We thought that our neighbors and residents of the Belmont Heights community should be aware that we now have a Emergency Transition Shelter/Housing located in our neighborhood. This shelter was opened earlier this summer and we have had several complaints and police calls in regards to disturbances at this facility. Many residents that we have spoken to are not even aware that this shelter exists because they are not seeing or hearing things for themselves. Unfortunately those of us that live near and around the facility are very aware of the disturbances to the neighborhood. Many residents think it is still some type of convalescent elderly home. It is far from it. The director of the facility assures that she is being selective of who she allows to stay there and that the residents can only stay for two months time. However, there is still an increase in police presence at this location and many neighbor complaints. Some of us have already contacted Suzette Wills and Rita Hooker of the Long Beach Nuisance and Abatement Department. We have written letters to Rita Hooker explaining the situation and documenting what we know. Hopefully this matter will be addressed by the Nuisance and Abatement Department and we can find some kind of resolution so this does not become a huge problem for our neighborhood, our safety or our property values. If you have had any problems or had any occurences from this facility and its residents, please document them and send it to: Rita Hooker Nuisance and Abatement Dept. 400 W. Broadway LB 90802 Rita's e-mail address is rita_hooker@longbeach.gov
(ed: this story was originally posted anonymously. the poster then create a new user account; which leads me to believe it would have posted under a username had it existed.
2nd ed: after further reflection, the name & address of the facility were removed in order to protect the privacy of the residents. Please do not post the name or address of this facility or other shelter's on this website.)
Shelter
I was wondering what was going on in the neighborhood until I found out last night that the convalescent home had been converted to an emergency transition shelter. There was a police car there last night. My neighbor Ryan who lives in the apartments across the street from the shelter says the police are there all the time and they recovered a stolen car in front recently. Last night I also had a strange woman come to my door asking me if I new someone she was looking for, a man who recently moved into the neighborhood with a "rhodesian ridgeback dog". She was behaving strangely and did not want to leave when I made it clear we did not want to talk about it further. I have also noticed an older woman wearing disheveled clothes wandering the neighborhood quite a bit. Last but not least a lot of grocery carts have been left around recently, which has not happened in a while. Too much weird stuff in a short period of time! Does this shelter have the proper permits and is the property zoned for this use?
(ed: originally posted as anonymous. author has been fixed.
2nd ed:
references to the name/address were removed in order to protect residents of the facility. please click for details).
"Not So Glorious" Manor...
Wow! I never thought that place was occupied. I've never seen anything move around there. Never even seen the door open and we do walk our dog often since that's part of our morning, afternoon, and evening route.
My partner and I moved to the neighborhood 2 years ago because of the location and the people. Last summer we had our family from out of town and our house was broken into. We contacted the police at 4 pm and they did not show up until 9 pm and the special investigation unit did not show up until the following day.
Through the 2 years we've lived at our home, cars were broken into (at least 3 times)on our street, several homes were vandalized with graffiti (including our garage) and weird suspicious strangers have been walking around.
We are staying because of our neighbors. Seems like the neighborhood is changing and we need to get with our city councilman to get this problem fixed.
play nice
Glenn - I compliment you on posting your name. I'd like to know more about what how this facility is operating, but suspect it has proper permits if the Long Beach Nuisance and Abatement Dept has been involved. (I don't know that they have).
When this thread was posted yesterday by an "anonymous poster," it worried me. Then I realized shortly after the post a new user was created - just as in your case.
I therefore "fixed" their post by attaching the username they had created to the post. I also fixed the author of the first comment to the post. Same as the author. In a public forum, how odd.
Regardless of this oddity, this particular thread concerns me for a variety of reasons... but ultimately I believe it to be an important discussion and an excellent use of the website.
I just want to be clear that I am concerned about people posting information without fact or merit - especially anonymously. Please tread carefully, and be a good citizen.
I'd like to be able to have these types of open discussions that lead to good outcomes for all parties and improve quality of life of Belmont Heights - but if I'm in doubt (or when asked to) I will remove posts that appear accusatory or libellious in nature. PLEASE back up accusations with fact.
I must also confess I am biased towards helping those in need. In addition to volunteering my time in my neighborhood, I am also an active volunteer/mentor helping our community’s most severely abused, abandoned and neglected children. Perhaps closer community involvment with the facility would help everyone affected?
Follow-up to initial post about the shelter
The initial posting was placed by my husband Joaquin and I.
Yes, we did go about it a little backwards because we then signed up as users but that has been corrected. Anyhow, the information is definitely valid.
I had a long conversation with Rita Hooker from the LB Nuisance & Abatement Dept. yesterday and she confirmed that the shelter does have the proper permits from the city. She also said she has received many e-mails from residents in our area expressing their concerns with disturbances in the neighborhood from Glorious Manor. She is communicating with me as a contact in this situation for now. She also advised me that she is meeting with the owner of the shelter on Monday to discuss some of her concerns. She asked that any information we may have be forwarded over to her before her meeting on Monday at noon.
Rita also mentioned having a possible meeting with concerned residents in the future. I'll keep you posted.
I sent her a very detailed letter expressing our concerns and a timeline of incidences that have occured at the facility that we are aware of. If anyone would like a copy of the letter I sent to her, please let me know and I can make a copy for you.
My husband has been going around the neighborhood speaking to residents this week and informing them of what has been going on just so people are aware. This is how we got in touch with this website. We also plan on attending the next meeting at the Fremont cafeteria next wednesday. This is still happening, correct? That is the information provided on the business card that was given to us.
Many residents like Glenn, who don't live right next to the facility are not aware of what exactly is going on because they don't see the police activity or hear all the noise if they are not around when it happens. Unfortuntely, for those of us that do live next to the facility, we are very aware. I think everyone should be informed because it is in our neighborhood.
We are all for helping people in need but not at the expense of our safety and that of our neighbors and tenants. There has been alot of questionable activity and a very visible police presence the past few months. Hopefully with the help of Rita and the Nuisance and Abatement dept., we can find some resolution.
Well, I hope I answered some of your questions. Let me know if you have any more.
Have a good one!
Thank you for the clarification
Jennifer- thank you for the clarification... the log files suggested both posts I saw were by the same computer, but I had about 5 windows open when looking into who had posted, so there's probably a good chance I looked at the same window twice. I have fixed the original post to give you credit (which also gives you the ability to edit/change/delete the post as so see fit).
I am very glad to see your posting -- perhaps not so much the subject matter -- and truly hope you understand what I meant about playing nice. The goal with this website is to help us all communicate and coordinate with our neighbors -- especially those with common interests that otherwise might not even know eachother. I would really be interested in seeing more posts, and at the least hope you keep us updated. I contacted Rita yesterday to make her aware of the posts. I plan to do the same with the owner of Glorious Manor this weekend (but would sooner if I had an email).
I think you'll be surprised how many people read the posts on our site without always posting their own comments... I see the web statistics of how many unique users log in monthly -- as well as run into people in the neighborhood that have read about info nline. If nothing else posting definitely helps spread news quite effectively - and I know many people like knowing whats going on.
Glorious Manor Inc.
Jennifer,
If you continue to have concerns regarding the facility, please give my council office a call at 570-6300, or you can email me directly at Gary_DeLong@LongBeach.gov. It is not unusual for neighbors to be concerned about this type of social service in their neighborhood, but if managed correctly, they can be a benefit rather than a burden.
Gloria,
I am open to discussions with you as well. I'm sure you would like to be a good neighbor and are hopefully open to changes in your operations if necessary in order to have a positive impact on your surrounding neighborhood.
Our role is generally not to choose one side over the other, unless rules are being broken, but to look for compromise and a common ground to see if we can create improvements for both sides.
Gary DeLong
Councilmember, 3rd District
Your complaint
Mr. Mike Stewart was at the facility this afternoon and he informed me about the BHCA website...that contained some of your complaints (and others as well). He asked me to respond through the website.
I really felt so bad reading some of the complaints that you have raised. I would have explained everything to you and to your husband and to the others as well concerning our facility if you had called or visited me at the facility. Nonetheless, please let me explain the following:
1) Our facility has a City license to operate a facility at the location. 2) Contrary to your assumption, our facility is not a shelter. 3) We have a small contract with a City/County homeless agency to provide housing/rooms to their clients who happened to be families with children or pregnant women who are in need of a place to sleep rather being out in the streets. All we provide is a room and nothing else..no food...no services...no case management...no referrals to other agencies etc. 4)Although I own the place...the business operating there right now is a non-profit tax exempt agency called GloriousManor Inc. 5) If you recall or other long time residents may recall...420 Grand Avenue used to be a facility for the elderly until I decided to close it three years. The property has remained vacant until this summer when the present business started to operate. 6) Glorious Manor Inc. has strict rules and regulations concerning almost everything (i.e. loud noises, staying overnight, lingering infront of the facility, shopping carts, maintanance of the front/side yard etc..) and infractions could result in the termination of their contract to stay. 7) While it is true that police has been called a few times over the last few weeks..the calls were for legitimate reasons (i.e. altercations between residents which could not be avoided...suspicion of child abuse/abandonment....suspicion of illegal activities infront of the facility..etc..)..theseare matters that we havebeen tryingto correct or prevent from happening. But unfortunately, incidents such as this happen all thetime even in some of the best places in Long Beach. ButI assureyou that I and theBoard members aretrying our level best to enforce the rules that we have. The last few days...wehave called for residents to be moved for infractionsof the rules. 8) Every first Sunday of the month...and you must be fully aware of this since you lived next door..we distribute food to any LB residents who are low income/homeless/students/veterans at the facility and much to my regret...it never appeared in any of your comments. 8) Finally, I want to assure you that no one is making money on this...the money that we received is not even enough to cover the mortgage, utilities, insurance etc... There's more important thing than money or increase in property values which you are so concerned about....and that is helping people who needed the help themost.
Gloria
Your Posting of 10/05/06
I hope by now you have had the opportunity of reading my initial posting earlier this afternoon. I am so concerned by what you and your husband have done (perhaps still doing)...of going around the neighborhood and talk about "a lot of questionable activities" happening in our facility without even giving me or any of the members of the Board of Glorious Manor Inc., an opportunity to explain. We are just next door...we are open during business hours...it would have taken just a few minutes of your time. That would have been a better option than sending your husband out there and stir up the whole neighborhood! Are you and your husband in some type of a mission?
We are trying to run a business to the best that we can. It's unfortunate that the business that we have and the people that we are trying to help may not suit you well but for you and your husband to do the extraordinary efforts of going out there in the community and trying to project the work or business that we do as something dreadful and ruining the neighborhood where you live is totally uncalled for and unfair.
Since the business opened in June..we had been visited several times by various agencies in response to calls from neighbors. Representatives from the State Dept of Social Services came to check on alleged child abuse....they told us that an anonymous neighbor called. Their investigation turned up with nothing! Then, representatives from County DPSS/DCFS/DMH came knocking..again because "some neighbors called"...their investigation turned up with nothing! City building inspectors came...to check on a complaint filed by an "unidentified neighbor"....they looked at our facility inside and outside..again they came up with nothing! And now...we have another appointment with yet another City representative...again in response to neighbor(s) complaint.
I just don't know what else to say.
Gloria
BHCA's non-position
I feel I need to reitterate my understanding of BHCA's position... or lack thereof, please see this post: http://mybelmontheights.org/node/339#comment-242
In short, BHCA does not get involved with neighbor to neighbor disputes.
However, I believe the website provides a good means for public discussion, and thus far have maintained a policy that allows anyone to post to the site. I have also maintained a policy to remove posts that seem to go against the nature of the policies of this site. I will remove posts whenever asked.
My purpose for visiting with Gloria (& Peter) earlier today was to accomplish the following:
I think it shows good faith that the owner, Gloria, did not ask for postings to be removed. I think it shows courage that she later logged on, read, created a user account, and provided further information about what her facility does. That suggests to me they are very willing to work towards a solution.
I hope residents respond with an open mind.
I sincerely hope and encourage all parties involved to work towards a soltution that benefits everyone involved. Everyone is encouraged to continue to post to the site to share opinions. (obviously under policies of this site).
I'm sure many residents will be interested in the outcome, as will I. But this matter appears to be beyond the scope of BHCA. I have no plans to further comment on this topic - but am interested in additional ideas to be posted.
Reply to Gloria's postings
Gloria,
I'm glad you are on the site and trying to explain the services you provide to all of your neighbors seeing that many people were unaware.I, personally have been to your facility on two occasions were you have taken me on a walk through. On both occasions I have expressed my concerns with keeping things in the neighborhood nice and safe. On our last visit in July you also gave me your cell phone number and the information on the facility and what was happening there. I specifically told you that many neighbors had complaints and that I would share your information with them. I did just that.
After two months of more complaints, more phone calls to you, which I left personally, more visible police prescence and more neighbors complaining, we decided to inform our neighbors more thoroughly. That's it. Our mission ,as you called it, is to inform our neighbors and make them aware of what is going on in our neighborhood. Nothing more and nothing less.
As far as multiple agencies at your door....I have only had contact with Rita Hooker from the Nuisance and Abatement dept., which I shared with everyone. I'm glad your facility passed all the other inspections, it makes me feel better knowing that.
As far as your license and your wanting to help people, we never questioned. In fact I noted that it was verified that you had the proper license and that we are all for helping people. But I also made it clear to you and anyone else that I have spoken to, that the safety of our home, our neighbrhood and our tenants are of the outmost importance. I know that is also very understandable.
The ultimate goal is to keep people informed and work together to keep our neighborhood safe and a nice place to live. Money, as you mentioned comes secondary to health and happiness.
I look forward to some resolution.
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