(Photos courtesy of John Betz.)
Part of Pacific shutdown because of hunt for transient with a knife.
By John Betz
Last night (21 September) a transient (according to police on the scene) broke into a house (between Pacific and Speedway) about one block from the Westminster Senior Center/Park. According to the police scanner, he was armed with a knife. The police chased him for about two hours in a several-block area and then shot him with beanbag guns. The entire block of Pacific near Brooks was shut down at 4 am and remained such until past 9 am.
“Transients aren’t really a threat to kids” theory. News Flash! Never mind kids! They are a threat to adults, they are a threat to cops! There was a lot of chatter going around social media at 3 am this morning from people in our neighborhood. My kid was locked safely away in his house and he was scared. So was my wife. If you think it is OK to situate a storage center for transients right next to a school and in a residential area and there won’t be any problem, then YOU ARE INSANE.
Remember just a week ago the officials who talked at Westminster school regarding the storage facility designated by Councilman Mike Bonin for Westminster Senior Center. They all said that having a storage facility for homeless next to a school and in a residential area would not be a problem. One said there is no problem having the homeless mix with the school children.
So by your logic we should also be afraid of all Muslims (because some of them are terrorists) and all illegal immigrants (because some of them commit felonies). Oh and all black people. We should definitely be afraid of all of them. Right ?
No Alvin, Apples and oranges – The City and Bonin are not enabling, almost to the point of formal invitation, either Muslims or illegal immigrants to live on the beach, streets and alleys of Venice… And both of the populations that you chose to use for examples are less likely to be documented substance abusers or criminals (no matter what Trump says…)…
Yes Peter the LAHSA representative was incredulous that we would be scared of mentally ill transients next to a school. Apparently the homeless would be so invested in the storage they would behave! Well that’s if you are functioning within the right frame of mind-not so if you have a mental illness or a substance abuser! We have the highest number of mentally ill transients in Venice-another fact that he was not concerned with! Follow the HUD $$$$-it’s all about the money people-not the residents or kids or community!
Insane indeed!!! Hey Bonin et. al, WAKE UP!!!