Manhattan Beach considers using Redondo Beach’s homeless court
by Mark McDermott The Manhattan Beach City Council continues to grapple with a conundrum as it tries to address the city’s homeless population. The council has been interested in Redondo Beach’s innovative “homeless court” program, which. since it’s implementation late last year. has worked with 50 people among its homeless population of 176, and helped 15 people avoid criminal prosecution, and instead transition into homes, with another 20 currently in process. Redondo Beach City Attorney Mike Webb, who launched the program, has signalled a willingness to allow Manhattan Beach to utilize it, but that may come with aa condition — that the City also must Redondo’s City Prosecutor’s office for all misdemeanor and juvenile crimes. This would seem to solve another problem for Manhattan Beach. The City, at no cost, currently utilizes the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office for its prosecution services. But District Attorney George Gascón, shortly after taking office last December, issued a directive indicating a broad array of misdemeanor cases would be declined or dropped before arraignment — including trespassing, disturbing the peace, criminal threats, loitering, drug and…
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