There is discontent among some Long Beach residents over a homeless shelter that will operate in a park, which is primarily used by children and families.
The shelter will only operate from March to May and city spokespersons say there will be monitoring, but those against it say it’s not the right place to house the homeless .
For three months, beginning in March and ending in May, a gym at Silverado Park in Long Beach will be transformed into an 84-bed temporary emergency shelter for the homeless. But those who live nearby think this is not the right place for these purposes.
“It’s a park for families, not a refuge,” said Tony Bell, a community leader.
“I don’t feel safe, they look at you badly, they do things that are not right (the homeless),” said María Gómez, a resident of the neighborhood.
“This park has baseball fields, tennis courts, children’s games and a basketball court inside the gymnasium where the shelter will operate, as well as schools around it,” said Ángela Gómez, a resident of the region.
“Why would they take shelter in this park where there are three schools nearby,” denounces a resident.
The Silverado Park gymnasium has previously served as a homeless shelter during the pandemic, causing problems, neighbors say.
As authorities conducted a clearing operation of homeless encampments in Los Angeles, a verbal confrontation erupted between homeless people and police.
“They were vandalizing our vehicles, said this resident who assured, some of the homeless were naked,” she said.
“One of them was always undressing in front of the water cooler,” he said.
But, the city said this is only a temporary measure and it will not affect the sports played here, they are planning to erect a fence and have 24 hour security and in a communicated, they assured:
“The fence and the policing process that will be carried out will provide a safe place for shelter residents to be outdoors and coexist with those using the park.”
Homelessness has reached the patios of some homes in Pacoima, and homeowners say they are tired of having piles of trash clinging to their homes and are asking authorities for help.
“I don’t agree. Why don’t they find us another safe place, so that we are good here”, Gómez.
And what these locals denounce is that the park is not the right place, even though they know the need to help the homeless.
This February 23, the city councilors will listen to the inhabitants at 6:30 p.m. to answer their questions.