West
SI model leaving CA for TN due to homelessness, 'dirty' streets, taxes and more
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass publicized LA4LA during a State of the City address on Monday, when she called on the “the most fortunate” to contribute “personal, private sector and philanthropic funds” to combat the homeless crisis in the city.
The campaign pleads for wealthy California residents to offer funds, so city officials can move the over 40,000 homeless people from the streets of Los Angeles into housing.
“I quite frankly feel a little bit taken advantage of when I, too, have had to struggle and to create my own opportunities through hard work and education,” Kristen Louelle Gaffney, Sports Illustrated model and resident of San Diego told Fox News Digital over the phone. “Why should somebody have a piece of my hard work?”
Gaffney, a graduate of Sonoma State University and originally from San Jose, financially supported herself through a college education.
LOS ANGELES IN HOT WATER OVER SPENDING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS ON WORSENING HOMELESS CRISIS
Sports Illustrated model Kristen Louelle Gaffney has no plans to contribute any more money toward helping homelessness in California than she already does through taxes. (Kristen Louelle Gaffney)
“I came from nothing,” she said. “I think the most my parents did financially for me was pay for a tank of gas and maybe some groceries here and there in college.”
“We were very, very poor,” Gaffney said.
While Gaffney maintains that she and other California residents have already contributed plenty financially through taxes, she pointed to families cared for by single mothers, veterans and the elderly as the first homeless demographics that she believes should receive free housing.
“Drug addicts should be last on the list,” she said. “We should be focusing on the people that need help. Yes, but let’s create more opportunities and less systems that are ‘hand out’ systems that people are absolutely taking advantage of.”
CALIFORNIA GOP LEADERS CALL FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AFTER STATE CAN’T ACCOUNT FOR $24B SPENT ON HOMELESS CRISIS
Gaffney added, “How can we create opportunities for these, specifically, single women raising children?”
In 2023, 65% of the homeless families in Los Angeles were led by a single mother, according to Gitnux.
In 1990, 196 homeless and 194 housed poor families in Los Angeles were studied by the National Institutes of Health. The study found that of these families, homeless and housed poor mothers were, on average, 29 years of age and had two or three children.
The report states that, at the time, Los Angeles had approximately 35,000-50,000 homeless people.
Kristen Louelle Gaffney, left, is close pals with Brittany Aldean, a Tennessee resident and vocal Republican. (Kristen Louelle Gaffney)
NEWSOM’S HOMELESSNESS COUNCIL BLAMES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR FAILING TO TRACK BILLIONS SPENT ON CRISIS
In 2023, it was reported that there were over 50,000 unsheltered homeless people in Los Angeles, according to the Public Policy Institute of California.
“You’ve taken enough from us, and you’re only showing me that it’s getting worse,” Gaffney said of homelessness. She credits her frustration to both President Biden and Gov. Gavin Newsom and their policies.
Gaffney is skeptical of where the billions of dollars previously allocated for solving LA homelessness has gone. She says that she has not seen a positive change in chronic homelessness in Los Angeles, which is spreading far outside the city and onto the campuses of her children’s school.
“The more we claim, and I use the word claim very strongly, that we’re helping these people, it seems like the situation is getting worse,” she said.
In February, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced “over $188 million for FY 2023 renewal and new projects to the Los Angeles Continuum of Care,” which includes various housing projects, according to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.
Kristen Louelle Gaffney and her husband, former NFL running back Tyler Gaffney, are fleeing California and moving their three children to Nashville, Tennessee. (Kristen Louelle Gaffney)
A total of $1.4 million was to be earmarked for 47 beds for domestic violence survivors experiencing homelessness, according to the source.
“We’re constantly giving,” Gaffney said. “What more do you want from us?”
As a result of the seemingly incurable homeless crisis in LA, many Americans are uprooting their lives in The Golden State and relocating elsewhere.
Gaffney and her husband, former NFL running back Tyler Gaffney, are only one family on their way out.
The duo, and their three children, are migrating south to Nashville, Tennessee. The homeless crisis, accelerated cost of living, taxable income and an unsafe environment are only a few of the reasons the Gaffney family is moving clear across the country.
“A lot of people come to LA thinking this is the land of my dreams, this is the land of opportunity, this is where I can create something and make a name for myself,” Gaffney said. “LA homelessness…there’s nothing like it. I’ve been on the East Coast, I’ve been on the West Coast, I’ve been in the Bay Area.”
“This is the dirtiest I’ve seen our cities,” she said.
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San Francisco, CA
Headlines, June 30 – Streetsblog San Francisco
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Denver, CO
Nemanja Jokic, the older brother of\u00a0Denver …
Nemanja Jokic, the older brother of Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic, has successfully transitioned from a protective family advisor into a credentialed professional by becoming a certified NBA agent, Serbian outlet Meridian Sports relayed on Tuesday. The middle of the three brothers had to navigate the strict licensing protocols dictated by the National Basketball Players Association, which stands as the sole governing body authorized to issue the official license required to negotiate contracts with league franchises. The former collegiate player turned team executive for Serbian club KK Joker Sombor completed the strict application process.
EuroHoops.net
Seattle, WA
3 Seahawks Rookies Who Must Step Up Right Away
The Seattle Seahawks are the defending champions, but that doesn’t mean their rookie class isn’t important.
If anything, it means the rookie class is more important because these first-year players will have to play at a very high level right from the jump in their careers. The Seahawks’ rookie class is going to be expected to help the team win a Super Bowl by replacing some key players on the roster.
“The world champion Seahawks, as I saw it, had three clear areas that became needs this offseason: running back, safety and corner, with the departures of Kenneth Walker III, Coby Bryant and Tariq Woolen,” Sports Illustrated reporter Albert Breer wrote.
“Accordingly, running back Jadarian Price, safety Bud Clark and corner Julian Neal were their first three draft picks, and all three will be guys to watch in late July and August. And another storyline, one that’ll tie back to Price, will be Zach Charbonnet’s return from a torn ACL.”
Jadarian Price
With Zach Charbonnet tearing his ACL during the divisional round game against the San Francisco 49ers back in January, first-round pick Jadarian Price will be thrown into the limelight in Week 1, assuming he gets through training camp in full health.
This will be an excellent opportunity for Price to get early reps, especially considering he was a backup in college to Jeremiyah Love, the No. 3 overall pick in the draft. He’ll compete with George Holani in training camp for the starting job against the New England Patriots on Sep. 9.
Bud Clark
Clark shouldn’t be expected to start over Julian Love and Ty Okada, but he should still have a handsome role in the secondary. Last year, the secondary proved how important depth is, and everyone in Seattle’s back line can play at a high level.
Clark is taking over for Coby Bryant, who signed with the Chicago Bears back in March. Those are tough shoes to fill, but Clark will be given an opportunity to show why he was a second-round pick.
Julian Neal
The Seahawks won’t have Riq Woolen this season after he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. Josh Jobe and Nick Emmanwori will also need to fill in for Woolen’s absence, but third-round pick Julian Neal will have to shoulder some of the responsibility as well.
Woolen played in 78 percent of the team’s defensive snaps last season, which means Neal could hear his number early and often if he has a strong showing in training camp.
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