By love-89.com On the evening of October 22nd, the city of Rosemead took significant precautions as it hosted a city council meeting at the community center to discuss the controversial proposal regarding the conversion of Maryvale into transitional housing. Thousands attended, gathering both indoors and outside, waving banners to express their views. Many of the speakers argued that the single mothers who would potentially benefit from the facility are, in essence, homeless. Others maintained that the proposal would not impact the community negatively. After a lengthy session that stretched into the early hours of October 23rd, the council ultimately voted 4-1 in favor of the redevelopment plan.
As the evening progressed, a substantial police presence, including patrol cars and dogs, was visible outside the venue, where security checks were set in place for entry. Due to the high turnout, the meeting was held in three separate areas: two indoor and one outdoor space. Notably, some local residents funded the production of 100 banners and t-shirts, which were distributed to attendees. Inside, certain individuals held up signs urging others to maintain silence, while staff monitored the premises to ensure the meeting proceeded smoothly without interruptions.
Attorney Hong Deng, a local resident, expressed concerns over Maryvale’s sudden request to change its land use after decades of existing as a school. He highlighted that the proposal included converting additional facilities, which could potentially accommodate more homeless individuals, raising worries among local businesses like his. Deng criticized the lack of transparency surrounding the proposal and demanded an apology from Maryvale for misleading the community. He attributed the homelessness issue primarily to Democratic policies, pointing out that U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu had allocated $1 million in federal funding to assist Maryvale’s transitional housing project.
Lawyer Longzhu Liu echoed the sentiments of many protesters, describing this meeting as a crucial battle for the community. He noted that attendees had collected over 20,000 signatures and that there was a clear and loud demand against establishing any form of homeless center in Rosemead. Liu emphasized that the voices expressed at the meeting were representative of the citizens’ concerns, criticizing Maryvale for using the term “unhouse” in place of “homeless,” suggesting attempts to minimize the stigma.
Insurance agent Guoxing Zhang drew parallels to the situation with the homeless center in Hacien, warning that promises made during the proposal phase often fail to materialize once a project is approved. He called on the community to remain united in their opposition.
However, not everyone was against the proposal. Councilmember Adele Andrade-Stadler from Alhambra’s District 5 expressed her support, citing personal experience as the child of a single mother and highlighting the importance of providing opportunities for young single mothers to transform their lives.
Local resident John Kawakami, who lives near Maryvale, shared a contrasting view, stating that the area has remained quiet and has not disrupted the community, viewing the proposal simply as a straightforward plan for transitional housing that did not warrant excessive concern.
Maryvale’s CEO Steve Gunther was at the event, accompanied by staff who had prepared bilingual banners stating, “Ask me the real situation: Maryvale is a transitional home exclusively for women and children.” Gunther aimed to clarify any misunderstandings regarding the proposal and ensured that bilingual staff were available to answer questions.
Amidst all these diverse opinions, the gathering underscored a deep sense of community engagement and concern over the future of their neighborhood.