After Years of Pleas, Gaviota Heights Residents Finally Get a Response from Councilmember Saro

The Gaviota Heights housing complex on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2024. Photo by Jackie Rae

The squeaky wheel does get the oil — though how long it must squeak is still up for debate.

In January, residents of Gaviota Heights — a condominium community on the 1200 block of Gaviota Avenue — renewed their calls for help from Sixth District Councilmember Suely Saro, saying they’ve endured ongoing problems tied to nearby homeless encampments, including drug use, theft, human waste, and prostitution.

Gavoita Heights HOA President Jennifer Carey gives public comment during Long Beach City Council meeting on October 7,2025. Video courtesy of LBTV.

According to Jennifer Carey, president of the Gaviota Heights Homeowners Association, these issues have persisted for years. Carey says she sent two emails to Saro's office in 2021 that went unanswered, followed by 26 more messages in 2022. A family health emergency limited her outreach in 2023, but the HOA resumed engagement and placed 19 calls to Saro's office in 2024.

Following coverage by the Long Beach Watchdog and JackieRaeTV, Carey says the councilwoman's office appeared more responsive but still failed to provide lasting assistance to address ongoing criminal activity near the property.

On Tuesday, Carey spoke before the City Council, urging leaders to make the community safe for all residents, including seniors and those with mobility challenges.

“I have some very serious concerns about how the City addresses its challenges,” she said. Carey says criminal activity has caused thousands of dollars in property damage and that Saro's office implied there are no resources available to help resolve the issues.

“On December 16, I was told it was burdensome to live in a disinvested area,” Carey said. “I requested what your [Councilmember Saro] plan was to reinvest in the area, and I received no response.”

Carey closed her remarks by urging Saro to increase engagement with her constituents and take concrete steps toward meaningful improvements in the neighborhood.

The day after her public comments, Carey says her persistence may finally be paying off. She received a response to an earlier email on Wednesday and says Saro’s office is now open to scheduling a one-on-one meeting to address long-standing concerns for Gaviota Heights homeowners.