In this episode of "What's Next, Angeles?" Mike Bonin talks about reimagining public safety with Ben Adam Climer of CAHOOTS, the successful mobile crisis intervention teams that handle non-violent emergency calls in Eugene, Oregon, in lieu of armed police response. It has become a national model. Mike and Ben discuss how it works in Oregon, and how it can work in Los Angeles.

Plus: Mike talks about how the local police union is an obstacle to reimagining public safety in LA, and is gaslighting the public about crime and budget cuts while fighting to preserve pay raises at the expense of deep cuts in services Angelenos need during the pandemic and the recession.


CAHOOTS
CAHOOTS
https://whitebirdclinic.org/cahoots/

VICE: These Cities Are Stopping Police from Responding to Homelessness, Drug Use and Mental Health Issues

Reimagining Public Safety in Los Angeles
BLM Presentation to Los Angeles City Council
Bonin: Let's Work on Smarter Approaches to Public Safety
LAist: Do We Need Police to Curb LA's Traffic Violence?

The Police Union
Mike's Op-ed urging a deferral of police raises during budget crisis
The PPL's letter
LA Times coverage of the PPL response
LA Police Union Challenges Mayor's Mental Health
Knock: The PPL Exposed