News
Los Angeles testing program to send unarmed civilians to crises instead of LAPD
Los Angeles is taking steps to change the way it responds to nonviolent mental health emergencies by launching a new pilot program that sends unarmed civilians with specialized training to handle these situations. This initiative is aimed at reducing the city’s reliance on police officers for handling crises that do not involve violence.
The Unarmed Model of Crisis Response program, inspired by a successful program in Oregon, consists of teams of mental health practitioners who are available around the clock to respond to calls that would typically be handled by the police. These calls can include welfare checks, instances of public intoxication, and indecent exposure.
Currently, the program is being implemented in three police divisions in Los Angeles — Devonshire, Wilshire, and Southeast. City officials plan to evaluate its effectiveness after a year and potentially expand it to more areas.
The program was unveiled at a recent news conference, where City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield emphasized the importance of providing appropriate resources to help those in need. He stated, “We can’t keep asking our police officers to also be social workers, mental health clinicians, and outreach workers.”
This new initiative is based on the successful “Cahoots” model from Eugene, Oregon, which dispatches teams of specialists trained in counseling and de-escalation to handle mental health crises. In Los Angeles, where issues of homelessness, substance abuse, and mental health are pressing concerns, the program is seen as a much-needed alternative to traditional police responses.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has faced criticism for its handling of mental health-related incidents, including shootings and use-of-force incidents. The department acknowledges that officers are not always equipped to handle such calls and that they can quickly escalate into violent situations.
LAPD interim Chief Dominic Choi expressed support for the new program, stating that it helps shift resources to the appropriate responders and reduces the workload on the police force. 911 personnel have been trained to redirect calls to the program when there is no threat of violence or weapons involved.
This initiative is part of a larger movement in the United States to shift resources away from law enforcement and towards specialized crisis intervention teams. Major cities like Los Angeles have pledged to invest in alternative emergency response strategies that prioritize mental health and substance abuse assistance.
While some programs have faced challenges in scaling up and meeting their goals, advocates argue that these initiatives are vital for providing more effective and compassionate responses to those in crisis. However, there are concerns about the sustainability and accountability of these programs, especially in the face of budget constraints.
As the Unarmed Model of Crisis Response program continues to operate and evolve in Los Angeles, it offers a promising approach to addressing nonviolent mental health emergencies and reducing the burden on law enforcement. By prioritizing specialized training and support for those in need, the city aims to provide more effective and humane responses to individuals experiencing crises.
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.
-
News1 week ago
Juno discovers massive lava lake on Io
-
News1 week ago
Possible Future Colleague of Trump: David Lammy, a Close Associate of Obama
-
News2 weeks ago
Knowing the Magnetic Field of an Exoplanet’s Star is Essential to Determining the True Size of the Exoplanet
-
News1 week ago
Kevin McCarthy, former House Speaker, seeks revenge
-
News2 weeks ago
Additional Perspectives on the 2024 Eclipse: Views from the Moon and Earth’s Orbit
-
News2 weeks ago
House speaker receives additional request from GOP member to resign or be ousted
-
Entertainment1 week ago
Bethenny Frankel reveals that her mother Bernadette Birk passed away from lung cancer
-
News2 weeks ago
Alaska Ambler Road Project Denied by Interior Department