Plan to Close 4 Welfare Offices in Harbor Area Draws Angry Protest

Food, medical and housing assistance would be more difficult to obtain for 61,000 of the county’s poor--47,000 of them children--if the Board of Supervisors goes forward with plans to close four Harbor-area welfare offices, angry protesters said Thursday.

At a demonstration outside a Long Beach welfare office marked for closure, activists warned that the needy, elderly and disabled would be forced to travel up to 15 added miles, effectively denying food stamps, Medi-Cal service and money to anyone unable to make the journey.

“Some people will have to take at least six buses. The mentally ill will not be able to navigate that,” said John Suggs, executive director of the Los Angeles Countywide Coalition for the Homeless.

“This will increase the misery of people already homeless and struggling and make homelessness impossible to combat. These are basic sustenance programs that (the needy) are legally and morally entitled to,” Suggs said.

The Department of Public Social Services plans to close one welfare office in San Pedro and three in Long Beach, which experts say has the county’s largest share of homeless welfare applicants. The four offices, which combined serve 61,000 people, would be consolidated in a converted warehouse just outside of Compton, part of a plan that has reduced general relief offices from 30 to 15 in recent years.

County officials said the new building would nearly double the number of interview booths over what the four existing offices had and could cut daylong waits in half.

While about 75 protesters shouted outside, some of the poor who waited inside the overflowing office shrugged with resignation and stared blankly when informed of the county’s intentions.

“It is very depressing. It is very stressful. And going to Compton is out of the question,” said Chad Warszaua, a 48-year-old heart patient and diabetic who leaned on two canes while standing in line.

An adult on general relief receives $312 a month for rent, food and necessities and there is little left for bus fare, protesters said.

“They treat you like an animal,” said Jeff Page, a 26-year-old recovering drug addict. “I have been sober for two years. I am not an animal.”

Much of the shouting was aimed at Supervisor Deane Dana, who represents the harbor area and supports the consolidation plan. Advocates said they have visited Dana’s office, mailed postcards and signed petitions only to be told by an aide that the homeless and their families should walk the extra distance.

“We are here to tell Supervisor Dana to take his family and walk the 15 miles!” Suggs bellowed as the poor raised picket signs in anger.

But an aide to Dana denied the remark was ever made. “That was never said and would not be said,” said Dennis Morefield.

Dana was commemorating the opening of a new Los Angeles prison with President Bush and was not available for comment. Morefield said there was no indication that the supervisor would change his mind.