Donald Trump came back to the Capitol from a fundraising trip to San Francisco with yet another enemy. He called San Francisco and Los Angeles out for their large homeless populations and claimed that they were violating permits as well as regulations set by the EPA. Members of the EPA’s staff visited California in early September, to see whether or not San Francisco was in fact violating any regulations put into place. Andrew Wheeler, the Administrator of the EPA, claims that the agency has no jurisdiction on homelessness, but they will take a look at the water waste systems of the city. President Donald Trump is using the power of the federal bureaucracy to work on limiting the power of the people, specifically in this case the states. In addition to his crackdown on homelessness, he also ordered the EPA to break its agreement with California to allow the state to create its own vehicle emission regulations. He believes that this will allow cars to become more affordable for the people, but it also follows his goal to get rid of as much environmental protection policy as possible. San Francisco’s mayor, London Breed, responded to Trump’s tweets by asking the federal government how they were going to support efforts to reduce homelessness. She explains that San Francisco is dedicated to its work regarding homelessness, and is ready to add new shelters, as well as invest $600 million for affordable housing.
1) How does President Trump's attack on San Francisco look foolish after Mayor Breed's response? Would this cause a president to reconsider and work with San Francisco to reach their goals? How does Trump's reaction differ?
2) Agencies within the bureaucracy have bureaucratic discretion, which allows them to decided if they would like to act on an issue or not. President Trump on the other hand also has the ability to direct them to do something, but that doesn't mean the bureaucrats have to follow those orders. How does the EPA react to the issue? Do they follow Trump's orders? Why do you think they executed the situation the way they did?
3) How do you think the bureaucracy should be used? Do you believe that Trump is overstepping his boundaries and giving to much power to the bureaucracy?
1. Trump cited used needles as a source of waste in storm sewers and a cause of ocean pollution, but he did not provide any evidence nor clarify on what grounds San Francisco would be violating EPA regulations. Moreover, Trump did not propose federal initiatives that would provide money to build houses or fund services that would address mental health concerns, drug addiction, or ex-prisoners' lack of opportunities. Mayor Breed's response reveals how Trump has no intent nor plan to combat homelessness and how thinly veiled his attack on San Francisco is. A response similar to Breed's may influence a president to reconsider and work with a city to reach its goals because the president would not want the public to think that he/she makes unsubstantiated claims. Trump, however, has yet to offer a solution to San Francisco's homelessness crisis and simply continues to target California's environmental initiatives, most notably by ordering the EPA to revoke the state's waiver with the agency.
ReplyDelete- Danielle
DeleteSan Francisco has become a dumping ground for homeless people. They walk around and think that wherever they are they can either take a dump or throw out their drugs. It is sickening and I am happy that Donald Trump is trying to do something about it because whenever I try to walk down Embarcadero or Lombard Street, it is never clean. I am not disapproving of homeless people, but they should at least have some decency. For themselves and people around them.
ReplyDelete2. While bureaucratic agencies do not have to follow the president's direct orders, the president does have control over their budget and over appointing the director of an agency. Because of this, he can put pressure on an agency such as the EPA to break agreements and oversee areas where they clearly have no jurisdiction. The EPA may not have agreed with the president's orders, but feel the need to comply so they do not lose funding and the director does not get replaced.
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