Residents type coalition after concern of homeless, crime in Little Italy and surrounding areas

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The newly-formed San Diego Neighborhood Coalition hosted a group assembly Monday night time, the place native enterprise homeowners and residents got here collectively to debate what they’re calling the principle points plaguing Little Italy.

“Homeless, crime, break-ins and thefts in vehicles,” stated Kevin Arnold, Founding father of San Diego Neighborhood Coalition.

Arnold, a Little Italy resident for greater than eight years, stated he wanted to do one thing concerning the homeless and crime plaguing the group, and created the coalition about 4 months in the past to push native leaders for change.

The group assembly at Our Woman of the Rosary was a packed home.

“These are residents, these are owners, these are enterprise homeowners, they’ve a stake on this group,” Arnold stated.

He stated the coalition doesn’t simply battle for change for Little Italy residents, but additionally for downtown, East Village, Hillcrest, North Park, and so forth.

Representatives from the San Diego Housing Fee, San Diego Police Division, Little Italy and metropolis and county leaders places of work had been in attendance.

“It’s not acceptable, we’re not going to allow them to take over our sidewalks, we’re not going to allow them to take over companies, that is the message we’re giving to the homeless folks: we’re going to battle for this group,” Arnold stated.

He stated the homeless state of affairs in Little Italy has grown over the past two years and the tents are sometimes blocking sidewalks.

Monday’s assembly comes about two months after two shootings in Little Italy alongside State Avenue.

One man was shot after a taking pictures within the 1600 block of State Avenue in Little Italy round 11:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

Then on January 2, a person was shot within the again within the early morning hours in Little Italy on the intersection of West Grape Avenue and West State Avenue, in response to San Diego police.

In response to SDPD knowledge, whole violent crime in Little Italy has been on the rise lately, and doubled since 2017.

However, stories of property crime decreased from a latest excessive of 223 stories throughout 2020 to 189 stories of property crime in 2023.