Other side of the story
Re “ACLU disputes city’s kindly reputation,” April 9
It’s unfortunate that no reporter contacted us before The Times ran an article in which sources criticized our strategy in lawsuits against the cities of Laguna Beach and Santa Barbara for criminalizing homeless people.
If a reporter had contacted us, he or she would have heard us explain that Laguna Beach dragged its feet in providing services for homeless residents and failed to act on recommendations from its own blue-ribbon homeless task force. The reporter also would have heard that our lawsuit against Santa Barbara, far from simply “politicizing” providing services to the homeless, raised the level of discussion about this issue in a city that has targeted reducing the visibility of homeless individuals rather than reducing homelessness.
When a newspaper tackles a subject from a fresh angle, it should contact both sides and allow them to frame their arguments in context. We didn’t get that opportunity.
Ramona Ripston
Los Angeles
The writer is executive director of the ACLU of Southern California.
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