Local listing agent Martin Feinberg was surprised to learn that the Culver City Council voted to hire a Homeless Czar at their Monday night meeting. The new hire would have a pay rate of $195,000 per year and would be in charge of addressing the city’s growing homeless problem.
City Manager John Nachbar requested the additional funds despite the fiscal emergency the city recently declared.
Nachbar stated, “In a poll conducted a few weeks ago, homelessness was cited by our residents as one of the top issues facing the city. This issue is incredibly complex.”
Nachbar stated, in response to questions by Vice Mayor Goran Eriksson, that the new position will require an extensive skill set” and it would probably be 90 days before a new hire could be up and running.
For their part, local Culver City Real Estate area residents were angry and frustrated at Monday’s meeting.
Katherine McKinney claimed that “this is the least responsive City Council in the last 20 years that I have lived here.”
Resident Nupur Tustin asked the Council “where is the compassion for the hard-working citizens that pay the city’s bills and where is the compassion for our children?”
Residents on Globe Avenue related to the council that they had been threatened by the homeless in the past and that it seemed as if the police were prohibited by the City Council from protecting them.
Councilman Daniel Lee voiced support at the idea of hiring a Homeless Czar to help resolve the problem, but also reprimanded residents for not coming to an earlier special meeting where problems caused by the homeless were discussed.
Martin Feinberg, Realtor, reminds all concerned citizens that the Culver City Council typically holds open meetings and also publishes their agenda beforehand. Staying informed on the issues that are going to be discussed at city meetings, and attending them when necessary, is a great way to make sure that all opinions have a voice within the community.
