LA Koreatown Residents Protest Against Homeless Shelter in Parking Lot Near Schools
By Ryan General
Residents of Koreatown in Los Angeles have voiced out their objection against a planned temporary homeless shelter on a city-owned parking lot by organizing a protest on Sunday.
According to the protesters, the chosen spot at the heart of Koreatown (in 682 S. Vermont Ave) was in close proximity to local schools. They were also concerned that the temporary facility could mean less business for companies in the area, ABC reports.
As it is taking up a parking lot, the project is expected to worsen the parking space problem for the nightlife businesses in Koreatown.
The Koreatown facility, which was announced by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Wednesday after declaring an emergency shelter crisis, is reportedly part of his $20 million campaign to open new shelters across the city, according to the LA Times.
The residents lamented that while they recognize that crisis, they were left out of the city’s planning process.
They have also created an online petition at Change.org to stop the plan, generating over 5,700 signatures since it was posted on Friday.
Other shelters being planned include a site next to the YMCA in Hollywood and another by the Homeboy Diner outside Chinatown.
Designed to relocate up to 1,500 homeless people off the streets in the next six months, the project will start with the opening of the pilot shelter near Olvera Street in downtown Los Angeles in mid-July.
Feature image via Change.org / “Stop the homeless shelter petition”
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