LONG BEACH — In an unusual development, the City Attorney’s office has given permission to Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske to release information on certain actions that occurred during an Oct. 2 closed City Council session concerning the City’s acquisition of the U.S. Army surplus Schroeder Hall (Willow/Grand) for an East Division police station.

The acquisition became a hot-button issue when City Hall cited federal base realignment/closure process (BRAC) rules to acquire the property in a transaction that includes a legally binding agreement letting a privately run non-profit (Mental Health America of Los Angeles) use a location in a nearby industrial park on Burnett St. or if that site isn’t available on the Schroeder Hall site itself to serve mentally ill homeless persons during daytime hours.

The City Attorney’s action comes after Councilman Patrick O’Donnell issued a release yesterday (Oct. 3) stating that [O'Donnell release text] “[b]ehind-the-scenes efforts, which may have moved a mentally ill homeless facility away from eastside neighborhoods, have been halted due to a service provider’s unwillingness to move forward.”

Councilman O’Donnell’s release said the “City Council has been apprised that the discussions have been brought to a halt by the service provider, effectively ending efforts to place the facility elsewhere…” In his release, Councilman O’Donnell states, “I am very disappointed that efforts to move this facility away from people’s homes has not been successful. The service provider has changed their minds about protecting our community.”

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