Will Rogers Homeless Housing Opposition: PPCC Retains Attorney

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA — The Pacific Palisades Community Council announced they've now retained an attorney to aid in their efforts to prevent the parking lot at Will Rogers State Beach from being used as a housing site for the homeless. Dean Wallraff, executive director of "Advocates for the Environment," will work with the community council to oppose the proposal.

"Mr. Walraff is an environmental attorney with extensive experience in CEQA and Coastal law," PPCC said in an email. "He has successfully represented community groups and non-profits in significant cases, including the Sierra Club in litigation to oppose the widely-publicized Malibu "Sweetwater" project proposed by U2 guitarist The Edge, as well as NGOs who challenged the huge Newhall Ranch development on environmental grounds. We are very pleased to be working with Mr. Wallraff."

On May 26, Los Angeles City Council passed Councilmember Mike Bonin's motion to study the feasibility of placing a secured campsite for homeless residents at Will Rogers State Beach parking lot and other westside sites in Council District 13. City Council tasked the City Administrative Officer (CAO) with studying how effective the location would be to temporarily shelter homeless residents.

PPCC sent a letter to CAO Richard H. Lewellyn, Jr., and Matt Szabo, the CAO appointee, restating their opposition to the idea and asking to meet for a site visit.

"For many compelling reasons – including the overriding Coastal Act public access mandate, legal and jurisdictional obstacles, homeless safety and service issues, and substantial environmental and public safety concerns such as the potential loss of the lot for fire emergency use – PPCC maintains that the WRSB parking lot is entirely infeasible and strongly opposes its use for homeless housing of any kind," the council said.

Councilmember Bonin was recently served a recall notice at his home in Mar Vista on Tuesday.

"Under Mike Bonin's watch, the humanitarian crisis of the homeless population is growing exponentially," Recall Bonin 2021 wrote. "Tax payer money is squandered. Fires. Struggling local businesses. Crime is rampant and rising. Neighborhoods and schools are unsafe. We feel afraid to visit public beaches and community parks."

The group would need to collect 27,000 valid signatures within the district for the recall measure to reach the ballot, according to the L.A. Times. The signature collection would start in July and residents would have 120 days to collect the required number.

Bonin has said he will run for a third and final term in the June 2022 election.

"This effort is encouraged, backed and fueled by people who have repeatedly fought to stop housing, shelter, and services, perpetuating a crisis that is hurting our neighborhoods and leaving people to die on the street," Bonin said in response to the recall effort. "And make no mistake — this recall has been championed and promoted by the same right-wing forces that are trying to erode the democratic process and take down progressive officials around the state."

"No matter what they throw at me, I will not be deterred in my efforts to tackle our toughest problems, and will keep pushing for the big and progressive change that LA needs and deserves," he continued.