ed group home. First, it is concerned about the threat posed by the home to the neighborhood's safety and peace. In particular, Las Familias is concerned that the residents of the group home will not understand boundaries and rules. It fears that the residents will wander onto neighbors' property or behave inappropriately in public. They fear that some of the residents may assault or molest neighborhood children. Las Familias points to an incident involving a group home operated by another organization in which a mentally disabled man allegedly assaulted children when they refused to let him join in their games. It also points to complaints of yelling and screaming made by neighbors of the other Rain Man homes.
Las Familias is also concerned that the City of Chapman practices environmental racism by approving land use permits for activities which are not appropriate for the Guadelupe neighborhood. Ten years ago, the city approved a zoning change at the eastern edge of the neighborhood which allowed the construction of a large chemical manufacturing facility. Three years ago, the city approved a conditional use permit for a homeless shelter eight blocks from where the Rain Man house will be located. Last year, the city allowed the community hospital at the western edge of the neighborhood to expand its operations with a new drug and alcohol treatment wing. Part of this expansion included an approved conditional use permit for a halfway house for recovering drug addicts and alcoholics. Las Familias believes that this shows a pattern of the city taking advantage of the neighborhood's low income, minority status. As a result of these actions, crime in the neighborhood has risen and outsiders frequent the neighborhood. Parents are now afraid to let their children play in the parks or even their yards. Overall, the city's actions have led to a decline in the family-based residential character of the neighborhood.
Rain Ma...