Common Sense Citizen
Welcome to Common Sense Citizen, a Thrive LA podcast where civic leaders, entrepreneurs, and everyday Angelenos come together to discuss real solutions to LA’s biggest challenges.
In this premiere episode, host Ryan Afari is joined by fellow Thrive LA Officers—Casa Vega owner Christy Vega and attorney/activist Sam Yebri—as well as venture capitalist and Thrive LA member John Kim, to dive into what’s broken in Los Angeles—and what we can do about it.
From small business struggles to housing policy, homelessness, public safety, and civic accountability, this roundtable offers a raw, honest look at how everyday citizens are being left behind—and why it’s time to bring common sense back to local politics.
If you're tired of political extremes, fed up with inaction, and ready to be part of the change, you're in the right place.
Common Sense Citizen
Confronting Homelessness: A Conversation with Paul Webster of LA Alliance for Human Right
In this powerful episode of Common Sense Citizen, hosts Sam Yebri and Ryan Afari sit down with Paul Webster, co-founder of the LA Alliance, to expose the systemic failure behind Los Angeles’s homelessness crisis. Billions of dollars have been spent — yet the crisis has only deepened. This conversation is a wake-up call, revealing how mismanagement, lack of accountability, and political inaction have created a humanitarian disaster on our streets.
Key Takeaways from This Episode:
• LA has spent billions on homelessness, yet the crisis continues to worsen — with no clear accountability
• A federal audit revealed $2.3 billion in unaccounted spending and inflated service claims
• The LA Alliance sued the city and county, resulting in binding court settlements to enforce real action
• Permanent supportive housing is slow and costly; transitional housing offers faster, scalable solutions
• LASA’s leadership collapsed amid scandal — including a $2M contract signed to her husband’s nonprofit
• A potential federal receivership and criminal investigations are now underway
• True change requires civic engagement, political courage, and system-wide accountability
To learn more, visit:
https://www.thrivelosangeles.org/
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https://missionmatters.com/author/thrivela/