A local council meeting in an affluent San Francisco neighborhood descended into chaos when hundreds of “rowdy” residents began booing plans to house the homeless at a nearby hotel.
Crowds of angry Millbrae residents packed their local community hall on Friday to protest Project Homekey’s proposals to house 100 homeless people at the La Quinta Hotel on El Camino Real, near downtown.
So many people came that hundreds had to stand outside the 300-seat hall to hear the proposals put forward by San Mateo County executive Mike Callagy.
However, according to Jordan Grimes, head of a grassroots campaign group for affordable housing, who was present at the meeting, Callagy’s speech was quickly “drowned out” by boos from the audience.
Videos show the crowd protesting loudly in scenes resembling a crowd at a sports stadium. Some residents loudly shouted their opposition, while others waved signs, threw up their arms and made thumbs-down gestures at the speakers.
Crowds of angry Millbrae residents packed their local authority’s community hall on Friday to protest “Project Homekey” plans to house 100 homeless people at Hotel La Quinta on El Camino Real, near downtown
Crowds poured into the borough council meeting, where many Millbrae residents protested against plans by San Mateo County officials to convert the La Quinta Hotel into a homeless shelter in San Francisco
Like many cities in San Mateo County, Millbrae has a high median household income of $141,399 — while also being home to a large, poorly sleeping population
“The crowd is loud and angry booing the precinct leader until he’s completely drowned out.” “Multiple,” Grimes tweeted live from the overflow area in front of the concourse.
He said the situation escalated when district officials hosted a question-and-answer session that was quickly deluged with “people having their own conversations” and “yelling.”
Neighbors waved homemade signs that read “Don’t Bully Millbrae,” “Protect Us” and “Safety for Millbrae,” raising concerns about public safety and the hotel’s proximity to several schools.
Like many cities in San Mateo County, Millbrae has a high median household income of $141,399.
Millbrae resident Patricia Lam arrived early to secure a seat – equipped with a large sign that read ‘Protect Our Children and Elderly’.
“We’re concerned,” she told NBC Bay Area. “We’re concerned about this project. That’s because it’s right in the heart of Millbrae.”
Another resident, Ho Yeung, expressed similar concerns.
“It’s very close to kids and it’s a block from three schools, so we don’t want to see that,” he told the channel.
But Callagy said residents should “give the project a shot.”
Neighbors have raised concerns about the safety and the downtown hotel’s (pictured) proximity to several schools
“The crowd is loud and angry, booing the precinct leader until he’s completely drowned out.” “Several times,” said one person who was present at the scene
Homelessness is rampant in San Francisco, especially downtown
A homeless woman moves her belongings after being approached by the San Francisco Homeless Outreach Team’s Encampment Resolution Team in San Francisco
A homeless camp is seen in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco, California
“Look, we have these facilities across the county,” he said.
“They’re worried about crime, they’re worried about assault, they’re worried about drugs and mental health affecting the neighborhood.”
“It just wasn’t our experience.”
Funding for the project has not yet been approved, but if it is, it will be overseen by the local Episcopal Community Services (ECS).
Beth Stokes, on duty, said the homeless were “essentially living in an apartment” with 24-hour support staff available.
“For security reasons, ECS will have 24/7 staff on site,” she told NBC Bay Area.
“We’ll also have case management staff, and that’s what supportive living is. It’s services.”
Homelessness is a pervasive problem in the San Francisco area, and Millbrae is just 15 miles south of downtown Union Square, where most camps are located. Thousands of people live on the streets.
In addition, the city is characterized by a rapidly increasing crime rate and many people who sleep poorly suffer from fentanyl addiction.