Motels to House Pasadena Homeless?

Homeless in Pasadena (Photo – Staff).

If the body politic were a real body, the body of Pasadena would be one plagued by itches and bruises that continue to irritate.

By Garrett Rowlan

Homelessness, in particular, is one issue that does not seem to get better, in spite of the attention—not enough, according to some—given to the matter.

Monday night, the Pasadena City Council heard the latest plan to alleviate the problem of homelessness. It involves the conversion of hotels and motels to house the homeless.

The threshold on room numbers was set at 80; that is, establishments of 80 or less rooms would be eligible to be converted to homeless housing. These units—17 of them, most located along Colorado Boulevard, many in East Pasadena—would, if all qualified, free up, potentially, almost 800 rooms. It is, of course, a faster solution to housing people than the more cumbersome challenge of building from scratch.

Of course, there are issues—what hotel/motels are “historic,” what will be the process through which these units are converted, will housing be permanent or transitional, what are the land-use regulations, and so forth?

“This is one step we are taking to address the problem of homelessness,” said Margaret McAustin, District 2.

Gene Masuda, District 4, balked because most of the troubled motels are in his bailiwick. Other council members offered a sort of carrot: an amendment stating that after three building permits were issued, and some context was allotted to gather, there would be a review of the program and its issues.

Masuda still wasn’t biting, and the vote went ahead, and passed, in spite of his “no.”

Students in support of Bullying Awareness Month with Mayor Tornek (Photo – Garrett Rowlan).

Hahamongna Watershed Park

In the developments, the council received an update on habitat restoration work in Hahamongna Watershed Park. Habitat restoration, defined in response to a question by Andy Wilson, District 7, is the removal of invasive plants and their replacement with native plants.

The night began with a trio of proclamations. They are the National Disability and Employment Awareness Month; Bullying Prevention Month; and National Pedestrian Safety Month. In addition, Anthony Portantino, Senate District 25, gave an update on issues in Sacramento. His most interesting disclosure was his mention of a Suicide Bridge in Korea, and the mirrors that the authorities put up to keep people from jumping. Perhaps self-awareness is as important as hope in keeping people alive.

> Watch the Pasadena Council meeting on Monday, Oct. 1, 2018.