On the evening of October 22, the city government of Rosemead prepared for a significant city council meeting at the community center, anticipating a large turnout due to discussions surrounding the proposed redevelopment of the Maryvale transitional housing facility. With over a thousand attendees distributed across three separate locations, indoor and outdoor, demonstrators held signs expressing their views. Many speakers emphasized that single mothers experiencing homelessness are essentially part of the homeless population, while others believed the proposal would not adversely affect the community. The city council session ran until around 4 AM on October 23, ultimately resulting in a 4-1 vote in favor of the redevelopment proposal.
The scene that evening was heavily monitored, with police vehicles, officers, and K-9 units present, and a security checkpoint set up at the entrance due to the large crowd. Inside, the assembly was divided into two indoor spaces and one outdoor area. Members of the Chinese community funded and distributed a hundred signs and T-shirts to attendees. Inside the venue, some individuals held up signs requesting silence, and staff ensured attendees remained seated during the proceedings to maintain order.
Deng Hong, a local lawyer in Rosemead, voiced his concerns, stating that Maryvale has been part of the community for decades, originally operating as a school. He questioned the sudden application for a change in land use, suggesting implications of deeper issues with its intent to convert existing structures into transitional housing, potentially accommodating up to 372 people. He expressed that local business owners like himself are hindered by issues surrounding homelessness, calling for transparency in the proposal and an apology from Maryvale for misleading the community. He attributed the homeless problem to the Democratic Party, mentioning a $1 million federal grant from Representative Judy Chu to assist Maryvale’s project.
Attorney Liu Longzhu described the situation as a critical battle for the people of Rosemead. He noted the significant turnout for the event, with over 20,000 signatures collected and a large crowd rallying against the establishment of any homeless center in Rosemead. He emphasized that each person’s speech echoed the community’s concerns, highlighting that Maryvale’s use of the term “unhouse” instead of “homeless” was misleading.
Insurance agent Zhang Guoxing pointed to the homeless center in Hacienda Heights as a cautionary example, where various promises had been made during the proposal phase but diminished once approved. He urged the community to unite and stay resolute.
However, voices in support of the proposal were also heard. Adele Andrade-Stadler, the council member for Alhambra’s fifth district, expressed her support, emphasizing that the project focuses on young single mothers, highlighting her own experiences growing up with a single mother and advocating for more opportunities for these families.
Resident John Kawakami from San Gabriel noted that he lives close to the Maryvale site, describing it as a quiet place that has not negatively impacted the community. He viewed the proposal merely as a transitional housing project and urged against overreacting.
Steve Gunther, President and CEO of Maryvale, attended the meeting with numerous staff members and had prepared Chinese-language banners stating, “Ask me about the real situation; Maryvale is a transitional home for women and children only.” He mentioned efforts to clarify the proposal’s true nature to the opposition and had Chinese-speaking staff available to address questions.
