By Jorge Casuso

August 23, 2024 -- Members of City Council's Change faction, which is trying to hang on to a slim majority in November's general election, have placed three items on Tuesday's agenda that address the hot-button homeless issue.

Two of the items are efforts to eliminate the County's needle exchange program in City parks, while a third seeks to replace a supportive housing project for the homeless with a senior building.

The later item was placed on the agenda Thursday by Councilmembers Lana Negrete, Christine Parra and Oscar de la Torre, who along with Mayor Phil Brock is running for reelection.

If approved, the item would direct the Ciy Manager to explore revising the Hollywood Community Housing Corporation's (HCHC) plan to build 130 housing units for low-income and homeless tenants on three City-owned properties.

The Councilmembers are seeking "to replace all proposed permanent supportive housing units with senior affordable housing," according to the agenda item.

"The City Manager is also being asked to return to City Council with an evaluation of the impacts of replacing the permanent supportive housing units with senior affordable housing within 45 days."

Tuesday's Council closed session agenda includes negotiating with HCHC over the price and terms of payment for purchase of the three surface parking lots near the UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center -- at 1217 Euclid Street, 1211-1217 14th Street and 1146 16th Street.

The Council also is expected to take up two separate items addressing the County's refusal to move its controversial outdoor needle exchange program to an indoor location.

The first item, placed on the agenda Thursday by de la Torre, Negrete and Brock would direct the City Attorney and City Manager to draft language for a proposed resolution to be considered by other California cities.

The resolution would "ask the State Legislature and Governor to change laws to provide for local control over the dissemination of syringes and other drug paraphernalia in local communities."

The resolution would be sent to the League of California Cities (CalCities), Independent Cities Association (ICA) and Westside Cities Council of Governments (WSCCOG) for consideration.

The item also directs the City Manager "to assist each of the Council’s appointed representatives to CalCities, ICA, and WSCCOG in submitting the draft resolutions to each of the organizations "for consideration of adoption."

"On two occasions, the City Council has taken action to demand that the County cease the distribution of syringes and other drug paraphernalia in its parks and away from schools," the item reads.

"As part of previous Council actions, the City also demanded that the County relocate the distribution of syringes and other drug paraphernalia to an indoors location."

The second Counilmember item was placed on the agenda on the same day by de la Torre and asks the City Attorney and City Manager to "eliminate the distribution by the County" or any other party, "of all drug paraphernalia and equipment."

The items that would be barred include "all drugs, opioids, needles, syringes, glass pipes, straws, rolling paper (and) miniature spoons.

The item would prohibit their distribution "in our parks, other City-owned spaces and anywhere closer than 1,000 feet away from any school, other educational facility, church, senior center or senior living facility, YMCA/YWCA, or Boys and Girls Clubs.

"The only exception would be Narcan, which can help revive someone who is unresponsive," the item states. "The terms of this item shall take effect immediately upon passage."

The two items were placed on the agenda three months after the Council barred two non-profits from using City funds to distribute needles around parks and public spaces ("Council Bars Use of City Funds for Needle Distribution Program," May 17, 2024.

The 6 to 1 vote came as a surprise after a deeply divided Council voted 4 to 3 in March to approve a resolution that "strongly demands" that LA County Health relocate the needle distribution program indoors ("Council Majority Denounces Needle Program in Parks," March 22, 2024).

City officials aren't the only ones pressuring the County. In February, the Santa Monica Coalition filed a lawsuit seeking to halt the outdoor program ("Santa Monica Group Files Lawsuit Over Needle Program," February 16, 2024).