, Texas, and Utah that transfer individuals off the streets and focus state funding on shelter and therapy over free housing all not too long ago grew to become regulation with assist from each side of the aisle. And even California, the poster little one for why housing first fails, is allocating extra funds to short-term shelter choices and clearing avenue encampments.
This spring, the Arizona Senate handed a bipartisan invoice that may have directed new state funding to momentary shelter choices, with the funding conditioned on localities imposing their bans on avenue tenting. The invoice didn’t make it by means of the Home, however Lake’s proposed framework will strengthen the invoice whether it is reintroduced in 2023.
Lake is just not the one Republican demanding a change to the homelessness establishment. This summer season, President Trump talked about homelessness throughout his coverage tackle in Washington, DC. And Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) launched a invoice final 12 months to finish the Division of Housing and City Improvement’s unique reliance on housing first.
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President Trump summarized his coverage prescriptions by stating, “The homeless must go to shelters, the long run mentally ailing must go to establishments, and the unhoused drug addicts must go to rehab.” Lake’s complete plan shares the identical objectives and gives the required roadmap for Arizona to show the tide on homelessness.
Arizona Cardinals beat New England Patriots in season-critical win
Sports writers Theo Mackie and Bob McManaman discuss the Cardinals 30-17 win over the Patriots and the long odds on a future playoff spot
The Arizona Cardinals continue their 2024 NFL regular season schedule with an NFL Week 16 game against the Carolina Panthers today.
The Cardinals are coming off a 30-17 win against the New England Patriots at home in NFL Week 15.
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The Panthers lost to the Dallas Cowboys, 30-14.
The Cardinals are 7-7 on the season. The Panthers are 3-11.
Follow our live updates of the game, which is being played at Carolina’s Bank of America Stadium, for the latest score, news, notes and analysis of the Week 16 NFL game Sunday.
NFL Sunday schedule: TV channels, how to watch NFL Week 16 games on television today
TV channel, time, how to watch Sunday: Arizona Cardinals vs Carolina Panthers game today
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Watch Cardinals at Panthers with FUBO (free trial)
Cardinals vs Panthers schedule: What time is NFL Week 16 game?
The game is on Sunday, Dec. 22, at 11 a.m. MST, 1 p.m. ET.
NFL Week 16 schedule: TV channels, how to watch, how to stream games this week
Cardinals vs Panthers TV: What channel is NFL Week 16 game on?
The game can be seen on FOX.
NFL power rankings Week 16: Where are Cardinals, Panthers now?
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Cardinals vs Panthers streaming: How do I watch NFL Week 16 game on livestream?
Streaming options for the Cardinals at Panthers game include FUBO and other streaming services that carry FOX.
NFL playoff picture Week 16: Where are Panthers, Cardinals now?
Cardinals vs Panthers announcers: Who is calling the NFL Week 16 game?
Chris Myers (play-by-play) and Mark Schlereth (analyst) are scheduled to be the announcers for the Cardinals-Panthers Week 16 NFL game.
NFL Week 16 announcers: Television broadcasters, announcing crews for NFL Week 16 schedule
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Cardinals vs Panthers game odds: Who is favored in NFL Week 16?
The Cardinals are a four-point favorite over the Panthers in NFL Week 16 odds for the game, courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook.
Arizona is -225 on the moneyline, while Carolina is +180.
The over/under (point total) is set at 47 points.
NFL Week 16 odds: Who is favored in this week’s games?
Pregame reading for Cardinals at Panthers game today
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A self-described Arizona social media “villain” was arrested after he filmed himself allegedly spraying bed bug killer on groceries inside a Walmart as he boasted to police about his prank videos.
Charles Smith, 27, is accused of grabbing a can of Hot Shot Ultra Bed Bug and Flea Killer and unleashing the pesticide on a series of perishable items in the Mesa, Ariz. megastore around 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 19.
In the now-deleted video, the influencer filmed himself wearing a black hoodie and pink bandana while spraying the toxin on bananas, acorn squash, potatoes, lemons, green apples and Roma tomatoes at the store — located in a neighborhood southeast of Phoenix.
Charles Smith was accused of spraying a bed bug killer on groceries inside a Walmart. ImTheMainCharacter/Reddit
Police claim the TikTokker, who goes by the username WolfieKahletti, intentionally went to the store to film pranks for his channel.
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Smith identifies as an online “troll,” according to court documents viewed by Az Family. He has more than 300,000 followers on TikTok.
The troublemaker allegedly told police that he makes between $6,000 – $10,000 per month filming his provocative prank videos.
”I think social media has got people doing crazy things out here,” Walmart shopper Xavier Griego told the outlet. “It’s unfortunate that somebody would mess up their whole life, potentially, for something on social media for views.”
Smith voluntarily turned himself over to police on Dec. 21.
The prankster reportedly posted the video on his TikTok page with over 300K followers. ImTheMainCharacter/RedditWalmart claimed it removed the contaminated items and cleaned the areas that were hit. ImTheMainCharacter/Reddit
He faces charges of introducing poison (a felony) as well as three misdemeanors that include criminal damage, endangerment and theft.
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A spokesperson from Walmart told AZ Family that store employees removed the directly impacted products and cleaned the affected areas of the store.
It’s not clear if any customers were injured from eating the contaminated items.
Smith voluntarily turned himself over to the police on Dec. 21. ImTheMainCharacter/Reddit
“This incident underscores the potential dangers of reckless actions disguised as social media pranks,” the Mesa Police Department said in a statement.
Other videos posted online by Smith include the posts of him seemingly mixing in bacon and eggs in a stranger’s load at the laundromat as well as locking people inside a different grocery store.
Smith is charged with a felony and three misdemeanors. ImTheMainCharacter/Reddit
The spray is “harmful if swallowed” and “prolonged or frequently repeated skin contact may cause allergic reactions in some individuals” per HotShot’s website.
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Suspects convicted of tampering with consumer products face up to 5 to 20 years in prison.
In 2022, an Arizona man was sentenced to 10 years of probation after being convicted of adding harmful chemicals to food at several retail stores in the Phoenix area.
David Lohr was ordered to pay restitution to a grocery chain for $390.42 and ordered to participate in a mental health evaluation and any additional recommended treatment.
There were no reported injuries or illnesses associated with the tampered items during the 2018 stunt, prosecutors said.
Lohr was accused of tampering with products at stores in California one year later and sentenced to a 51-month prison term followed by three years of supervised release with mental health services.
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Caleb Love matched his season-high with 24 points to help power Arizona to a 94-41 rout of Central Michigan on Saturday.
The Wildcats (6-5) won back-to-back games for the first time since beating Canisius and Old Dominion to open the season.
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The Chippewas (5-6) scored the game’s first three points but Love knocked down three 3-pointers and scored 18 first-half points to put Arizona firmly in charge at intermission, 44-23.
Arizona shot 54.5% from the field, including 10 of 29 from distance, and got 44 points from its bench. K.J. Lewis hit 4 of 8 from the field and 5 of 5 from the line for 13 points to lead the reserves. Tobe Awaka added a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Wildcats dominated the boards, outrebounding the Chippewas 45-27.
Central Michigan struggled from the field, hitting just 14 of 54 (25.9%), including just 3 of 16 from distance. Cayden Vasko hit 4 of 13, including 2 of 5 from 3-point range, to lead the team with 10 points.
Arizona opens Big 12 Conference play at home when it plays host to TCU on Dec. 30. Central Michigan will look to snap its three-game losing string on Dec. 30 when it plays host to Cleary.
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