CEO Corner: President Obama Said It, Now Let's Talk About DTLA

The following is an excerpt from a recent “No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen” podcast episode featuring former President Barack Obama, who said: “

I think it is morally – ethically speaking – it is an atrocity that in a country this wealthy, we have people just on the streets, and we should insist on policies that recognize their full humanity – people who are houseless – and be able to provide them with the help and resources that they need. 

I think it is entirely legitimate to say, for example, we need to build more affordable housing, which is going to require higher taxes on people like me and people who are well off in order to subsidize the construction of affordable housing, let's say in a place like California, and also be able to say… 

There are a bunch of well-intentioned rules and zoning laws and so forth that…existing homeowners have used to block the construction of affordable housing, even in democratic cities.  

And so if we want to actually deliver housing rather than have some abstract argument, then we've got to figure out not an either or, of do we spend more money or do we reform some of these things that are preventing the construction of affordable housing, we have to do both. And I want us to have those arguments. 

We should insist on policies that recognize their full humanity, people who are houseless, and be able to provide them the help and resources that they need. But we should also recognize that the average person doesn't want to have to navigate around a tent city in the middle of Downtown LA. And that we're not going to be able to build a working majority and support for the resources that we need to help folks like that, whether it's drug treatment or temporary housing or what have you. 

We're not going to be able to generate support for it if we simply say, you know what, it's not their fault, and so they should be able to do whatever they want. Because that's a losing political strategy. That doesn't mean that we care less for these folks."

DTLA is ready to become a residentially dense, walkable, and safe neighborhood. We are ready to build affordable housing, market rate homes, world class hotels, and class A offices – all connected by significant investment in climate friendly public transit. 

But…we need leaders who recognize that this future can't be characterized and held hostage by our failed policies on encampments, street disorder, and aid for those in need of mental health intervention that are unwilling or unable to voluntarily accept it.  

President Obama said what many of us have been saying for years. 

Maybe they'll listen to him!