A PROPOSAL to establish a temporary tent city for the homeless in Huntington Beach is opposed by Mayor Mike Posey.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors is moving to try to spread facilities for the homeless across the county, including potential locations in Huntington Beach, Irvine and Laguna Niguel. On Wednesday, Huntington Beach Mayor Mike Posey replied with this statement:

“As your mayor, I am in full disagreement with the Board of Supervisor’s rash and ill-considered decision to relocate homeless people to a well-known contaminated trash dump. The City Council and I vow to do everything we can to stop this misguided proposal from becoming reality.

MIKE POSEY, mayor of Huntington Beach (Orange County Tribune photo).

“We recognize that homelessness is one of the most vexing issues facing our community. But solving it requires a thoughtful, collaborative approach.

“A temporary tent city is not the solution.

“We must not lose focus on the real solution for this problem – to build permanent housing throughout the county.

“The potential site in our city, off Gothard Street, near Talbert Avenue, is not zoned for residential uses, and records show the county’s property contains levels of methane gas, making it unsafe.

“It also does not even meet the criteria that the Board of Supervisors outlined. The site is situated next to Central Park – a park that serves thousands of children and adults who use the Sports Complex, Central Library, Senior Center, and Shipley Nature Center on a daily basis. It is home to hundreds of local, regional, national, and international events year-round. We have already been dealing with a growing homeless issue within the park and, unfortunately, the issues have impacted the quality of life for neighbors and park visitors. Relocating an encampment here will only exacerbate the issues, while also placing the homeless at unnecessary risk.

“Make no mistake about it: We are committed to take whatever action is necessary to prevent the Board of Supervisors from creating a tent city in Huntington Beach.”