02.27.26 Medical Outreach Mission at Harbor Gateway Encampment Highlights Need for Multi-Agency Safety Framework
The medical outreach team deployed to the Harbor Gateway RV encampment area on Friday, February 27th, at the direction of David Matthews, president of the Harbor Gateway Chamber of Commerce. The team operated in a volatile and hazardous environment characterized by recent arsons, a shooting, and pervasive narcotic use. While the mission provided immediate medical assistance to approximately ten individuals for issues including an infected gunshot wound, the operational environment was severely compromised by disruptive individuals under the influence and broader public safety concerns. This initial deployment confirmed the area’s extreme vulnerability and highlighted that sustainable, effective outreach is non-sustainable without a structured, multi-agency public safety framework. We are now committed to establishing this framework to enable a remote mobile clinic street medicine team to conduct a weekly medical, mental health, substance use disorder and critical wound care services on a walk-up basis located within the RV encampment impact zone.
A Day on the Streets of Harbor Gateway LA and Why Our Follow-Up Matters
My day started at 7:00 a.m. with a Union Pacific Railroad cleanup near Rosecrans Recreation Center. Two individuals were arrested and three cited for trespassing. The corridor between Vermont and Figueroa is now clean.
At 8:00 a.m., I was joined by partners from the South Bay Coalition to End Homelessness, who asked to tour our neighborhoods and see the work firsthand. From there, we conducted a site inspection at the Metro Green Line Station for an upcoming homeless resource event—the location is perfect.
Next stop: crews from Caltrans and Chrysalis were actively cleaning areas reported last week—follow-through in action.
We then visited a large encampment, spent time making introductions, and set a plan to return at 1:30 p.m. with outreach teams, food, water, and supplies.
Upcoming Nonconforming Vehicle Ordinance Amendment SUPPORT Letter
Attached is a fillable letter of support for the Transportation Core Service Area Nonconforming Vehicle Ordinance Amendment (File ID 26-1115).
No Sunday Parking Broadway Corridor in East Gardena
We are helping to maintain order in the streets at night and providing clarity during the day.
Last week, the county of Los Angeles began installing No Sunday Parking Signage along the Broadway corridor between Alondra & Compton Blvd. The goal was to prevent the street takeovers from continuing to plague this area. Unfortunately, there was a lack of coordination to have Compton Sheriff, Parking Enforcement and/or CHP involved in the rollout. The street takeover this past weekend was much smaller. It was the first Sunday we did not have injuries or casualties.Based on a conversation with CHP South Los Angeles yesterday, they have advised us that it will be Mid-October before this get addressed due to staffing issues.
Cracking Down On Criminal Activity in our Buildings
SAFETY has become a major concern for my efforts on the streets. CRIMINAL Activities are plaguing the majority of Unincorporated LA County Business Corridors.
ILLEGAL FIREWORKS.
The East Gardena Business Corridor is having issues with illegal fireworks. These displays are happening on Saturday & Sunday nights after 1030p. We have notified the businesses in the impacted area to contact Compton Sheriff at (310) 605 6500. These acts have the ability to catch buildings & vehicles on fire. As a side note, last year one of the homes on the west side of Figueroa had a bedroom destroyed from the fireworks display from the same area.
Another Successful Clean Up
Over the weekend, community ambassadors & homeless came together to remove the piles of rotting waste along Redondo Beach Blvd between San Pedro St & Main St in the community of East Gardena. Over the four hour period, 14 volunteers managed to remove 8 dumpsters of debris (equivalent of 16 tons) from the street.
Illegal Fireworks Part 2
We continue to see massive Illegal Fireworks displays occurring on New Century Drive & 157th in the community of East Gardena. These displays have the ability to burn a building down, set off an explosion and/or cause bodily injury. This “event” caused a gas line to be ruptured from a metal pipe which exploded and severed the line. Compton Sheriff has limited resources but it is critical that every business report this ongoing problem. The more calls generated from the area, the more resources will be deployed.
The Story of Erin.
Here is the one of our greatest reasons for putting the time, energy & effort into cleaning our streets. Meet Erin, one of the individuals we met a year ago living in an RV in West Rancho Dominguez. With our efforts, she accepted the help during the Pathway Home on Main Street in August. When we initially met her, she was service resistant and did not want the help. Over time, we gained her trust and faith to accept the help.
How We Are Addressing The Issues.
Bringing our elected officials to those locations which require immediate attention. Councilman McOsker toured the Jonathan Louis Facility in Harbor Gateway and witnessed the issues that were impacting them from receiving their supplies & deliveries.
Bringing our elected officials to those locations which require immediate attention. Councilman McOsker toured the Jonathan Louis Facility in Harbor Gateway and witnessed the issues that were impacting them from receiving their supplies & deliveries.