doodlepop

I drove past MacArthur Park this morning. The south-facing side of the park continues to be a heartbreaking open-air drug market. At what point does a society step in and save people from themselves?

If that addict on your street were your own son, what would you do? That is the defining question that guides my 5 step plan to fix the homelessness problem in LA. We *must* end this evil racket of corrupt politicians and NGOs who profit off the misery of these poor souls. They launder money and feed them more drugs, so they can keep their customers locked in this hell on our streets. We have a moral obligation from God to help them and make our city safe and clean for everyone. Karen Bass and Nithya Raman have forsaken this city. Time for real leadership. Time for real compassion.

MacArthur Park Update: Christopher Barret Johnson, a 42-year-old Culver City resident who works for the nonprofit People Assisting the Homeless (PATH), which distributes syringes to drug users at L.A.’s MacArthur Park and elsewhere, was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. On May 5, law enforcement pulled Johnson over near MacArthur Park after he abruptly made a U-turn in front of them in his BMW. LAPD officers saw methamphetamine in a plastic baggie in plain view in Johnson’s car. Additional searches of Johnson’s person and his BMW resulted in the seizure of at least 142 grams of fentanyl and nearly 46 grams of methamphetamine. If convicted, Johnson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a maximum of 40 years. His initial appearance is expected tomorrow afternoon at the Roybal Federal Building in DTLA. Residents and businesses in MacArthur Park and elsewhere have long complained about the wisdom of distributing syringes to homeless drug addicts where law-abiding citizens live and work. They call these policies “harm reduction.” I consider them “harm enabling.” Giving drug-addicted users needles to shoot up meth and fentanyl is never a good idea.

Giants lineup:   9 Harrison Bader - CF 1 Luis Arraez (L) - 2B 10 Casey Schmitt - DH 16 Rafael Devers (L) - 1B 2 Willy Adames - SS 26 Matt Chapman - 3B 0 Drew Gilbert (L) - LF 6 Daniel Susac - C 7 Will Brennan (L) - RF   65 Landen Roupp - RHP

BREAKING: The Cleveland Guardians are acquiring two-time Gold Glove-winning catcher Patrick Bailey in a trade with the San Francisco Giants for the No. 29 pick in this year's draft and left-handed pitching prospect Matt "Tugboat" Wilkinson, sources tell ESPN.