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Carson officials organize bus to protest Homekey hotel as residents decry late notice; city explores lawsuit
Summary
City officials urged residents to attend a May 19 LA County Board of Supervisors hearing on a Homekey extended‑stay hotel and said the council has authorized the city attorney to explore litigation; residents said they learned of the project too late and urged the council to demand accountability and protections.
Carson leaders told a packed town‑hall audience the city is mobilizing residents to attend a May 19 Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting about a Homekey extended‑stay hotel and that the City Council has authorized the city attorney to explore legal action against the county project.
Assistant City Attorney Ben Jones said the council "has authorized our office to file litigation" and that the city is "currently exploring that option" regarding the Homekey project. City Manager David Roberts summarized the timeline: the county awarded a grant to the Winegard Group, a property purchase moved forward for an Extended Stay hotel, and earlier discussions with Cal State Dominguez Hills and the county envisioned housing mostly unhoused students; Roberts said the county later indicated fewer students would be placed and that communications with the developer were inconsistent.
Residents repeatedly complained they received late or inadequate notice. "Finding out at the last minute is not okay," Dr. Tanisha Tims said. Multiple commenters described seeing people staged near parks and the hotel, raised safety and neighborhood impacts, and asked whether public‑health officials had been consulted. City staff said they reached out to healthcare professionals and the planning commission had engaged representatives from Kaiser and other agencies as part of its review.
Mayor Lula Davis Holmes urged residents to sign up for charter bus seats the city is providing for the Kenneth Hahn Hall hearing (pickup at Carson Events Center, 8:00 a.m.) and to attend the council meeting when the council considers related items on May 20 at 6 p.m. Several residents asked for details about who voted for Homekey at the county level; staff reiterated that the county made the funding decision and that legal options remain under review.
City staff also said they are pursuing local remedies where possible: the mayor and council discussed seeking community benefits, negotiating conditions for local oversight and, if necessary, pursuing legal action to protect residents' interests. The city encouraged residents to collect questions and attend both the county hearing and the May 20 council session.
