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WESTSIDE - While city officials led by Councilwoman Traci Park's (CD-11) office have been diligent in addressing these ongoing concerns, sources tell me that the area Public Storage facility is a primary source for these new encampments.
Locals tell horror stories of crime and open, illegal drug use in this general vicinity.
But what is the primary reason for reoccurring encampments in the same Venice locales?
Some believe the shifting patterns after clean-ups are inviting new RV's as well as tents and other structures. Some say the climate, space & community make Venice ripe for continuing encampments as some believe those who populate these encampments should be treated as "neighbors" versus individuals who need medical and immediate housing.
And there are those who claim the rising cost of living in Venice and Santa Monica has displaced many unhoused individuals into cheaper, less-policed zones like Third & Rose. But many, if not most of the unhoused are out-of-state transients, and there is little to no data to suggest these individuals are locals that have been displaced!
While LA Mayor Karen Bass has declared skids a "state of emergency," but consistent enforcement by LAPD is challenging and clearly spotty and lacking.
City cleanup efforts can push people elsewhere temporarily, and limited shelter beds mean many still have few alternatives leading to this circle of returning back again and again versus seeking alternative places to park.
For the cottage industry of homelessness and the billions squandered on salaries, contracts and failed solutions somehow continue without accountability or transparency. With Los Angeles now in financial crisis, greater scrutiny to the dollars spent enabling homelessness versus solving the problem may finally come to fruition.
These cleanups managed by LAHSA, LAPD, sanitation teams, and Council Member Traci Park’s office are overwhelmed by the lack of consistent and persistent enforcement that remains non-compliant. And until there is a "zero-tolerance" policy when it comes to encampments and RV's, the issue of chronic street homelessness here in Venice will remain an uphill, and costly battle for city officials.
(Nick Antonicello is a thirty-two-year resident of the neighborhood and covers the current encampment and RV crisis here in Venice. Have an encampment or RV issue on your block or neighborhood? Contact him via e-mail at [email protected])
