News
Lessons I’ve Learned from Reporting on California’s Homeless Population for Over Four Decades
Throughout my career as a journalist, one issue has remained a constant source of frustration and despair – the plight of California’s homeless population. Since 1980, I have covered the evolving landscape of homelessness in the state, witnessing firsthand the shifting dynamics and underlying causes of this crisis. From the early days of reporting on “public inebriates” in Sacramento to the tent cities that now line the rivers, I have seen how this issue has grown exponentially over the years.
In my early years of reporting, the term “homeless” was rarely used, and the focus was on individuals living in flophouse hotels or makeshift shelters in the woods. As the years passed, the recession of the 1980s brought a new wave of homelessness, with job losses pushing more people into the streets. By 1985, I co-authored one of the first books on contemporary homelessness, shedding light on the systemic issues that contributed to this crisis.
Fast forward to the present day, and the tent cities that now line California’s rivers are a stark reminder of how far we have strayed from addressing this issue effectively. The recent federally mandated survey found over 5,000 unsheltered homeless people in Sacramento alone, painting a grim picture of the state of homelessness in California.
Reflecting on my decades of reporting on this issue, I have come to realize that the roots of our current struggles with homelessness can be traced back to the 1980s. Issues such as police brutality, sexual violence, and lack of meaningful gun control measures were present then and have only worsened over the years. Additionally, the lack of pro-housing policies has led to the proliferation of tent cities and makeshift shelters, exacerbating the crisis.
One of the most troubling realizations I have had is the role that both conservatives and so-called “good liberals” have played in perpetuating this crisis. While conservatives have often been blamed for abandoning the poor, I have also witnessed how self-proclaimed liberals have contributed to the problem. The rise of NIMBYism among baby boomers, coupled with a lack of affordable housing policies, has created a situation where homeownership is increasingly out of reach for many.
Efforts to address this crisis, such as the housing bills passed by the California Legislature, have been a step in the right direction but fall short of addressing the root causes of homelessness. Politicians must be more aggressive in challenging local zoning laws and pushing for more housing-friendly policies to create real change.
As I look ahead to the future, I remain hopeful that meaningful change is possible. By addressing the systemic issues that have led to the homelessness crisis in California and beyond, we can work towards creating a more equitable society where everyone has access to safe and affordable housing. It is my hope that my reporting over the years has helped shed light on this issue and inspired others to take action towards ending homelessness once and for all.
News
Is now the right time to invest in gold as prices have cooled?
The price of gold has climbed to record highs recently and has remained strong through much of April. And, that growth continued until the precious metal traded at around $2,390 per ounce on April 19, 2024. But since, growth in the price of the precious metal has cooled, with gold’s price now hovering around $2,300 per ounce.
This lull in gold’s price may represent an investment opportunity.
In general, investing is centered around buying assets when prices are low and selling them when prices are high – generating a profit on the difference between the two. So, considering the declines in gold’s price over the past few days, now may be the time to make your investment. But is buying gold during this lull in prices really a good idea?
Compare your gold investment options among leading brokers now.
Gold prices have cooled. Should you buy in now?
With gold’s price down from recent highs, you may be wondering if now is the right time to buy in. There are several reasons the dip in gold’s price may represent an opportunity to buy. Here are some of the biggest:
Prices may rise again
If looking at a gold price chart shows anything for certain, it shows that changes in the overall growth of the medal come in fits and spurts. Periods of price growth are typically followed by periods of declines and vice versa.
But with inflation rising in recent months – and with gold’s reputation as a safe-haven asset that can hedge against inflation – it only makes sense that the price of the precious metal will eventually start to head up again in the future. While attempting to time that directional change may be tricky, buying the precious metal while the price is down gives you the opportunity to take advantage of any upward movement that may be ahead.
Add gold to your portfolio now before prices have a chance to rise.
You may be able to make a quick profit
Gold isn’t known as an asset in which you can earn a quick return, but in today’s market, that may be the case. Don’t forget that in January, gold was trading at just $2,000 per ounce. And, by mid-April, the commodity’s price had climbed to around $2,400 per ounce. That’s about 20% growth in a matter of months, much of which happened since March 1 – an impressive climb for any investment asset.
Perhaps more importantly, gold’s price growth through the beginning of 2024 shows that the commodity doesn’t have to be a buy and hold style investment that you keep in a safety deposit box or precious metal depository for years to come. There’s also the possibility that the commodity’s price could climb further ahead, making it a compelling way to potentially generate a quick profit.
There are other benefits of investing in gold
There are other benefits of investing in gold that have little to do with the price growth seen thus far in 2024 – or the lull in prices seen over the past couple of days. Those benefits include:
- Inflation protection: Gold has long been considered an inflation hedge, and for good reason. When inflation drives the prices of consumer goods and services up – and the value of the dollar down – gold’s price tends to rise. So, it could be used to maintain the value of your portfolio during inflationary economic conditions. That’s important in today’s economic environment as stubborn inflation continues to weigh on the value of the dollar.
- Portfolio diversification: Gold’s price doesn’t always move in the same pattern that bonds or stocks do. So, mixing a reasonable amount of gold into your portfolio (up to 10% of your portfolio assets) as a diversifier could protect you from losses should one or more of your traditional portfolio assets fall in value. “If you have less than 5% – 10% of your net worth in commodities & FX (forex), you should absolutely consider adding exposure to gold and other precious metals,” says Vijay Marolia, money manager and managing partner at the wealth management firm, Regal Point Capital.
The bottom line
Gold’s price has fallen from recent highs – which may represent an opportunity to tap into growth ahead. However, gold isn’t simply a “buy while it’s low and sell while it’s a high” kind of investment opportunity. The commodity can also protect your portfolio from the stubborn inflation we’ve seen thus far in 2024 while acting as a diversification tool that could increase your risk-adjusted portfolio returns. So, consider adding gold to your portfolio today while it has the potential to grow in value.
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