Torrance opposes supportive housing project
The Torrance City Council, in a special meeting on Friday, unanimously voted to oppose Los Angeles County’s planned submission for a permanent supportive housing project at 3525 Torrance Blvd., the current site of the Extended Stay America Hotel.
The LA County’s Homekey+ program to expand housing for homeless individuals and veterans by securing $599 million in state funding to convert existing properties like hotels and motels into interim or permanent housing.
While the City of Torrance remains deeply committed to addressing homelessness through proactive and compassionate efforts, it has significant concerns regarding the proposed project’s location, scale, and potential community impact.
The planned 120 -unit supportive housing facility’s proximity —just 750 feet —to the Torrance Civic Center and the City’s 40 -unit, 3290 Temporary Housing Village facility raises critical questions about the sustainability of concentrating such a large project in this area. Additionally, the project’s adjacency to the Del Amo Fashion Center and surrounding commercial businesses threatens to disrupt local commerce and the economic vitality of this key retail destination.
“The City of Torrance remains committed to combating homelessness through responsible, effective, and locally supported initiatives,” said Torrance Mayor George K. Chen. “However, this proposal, as currently presented, is not a viable or responsible path forward for our community.”
The City urges the community to join them at today’s LA County Board of Supervisors Public Hearing on the issue. The hearing is slated for 11 am, today, Tuesday, May 27 at Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, Board Hearing Room 381b, 500 West Temple Street, in downtown Los Angeles.
Kamlager-Dove, Chue support formerly incarcerated firefighters
Congresswomen Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Culver City, View Park-Windsor Hills, parts of South LA) and Judy Chu (D- Monterey Park, Alhambra, San Gabriel, Pasadena) today will host a press conference to announce new federal legislation aimed at supporting incarcerated individuals who are on frontlines of fighting wildfires in California and nationwide.
The proposed legislation comes after over 1,000 incarcerated firefighters earlier this year contributed significantly to combating catastrophic wildfires in Southern California, despite making between $5-$10 per day and often being barred from future firefighting careers due to their criminal record.
In recognition of their life-saving work, Kamlager-Dove will introduce the Fairness, Inclusion, Rehabilitation, and Expungement for Incarcerated Firefighters (FIRE) Act to establish fair labor standards, provide occupational protections, and expand opportunities for both current and formerly incarcerated individuals in firefighting.
The lawmakers will make the announcement at 1:30 pm today, Tuesday, May 27, at the
Hartsfield-Davis Stentorians Training Center, 1409 West Vernon Avenue in Los Angeles.
Kraut lauds Pacific Coast Highway study
Calabasas Mayor Peter Kraut, in his community letter released on Friday, announced the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) studied a master plan to revise parking and transportation along the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH).
The study follows too many pedestrian deaths on the PCH, and incorporates many things to slow traffic, consolidate parking and provide public transportation. These are all good things with the goal of protecting public safety and reducing the number of people crossing through traffic. If there is a shortcoming, it would be the loss of parking at remote beach locations, surf spots and inland parks and trails, Krauts wrote.
Caltrans is seeking public comment on the Draft Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) Master Plan Feasibility Study. This study outlines potential transportation improvements aimed at enhancing safety for all users along a 21-mile stretch of PCH in Malibu. The study emphasizes improving safety, accessibility and community connection along PCH by reducing crashes, improving conditions for walking and biking, enhancing transit opportunities, maintaining the look and feel of the community and preserving access from surrounding areas.
Krauts invites residents to review the Draft Study and share your input. Comments are due by June 9.
