Some Homeless Find a Home in Little Tokyo, and It’s Not Right

Business owners and residents in Little Tokyo certainly are not unsympathetic to the plight of the homeless. Federal and local governments should provide them, many displaced by economic problems not of their making, with decent housing. But we do not think that an area that we had to work long and hard to establish as a thriving commercial center and tourist attraction is the place to provide shelter for hundreds of street people.

During a cold spell last month, in which four street people died, the Los Angeles City Council approved the use of an abandoned building that was once the city print shop as a temporary shelter. More than 200 people now are housed in the shelter at 411 E. 1st St. The council has paid no heed to the community’s objections, nor has it given any indication as to when the people will be moved to more suitable quarters. And there is talk of allowing more street people to settle in the area.

Forty years ago thousands of Japanese finally were released from government concentration camps that had been set up throughout the Western United States during World War II. They lost their homes, jobs and property. The majority of them were forced to seek whatever work was available. They were the “street people” of that era, and many of them came back to Little Tokyo, where they had once lived and worked.

Gradually the former merchants regained their old properties and began a complete renovation of the area. What you see in the area today is the culmination of a life-and-death struggle by these people to rebuild the community. After many years of hard work and public relations to enhance the neighborhood’s image, we have succeeded, to a certain degree, in attracting new businesses and foot traffic.

For Little Tokyo to remain a viable commercial and residential district, we must have an image that appeals to the public. Certainly shoppers, tourists, merchants and restaurant-goers will not be drawn to the area if they are fearful of crime, or of being accosted by street people. Little Tokyo merchants collectively spend thousands of dollars every month in advertising and public relations and to maintain their businesses. They also pay thousands of dollars each month to various government agencies for sales taxes, payroll taxes and the like. Most of these merchants are sole proprietors struggling 10 to 15 hours each day to keep their small businesses going.

Whether it was done intentionally or not, city officials are contributing to the destruction of Little Tokyo’s image by their handling of this matter. The wishes of the people who live and work here have been completely ignored.

We are not asking for government handouts to deal with the problem. We are asking city officials to pay attention to the serious problems caused by moving hundreds of street people into our community, and that they be relocated to an area more conducive to their needs.