Thousands of people are resisting efforts by local officials to house the homeless in temporary cabins and tents near Los Angeles beaches and parks amid an outcry over soaring crime rates related to some encampments.
Councilman Mike Bonin, who has come under fire from residents in the city’s Venice neighborhood and other communities over the expansion of tent cities, submitted a motion in March to identify potential sites and funding for moving the homeless to “safe camping” areas or into “tiny homes” in parks, property at the Los Angeles International Airport and Los Angeles County-owned parking lots.
On Thursday, the City Council Homelessness & Poverty Committee approved a motion to conduct a feasibility study for the projects. Proposed locations to temporarily house the homeless include parking lots at Dockweiler Beach, Will Rogers State Beach and Fisherman’s Village in Marina del Rey.
During the committee meeting, many residents said housing the homeless in beach parking lots would deprive beachgoers of beach access because of overcrowding and environmental, sanitation and safety hazards. Some also said the plan would reduce the property values of nearby homes.
In an email sent to constituents on Wednesday, Bonin defended the proposal after nearly 20,000 people signed a petition opposing it.
Read the rest at: foxnews.com
