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Seniors Claim Homeless Placed In Their Community Bringing In Drugs, Crime

RESEDA (CBS) — The residents of a Reseda apartment complex say a new breed of apartment dweller placed in their community is changing the character of their once peaceful senior community.

Longtime residents of the Reflections Apartment Complex, at 19424 Wyandotte St. in Reseda, say the new, younger residents who have been placed in their 55+ senior community are having loud parties and running around half naked.

"I mean, you're not moving into a party house," resident Debbie Haynes said.

Ten new residents, who originate from Skid Row, were placed at the 78-unit apartment complex by the Los Angeles Housing Authority, with money from a federal government program. Since those new residents have moved in, longtime tenants say marijuana smoke sometimes fills the air, cars have been burglarized and there are allegations of prostitution.

A petition circulating among the older tenants has been signed by 30 people and asks Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky for help with this issue.

"We've been in touch with the city housing authority today," Yaroslavsky said. "I'm asking them to take a look at the individual, individuals who are creating the problem."

Yaroslavsky says he's asking that no more homeless be placed at the complex until the problem is addressed.

"They've gotta play by the rules," he said. "If they don't play by the rules, they're outta there."

 

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