Long Beach Panels to Study Problems of Homeless, Gangs

The City Council has voted unanimously to establish two citizen task forces to study needs of the city’s homeless and problems caused by gangs and drugs.

Councilman Evan Anderson Braude, who proposed the task force on the homeless, said it would consider changes in city laws as well as a “commitment by the city” to the homeless. The committee will have six months to prepare a report, council members said.

The task force on gangs and drugs was proposed by Councilman Ray Grabinski, who said there was “no need greater than this particular problem” facing the city. No time limit was set for when the task force is to report to the council.