The "Boogeymen" (and Women and Children) Come to Culver City

Gary Silbiger

NOTE: This is the seventh in a series of Culver City Progress election articles detailing the role of Councilmembers and the views of the challengers on the important issues in Culver City. View the previous articles here, here, here, here, here and here.

“We are doing our share with these problematic uses in [the Culver West] neighborhood. We all don’t need to worry about anybody coming in and making problems for us because we’ve already got them. We are bearing enough of a burden right now for me to say that there must be a better location. But I know one thing for certain, that is not the proper use for that neighborhood. We need to bring the neighborhood up."

It was January 14th, 2008 and Former Councilmember Scott Malsin had just listed the above problems that were coming to his neighborhood if his colleagues voted to let the "boogeymen" in. He went on to talk about camper people in the area, an Alcoholic Anonymous program, Venice High School, and problems on Wade Street and Culver West Park. We all knew that this was serious, Culver City had to be protected.

What possible negative influence could cause then-Councilmember Malsin to be so terrified? A gun shooting range? A local branch of the mafia? An illegal drug distribution center? No, it was the Upward Bound House transitional housing center for mainly homeless single moms with children under 8 years old.

Is there a need for emergency family housing? In 2008 in Los Angeles County, on any given night, there were 14,000 homeless children. At Upward Bound, these highly motivated residents – not the chronic homeless – had a safe place to sleep in their own bed.

Upward Bound House, a successful Santa Monica nonprofit provider of homeless services, spotted the perfect place for their next emergency family shelter in 2007 – a run-down Culver City motel on Washington Boulevard, which has now been converted both inside and out with love and care. This family shelter provides the previously-absent full range of services to children on the Westside. Although any homeless shelter could run afoul to NIMBYs ("not in my back yard") and fear laden residents and business owners, certainly a shelter for young children and their families would be a slam dunk, even for elected officials who had tried almost everything to deny most services to the homeless in our fair city. It all was resolved on January 14, 2008 when by the slimmest of votes – 3 to 2 – the City Council majority demonstrated a side of humanitarianism that would beneficially change the lives of countless people. After all, providing help to those most in need is a major part of local government. Those voting in favor of the family transitional housing facility were Carol Gross, Steve Rose, and me, while those opposed were Scott Malsin and Alan Corlin.

The proposal was to have 18 rooms in a newly converted transitional housing facility for parents and their minor children – not older than 16 - who were homeless, with a maximum total of 60 in the House. A family could only live at Upward Bound for 90 days and then move to a more permanent location. Rules include an enforced curfew from 9:00 p.m to 6:00 a.m. and 24 hour a day security cameras. A thorough screening process, including drug testing and a background test, are required. Each resident must read and agree with Upward Bound House's 7 page Code of Conduct. Well trained on-site managers are present at all times. Every resident must meet daily to receive intensive counseling with his or her case manager. Written permission must be received for guests to visit. Drinking alcohol is forbidden. Landscaping has been improved. And Upward Bound has to submit yearly reports on the facility’s operations and compliance with the City’s conditions of approval.

With the current criticisms of ending the Redevelopment Agencies in California, Upward Bound took no City or Redevelopment money, and was able to provide quality affordable housing in a city that refused to spend money allocated for this purpose.

When the Planning Commission approved Upward Bound by a 3 to 1 score, Michael Feeney, a resident of Culver City, appealed the granting of a Conditional Use Permit to the City Council. At the overflow January 14, 2008 City Council meeting, residents of Culver City and Los Angeles and business owners spoke (and submitted written comments) pro and con about the Upward Bound House proposal. Those speaking in favor of Upward Bound House included the Student Body President of Farragut Elementary School, a Culver City principal, the pastor of Culver Palms Methodist Church, former residents of Upward Bound’s first shelter, the Chair of Culver City’s Homelessness Committee and many others while an equal number of opponents spoke against the proposal.

Booker Pearson, the Board President of Upward Bound House, explained that they had searched for a location for 3 years. They had discovered several successful homeless shelters located in former motels. He explained that it would take 2-3 years minimum to find another place for this emergency family shelter. By opening Upward Bound House on Washington Boulevard, at least 100 children per year would have safe housing, rather than be homeless living on the streets. Certainly Culver City should do its part and continue to provide additional services – including housing – for those in need. As Phil Ochs wrote, “There But For Fortune Go You and I."

Although the opponents often phrased their opposition as “not the right place," for some there never is “the right place." But for the vulnerable children and their parents, “the right time” is always now. Councilmember Malsin expressed strong negative opinions of Upward Bound House at the Council meeting and created a vision of negativity in West Culver City that simply was untrue. A leader is one with vision to make his/her city the very best.

Towards the ending of his presentation, former Councilmember Malsin warned, “I wish all the people who have spoken in favor of Upward Bound House would come to that area and see the feces in the alley ways and the gang graffiti on the walls, and the graffiti, graffiti, grafitti all over the place." This exaggeration of West Culver City was part of the justification for Malsin’s vote opposed to the wonderful heartwarming Upward Bound House.

At the official opening of Upward Bound House, all of the rooms had been remodeled, repaired, and painted and the outside of the building made me proud to be a resident of Culver City. Thank goodness we did not have one more Councilmember voting to keep kids homeless on the unsafe streets of Los Angeles County.

UPWARD BOUND HOUSE SCORECARD
Scott Malsin F
Micheal O’Leary N/A
Andrew Weissman N/A

Gary Silbiger is the Co-Editor of the Culver City Progress Blog and the Former Mayor of Culver City.