Arcadia leaders respond to far-right newspaper’s claim that city’s economy is deteriorating

In recent weeks, there has been a salvo of print publicity and a groundswell of rhetoric on social media regarding the homeless situation in Arcadia.

In a June 6 article, the far-right international, multi-language newspaper The Epoch Times said the concern over tiny shelters, and other services to help the unhoused population in Arcadia, “would increase the city’s homeless population, lead to unsafe neighborhoods, and add to the already existing deterioration in the city’s economy. Residents expect this to have a devastating effect on property values over the long term.”

The city had proposed a pilot project that would house some of the city’s 106 unhoused residents but that was knocked out consideration after protesters organized rallies outside councilmembers’ homes for two weekends in a row, saying that Arcadia is no longer safe for their children.

Uncorroborated claims that homeless individuals in Arcadia are raping women, openly using methamphetamine and committing other crimes have flooded social media.

We asked Arcadia’s city manager to address recent negative comments about the city’s economic outlook.

“The economy in Arcadia was strong prior to the pandemic and all signs point to a robust and swift recovery with the easing of COVID restrictions. For instance, this week Arcadia is welcoming the Le Meridien, which is destined be the premiere hotel in the San Gabriel Valley. We have also seen a steady and significant reduction in crime over the past few years,” said City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto.

“Homelessness, if left unchecked, can absolutely have negative effects on a community. It’s not good for the people living on the streets, and it’s not good for the community. For these reasons, the City Council and staff have been exploring ways to reduce the number of homeless in Arcadia before we see the impacts so many other cities have seen. I believe that over the next few months, with significant input from the community, we will develop a suite of programs and approaches to address the problem of homelessness in the City in a way we can all be proud of.”

Some residents opposing the tiny home project demanded that organizations like Foothill Unity Center stop helping homeless individuals.

The Los Angele Times also covered the story. Saying that the tiny homes project divided the affluent city, reporter Andrew J. Campa spoke to Sumie Okazaki, a New York University professor of applied psychology, on the generational rift between older Asian residents who generally oppose the tiny home project and younger Asian teens who generally support it.

“Older Asian immigrants and Asian Americans often believe in an idealized meritocracy and see their hard work and struggles as a pathway to success, Okazaki said. According to that worldview, homeless people are ‘not living up to their abilities.’

“On the other hand, younger Asian Americans are more likely to believe that there are certain factors, such as racism and inequitable power structures, that can lead to homelessness, Okazaki said.”

Furthermore, although protest organizers claim that unhoused residents don’t want to stay in tiny homes, two unhoused Arcadia residents told the LA Times they wouldn’t mind living in a tiny home.

“If I had a chance to live in a tiny home, I would do it,” 64-year-old Benny Lozano who was forced out of the labor force by crippling arthritis told Campa. “It’s better than sleeping on the floor.”

Following the LA Times story, a radio interview aired on KFI which blasted the city for considering the tiny homes project.

“I look for research, studies and data when tackling an issue, not fear-mongering speculation,” Councilwoman April Verlato told Beacon Media. “There is a huge difference between opinions based on fact and opinion based on misinformation and fear. I respect one’s right to their opinion, but I’m not persuaded by opinion based on fiction.

“When looking at the facts posted on the City of Arcadia’s website, most crime has gone down over the last four years, yet the population of people living on the streets of Arcadia has increased from 15 to 106 in the same time period. Starting with facts and data, one can conclude that because crime did not increase at the same rate during the same period of time in Arcadia, there is no correlation between crime and homelessness.”

Verlato continued, “This doesn’t mean I don’t think homeless encampments are not unsafe (sorry for the double negative). I believe encampments are unsafe because they lead to other deleterious effects on the community that are not criminal in nature. Such effects that I have observed would be urinating and defecating on our streets and sidewalks. Rat infestations leading to flea borne diseases from food trash left in the wash. Improperly lit fires, not in a cleared and maintained campsite, which can lead to injury of campers and neighboring properties.

“Providing shelter to people living on the streets of Arcadia should not be confused with the deleterious effects of encampments. Shelters provide a safe, clean environment for people to sleep, eat and use the restroom. This enhances the safety, health and hygiene of the entire neighborhood for both the housed and unhoused.”

Meanwhile, home prices in Southern California rose considerably from the previous year. The median price of an existing, single-family detached home in the Los Angeles area rose to $725,000 in April, an increase of $45,000 from a March and an increase of $175,000 from the previous year.

“Not only do skyrocketing home prices threaten already-low homeownership levels and make it harder for those who don’t already have a home to purchase one, it also brings to question the sustainability of this market cycle,” California Association of Realtors Vice President and chief economist Jordan Levine said.

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