Billions and Billions
What to know: A newly released report says that to end unsheltered homelessness in San Francisco alone will cost upwards of $1.4 billion, in addition to the $1.1 billion already spent there. And even that won’t be enough as an additional $410 million will need to be spent annually.
The TPPF take: The San Francisco experiment is doomed to failure because it addresses the symptom—being unsheltered—and not the underlying problems of addiction and mental illness. This is the federal approach, as well.
“Rather than fund the combination of housing and clinical services to support the homeless in healing from the disease and trauma underlying their struggle, SF officials instead follow the feds’ insisting that the provision of permanent housing subsidies alone would will end homelessness,’” says TPPF’s Michele Steeb. “To the surprise of few who served on the front lines in this battle and those who understand human nature, their experiment has fueled a humanitarian crisis of seismic proportions. Policy and personnel change is the answer to turning this crisis around.”
For more on homelessness, click here.
Change of Heart
What to know: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has reversed her position that anyone who doesn’t agree with her leftist political agenda should move to Florida or Texas.
The TPPF take: Who could have seen this coming? When you raise taxes and regulations to unsustainable levels, people leave.
“When people vote—with a moving van or a U-Haul truck—they vote for lower taxes and smaller government,” says TPPF’s Chuck DeVore. “And it isn’t likely that politicians in Illinois or California or New York will reverse course anytime soon to stem the flood of people moving out by cutting taxes and trimming red tape.”
For more on New York, click here.
Save the Children
What to know: Some European countries are walking back their position on “gender affirming” care for children struggling with their gender identity.
The TPPF take: There is no conclusive evidence that these procedures actually help children who are struggling with their gender identity.
“Emerging research shows that the use of these puberty blockers and hormones in children carry significant risks and long-term side effects,” says TPPF’s Andrew Brown. “The United States should take to heart the lessons learned by countries like Finland and Sweden and prioritize proven alternatives like professional mental health counseling to help young boys and girls cope with their feelings of dysphoria, anxiety, and depression rather than pushing the false promise that a magic pill will make everything better.”
For more on gender modification, click here.