Written and published on 12 January 2019

Dear Ones,

It seems to me … it could be … that the economy is slowing down … don’t you feel that? I feel the crux of the issue is, people in the San Fernando Valley cannot afford to live here because of the cost of water.

And that people are looking around for a ‘second income stream’ with which to pay the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s extortionate ‘water rent’ … the cost of which has tripled in the last 10 years. Heaven knows, no one wants to be homeless. Clearly this fate has befallen many, here in the Valley.

The presence of homeless people on our streets, in food stores, and in restaurants is a cogent warning: It puts residents under greater pressure to get together enough cash for living expenses.

A person who offers home repair might be also looking for houses to burglarize on the side now, to help keep their families afloat during these hard times … whereas, in the past, they might never have considered this. In the same way, local businesses that provide ‘drive home’ services for their customers might have drivers who tip their extended circle of friends or family off about possible places to burglarize.

People who own a business in the Valley might consider offering their customers’ credit card information to their extended families to use for personal purchases, whereas before they might never have done so.

On the positive side, last year it seemed family groups were shoplifting and purse snatching at the local stores; fortunately it looks like law enforcement has put an end to this, and that is a good start.

A lasting solution to these unlawful ‘second income stream’ activities, I feel, will only come about by providing affordable housing, and affordable water and other utilities, here in the Valley. Everyone has their own ideas about how to do this.

My thought is, to allow greater Los Angeles communities the choice to lift housing code restrictions for a 10-year interval, so that during that time family, friends, or even homeless could be affordably housed in tiny houses or spare rooms in people’s houses.

Then they can get work locally, even at minimum wage, and still get by. It may help homeowners in communities so choosing, as their new tenants would be helping to pay living expenses.

A further help would be to petition that the Department of Water and Power (DWP) peg the cost of water to the availability of water locally.

I notice that this winter we have plenty of rainfall; what, then, prevents the price of water from being lowered back down to a reasonable rate? Then in future years, if water is scarce, we might consider upping the price of water once more.

Well, those are my ideas. No doubt you will have your own solutions to offer, as well.

In love, light and joy,
I Am of the Stars
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community health, affordable housing, housing codes, housing restrictions, Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, LADWP, DWP, water utilities, water rent, second income stream, law enforcement, amateur sleuth, shoplifting, purse snatching, burglary, robbery, credit card fraud, identity theft, crime, homelessness, sustainable living,