PACIFIC PALISADES COMMUNITY
COUNCIL
May 16, 2021
Members of the
Los Angeles City Council:
Hon. Nury Martinez, President, CD
6; Hon. Bob Blumenfield, CD 3; Hon. Mike
Bonin, CD 11; Hon. Joe Buscaino, CD 15;
Hon. Gilbert A. Cedillo, CD 1; Hon.
Kevin de León, CD 14; Hon. Marqueece
Harris-Dawson, CD 8; Hon. Paul Koretz,
CD 5; Hon. Paul Krekorian, CD 2; Hon.
John Lee, CD 12; Hon. Mitch O’Farrell,
CD 13; Hon. Curren D. Price, CD 9; Hon.
Nithya Raman, CD 4; Hon. Mark
Ridley-Thomas, CD 10; Hon. Monica
Rodriguez, CD 7
Via email to
each addressee and submission to the
Council File public comment portal
Re: CF 21-0350
– OPPOSE use of public state beaches,
beach parking lots and parks for
homeless housing
Pacific Palisades Community
Council (PPCC) has been the most
broad-based community organization and
voice of Pacific Palisades since 1973.
PPCC strongly opposes any proposal to
use or study the use of public state
beaches, beach parking lots and parks
for homeless
housing of any kind, whether described as
“tiny cabins,” safe camping,” or
“emergency response shelters.”1 Thousands of other citizens of
Los Angeles, including the overwhelming
majority of Palisadians, share our
position.
PPCC supports the lawful use of
our public state beaches and parks by
all citizens, housed and unhoused alike,
for recreation and enjoyment. But the
dangerous “Palisades Fire” – which, as
has been widely reported, exploded over
the weekend in our fire prone hillsides
and quickly spread, at this writing, to
835 acres – has put this matter into
stark relief for the Palisades
community. Under no circumstances should
public officials entertain the idea of
sanctioning homeless habitation at Will
Rogers State Beach (WRSB) or any of our
nearby fire-prone areas.
1. The Beaches Are for All
Citizens of Los Angeles and the Entire
Region; They Are Our Central Park.
This issue affects virtually
everyone in Los Angeles. Tens of
thousands of constituents of each and
every Los Angeles City Councilmember –
whether in a coastal or a non-coastal
district – visit the state beaches for
recreation, relaxation and enjoyment and
to escape the heat. It should be as
unthinkable to consider using state
beaches or beach parking lots for
homeless housing in Los Angeles as it
would be to consider such a proposed use
in Central Park.
2. The Use Would be Unsafe for
Homeless Individuals, the Nearby
Community and the Region.
Pacific Palisades is entirely
within the Very High Fire Hazard
Severity Zone. Reducing the capacity in
the WRSB parking lots for critical life
and property saving activities would
have a devastating impact on the
Palisades community and the wider
region. Our community is at acute risk
of wildfires. Homeless individuals
regularly set fires on our beaches and
in nearby bluffs areas. The Los Angeles
Times reported last week that fires in
homeless encampments have nearly tripled in the first
four months of 2021.
As noted, a huge wildfire started
in Pacific Palisades this weekend,
quickly spread to hundreds of acres and
resulted in mandatory evacuation orders
for 500 homes in the nearby Topanga
State Park area.2 The WRSB parking lot is now serving as a command post and
critical staging area for firefighting
personnel and equipment, as is typical
during major fire events. Palisadians
justifiably fear that the introduction
of sanctioned homeless habitation at
WRSB – and the additional unsanctioned habitation that
will inevitably be drawn to our area as
a result – will reduce firefighting
capacity and exacerbate already
dangerous conditions.
In addition, PCH – a six-lane
highway with regular heavy traffic –
borders the WRSB parking lot areas.
Homeless individuals who are already on
the beach and in nearby bluffs are often
observed trying to jaywalk across PCH.
Individuals have been killed, as
recently as this past February,
illegally crossing PCH. This unsafe and
deadly activity will only increase with
sanctioned homeless habitation in the
WRSB parking lot.
3. The County Controls the Use
of the State Beaches; Habitation on
Beach Parking Lots is Not Permitted and
is Contrary to the County Supervisors’
Express Goals.
County Code expressly prohibits
habitation/dwelling on beaches and in
beach parking lots: LACC Sec. 17.12.232 and Sec.
17.12.620. The proposed
sites are not options, according to
Supervisor Hahn. All Supervisors have
stressed the importance of preserving
and enhancing our public recreational
spaces as a matter of equity, health and
well- being for all citizens.
4. The Use Would Violate the
Coastal Act and is Unprecedented in
California.
The California Coastal Act (PRC
§30000, et seq.) mandates public
access to the coast. Use of the state
beach parking lots for homeless housing
would violate the access mandate and
would be unprecedented in California.
5. The Use is Contrary to Judge
Carter’s Ruling and Express Goals.
In his preliminary injunction
ruling, Judge Carter expressly indicated
his dismay that due to inaction by public
officials, homeless
individuals have “no other place to
turn” except for “pivotal” public spaces
such as beaches and parks, which
“enhance the quality of life for all
citizens.” It is incomprehensible why
public officials would disregard the
Judge’s clear message by proposing that
such sites be studied for homeless
housing – a proposal that is contrary to
the Judge’s express goal: to preserve
these “pivotal” spaces for public access
and enjoyment by all citizens.
6. There is No “Immediate
Emergency”, Nor Would the “Solution” be
“Temporary.”
We reject in the strongest
possible terms the proposition that an
“immediate emergency” exists. The
homeless crisis has been with us, and
growing steadily, for over a decade. If
we now face an “immediate emergency”
which is somehow materially different
from prior emergencies, why are sites
that are subject to other jurisdictions with laws prohibiting the express
use (habitation), and that require lengthy approval processes
(i.e., the beach parking lots), suddenly
being proposed for “study”? Why aren’t
the 1,000+ government properties in Los
Angeles that we understand have been
identified by Controller Galperin being
studied, instead? Moreover, we have seen
that other “temporary” homeless sites in
Los Angeles are planned for three to
five years. Placing homeless housing on
state beach parking lots for three to
five years or any length of time – and
only after a long approval process –
belies the claim of “immediate
emergency” and is completely
unwarranted.
7. Pacific Palisades is
Overwhelmingly Opposed, as are Numerous
Neighborhood & Community Councils
and Thousands of Other Citizens.
Respected Palisades
organizations, entities and individuals
strongly oppose the use or study of the
use of public beaches, beach parking
lots and parks for homeless housing. The level of community
opposition is unprecedented.
To date, eight Westside
neighborhood and community councils
(including five non-coastal councils),
representing tens of thousands of
constituents, oppose CF 21-0350 and/or
the use of the beach parking lots and
public parks for this use. Over 1,000
pages of public comments in opposition
have been submitted in CF 21-0530. Over 20,000
individuals have now signed an online
petition opposing the use of public
beaches and parks for homeless housing.
Moreover, as result of the motion
in CF 21-0350, the public outrage about
this ill-advised proposal and the
ongoing, unacceptable conditions at
homeless encampments in CD 11, 11,000+ individuals have signed
a recent online petition calling for
Councilmember Bonin’s recall.
The proposal to
“study” the use of public state beach
parking lots and parks for homeless
housing is a singularly unnecessary,
dangerous and bad idea. PPCC implores
Los Angeles City Councilmembers to act
responsibly, in the best interest of all
citizens of Los Angeles and the wider
region, by amending the motion in CF
21-0350 and removing the
state-owned/county-operated WRSB and
Dockweiler Beach parking lots, as well
as Westchester Park and Mar Vista Park (opposed by the respective
councils in those areas), from the sites
to be studied for feasibility and/or
funding for homeless habitation.
LAFD warns on its website:
“Catastrophic
brush fires are occurring at an
increasing rate not only in
California but across the country. Hillside
communities within Los Angeles are
under continuous threat of a
devastating wildfire. As this risk
increases, it is important you
protect yourself and your family
by planning, preparing and staying
aware.”
Given the clear and grave risk to
public safety, allowing this matter to
proceed any further with respect to WRSB
would be the height of irresponsibility
by our public officials. Should the
City Council vote to approve this motion
without removing WRSB as a possible site
for sanctioned homeless habitation, PPCC
will consider taking all appropriate,
available steps to protect the lives and
welfare of all Angelenos and others who
visit WRSB (housed or not), who rely on
PCH to commute, and who live nearby.
Sincerely,
Executive Committee:
David Card, Chair
David Kaplan, Vice-Chair
Richard G. Cohen, Treasurer
Pacific Palisades Community Council
cc (via email):
City:
Hon. Eric Garcetti, Mayor, City of Los
Angeles
Hon. Mike Feuer, LA City Attorney
Michael Shull, General Manager, LA City
Dept. of Recreation and Parks
County:
Hon. Sheila Kuehl, LA County Supervisor,
CSD 3
Hon. Janice Hahn, LA County Supervisor,
CSD 4
Gary Jones, Director, LA County Dept. of
Beaches & Harbors
Kerry Silverstrom, Chief Deputy
Director, LA County Dept. of Beaches
& Harbors Cris Liban, Chair, LA
County Beach Commission
State:
Hon. Ben Allen, State Senator, SD 26
Hon. Richard Bloom, State
Assemblymember, AD 50
Jack Ainsworth, Executive Director,
California Coastal Commission
Steve Hudson, District Director,
California Coastal Commission
Jerry West, Superintendent, Angeles
District, State Dept. of Parks &
Recreation Tony Tavares, Caltrans
District 7 Director
1 PPCC Position
Statement: http://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Letter-re-CF-21-0350-beach-parks-homeless-housing.pdf. PPCC
Supplemental Position Letter: http://pacpalicc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/PPCC-Supplemental-Letter-re-CF-21-0350.pdf.
2 At this
writing, LAPD and LAFD are actively
seeking to apprehend the individual
believed to have been responsible for
starting the fire. A number of homeless
persons who frequent WRSB are known to
have deliberately started multiple fires
in the past few days, both on the beach and in bluffs and
hillside areas of Pacific Palisades. At least one
of these individuals is a convicted arsonist who has eluded
the authorities after starting many
fires in the community.
Post Office Box 1131, Pacific
Palisades, California 90272 info@pacpalicc.org
pacpalicc.org
_____________________________________________________________
Councilman Mike Bonin
August 10, 2020
Dear Eric,
With encampments proliferating and people
literally dying on our streets, a few months
ago, I asked city staff to conduct a
feasibility study of 10 different locations
on the Westside for a range of different
types of emergency shelter or housing. It
generated a lot of heated discussion and
debate in a lot of neighborhoods.
The
feasibility study is done. In short,
our City Administrative Office, which did
the analysis, is essentially recommending no
to most of the locations, is continuing to
explore a handful of locations, and is
urging the City instead to fund two
solutions I have been championing for a
while: the purchase of local motels for
homeless housing; and the expansion of the
Encampments to Homes program, which just
housed 211 people from Venice Beach.
Here’s the rundown:
The CAO deemed infeasible
(essentially recommending the City should
not pursue) tiny homes (also known as “cabin
communities”) or safe camping (also known as
“safe sleeping”) at Will Rogers State Beach
in Pacific Palisades, at Dockweiler State
Beach in Playa del Rey, or at a privately
owned lot at 5000 Beethoven Avenue in Del
Rey. The CAO is also recommending against
using part of the West LA Municipal Building
for interim shelter.
The CAO recommends
continuing to assess the idea of tiny homes
or safe camping at the Marina Del Rey boat
launch ramp, Parking Lot #2, 13477 Fiji Way,
and recommends continuing to assess a
potential partnership with Culver City for a
joint homelessness intervention on a vacant
lot owned by Culver City, at 9415-9425
Venice Blvd. in Los Angeles.
The CAO recommends the
City continue to assess the possibility of
tiny homes or safe camping or safe parking
on LAX-owned properties, which would require
FAA approval, and the possibility of Safe
Parking at some of the spots in the RV Park
at 12001 Vista Del Mar, Playa Del Rey.
The CAO deemed infeasible
(essentially recommending the City should
not pursue) tiny homes or safe camping
at Westchester Park or Mar Vista Park, but
instead should pursue funding and resources
for Encampments to Homes programs at those
locations, in order to help house people
living there.
The CAO noted the heavy
challenge of finding appropriate locations
for emergency homeless interventions on the
Westside, and instead urged the City to use
state or federal Project Homekey funding,
which could purchase motels and master lease
vacant apartment units to provide housing
that is both immediate and long-term. That
is an approach I have long championed.
I had asked the City to examine a variety of
locations because we are facing an urgent
and growing crisis, and unhoused residents,
housed residents, neighborhood councils and
federal judges had asked me to explore tiny
homes and sanctioned camping with services,
security, and sanitation. I refuse to accept
the status quo of encampments everywhere and
people dying on our streets, and I will
leave no stone unturned in searching for
alternatives. I appreciate those who share
that sentiment, and supported conducting a
feasibility study.
One of my big takeaways of this report is
that it underscores the drawbacks of
emergency shelters and bolsters the argument
that we need actual housing, with
appropriate services.
As the report illustrates, providing
long-term housing (which can be rental
subsidies, vouchers, master leasing or
shared housing) is often faster and more
fiscally prudent than many emergency
interventions like shelters.
_____
So what’s next? I want to build on the
success of the Venice Beach Encampments to
Homes program, and bring it to other places
in the district, including Westchester Park
and Mar Vista Park. That will take passage
of the Housing Program, a proposal from me
and my colleagues Mark Ridley-Thomas and
Curren Price to house 10,000 people quickly
through vouchers, rental subsidies and
master leasing. It will also require the
purchase or leasing of several motels or
apartments on the Westside.
I will also ask that the City continue to
explore the four sites that the CAO is
assessing (the parking lot on Fiji Way, the
vacant lot owned by Culver City, LAX, and
the RV Campground on Vista Del Mar) and ask
that any proposals undergo a public process
to gain community feedback prior to
consideration of approval. I won’t be asking
the City to pursue the sites the CAO
indicates are infeasible.
Homelessness is a crisis facing all of us,
and I strongly believe that all parts of the
City – including the Westside – need to be a
part of the solution. I will continue to
fight for real solutions to homelessness –
and that means finding places for housing
and services. If you have suggestions or
proposals, I welcome them. We are all
working on this together, and the more hands
on deck, the better.
Regards,
MIKE BONIN
Councilmember, 11th District
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