David Matthews
2 hours ago
This Is Now Your Choice
Graffiti is the one thing that can be removed quickly. In most cases, if the graffiti is reported in the morning it will be removed the...
At The Harbor Gateway Chamber of Commerce (THE HGCC), we are committed to cleaner, safer , healthier streets. Our focus is to address the growing concerns of homeless living in oversized vehicles blocking sidewalks, fire hydrants & driveways. Creating new partnerships with law enforcement, homeless service providers & elected leaders to address our challenges. With limited resources, we implemented "Community Clean Up Days" utilizing donated dumpsters, heavy duty equipment, community volunteers and the homeless to remove the waste from the streets.
A little over a year ago, specific locations in West Rancho Dominguez and East Gardena were designated "Pathway Home". Those locations were densely populated with RV's, homeless encampments and illegal dumping. With a coordinated effort starting with the News Media, these areas began to experience a revitalization. Individuals living in the RV's were offered housing & services. The RV's were removed from the streets & destroyed. Improvements like new sidewalks, cameras & added patrols have kept these locations clean & safe.
Spring & Lennon
Main St between Compton Blvd & Rosecrans
Broadway between Alondra & Redondo Beach Blvd
Main Street between Alondra & Redondo Beach Blvd
San Pedro between Redondo Beach Blvd & Avalon
Avalon between Rosecrans & Alondra
Over a year ago, we learned 70+ children were living in RV's along the Broadway corridor. Today, we have no children living in the RV's along the Broadway corridor. We sprang into action by contacting every homeless outreach service provider in the South Bay and asking them to assist us. Every other Wednesday, we would meet at Athen Park & work our way south, visiting every single RV & tent.
Illegal Dumping has been a chronic issue throughout the entire county and city areas. Our constant reporting of those locations impacted on a daily basis created a regularly scheduled visit by Public Works. As we began to catch the dumpers in action, the county created protocols to start the investigation & ultimately prosecution. The county is currently replacing old "No Dumping" signage throughout the Unincorporated LA County areas.
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The county has placed cameras in three locations with chronic dumping.
The Chamber of Commerce worked with several local businesses to secure donated equipment & dumpsters to address the problematic areas with illegal dumping. Our first clean up was along 135th between Union Pacific Railroad Property and 135th. This was a "first" for our area that did not involve Public Works. We asked the homeless in the RV's to participate in the event. To our amazement, we learned that companies were paying the homeless to allow them to dump their garbage next to the rv's. Those folks living in the RV's in this area were offered housing as it became available. This was a "test" to use the resources as they became available. This location housed 2 families & 3 adults. The area remains clean & safe again.
135th between Figueroa & Broadway
131st between Broadway & Main Street
Broadway between Rosecrans & 135th
Step One: Bring everyone together to discuss the challenges impacting our quality of life & the ability to operate a business under abnormal circumstances.
Step Two: Create partnerships with our local agencies from law enforcement, public works, sanitation, fire departments, railroad, edison, and community leaders.
Step Three: Educate everyone on the current resources from the county & city. From reporting the illegal dumping, compromised fire hydrants, illegal power connections, and graffiti. Everyone can do their part by simply reporting the issues as soon as they happen.
A clean community is a happy community. Creatively we brought our businesses, residents & the homeless together to clean up the piles of waste from the streets.
The HGCC invites you to join us in our efforts to reshape our streets into cleaner, safer, and healthier corridors. Together, we can address the challenges, find solutions and ensure our business corridors are thriving and vibrant for everyone.
(844) THE HGCC
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