Skid Row volunteers ask council for weekly parking/loading permit at 540 S. San Pedro

Volunteers from a long-running outreach program told the Los Angeles City Council during public comment that they need a weekly parking or loading permit to continue serving people living on Skid Row.

Carmela Higgins, identifying herself as representing My Friends House Foundation, said the group has provided clothing, shoes and housing resources at 540 South San Pedro Street every Wednesday for 16 years and requested a recurring permit for volunteers to park and unload between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. "The permit will allow our volunteers to unload full clothing, shoes, housing resources, and other essentials," Higgins said during the public-comment period.

Another volunteer, who identified themself as "Marvelous," said the team has been ticketed repeatedly while unloading and described ticket fines of about $100. Marvelous said the foundation has served the community "rain or shine" for 17 years and asked the council for relief so volunteers can continue their work safely.

A city staff member at the podium asked for the location and confirmed the address, 540 South San Pedro, and the clerk said she would try to get someone from Council District 14 to follow up with the volunteers.

The request was made during general public comment; no council vote or ordinance was taken on the floor during this meeting. The volunteers asked for a permanent or recurring administrative accommodation that would allow safe loading and unloading for their weekly service; council staff indicated follow-up would be pursued through the district office.