Dallas City Hall Slammed for Allowing Homeless Encampment in City Building

Former California gubernatorial candidate Larry Elder slams Gavin Newsom for not addressing homelessness despite calling California a "national model." The Dallas Morning News editorial board criticized the Dallas city government for not preventing homeless people from occupying and trashing a city building.

Former California gubernatorial candidate Larry Elder has criticized Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom for touting the state as a "national model" for tackling homelessness while failing to address the issue effectively.

In a recent interview on Fox & Friends Weekend, Elder argued that homelessness can be solved, but Newsom lacks the necessary "will" to implement effective solutions. He pointed to the state's high homeless population and the failure to provide adequate housing and support services for those in need.

Elder's comments come as California continues to struggle with a severe homelessness crisis, with an estimated 151,000 people living on the streets or in shelters. The state has allocated billions of dollars to address the issue, but results have been mixed.

The Dallas Morning News editorial board has condemned the Dallas city government for allowing a city building to be occupied by a group of homeless individuals, who were found living in unsanitary conditions.

In a May 30 memo, city council member Jesse Moreno reported that the Family Gateway Building, owned by the city, was occupied by approximately 20 homeless people and their pets. The memo described the building as being littered with "feces and urine" and infested with insects.

The editorial board slammed the city for allowing the building to fall into such a state, calling it an example of "how bad things have gotten in certain parts of Dallas City Hall." The board noted that the building's conditions violated city codes and posed a health hazard to residents and employees.

In his memo, Moreno requested that city officials take several actions to address the problem, including securing the building, cleaning and sanitizing it, posting no-trespass signage, and monitoring the facility regularly. He also suggested that the city consider condemning the building.

Moreno has expressed frustration with the city's "housing first" policy for the homeless, which he believes led to the occupation of the building. He argued that the city should focus on removing homeless encampments and providing temporary shelter for those in need.

The Dallas Morning News editorial board concluded its piece by stating that "no resident or business owner would be allowed to maintain a building in the condition that the old Family Gateway building is in." They argued that the city's failure to address the issue was unacceptable and demanded that the situation be rectified immediately.

The editorial board's criticism reflects growing frustration among Dallas residents and city officials over the city's handling of homelessness. The issue is expected to remain a major focus of debate in the upcoming mayoral election.