Long Beach Votes Action on Homeless

The homeless in this city may get a 24-hour shelter where they can sleep, clean up and get food and advice as a result of City Council action this week.

The council on Tuesday approved the last of the recommendations emanating from a study by the Mayor’s Task Force on the Homeless and revisions by the council’s three-person Quality of Life Committee.

But the council did not commit any money to the center. Instead, council members agreed to have city staff members coordinate with other agencies and “to the extent possible” partially finance the proposed center with Social Service Program funds, federal grants and other sources.

Council members also agreed to establish a new Homeless Services Advisory Committee, preferably with members from the homeless task force, for the initial committee.

The only disagreement among council members stemmed from Councilman Evan Anderson Braude’s request that the committee members be “knowledgeable” about the plight of the homeless and the services available. Mayor Ernie Kell said the inclusion of the word knowledgeable is “unnecessary” and “degrading.”

Councilman Warren Harwood agreed, saying anyone the mayor appoints to a committee is capable of making decisions. Councilman Wallace Edgerton said he found the debate baffling and added: “I’m a little concerned about the council being knowledgeable.”

In a 5-3 vote, the council voted against ensuring that committee members be “knowledgeable” about the homeless. Braude, Edgerton and Councilman Tom Clark voted to insert the word. Kell, Harwood and Councilmen Ray Grabinski, Clarence Smith and Edd Tuttle voted against it. Councilwoman Jan Hall was absent.

Braude later said that he “just didn’t want politically elected people” chosen for the new committee. Council members can suggest to Kell the names of candidates for committees and task forces. Kell then makes the nomination, which must be ratified with a a majority vote from the council.