In the Pipeline: ‘Take back the parks’ effort gains support

I received an impressive number of responses two week ago after writing about the many issues at Huntington Beach’s Central Park, and it’s clear that people want things cleaned up sooner rather than later. The drug dealing, prostitution and growing homeless situation generate the most concern, as they should.

The latter, in particular, seems to be the most high-profile problem since it is more visible. At the core of it seems to be the fact that many of the people on the streets and in the parks suffer from deep mental issues that cannot be cured by food, water or shelter.

One concerned volunteer at Central Park wrote to me: “We have the perfect trifecta for the mentally ill in Central Park. We have the interfaith trailer in the park that feeds them. We have the library that gives them shelter, restrooms and Internet till 9 p.m. And we have the park to congregate and sleep in with very little policing.

“If you talk to just one of these people, you will know immediately that they can’t get a job, apartment and a life like we have. This is the life they know how to do. The ‘homeless’ people I have met in the park are hyper-paranoid. They do not trust anyone, especially authority.”

That, of course, challenges the effectiveness of homeless shelters, where there would be rules.

And we can’t forget the potential health effects for the general public. According to the same volunteer (who wished to be anonymous), a homeless woman who lives in her car at Central Park is known to have hepatitis C but is regularly seen entering the library to use the restroom, legs bleeding and all.

Two years ago, I wrote about the homeless problem in the overgrowth at Bartlett Park, across town. The city stepped in to do an effective cleanup job after enough attention was drawn to it. But residents say they see the issue creeping back. And again, they are — rightfully, in my opinion — concerned about their neighborhood.

Their letters to the city say it all:

• “The transients are leaving trash, junk and shopping carts in several places. Trees have fallen over on the berm along Coldwater. I have called the city yard a couple of times over the last three weeks, and the fallen trees are still there.”

• “As mentioned earlier, our latest concern with the individual living under the tree on the ridge would likely not be solved by tree trimming. His volatile nature has all of us down below feeling very concerned and uncomfortable.”

I spoke to Police Chief Robert Handy, and he said he understands the residents’ frustration.

“It’s partially a seasonal issue at Bartlett Park,” he said. “After spring, a lot of the growth comes back, and with it, homeless issues. And we are aware of the man that many residents have complained about, and we keep a close eye on the situation. But there’s a fine line legally about what we can do. Until he becomes a clear threat to himself or others, we can only monitor what is happening.”

Handy also told me that the overgrowth clearing efforts are tricky because of the state permitting that is required (among other things). But he said the city will be back in to clean up the area.

Handy also is about to appoint an officer specifically to handle the homeless matter. This person will work with other officers to help patrol and maintain order at city parks that, more and more, are becoming homeless camps.

In the next couple of weeks, Handy and I will talk about all of this in greater depth, and I will share the details in this column.

I also reached out to Janeen Laudenback of the Huntington Beach Community Services Department in regard to Bartlett Park, and she told me: “The city has been working collaboratively between the various city departments to address the concerns of the residents. There is a regular twice-monthly maintenance schedule, quarterly volunteer cleanup events, as well as regular communication with the residents to assure that we can address their concerns and so that they are aware of our ongoing efforts.”

These are complicated issues. As Laudenback pointed out, the Huntington Beach Police Department is working closely with the city’s homeless task force to “thoughtfully and compassionately address issues of homelessness citywide.”

I’ll be reaching out to the task force as well to report on its efforts, but I’d really like to know what you think about homelessness in Huntington Beach.

We are not unique; most beach communities experience this and deal with it in a variety of ways. What do you think the city should be doing? Should more time, money and energy be spent on cleaning up our parks? On housing people? Removing people?

Share your opinions and ideas, and I will see that the city becomes aware of them.

Something has to give. The parks are becoming dangerous. And the longer we wait to act, the worse the problem will get.

CHRIS EPTING is the author of 25 books, including “Legendary Locals of Huntington Beach.” You can follow him on Twitter @chrisepting or at facebook.com/hbindependent.