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Homeless

Homeless

This story highlights one area in Venice that has been home to transient homeless. The subject area is the Oxford Triangle, which is west of Lincoln and South of Washington. Specifically it is that area called the Walgreens shopping area that has miscellaneous shops and Walgreens. (Triangle also has homeless problems at the Thatcher Maintenance Yard and the area behind Oxford at the bike path. But these are not part of this.)

The homeless that have alighted in this corner, in general, are people who drink and are on drugs. They are not, or so far have not been, the homeless in search of assistance. The question is not so much as to what “type of homeless” one is discussing, but what is the reaction of the neighborhood? Where are we going as a society?

First of all, the Los Angeles Municipal Code that prohibits sitting, lying or sleeping in or upon any street, sidewalk or other public way is not enforced in the City of Los Angeles from 9 pm to 6 am.

City has agreed not to enforce section LAMC 41.18 (d) between the hours of 9 pm and 6 am. It is called the Jones v. City of LA settlement agreement and is applicable throughout the city of Los Angeles. The 9 pm to 6 am will be unenforceable until the City constructs 1250 units of permanent, supportive housing for the chronically homeless, and at least, 50 percent of which has to be located within Skid Row or greater downtown Los Angeles.

41.18 (d) (Amended by Ord. No. 137,269, Eff. 10/21/68.) No person shall sit, lie or sleep in or upon any street, sidewalk or other public way.

The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to persons sitting on the curb portion of any sidewalk or street while attending or viewing any parade permitted under the provisions of Section 103.111 of Article 2, Chapter X of this Code; nor shall the provisions of this subsection apply to persons sitting upon benches or other seating facilities provided for such purpose by municipal authority or permitted by this Code.

So aside from the law, what kind of neighborhood is the City allowing to be created. One doesn’t want to erroneously put the burden on the City but where else would it lie?

Homeless congregate in the Walgreens shopping area during the day but mostly, and not consistently, during the evening hours. They drink and party in broad daylight and with people watching. Shooting up is more discrete. One just finds the needles.

Many families are not allowing their children–even high school age to walk to Walgreens unattended. Many adults feel intimidated by such. On the other hand, many do not. Some who live on Carter, which is the street that hosts most of the homeless, claim that homeless are just nuisances–they poop, they urinate, they leave stuff around but other than that, they are not a problem.

It is unlikely that these homeless are the ones doing the crime in the area.

But questions arise. Are homeowners now accepting this as a way of life for their neighborhoods? Are the homeless creating a scenario that homeowners do not care about the area, making it ripe for crime? Is this establishing a new way of life, an acceptable alternative–that it is okay to be homeless, drunk, and shooting up?

The facts that are true are: Home prices in area continue to go up. Triangle is experiencing more crime than ever before. Triangle has had three knock-knock burglaries, car thefts, and other items stolen from car break-ins to theft from garages this year. One of the knock-knock burglaries may have been late last year. Residents are witnessing more visible drug transfers-sales in neighborhood. The homeless come before 9 pm usually and leave after 6 am.

The question is for you, the reader. If you don’t live here and have seen the homeless at Walgreens, would you want to buy or rent a home in Triangle? Would you want to shop at Walgreens? Is this happening in your area? (We know it is happening at the beach and on 3rd.) Do you consider this a citywide problem? A problem for Venice specifically? A problem for the Triangle and a few other selective areas? Or perhaps, you do not consider this a problem in Triangle, in Venice, or anywhere else. Perhaps, you don’t really care; it isn’t important. Perhaps, you feel this is the new Venice. Or are these the questions?

Would like to hear how you, the reader, feels about this. All comments will be anonymous. (See comments after photos from residents of Carter and one from a resident who lives further from Carter.)

2 August