After a employee sprayed water close to a homeless particular person on Skid Row, Los Angeles Metropolis Controller Kenneth Mejia introduced that he’s launching an investigation into the employee’s employer, City Alchemy.
A video exhibits the employee hosing down a sidewalk just a few toes from a homeless one that was on their knees scrambling to choose up their possessions off the bottom. City Alchemy, which has obtained thousands and thousands of {dollars} in metropolis contracts, mentioned it fired the employee after the incident at a “local weather station,” the place Skid Row residents can obtain providers and reduction from harsh climate in winter and summer time.
On Jan. 18, Mejia shared a nonetheless picture from the video on X, previously often known as Twitter, and mentioned his workplace will look into the San Francisco-based nonprofit’s contracts with the town and the circumstances that led to what he referred to as a “disturbing” incident.
“The Metropolis Constitution places the Controller in command of making certain tax {dollars} are effectively spent. That features accountability for Metropolis contractors,” Mejia wrote. “Extra unhoused individuals die in LA than in NYC of hypothermia. Acts of cruelty just like the one within the video will be life-threatening within the winter.”
Sergio Perez, the controller’s chief of accountability and oversight director, mentioned the investigation falls wanting an audit however goals to make sure that City Alchemy, which has obtained about $14 million from the town since 2021 for offering homelessness providers, together with avenue cleansing and working shelters, is assembly its contractual obligations.
“We’re experiencing an increasing number of extreme winter occasions right here in Los Angeles, and our unhoused neighbors are among the many most susceptible … and that’s one of many issues that [caught] our consideration … and that’s to look at somebody at the hours of darkness, chilly hours to be threatened with water that manner,” Perez mentioned.
In an e mail to metropolis leaders, stakeholders and Skid Row residents, City Alchemy Chief Government Lena Miller mentioned the employee’s “egregious and outrageous act” didn’t replicate the values and coaching of the group, which employs many individuals who have been as soon as incarcerated or homeless.
“The person concerned was instantly fired,” she wrote in her e mail. “We’re additionally conducting additional investigation into whether or not different [workers] who have been on website have been complicit or passive in stopping this incident, and additional disciplinary motion shall be taken for these people, ought to we discover any negligence.”
City Alchemy officers mentioned the employee was hosing the sidewalk to wash feces left by the unhoused particular person within the video, whom they’ve subsequently positioned in transitional housing.
The nonprofit’s development through the years has sparked criticism over the coaching and conduct of its outreach employees, often known as ambassadors or practitioners. Some have been accused in lawsuits of abusive conduct, whereas some homeless advocates have portrayed City Alchemy as a surrogate for police in clearing unpopular encampments.
In 2021, the nonprofit labored alongside outreach employees from different businesses to induce individuals at a big encampment in Echo Park to simply accept gives of shelter.
Nonetheless, some metropolis leaders say City Alchemy performs a vital position in responding to emergencies akin to overdoses and psychological well being crises. They are saying its employees additionally assist alleviate the burden on law enforcement officials.
Earlier this month, a Stanford College examine discovered that crime and drug use had declined considerably in areas the place City Alchemy ambassadors have been stationed.
Forrest Stuart, a Stanford professor of sociology and creator of the examine, mentioned the examine, which is being peer-reviewed, discovered that crime dropped by 52% in a 12-month interval whereas drug use declined by 80%.
Stuart mentioned that utilizing the identical ambassadors on the identical places helped develop belief with unhoused individuals.
“They do all types of issues for neighborhoods, however in addition they get individuals to do stuff like de-escalate, clear up an space or get somebody off the road,” he mentioned.
Miller mentioned that City Alchemy will survey the group on their opinions of the providers it supplies. She mentioned employees will obtain a refresher coaching course so that they clearly perceive City Alchemy’s requirements.
The local weather stations have “stood as a spot of security, assist and group,” Miller mentioned. “We intend to revive and keep that popularity.”
