Safe Parking Space For RVs, Indoor Shelter Planned By City For Homeless
Written by 991KBU on January 30, 2020
Malibu will set up at least one safe parking lot for RVs and campers … somewhere in Malibu.
And will set up an indoor shelter for people without homes … probably at the abandoned county courthouse in downtown malibu.
That’s the result of last night’s special meeting on the overwhelming issue of homeless.
Malibu residents spoke …, and while there are a divergence of opinion on the extent of the city’s responsibility to take care of those in need … there was consensus that something had to be done.
Bruce Silverstein for one.
NEWSCART HOME SILVERSTEIN
“Most of the homeless population I suspect is transient they’ve come here from elsewhere..
“We all share … as human beings … a responsibility for the care of our fellow humans.
“But as a legal matter and as a local financial fiscal matter, it is not the responsibility of the city of Malibu to care for everybody who comes into the political border.”
And Kelley Pessis .. who has set up a volunteer group to press for action.
She says compassion is necessary … but so in enforcement of laws.
NEWSCART HOMELESS PESSIS
“We need to identify the types of homeless especially the service resistant to help them find their way back to being productive members of our society.
“We need to help our business owners by enforcing vagrancy codes.
“We need to help our residents buy enforcing camping codes.
“We need top down leadership from the city.
“We can’t be afraid to enforce our health and safety codes but rather we need to get legal guidance.”
They argument that Malibu can’t handle everyone … is one take.
Another … from Kay Gabbard … who has devoted much of her life to feeding people without food … feels differne
NEWSCART KAY GABBARD
“I believe the unsheltered deserve to be treated with dignity, that they are our responsibility, that we cannot assume someone else will make provisions for them.”
In the end … the city council voted unanimously.
They want to set up a parking lot for RVs and campers …. so that sheriff’s deputies can clear the campers from the side of Pacific Coast Highway.
This will allow deputies to make the campers parked long
They want an indoor shelter … likely at the abandoned county courts building.
That’s next to the Malibu Library … and some Malibu residents have in years past been very unhappy to have mentally ill homeless people there.
HOMELESS PIERSONFARRER
PIERSON: “From what I see we do not have the staff for that now and we probably should hire an expert for that potentially.
“That’s my guess.
“I think my personal opinion, Susan (Duenas) has done an amazing job but I ral;ly want her to focus on public safety issues more related to fire resiliency.”
FARRER: “OK great. And obviously we have to look at the budgeting of this issue and any partnerships that we can form.
PIERSON: “Right.”
FARRER: “And obviously we can’t handle it alone.”
The city’s plan?Come up with a plan …. fast.
A temporary shelter … indoors … at the abandoned county courthouse.
A parking lot … maybe more than one … for RVs to be aprked … somewhere other than along the beach on P C H.
That will allow deputies to try to get rid of the RVs and campers along the beaches.
Malibu’s city council says people without houses are every city’s problem…. Malibu’s problem.
