Residents press West Covina leaders on homeless encampments, graffiti and police staffing

At the July 1 meeting several residents used oral communications to press the City Council for action on homelessness, graffiti and policing.

A resident described a sizeable homeless encampment behind businesses near Azusa and Amar avenues, saying tents, open fires and trespassing into private yards had persisted for about a year and that his senior parents felt unsafe. The resident said police directed him to attend the council meeting. The acting city manager responded that the city is working to clear the hillside and would connect the resident to the HOPE team for outreach.

Other speakers cited daily graffiti and alley blight in parts of downtown and urged the city to act on cleanup. The acting city manager said the council-funded graffiti tracking software would roll out with the West Covina Police Department and public works staff to identify and address repeat incidents and support targeted enforcement.

Several residents urged the council to increase public-safety capacity. One speaker praised the police and asked the council to consider a public-safety tax — pointing to sales-tax options rather than a property tax — to sustain staffing and equipment. Council and staff acknowledged policing and staffing are ongoing policy conversations; the acting city manager said the city will follow up and that the city is actively recruiting department heads including fire and public-safety director roles.

Council member Jen Gutierrez also reassured residents that the Down North Day dog park project remains on track for award and that no developer will take precedence over resident park priorities.