Hundreds of RVs lining stretch of LA County bringing crime and filthy conditions, residents says
EAST GARDENA, Calif. (KABC) — The Harbor Gateway Chamber of Commerce says there are 500 RVs parked on its streets, but politicians say some of those vehicles should soon be cleared away thanks to a Los Angeles County program that clears encampments.
The RVs are located in the East Gardena-West Rancho Dominguez area in unincorporated L.A. County.
“The majority of these RVs – they don’t exist. There’s no VIN, there’s no license plate, there’s no registered owner,” said David Matthews, the president of the Harbor Gateway Chamber of Commerce. “It’s basically just a vessel on the street. Unfortunately, our elected (officials) are thinking this is considered housing and this is not housing.
A look inside efforts to remove RVs from LA County streets
A plan to help people living in recreational vehicles that are crowding streets and troubling neighborhoods gets a boost just weeks after it got up and running. The RV encampment pilot program is getting absorbed by Los Angeles County’s homelessness solution: Pathway Home.
The additional funding and urgency due to the emergency declaration on homelessness is helping cut through red tape, making it possible to offer those living in oversized vehicles immediate and long-term help.
Spectrum News was originally told the RV encampment pilot program would launch in June to remove 1,500 RVs across LA County over three years. The county reports nearly 50 were removed in less than three months.
500 RVs in Harbor Gateway causes headaches for officials
Driving down Compton Boulevard or even on 129th Street and Athens Way the stretch of RVs seems endless.
The Harbor Gateway Chamber of Commerce said they’ve tracked 500 RVs set up in a 6.5-mile area of unincorporated Los Angeles County. Getting them to move has been a logistical nightmare that started with the moratorium placed during the pandemic and only grew.
“Tow operators will not touch an RV and then you have hazardous waste,” said David Matthews, President of Harbor Gateway North Chamber of Commerce. “What do you do with that? And then if they do take it, what do you do with the people who are in the RV?”
For years now, Matthews has been working to find some answers. He said he’s been equally moved by the desire to protect local businesses and his sympathy for the unhoused. He said there were 170 RV fires in the area just last year.
What A Little Perseverance Can Accomplish…..
Our metamorphosis has been underway for more than 2 years. From community organized clean ups to collaborative homeless outreach involving the entire South Bay, we continued to find solutions. Working with the front line workers has made a huge difference in understanding how the resources work and importance of partnerships.
We have a lot of work ahead but together we can continue to reshape our business corridors and residential neighborhoods into safer, cleaner communities. We now have the world watching our efforts.
RV Encampment Pilot Program Belated Update.
Gardena/West Rancho Dominguez area. The first targeted locations were
Main Street between Rosecrans & Compton Blvd
Spring & Lennon
Athens Way between 129th & 132nd
Media from throughout Los Angeles
Supervisor Mitchell Event Saturday, Sept 9th at 9am
Hosted by Family, Friends & Neighbor Community and Avalon Gardens Community Association. Town Hall Meeting with Supervisor Holly J Mitchell. Saturday, September 9th 9am-11am “Magic’ Johnson Park 12645 El Segundo Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90059 (There are two addresses for the location. The building is located at 905 E El Segundo Blvd, Los Angeles 90059)
Partnerships & Pride of Community.
Thank You Larry & Drew Miller from Sit N Sleep for taking care of our firefighters at Station 79. Your generosity will ensure they have a good night’s rest!! We are bringing the sparkle back to our business corridors. The transformation is slowly happening.
Working Towards More Resources.
Clean, Safe, & Healthy Streets Seems Simple Enough. However, it is requiring us to create new protocols to address old issues. We are making progress and will continue to fight for additional resources & services.
Our next step is creating the ability to get pertinent information out to the business community quickly, in real-time. Being able to provide up to the minute information regarding issues from fires, power outages, vandalism and accidents will help get the word out. Soon, our members will have the ability to report illegal dumping, compromised fire hydrants and other issues using this tool.
We Need Your Financial Support.
For the ten businesses in the Unincorporated LA County areas of East Gardena/West Rancho Dominguez that have supported our efforts and joined or renewed their memberships in the Chamber of Commerce, THANK YOU. Financially the work which is being done is unsustainable without the support of the business community. We are not going to be […]
Community Engagement.
Friday, we donated 150 backpacks to Environmental Charter Middle School and met all the new & returning students.
We committed to ensuring the children in our communities would have safer, cleaner streets.
Starbucks donated 300 reusable cups for the students & staff as well.