Will Rogers Homeless Campsite Receives More Pushback From PPCC

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA — The Pacific Palisades Community Council continues to fight back against Councilmember Mike Bonin's proposal to install a safe campsite for unhoused residents on the parking lot at Will Rogers State Beach. PPCC sent a letter to Judge David Carter, who recently ruled the city must offer housing to all Skid Row residents by October 18, restating their position that the beach parking lot would be an unsuitable location.

"As explained in the PPCC position letter linked above, we agree that housing and services for the homeless are urgently needed in Los Angeles," the council wrote. "However, the proposal to use the Beach Parking Lots would have the opposite effect of what your Honor seeks to accomplish, as expressed in the April 20th ruling. These Lots are regularly used by countless citizens of Los Angeles and the wider region in order to access the public beaches. Turning the heavily-used Beach Parking Lots into homeless housing would render the public beaches -- pivotal to citizens’ quality of life -- inaccessible and unavailable."

PPCC has also sent multiple letters to City Council officials, but say they have yet to hear back regarding their concerns. The council sent another letter to County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, Mayor Eric Garcetti, and Councilmember Mike Bonin restating their opposition on Thursday.

In the letter, PPCC said they feel there is not an "immediate emergency" justifying the use of the parking lot, but rather that they believe the city is simply trying to appease Judge Carter's order.

"If, in fact, the so-called “emergency” now is a reaction to demands made by Judge Carter, then the proposal to use the DRSB and Dockweiler parking lots is particularly inappropriate," PPCC said. "Judge Carter made clear in his preliminary injunction ruling that it was his intention to prevent the use of such public recreational spaces for shelter for the homeless. His intent instead is to reserve such beach and park spaces for their historic intended purposes – public access and recreation by the citizens of the County and City of Los Angeles."

Councilmember Bonin has defended the idea, stressing the need for urgent action across his council district and Los Angeles as a whole.

"People are living and dying on our streets," Bonin said about the proposal. "All over the city, people are demanding urgent action. That means we need a broad menu of solutions -- projects, programs, policies -- and we need to put them in place all over the city, including the Westside."

Along with Will Rogers State Beach, the temporary "cabin communities" or safe camping sites would be put in place at a county owned lot in Marina Del Rey, Dockweiler Beach, Westchester Park and Mar Vista Park. Supportive housing has already been approved in Venice, Del Rey, Brentwood and more communities.

"None of the locations we’ve identified are ideal, and I’m always open to other suggestions," Bonin said. "But we’ve looked long and hard. There or no ideal places on the Westside, but that doesn’t reduce the need or urgency to act."

READ MORE: Citing 5 Daily Skid Row Deaths, Judge Affirms Decree To House All

Should Will Rogers Beach Become Safe Campsite For The Homeless?