Councilman Mike Bonin responded to the Homeless Committee, via Chair Will Hawkins, regarding the Mobile Storage program that the group conceived for the homeless.

“As I stated last night, I welcome your committee’s suggestion of a mobile version of the storage program, and I am asking the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), Chrysalis and the City Administrative Officer (CAO) to evaluate the concept, the required resources, and the time required to make the program operational,”  he wrote.

Last night at the Homeless Town Hall put on by Councilman Mike Bonin, the Westminster Senior Center took center stage for the comments even though the senior center is to be the subject of the Town Hall 15 September.

See the story.   The flyer in the story was passed out by members of the homeless committee at the meeting.  Will Hawkins, chair of the committee, emailed some people and the email was printed at the end of the story.  Apparently, the email got to the councilman and he responded with the statement that LAHSA,  Chrysalis, and the City Administrative Officer would be evaluating the concept.

Bonin also stated he would like a formal presentation of the mobile program either at 15 September meet or before for LAHSA, Chrysalis and the CAO.

Bonin appears to be pressured to get the Westminster Senior Center up and functional before the November shelter opens even though the deed restricts such use and even though the Venice Neighborhood Council voted overwhelmingly against the use of the senior center. And the storage program at the paddle courts has been operational all year and will continue to be as it was last year.

It is imperative for such a program to be operational when the emergency winter shelter program begins in November or December. While we evaluate your proposed alternative, I support the use of the former senior center.  If your alternative proves feasible and meets the same objectives, I’d be happy to move to it instead.