Needles, feces and fear: HOA urges city to address homeless encampments
'Moving people along doesn't solve the root problem,' Gaviota Heights HOA president Jennifer Carey said.
Residents of Gaviota Heights, a condominium community on the 1200 block of Gaviota Avenue, say they have faced persistent issues with homeless encampments, reporting concerns ranging from drug use and theft to human waste and prostitution. Despite repeated pleas to city officials and law enforcement, homeowners claim little has been done to address the problem.
Jennifer Carey, president of the Gaviota Heights Homeowners Association (HOA), has been diligent in her efforts to bring attention to the challenges facing her community. Carey said residents have encountered hypodermic needles on walkways, human feces near entrances and even individuals sleeping on first-floor balconies.
"As frustrating as it is for me, I can't imagine what it's like for others in this community who don't have the time, energy or privilege to engage as much as I do," Carey said.
In August, Carey reached out to Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson and Councilmember Suely Saro after a 911 call went unanswered during an incident involving physical violence.
"I spent seven minutes on the phone with 911, but no officers arrived at the scene," Carey said. "When the call ended, the dispatcher informed me that the police in the area had been alerted."
Both Long Beach police and Saro's office responded to the HOA's email expressing concern over the lack of law enforcement during the August incident.
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"We call the police and the police they say they cannot come because they did not get into the apartment, just the balcony area," Solario said.
An LBPD officer advised the HOA to submit a notarized "request for service" form to the department and to post "no trespassing" signs displaying the appropriate penal code. Long Beach police says these steps would enable law enforcement to arrest individuals sleeping on private balconies.
But meeting with Councilwoman Saro in person to voice their concerns has not improved the diminished quality of life for homeowners at Gaviota Heights, residents say.
In a December email, Carey asked Saro's office for additional assistance to address the persistent homeless issue in the area. Piceno, Saro's field deputy, responded by telling Carey that it's "burdensome to live in a historically disinvested area."
Piceno also suggested residents report issues through the city's Go Long Beach app, notify Saro's office when Public Works is needed for cleanups and apply for microgrants to fund community improvement efforts.
Residents say that while the encampment hasn't fully returned, they still consistently submit requests for a cleanup. They believe the solutions provided by city officials are short-lived and fail to address the urgency of their situation.
"We're doing everything we can as a community," Carey said, "but the responsibility shouldn't fall entirely on us."
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