Santa Monica business owner offering one-way tickets out of town for homeless people
Fed up with the escalating homelessness crisis in Los Angeles, one man is taking an unconventional but heartfelt approach: buying one-way plane tickets to help people on the streets reconnect with family and friends.
John Alle, a real estate advisory business owner and co-founder of the Santa Monica Coalition, launched a no-questions-asked program last week offering free flights home to unhoused people in LA with ID and someone waiting at their destination.
After a Fox 11 story aired Thursday, Alle said a woman from a San Diego shelter reached out, along with about 25 others.
'We're going to get her a flight on July 3 to Wyoming,' Alle told The Independent on Friday. 'She's been trying to use her disability income to book a flight to see her family there, but she doesn't have enough income to do that and pay her bills for the month.'
Funded by Alle and Santa Monica Coalition donors, the program offers flights and, when needed, bus or train rides to unhoused people, despite LA's billion-dollar spending to address homelessness.
'We're trying to send people home on a bus to Oregon on Monday and Tuesday,' Alle said.
The business owner is frustrated by what he claims are slow, ineffective government efforts.
'The most frustrating part is just to see people that you know have the means to do something and make a difference, but they're trying to go towards another solution that benefits them financially,' Alle said.
Alle and his team came up with the ticket home idea by researching how other countries address homelessness. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chinese government addressed urban homelessness by relocating people to their hometowns, offering temporary shelters, and clearing them from city streets.
'We started thinking creatively in terms of what we would be able to do to create an immediate impact. Otherwise, we just have people lying around in front of City Hall,' Alle said.
While any unhoused person in LA can utilize the program, Alle said they focus on helping women who are subject to becoming victims of crimes and people who have lived on the streets for less than two years, as they have the best chance of reintegrating into society.
'I think if you've been out there more than five or six years, you're pretty much a lifer at that point,' Alle said. 'It's really tough to get people to want to come back inside when they've been out there so long, especially when they've been beaten down by so many elements of what's going on outside.'
If you or someone you know is interested in the homeless relocation program, call (213) 652‑7463.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
21 minutes ago
- BBC News
Trump on a high after 'tremendous' wins at home and abroad
Donald Trump's week began with an on-air expletive as he lost his cool over his mounting frustrations with Iran and Israel's shaky ended with a beaming US president holding court at the White House - not once, but twice - as he celebrated a series of significant political victories at home and was in a triumphant mood, answering questions for more than an hour at a news conference that turned into a meandering boast of his a look at four big wins from this week, as well as a reminder of some things that didn't go entirely the president's way. 1. An 'unbelievable' strike and a ceasefire The successful US strike on Iranian nuclear facilities on 21 June was followed just three days later by Trump's announcement of a "complete and total" ceasefire in what he termed the "12-day war" between Israel and Iran. It had a rocky start. Not long before the announcement, Iran fired off ballistic missiles at a US airbase in Qatar, sparking fears of a wider war across the Persian Gulf. Even after the ceasefire, things seemed tenuous. Both sides were quickly accused of breaking it, prompting an angry, expletive-laden tirade to reporters on the White House lawn. By his own admission, Trump only narrowly managed to convince Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to call off further attacks on Iran. But ultimately the ceasefire held, allowing the president to proudly claim that his military gamble of an "unbelievable" strike on Iran worked, and point to evidence that he is a "peacemaker" - a sorely needed win as peace continues to elude him in both Gaza and Ukraine. Hegseth talks up strikes in Iran in push for public approval 2. Nato's commitment to 'Daddy' Trump was on his way to the Netherlands for the Nato summit when he got a text from Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte, lavishing praise on him for the strikes on Iran - texts the president was more than happy to make his whirlwind visit to the summit, US allies committed to 5% defence spending, something the president had repeatedly and vocally called during a joint press conference, Rutte referred to Trump as "Daddy", a reference to the president being able to broker a ceasefire between Israel and has seemed to embrace the moniker. "I think he likes me. If he doesn't...I'll come back and hit him hard," Trump said at a news conference, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio laughing beside him. "He did it very affectionately." Soon after, the White House posted various videos of a victorious-looking Trump with the caption "daddy's home". Trump takes victory lap at Nato - but questions remain 3. A 'giant win' at the Supreme Court Trump's week ended on a high note with the news that the Supreme Court issued a ruling that will curb judges' power to block his orders nationwide. While the ruling stems from a case regarding Trump's ability to end birthright citizenship for children of some immigrants, it has sweeping implications. It will be harder for lower courts to challenge Trump's domestic agenda through what Attorney General Pam Bondi described as an "endless barrage" of injunctions. At an impromptu news conference, the president hailed the ruling as a "monumental victory for the constitution, the separation of powers, and the rule of law". The decision allows him to pursue a number of other policy items that had been thwarted by injunctions, including freezing funds to so-called "sanctuary cities" that stand in the way of his mass deportation drive, suspending refugee resettlement, and preventing tax money being used to fund gender surgeries. The president smiled and cracked jokes, inviting reporters to ask more and more questions, as his aides - including Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt - sat smiling beside him. "This was a tremendous win, and we've had tremendous wins," he said at the end. "But this was a tremendous win today." Court ruling expands Trump's power - he intends to use it 4. A peace deal in Africa Some potential worries for the White House The week hasn't been all victories and roses for Trump. The president's biggest legislative priority - a massive tax bill he's dubbed the "One, Big, Beautiful Bill" - has hit some roadblocks. Trump has repeatedly urged lawmakers to get it on to his desk to sign into law by 4 July, Independence Day in the US. But earlier this week, Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough said that certain provisions violated Senate rules, throwing billions of dollars of cuts into doubt."This is part of the process. This part is part of the workings of the United States Senate," Karoline Leavitt said earlier this week. "But the president is adamant about seeing this bill on his desk here at the White House by Independence Day." And while Trump has hailed the ceasefires in Iran - as well as those in central Africa and last month between Pakistan and India - as victories, he has so far faltered on two of his biggest promises for peace: in Gaza and Ukraine."We're working on that one," Trump said of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine at Friday's news conference, where he did not mention the end of US military involvement in Iran is not guaranteed. During the news conference, Trump was asked by the BBC if he would consider bombing Iran again if he believed they were re-starting their nuclear programme. "Sure, without question, absolutely," he responded.
Daily Mail
24 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
REVEALED: America's most powerful judges who protect the Constitution locked in a toxic, secret battle...
A fiery dispute between two of America's most powerful judges was on public display on Friday as the Supreme Court handed down a bombshell opinion on birthright citizenship. The nine justices who sit on the court frequently tout that relationships between them, despite deep ideological divides, are cordial. But as they wrestle with issues that have left the US bitterly divided, not all of the spats between them fall directly along their political party lines - hinting that they might just not like each other on a personal level. The justices' secret personal feuds have seemingly become so fraught that they are counting down the days until the SCOTUS summer recess - which will be a welcome respite from both work and colleagues, according to Chief Justice John Roberts. This week, the court's liberal wing erupted in spectacular fashion against the six-judge conservative alliance during the biggest ruling of the year thus far. Trump appointee Justice Amy Coney Barrett, 53, ripped into liberal dissenter Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson's arguments in her 6-3 majority opinion in a major birthright citizenship case, with comments that come close to mocking her intellectual rival. Writing for the conservative majority of the court, Barrett hit back at both Jackson and fellow Justice Sonia Sotomayor who dissented. Barrett's scorched earth reply took aim at Jackson mostly, spending 900 words to repeatedly rip into the Biden appointee and the court's most junior member. At one point, Barrett's comments came close to mocking her intellectual rival. She wrote: 'Rhetoric aside, Justice Jackson's position is difficult to pin down.' Barrett accused Jackson of mounting a 'startling line of attack', which in her view was no 'tethered to any doctrine whatsoever'. Some lines resemble jabs from a political debate. 'Justice Jackson appears to believe that the reasoning behind any court order demands 'universal adherence,' at least where the Executive is concerned,' goes one. In perhaps the most sneering comment, Barrett writes: 'We will not dwell on Justice Jackson's argument, which is at odds with more than two centuries' worth of precedent, not to mention the Constitution itself. 'We observe only this: Justice Jackson decries an imperial Executive while embracing an imperial Judiciary.' Jackson had issued ominous warnings in her own blistering dissent. 'Disaster looms,' she said. 'What I mean by this is that our rights-based legal system can only function properly if the Executive, and everyone else, is always bound by law. 'Today's decision is a seismic shock to that foundational norm. Allowing the Executive to violate the law at its prerogative with respect to anyone who has not yet sued carves out a huge exception—a gash in the basic tenets of our founding charter that could turn out to be a mortal wound,' she wrote. 'What is more, to me, requiring courts themselves to provide the dagger (by giving their imprimatur to the Executive Branch's intermittent lawlessness) makes a mockery of the Judiciary's solemn duty to safeguard the rule of law,' she added. Jackson, 71, cited a ruling about the 'accretion of dangerous power, and wrote that the Court has 'cleared a path for the Executive to choose law-free action at this perilous moment for our Constitution—right when the Judiciary should be hunkering down to do all it can to preserve the law's constraints.' She warned of a 'rule-of-kings governing system' compared to a 'rule of law regime.' 'At the very least, I lament that the majority is so caught up in minutiae of the Government's self-serving, finger-pointing arguments that it misses the plot.' Jackson even began the opening section of her argument by dispensing with the traditional saying that she 'respectfully' dissents. 'With deep disillusionment, I dissent,' she wrote. So did Sotomayor, who wrote simply, 'I dissent.' The decisions handed down this week have continued a trend of the liberal judges in the court often losing rulings in the most impactful cases. Sotomayor dissented in the court's 6-3 decision that public school parents must be allowed to take their kids out of lessons involving LGBT books. In her dissent, she warned of a nightmare for schools, saying the ensuing 'chaos' and 'self-censorship' would threaten to 'end American public education as we know it'. She said: 'Today's ruling threatens the very essence of public education. The reverberations of the Court's error will be felt, I fear, for generations.' It is not always as clean cut however, with a decision issued on Friday that endorsed a multibillion dollar fund to expand telephone and broadband services being passed through by a coalition of three conservatives and three liberals. The fund has been used to expand service to low-income Americans and people living in rural areas and Native American tribal lands, as well as other beneficiaries such as schools and libraries. The 6-3 ruling overturned a lower court's decision that the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) funding mechanism employing mandatory contributions from telecommunications companies had effectively levied a 'misbegotten tax' on consumers in violation of the U.S. Constitution's vesting of legislative authority in Congress. The fund has been used to expand service to low-income Americans and people living in rural areas and Native American tribal lands, as well as other beneficiaries such as schools and libraries. Liberal Justice Elena Kagan, who authored the ruling, wrote that Congress had provided ample guidance and constraints on the Federal Communications Commission operation of the fund. 'We hold that no impermissible transfer of authority has occurred,' wrote Kagan, who was joined by her two fellow liberal justices, as well as conservative Justices John Roberts, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. Three conservative justices - Neil Gorsuch, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito - dissented. The birthright citizenship ruling was hailed by President Donald Trump on Friday, who told reporters: 'This was a big one. Amazing decision, one we're very happy about. This really brings back the Constitution. This is what it's all about.' Basking in his victory during an impromptu appearance in the White House briefing room, the president vowed to push through 'many' more of his policies after the court win, including curbs to birthright citizenship. The president said he would 'promptly file' to advance policies that have previously been blocked by judges. He said: 'This morning the Supreme Court has delivered a monumental victory for the Constitution, the separation of powers and the rule of law in striking down the excessive use of nationwide injunctions to interfere with the normal functioning of the executive branch.' Friday's case stemmed from an executive order Trump signed as soon as he took office that ended birthright citizenship - the legal principle that U.S. citizenship is automatically granted to individuals upon birth. Under the directive, children born to parents in the United States illegally or on temporary visas would not automatically become citizens, radically altering the interpretation of the Constitution's 14th Amendment for over 150 years. The Supreme Court did not rule on the legality of Trump's order purporting to end birthright citizenship and left open a legal path to challenge it.
Auto Blog
30 minutes ago
- Auto Blog
Kia Defies Convention with Lower-Priced Seltos
Kia Bucking the Trend as Prices Climb Elsewhere Automakers usually mark the arrival of a new model year with a predictable price hike. Whether it's due to updated features, rising production costs, or now, even geopolitics, such as new tariffs on imported materials or components, most new cars cost more each year. A 1% to 3% increase is often considered standard fare. That's why the 2026 Kia Seltos stands out: instead of climbing across the board, it now offers a new, cheaper way into the lineup. A new entry-level Seltos LX FWD has been introduced, carrying a starting MSRP of $23,690, or $1,000 less than last year's base model. And while the rest of the trims do see slight bumps, they're modest $200 increases that fall well below the typical range. 0:03 / 0:09 What is the Sony Honda Mobility Afeela 1? Watch More 2025 pricing 2026 pricing Difference Seltos LX FWD – $23,690 – Seltos LX AWD $24,690 $24,890 $200 Seltos S FWD $25,190 $25,390 $200 Seltos S AWD $26,690 $26,890 $200 Seltos EX FWD $26,190 $26,390 $200 Seltos EX AWD $28,390 $28,590 $200 Seltos X-Line AWD $29,390 – – Seltos SX AWD $31,190 $31,390 – Of note, the X-Line AWD trim has been removed for the 2026 model year. Plus, the prices mentioned here don't include the untouched $1,395 destination charge. The price shift comes down to a key change in drivetrain strategy. Last year, all-wheel drive was standard in the base model. But this year, if you're in the market for a Seltos and you don't need an all-paw SUV and all the laundry list checked, then you have a cheaper choice. Source: Kia What You Get with the 2026 Seltos In terms of powertrains, the Seltos lineup carries over largely unchanged. The base engine remains a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder, making 147 horsepower, paired to a CVT. Those who want more punch can look to the SX AWD, which continues to feature a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-pot that produces 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, mated to an 8-speed automatic. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Kia continues to cram the Seltos with technology and interior features, especially at the higher trims. All Seltos models get standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while S, EX, and SX trims are equipped with a 10.25-inch touchscreen navigation system. Dual 10.25-inch panoramic displays are available on EX and SX, along with a wireless charging pad. The top-spec SX model also gets a premium Bose audio system with mood lighting, smart power liftgate, and optional Digital Key access. Safety is comprehensive across the lineup. Even the base trims include Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, and Driver Attention Warning. Higher trims add blind-spot warning, cross-traffic alert, Highway Driving Assist, and adaptive cruise control. Source: Kia Headed to Dealers Soon Beyond the introduction of a new base offering and a fresh set of gloss black 17-inch wheels included in the EX Sunroof Package, there are no major design or engineering changes. That said, the introduction of FWD variants could also bring slight fuel economy gains, though no official EPA ratings have been released yet. Kia hasn't confirmed any hybrid option either, despite speculation. The 2026 Kia Seltos is expected to arrive at dealerships soon, offering buyers a rare win in a market where prices rarely move in the right direction. Source: Kia About the Author Jacob Oliva View Profile
