Safe Parking For Malibu Homeless: If Not Latigo Beach, Where?
Written by 991KBU on June 6, 2019
A safe place for seven to 10 Malibu residents who have lost their homes … not such a good idea and Dan Blocker Beach.
That was the recommendation of the Malibu public safety commission last night.
People who live in condominiums and houses near Dan Blocker Beach Pack meeting last night.
They were sympathetic to the problem … but said the virtually unused beach parking lot was just the wrong place.
Malibu volunteer Mary Davis summed up the problem.
NEWSCART 75163 DAVIS BBB
“It’s only humane that Malibu kind of step up and do its part.”
The concept:
Take 7 to 10 people from Malibu … who are presently living in their cars.
They agree to simply park in the parking lot … no smoking … no noice … no in-and-out … just sleeping.
A security guard watches.
Any violation and they are out of the program.
The volunteer woman says the safe parking lot would not be open to just anyone.
NEWSCART 75162 DAVIS AAA
“You just can’t drive up to the parking lot and go in.
“You are not allowed in that safe parking lot in less you are vetted and okayed by the outreach team.
“There are only about 7 to 10 viable candidates for this program right now in Malibu.
“So that parking lot would be a lot safer with a security guard there from dusk til dawn.”
About 20 neighbors showed up last night.
To a person … they said this was a good idea … but this was just a bad place.
Paul Cagglia [SPELLED PHONETCIALLY].
NEWSCART 75161 CAGGIA QQQ PARKING IN THESE LOTS
“I’m sure that we all have compassion for the homeless …
“I think initially most of us thought the goal was to create an encampment … something beyond what you have described .. as a parking lot.
“And we also know that in these situations that when you have got temporary people that are homeless, you need a program, and obviously here you have got a program.
“So my concern would be, how do you control those folks people who are not part of a program, from parking at these spots???”
There is no answer to that yet.
If 10 people are allowed in the parking lot … what is to stop 10 others frm parking pn PCH next to the parking lot???
Barry Haldeman lives about 500 feet up the beach.
NEWSCART 75164 HALDEMAN QQQ NOT THE RIGHT PLACE
“It is around a residential area.
“We acknowledge … and appreciate the work that is being done for the homeless.
“But our only question is … this is not the right place.”
Haldeman suggested that Zuma Beach would be a better spot … further away from houses … he says.
Other said the parking lot at City Hall would make sense … it’s not prime beachfront property and not visible from PCH.
The problem is this … said city public safety director Susan Duenas.
L A county owns the beach parking lots.
There are nearly 60 thousand homeless people in L A County.
And the county government has decided that every city must bear part of the burden.
The county may decide to put homeless parking on its property in Malibu whetehr Malibu approves it or not.
Two Los Angeles City Council members said yesterday they want to look into legal strategies to force nearby cities to provide shelter beds or allow people to sleep on their sidewalks.
Westside city Councilman Mike Bonin wants the city attorney to explore “legal steps” that L.A. could use to compel nearby cities to comply with a federal court decision on homelessness and sidewalk camping in Boise, Idaho.
The proposal, he said, would stop nearby cities from pushing homeless people into L.A. city boundaries.
The future question here in Malibu will be … will Malibu step up with a manageable plan… or will the county … facing an emergency … impose one on us??
