Parents and residents said they’re frustrated and concerned as a growing number of homeless people continue loitering and camping out next to a South Gate elementary school.
After the Leland R. Weaver library next to San Miguel Elementary School closed for renovations, residents said the outdoor space and vacant parking lot has become a magnet for the transient community.
Some parents said they’ve seen transients causing disruptions that involved physical altercations, public intoxication, nudity and more.
“They’re here every morning and every night,” said a parent who did not wish to be identified. “Sometimes they don’t even have clothes on. They’re walking around on drugs.”
“They’re always tagging up the walls and then they fight amongst themselves at night,” a neighbor told KTLA’s Rachel Menitoff.
“They’re sometimes violent, like throwing stuff,” said Maria Cisneros, a parent.
“I’m up at 2 a.m. to go to work, so if my car is parked down the street, it’s like, [You have to] hurry up and get to your car because you don’t know if they might be going through something,” another resident said. It’s scary.”
Parents said the situation escalated on April 1 when a homeless person made their way onto school grounds before they were escorted out by campus police.
Residents have reported the transients’ behavior to South Gate police but said no effort has been made to remove them.
Officials from the Los Angeles Unified School District said they’re aware of the situation and are working with local authorities and partners on possible solutions.
An LAUSD spokesperson said safety protocols remain in place and advised anyone who sees something to immediately report the incident to law enforcement.
“It is a problem and I feel like something has to be done about it,” a parent said. “But plenty of people have complained and nothing has been done.”
“I just hope that it doesn’t get too out of control,” Cisneros said.
KTLA has reached out to the South Gate Police Department for comment on the situation and is awaiting a response.
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