Venetians want to know: Is the City protecting 1000 homeless at the expense of 40,000 residents, the latter who could possibly be subjected to outbreaks of diseases?
The Venice Update received an email this week from a distressed resident who lives in the vicinity of 3rd Avenue in Venice. She showed garbage strewn on sidewalk and street on Rose between 3rd and 4th Avenues on 1 January. It is nothing compared to pictures shown of garbage up and down 3rd before garbage pickup this Wednesday. Nearby residents and now all of Venice ask: Is this alarmingly unsanitary? Is it a breeding ground for an outbreak of some kind of disease? Do we have an outbreak already?
Last week it was reported that there were six cases of MRSA based on a worker’s observation of type of prescriptions taken by homeless living on 3rd. It is well known that tuberculosis is a frequent resident of homeless camps. Could the flesh eating disease found in skid row be next for Venice? These diseases are contagious. These are questions that residents living near 3rd are asking and the questions are spreading throughout Venice. There are 40,000 Venetians at risk.
The Venice Update reported the MRSA figures to the Contagious Disease Center and the Public Health Nurse 21 December. No one got back to Update with results. Questions have since been submitted without answers. Councilman Mike Bonin made a statement that he had been in contact with all agencies and that there was nothing to worry about. Residents are not satisfied. The Venice Neighborhood Council (VNC) Homeless Committee is meeting Friday to ask the VNC to make a motion to get some official answers regarding this situation from the proper authorities.
Third Avenue is an area that is possessed by the homeless. It has a life of its own and has recently been hitting the headlines with the news of MRSA. Homeless collect dumpster stuff and fill the sidewalks on 3rd in spite of the law that says one cannot do such. The sidewalks are not ADA compliant.
The C3 group comes, supposedly each day, to encourage homeless to seek services and keep records of residents. In the meantime, restaurants and people drop off food. Services drop off blankets and other cold-weather clothes. One lady from Anchorage, Alaska said they don’t have dumpsters like this in Anchorage. I came with nothing and look. She had a U-shaped area cordoned off with prizes from dumpster digging. This defined her new Venice home.
This “Venice 4Ever” is sprayed on a private fence on 3rd. This is how the homeless feel about 3rd.
This is west side of 3rd.
This is east side of 3rd.
These are the porta poties that were installed on private property. A container for garbage was supplied for the homeless. It is shown overflowing. The sign says that potty will be removed if clothing is dumped inside.
The following photos are of garbage cans ready for pickup on Wednesday. Residents nearby complain about unsanitary conditions, a breeding ground for diseases.
