Community Corner

Fence Around Memorial Square to Remain Standing

The fence will be used to keep homeless people from setting up camp at the square, according to Council District 1 Field Director George Magallanes.

A metal fence surrounding the perimeter of Veterans Square Memorial at the intersection of York Boulevard and Figueroa Street will remain standing for at least the next month, according to Council District 1 Staff Member Geroge Magallanes. 

According to Magallanes, the city is hoping the fence will stand while the the council district attempts to shift the square out of the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Street Services and into the Department of Recreation and Parks.

Currently, the park is considered a public right of way, which gives the city little authority to remove the groups of homeless people who have been sleeping at the square.

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"Because its a public right of way, it's very difficult to tell people you can't be there," Magallanes said.

In the meantime, community members said they plan to continue their efforts to beautify the square.

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"We're trying to get some more plants planted, we're trying to get the flagpole painted," said Command Sergeant Major Tony Howard of .

Howard added that there were also rats living inside the fountain at the square.

"During the clean up before Memorial Day we had to kill 18 rats that were living there," he said.

The efforts to clean up the square have raised concerns among some Northeast L.A. homeless advocates, who argue that the homeless at the square will be displaced to less hospitable parts of the neighborhood.

A recent held by Recycled Resources--a homeless outreach program run by Highland Park resident Rebecca Prine--encountered more than a half-dozen homeless encampments in less than an hour.

Prine said Northeast L.A.'s dearth of homeless services, and the poor conditions in Downtown's Skid Row, are the key factors that keep the homeless coming back to the square.

Howard said that Post 206 has made an effort to secure services for , a homeless veteran who has lived at the square for more than a year.

In the past, Sheffield had been allowed to remain at the square without complaint, as he had helped deter drug dealers from setting up camp in the area. As of last winter, , it appeared that Sheffield had outstayed his welcome.

Sheffield vowed to return to the square after the LAPD sweep, and did so shortly thereafter.

"We've offered him assistance, and he's declined," Howard said.


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