Central Long Beach residents urge council to pause Motel 6 shelter plan near schools and park
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Summary
Multiple speakers at public comment asked the council to reconsider leasing the East Pacific Coast Highway Motel 6 as a temporary shelter, citing proximity to schools and parks, concerns about crime and overconcentration of services in Central Long Beach.
Long Beach — Dozens of residents and business owners told the City Council on Tuesday they oppose a proposed plan to lease the Motel 6 on East Pacific Coast Highway as a temporary homeless shelter, arguing the site is too close to schools, a park and existing shelters and asking the city to pause and seek alternatives.
Speakers from Central Long Beach described the motel site as one block from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park, Butler Washington Middle School and Long Beach City College and urged the city to reconsider placing another shelter in an area they said already hosts multiple homeless services. Business owners across the PCH corridor said nearby prostitution, vagrancy and loitering have harmed foot traffic and customer perceptions and warned that converting a hotel to a shelter would further damage nearby restaurants and legacy small businesses.
‘‘We've been told the city was going to clean the area up for decades,’’ said a business owner who said he has operated on East Pacific Coast Highway for 46 years. ‘‘Adding another shelter — the third one within a couple of blocks — is frightening and disturbing.’’
Several speakers, including a District 6 representative at the podium, asked the council to pause the plan, engage directly with residents and explore alternate sites, saying Central Long Beach has borne a disproportionate share of shelter placements. Speakers said they want the city to involve rapid response networks and local community groups in safety planning and to ensure residents and families are protected.
City staff said earlier in the meeting that council had received a recommendation related to sheltering but provided limited technical detail on the motel lease during public comment. Council members acknowledged the concerns and said staff will continue community engagement. The council did not take a final vote on a specific lease within the public portion of the meeting but members repeatedly asked staff to return to the community with more information.
Why it matters: The location of temporary shelter sites is a frequent source of local dispute as cities balance urgent sheltering needs with neighborhood impacts. Residents’ concerns highlight the political and operational challenge of siting temporary shelter and the perceived unequal distribution of services across neighborhoods.
