Push to make MacArthur Park safer amid crime, drug concerns in area
LOS ANGELES - For years, the owner of Langer's Deli, Norm Langer, has complained about the crime, drug use, and homelessness around MacArthur Park and all around his restaurant. He says he's begged for the city to do something and feels they've let him down. He tells FOX 11, "I need to see some action. I don't want to deal with this anymore."
But, on the other side of the park from the restaurant, Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez offered a multi-pronged plan to deal with a park she refers to as the Ellis Island of Los Angeles, where immigrants come when they first arrive in Los Angeles. Says Hernandez, "I believe deeply that the government works best when it responds to the needs of the community."
Hernandez and others are part of a coalition to change things in a park that has long had a shadow over it because of drug use, homelessness, and crime. The coalition announced that, "Community clean teams will work to enhance the cleanliness in the park while providing job opportunities for local residents, and Peace Ambassador Teams will work in the neighborhoods to reduce violence and engage in de-escalation, among other things."
Alex Sanchez, Executive Director of Homies Unidos, says, "There is an effort to do something in a coordinated way which is going to bring together all of these agencies to work in coordination to address the issues in the area."
From Sanchez's "homies unidos" to Homeless Health Care's mobile overdose response team to deal with drug issues in the park and surrounding area and more.
Hernandez says the cost of this plan is, "At least $26 million to the area."
"We'll bring in primary health care services, we'll bring in mobile overdose prevention teams, we'll bring $3 million for a respite center. There are millions of dollars coming into this area unlike any other moment in history," she adds.
But, to restaurant owner Norm Langer, "It's all conversation. I need to see some action and I haven't seen it yet."
The councilwoman's office says we should see changes beginning in January.