Let the City of Downey, The City of South Gate, and The County of Los Angeles Supervisors and Community Development Commission including its affiliated government officials, notice, voice, awareness and more importantly let them know that you oppose their plans to build a second Veterans/ Homeless Housing Facility on 11269 Garfield Avenue, Downey, CA. (also known as the American Legion Hollydale Post #723), and within ½ (half) a mile from a second proposed Homeless Facility to be built on 5610 Imperial Hwy. South Gate, CA. 90280. 

The site is owned by the County of Los Angeles and leased by the American Legion since the 1940's to provide veterans with an organization devoted to mutual helpfulness, help the community and our youth. However, the site is located within the outer limits of the City of Downey, and surrounded by its majority territory and boundaries of South Gate (Area #5) and its residents (Hollydale, Circle Park), including schools, parks, residences and some local businesses and warehouse.

The Plan is clearly not the best solution to resolve the Veteran Homeless and/or General Population Homeless problem in Downey, were most of its problem is located on the opposite site East of South Gate and boundaries with Norwalk, Bellflower and other cities. In addition, South Gate is already facing a homeless housing crisis that it is trying to address on its own. 

More importantly, the announcement and decision was made without Public Hearing on the June 12, 2018, City of Downey's Agenda to the residents of South Gate whom will be primarily affected by the proposed building. Additionally, it has not been on Public Hearing by Elected District County Supervisors within these areas, as written per the Downey MOU of June 12, 2018 with the County of Los Angeles and the Community Development Commission. These proposed actions without hearing the voices of the community primary the large South Gate population surrounding the proposed building which accounts for an estimated 99 percent of the surrounding population, and its residents, does not give an opportunity to address many concerns in regards to Public Safety, Emergency Response (by Downey or South Gate PD), Facility Safety and Security, Traffic and Congestion Issues related to 105 Fwy, 710 Fwy, Imperial Hwy., and Garfield Ave., additional Housing Multi-Family projects with less than ½ mile, redistricting, and many other issues that the residents/ constituents would like to voice and have on record. Moreover, to get clarification on the proposed housing population, programs, services and needs and/or to express further concerns or support, with fairness, equality and public community relations from the residents/ constituents of the area and local business.

The impact to the surrounding residents can be of major detrimental and irreparable concerns. It is important for The City of Downey and The Los Angeles County of Supervisors to place this second shelter in a more appropriate site that will truly address the homeless issues of the City of Downey, and not to place the burden of two facilities with a half a mile from each other on the residents of South Gate, more specifically Area 5 (Hollydale and Circle Park areas). The project only identifies 3 percent (3%) of the homeless population as United States Veterans, per the City of Downey Homeless Action Plan and Resolution dated July 24, 2018. The City of Downey does have many sites that can be useful and more appropriate to address these issues within their city, community, public services, transportation, policing and residents.

In addition, a 3rd project to housed up to 165 homeless people in Downey while they recuperate from hospitalization at the Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, is added to place the burden on the local residents. 

Please join this petition so that we can make our voices heard! and keep THE AMERICAN LEGION OPEN, RENOVATED AND FOR OUR VETERANS.