State eyes Pomona Armory as coronavirus
3 min read
State and county officials are considering the use of the old Pomona armory building to quarantine people infected with the novel coronavirus, city and congressional sources have confirmed.
The California National Guard contacted Pomona’s police chief Friday, March 13, to inform him that the 1930s-era building located downtown was being considered as a place to temporarily house homeless individuals who test positive for COVID-19, Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval said.
Sandoval said late Friday that the state agency had not yet made up its mind. A decision on the use of the facility is scheduled to be made at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 14.
“Even if it is mandated, we will fight it,” Sandoval said. “We will take legal action.”
“My immediate reaction was not in Pomona,” he added. “That is unacceptable.”
Both the California National Guard and Los Angeles County are acting under the state of emergency declared earlier this week by Gov. Gavin Newsom. That move allows public health departments to take possession of unused state-owned properties, as well as hotels, for quarantine facilities to slow or stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The Pomona City Council heard about the plan at a special meeting on Friday. The meeting was held online, Sandoval said.
Rep. Norma Torres, D-Pomona, who once served on the City Council, was in touch with city officials about the developing situation on Friday.
She said the building is a poor choice for housing patients that may have tested positive for COVID-19.
The old building has a leaky roof, does not have an adequate ventilation system, has no heat or air conditioning and lacks proper working bathrooms, the congresswoman said in an interview Friday.
“I am outraged that the state and the county are looking to dump homeless people that have been infected with the coronavirus in a dilapidated building in Pomona,” Torres said.
“These are human beings,” she added. “If they are infected with the coronavirus, they deserve to be in a hospital setting.”
The California mission-style building was built in 1933 and is owned by the California National Guard. It is located near the intersection of Sixth Street and Park Avenue in the downtown civic center area. It was used about two years ago as a winter shelter for the homeless.
In 2018, the city built a $10 million facility, Hope For Home, and added on to it in December 2019 to house the homeless and provide services. The armory building has since sat empty, Torres said.
Torres said the armory is adjacent to the Pomona Fire Department and the Pomona Police Department. By putting people with the coronavirus in this building, it could expose police and fire personnel to the virus, she said.
“It is putting our first responders in danger,” Torres said. “Also, on any given day, there are local residents coming in and out of the Pomona police station.”
“The bottom line is: This building cannot accommodate unhealthy people much less those infected with the coronavirus,” Torres said.
from News: Redlands Daily Facts https://ift.tt/3cZUbxi
The California National Guard contacted Pomona’s police chief Friday, March 13, to inform him that the 1930s-era building located downtown was being considered as a place to temporarily house homeless individuals who test positive for COVID-19, Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval said.
Sandoval said late Friday that the state agency had not yet made up its mind. A decision on the use of the facility is scheduled to be made at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 14.
“Even if it is mandated, we will fight it,” Sandoval said. “We will take legal action.”
“My immediate reaction was not in Pomona,” he added. “That is unacceptable.”
Both the California National Guard and Los Angeles County are acting under the state of emergency declared earlier this week by Gov. Gavin Newsom. That move allows public health departments to take possession of unused state-owned properties, as well as hotels, for quarantine facilities to slow or stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The Pomona City Council heard about the plan at a special meeting on Friday. The meeting was held online, Sandoval said.
Rep. Norma Torres, D-Pomona, who once served on the City Council, was in touch with city officials about the developing situation on Friday.
She said the building is a poor choice for housing patients that may have tested positive for COVID-19.
The old building has a leaky roof, does not have an adequate ventilation system, has no heat or air conditioning and lacks proper working bathrooms, the congresswoman said in an interview Friday.
“I am outraged that the state and the county are looking to dump homeless people that have been infected with the coronavirus in a dilapidated building in Pomona,” Torres said.
“These are human beings,” she added. “If they are infected with the coronavirus, they deserve to be in a hospital setting.”
The California mission-style building was built in 1933 and is owned by the California National Guard. It is located near the intersection of Sixth Street and Park Avenue in the downtown civic center area. It was used about two years ago as a winter shelter for the homeless.
In 2018, the city built a $10 million facility, Hope For Home, and added on to it in December 2019 to house the homeless and provide services. The armory building has since sat empty, Torres said.
Torres said the armory is adjacent to the Pomona Fire Department and the Pomona Police Department. By putting people with the coronavirus in this building, it could expose police and fire personnel to the virus, she said.
“It is putting our first responders in danger,” Torres said. “Also, on any given day, there are local residents coming in and out of the Pomona police station.”
“The bottom line is: This building cannot accommodate unhealthy people much less those infected with the coronavirus,” Torres said.
from News: Redlands Daily Facts https://ift.tt/3cZUbxi
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