Previously evicted from West Hollywood, the very city that created it, the Greater West Hollywood Food Coalition (GWHFC) could now face the prospect of being shut down by the city of Los Angeles.
An L.A. City Council subcommittee meeting at 2 p.m. today is scheduled to consider a motion about “non-commercial meal distribution in the public rights of way.” That’s a category that includes GWHFC, which each night parks its food truck at Sycamore Avenue and Romaine Street, just east of West Hollywood, and serves meals to the needy.
The motion, introduced by Councilmember Tom LaBonge, says that groups that provide meals “provide a valuable service” but can cause “negative impacts to surrounding communities.”
“Due to the large demand to feed those in need, these activities frequently spill out onto the sidewalk and street, creating numerous public safety and public health concerns,” the motion says. “Additionally, concentrations of people, lack of ADA accessibility and blocking of streets and sidewalks cause significant public safety problems. City Departments should come together to determine a solution that addresses non-commercial feeding in the public rights of way.”
GWHFC specifically has generated complaints from people who live near its distribution site. Some area residents say that clients of the GWHFC truck have left syringes, drugs and human waste in their trash and in their bushes, CBS L.A. reported.
Ted Landreth, one of the founders of GWHFC, said that the organization has always been willing to talk to neighbors about their complaints, and to try to figure out if the people creating problems are clients. It’s a mistake, he said, to paint all homeless people with the same brush. He criticized the neighbors for taking what he called the “political position” that getting rid of GWHFC is the only way to address the complaints.
“Every single one of these neighbors have spewed hatred and defamation all over the neighborhood about us and the people we serve without so much as ever coming to Sycamore and Romaine where we serve our meals … It’s so appalling that I just can’t get over it,” he said. “We have never wanted any kind of a fight with anybody. We’re trying to help people.”
The motion introduced by LaBonge proposes that the city attorney “provide legislative options” and “draft legislation” to address problems associated with the distribution of food on public right of ways.
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that the LA City Council is meeting today at 2 p.m. to discuss the homeless coalition. It is the Public Works and Gang Reduction committee that is meeting.
Ted Landreth is perpetually playing the victim. He goes on and on and on about neighbors, business owners, etc wanting gwhfc stopped. Quite the contrary! We, as well as those interviewed IN THE LINE ITSELF, stated that they would like the opportunity to move INDOORS where they would have a proper place to wash up, use the restrooms, and sit down to eat, instead of at a filthy curbside. But despite this FACT Ted REFUSES to move indoors when, over the years, various locations have been found for the food line. Something is very, very wrong when ted himself who… Read more »
Snarkygirl: Mr. Landreth is rarely down there anymore. He’ll tell you as much. And even when he is he’s there he’s only there for 2 hours of the day not the rest of the 22 hours to “manage” the people who get out of line. Plus he is not a warlord. Anyone in the neighborhood knows we’re all compassionate towards people and especially the homeless. It’s about finding a solution rather than this drive by humanitariasm. 2 hours of the day they come in and draw some unsavory figures. (It’s a fact, check with the police who are assigned to… Read more »
Such lack of compassion makes me ashamed for us all!
THE answer here is to find a INDOOR place with bathroom facilities to accommodate this situation. The downtown LA MIssion seems to have a little bit better grip on how to deal with the homeless situation. Personally these folks should be given some “life skills” to try to get them off the streets. We are the richest nation on the planet and have the largest per capita homeless in the world! WHY is that? How about some job training skills classes? Instead of just feeding them, try to HELP them as a total person! More help from places like Goodwill… Read more »
WehoGuy – I have a problem with a few things you said. First of all ” I gave up trying to work with him when I sensed that his motives were not so much helping the homeless as it was trying to annoy and control the neighborhood.” You SENSED his motives? He wouldn’t be there day after day feeding these people if he didn’t want to help the homeless. If you SENSED any other motive, it is on you. I don’t think for one second that annoying and controlling the neighborhood is on anyone’s mind but yours. Secondly, “they store… Read more »
I met with Mr. Landreth 4 years ago to voice my serious concerns about the major problems many (not all) of his customers are causing on the east side of West Hollywood. His response was vague, flippant and condescending. No action was ever taken despite me sharing photos of some people who were consistently causing problems. I gave up trying to work with him when I sensed that his motives were not so much helping the homeless as it was trying to annoy and control the neighborhood. While hopefully well intentioned, GWHFC is the single largest cause of neighborhood safety… Read more »