ORANGE – James Blue was seething.

The 51-year-old Anaheim resident sat Monday in a wheelchair, wearing a floral print hospital gown and red socks, with his hands folded in his lap, in a room at UCI Medical Center.

Blue briefly lashed out at the attacker who stabbed him in the back last month, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.

But he saved most of his venom for elected officials, whom he believes are indifferent to the plight of the homeless, allowing street crime to flourish in Anaheim. City officials, however, say recent actions show their dedication to helping the homeless, most notably their support of a county homeless shelter in Anaheim.

“It’s time to make a stand,” said Blue, himself a transient, whose eyes became red as he choked back tears. “I’m not asking for revenge. I’m asking for justice. I’m calling for people to stop the genocide.”

Blue’s world was turned upside down the night of July 26.

After making his usual once-a-week rounds delivering meals to the homeless as a volunteer for Focus North America Orange County Center, he parked his battered 1981 Chevrolet pick-up truck in his usual spot behind a bar in the 2600 block of West Lincoln Avenue at about 8 p.m.

Blue was sorting scrap metal for his fledgling recycling business, when four young men approached. They began spraying graffiti on several businesses and then on the pavement next to his truck.

Blue quickly became enraged.

“I told them to take that somewhere else,” he recalled, believing that the taggers were threatening his livelihood and the neighborhood.

Seconds later, Blue was fighting for his life.

One of the taggers hurled a paint can at Blue’s head while the others pummeled him. Finally, one of them stabbed him with a sharp object, severing his spinal cord.

“There was no reason for them to stab him,” said Sandra Blue, his wife. “It was uncalled for.”

Information was not available regarding how long James Blue will be hospitalized.

A man who hasn’t been identified saw the attack on Blue, retrieved a handgun and shot four to five rounds into the air to stop the assault, according to Anaheim police Lt. Eric Trapp.

Blue said he knows the man but declined to provide his name for safety reasons.

“He could have walked away but he didn’t,” Blue said, adding the man’s actions likely saved his life. “That’s what I’m most grateful for.”

Anaheim police have corroborated his story and are continuing to investigate the attack. They have not made any arrests.

While lying in a hospital bed at UCI, unable to move his legs, Blue said he’s accepted the reality that things will never be the same.

“Every aspiration I had was gone,” he said. “I will have to rebuild my life with what’s left.”

Blue has reinvented himself before.

A native of North Carolina, Blue moved to California at age 14 and began living with his uncle in Hemet. He enrolled in Job Corps, a federally funded education and training program, and became a pipefitter.

Starting in 1984, Blue was employed by several California oil refineries but lost his job in 2005, he said.

After several failed attempts at finding work, Blue began selling scrap metal about five years ago to eke out a living. He and his wife have been living in an Anaheim motel. The couple have been married 23 years and have three children together, she said.

Blue said that, despite his debilitating injury, he will continue advocating for the homeless. He believes that Anaheim elected officials should fund more housing and employment programs for them, which would likely reduce street crime.

“I‘m demanding that the city of Anaheim help the homeless and not sweep it under the rug,” Blue said.

Anaheim officials are working hard to tackle homelessness, said Ruth Ruiz, a spokeswoman for the city.

In 2013, Anaheim launched a long-term plan to address homelessness by forming the Poverty Task Force, partnering with local nonprofits and other groups.

So far more than 320 homeless individuals in Anaheim have found housing and have been reunited with their families across the country, Ruiz said.

“The city of Anaheim recognizes homelessness can evolve from events such as the loss of a job, lack of family support, or serious illness, though for some being homeless is a choice,” she said. “We will continue to work diligently with our regional partners to address these needs and to get assistance for those in need.”

The Orange County Supervisors are also considering building a year-round homeless shelter on North Kraemer Place in Anaheim, something Anaheim city officials have supported. The cities of Anaheim and Fullerton have agreed to contribute $500,000 each toward funding the shelter.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7767 sschwebke@ocregister.com Twitter: @thechalkoutline