Fight Over Proposed Homeless Shelter Erupts In Newport Beach

NEWPORT BEACH (CBSLA) — Dozens of Newport Beach residents gathered in protest of the city's latest proposed location for a homeless shelter Tuesday.

And when protesters gathered outside Newport Beach City Hall, push came to shove and emotions were running high.

Many say the proposed site — located near a garbage transfer station at the city's public works yard just feet from Westside Costa Mesa — would turn the upcoming area into another Skid Row.

Others say the 40-bed shelter would not have to be built with zoning or development requirements because the city declared a homeless crisis last month. Many argued that means the project will be fast-tracked. They say in a city of 86,000, 64 homeless people shouldn't constitute a crisis.

"The city is calling this a crisis so they can bypass the zoning and permitting process ... without due process," one man said.

"They wanna put the homeless people in a dumpster!" another man yelled.

Newport Beach and Costa Mesa residents, meanwhile, have filed an intent to sue the city if they intend to follow through on the proposed site.