Dear Editor: 

This letter is in response to the letter from Sandra Avalos in last week’s Downey Patriot. I was hoping to offer a different perspective.

I share Ms. Avalos’ concern about how the intent of the new construction at Rancho Los Amigos was released, but that’s about as far as our concerns merge. I suspect that those who share Ms. Avalos’ reaction was exactly the reason the county took the less-than-transparent position it did.

I live on Rives Avenue and I’m a short distance away from Apollo Park. I walk my dog there and ride my bike in the area, and I see the occasional homeless person tucked throughout areas of the park. I’d suggest that a professionally managed facility that serves this portion of our society is far better than having a person huddled in blankets next to the senior center, or in a park dugout.

May I remind the reader that we’re not talking about an environment to house child molesters, armed felons, or gang members. Those that are homeless and/or suffering from mental illness are some of the most vulnerable people around, and before we paint a picture of impending community doom and destruction, let’s consider that this is a far better approach than letting the problem be solved in someone else’s backyard.

Raymond Brown
Downey

Dear Editor:

I read with dismay a Letter to the Editor written by Sandra Avalos which outlines the inconceivable idea of what is planned for the Rancho Los Amigos property, and the “vision” our city leaders have for the future. Simply put, the future of our city is not bright.  Our city’s motto “Future Unlimited” might as well be “Future Depleted.”

I worked for an agency on San Julian Street in downtown Los Angeles for well over 15 years. If you’re not familiar with San Julian Street, you can see for yourself what it and the surrounding area looks like today. It is a travesty, to say the least. 

I remember my drive to work back in those days and praying that I caught only green lights until I was able to reach my destination – and the reason for my prayers wasn’t to get to work on time. It was because I knew that stopping at a stop sign or, even worse, a red light, meant that I would, more often than not, be subjected to a homeless and/or mentally ill individual forcefully knocking on my car window, yelling obscenities at me or demanding payment for their unsolicited windshield “cleaning.” I was a young girl back in those days and I can tell you I was scared to death.  There were no cell phones back then, so I simply continued praying and waiting for the day I found employment elsewhere.

One must wonder if the Los Angeles city and county leaders sold this bill of goods to our ineffective leaders knowing the Summer Olympics will soon be here and they know the face of Los Angeles will be out there for the world to see – all the good and all the bad. The leaders of Los Angeles know that they had to devise a plan to clean up their streets long before 2028. The solution? Move the problems elsewhere, much like they did back in 1984. 

I find it ironic that one doesn’t have to look far to find news about the new Downey Sports Complex groundbreaking but the topic of the mentally-ill dumping ground has remained rather hush-hush, with no real opportunity for the public to learn more and comment about the project. Perhaps the Sports Complex was their way of throwing a proverbial bone so that we would shut up and be happy. 

Time is of the essence here, folks. The buildings are going up as I write this letter. And, in case you haven’t heard, there are no fences or deterrents to keep these ill people off of the streets and invading our parks and neighborhoods.

If you care about this city, please take action now. If you care about Apollo Park and the Barbara J. Riley Senior Center, take action now. If you care about your safety and the safety of our children, take action now.

To our dear Downey citizens, I ask that you contact the Downey City Council, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn (562) 807-7350, and anyone else who will listen. Let them know we will not allow Downey to become a dumping ground for Los Angeles’ problems. Janice Hahn has a Facebook page. Post your message on that page and let her and her followers know how upset you are about what is planned. Perhaps she will give us an explanation for her inaction to protect our city.  

Go to the City of Downey’s YouTube Channel and listen to the City Council meetings which are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. You can make a public comment and ask what the status is of this plan. Where does each council member have to say about this? What are they willing to do to stop this? 

I beg you, please do not stand idly by. The future of our city is dying. Do what you can to resuscitate it so that future generations can be proud to call Downey their home.

Lisa Morrill
Downey