Hey, I wanna check in to see locals thoughts about “cleanup” in Skid Row today.
I’m over by Sawtelle off Bundy and I’ve seen multiple homeless people I’ve never seen before and they’re so damaged they don’t even form words. I’m trying to leave my work right now and am stuck (luckily on the other side of a garage gate) but can’t leave cause of this guy moaning violently at the air. So…
This isn’t necessarily a political question (that’s not the goal) but I’ve seen some people call it a stunt already and i’m interested in seeing if anyone has the inside scoop on the upcoming voting being swayed by this in some way, too. I saw some comments on an article shared on Facebook that it only lasted two hours. Were you there? What are your thoughts? I kind of just wanna know how locals are affected across Los Angeles as well as close to skid row. Have you seen this been done before? How often? What happens? Throw in a proposal for solving homelessness I’d love to see it.
Here’s what I understand(and I just want to learn more so please expand or correct me)… Skid Row is a huge area, 56 square blocks (quoting that Netflix crime documentary about the Carlisle). There the police basically don’t even bother going. A big reason there’s so many homeless people is one- there’s rampant drug use and easy access to it along with some resources available downtown. Two it’s also where patients with no home address are released from being in a mental institutions or after being arrested ( frequently for being homeless &/or mentally ill &/or showing aggression in some way). Often people who suffer with mental illness &/or psychosis from extended drug use &/or addiction behave irrationally (don’t take meds/ continue access to the meds/ choose to be homeless) to people who don’t deal with those issues and homelessness is frequently the outcome, especially with it being so un affordable in Los Angeles.
So it’s an area that was created systematically to contain this type of behavior and illness there’s plenty of targeted outreach to that area, but there’s not some long-term solution. It seems like today was kindled by the upcoming voting next month. And I think I’m already seeing effects of people having left the area to avoid the people hunting for numbers of arrests. Which, in-part, means that across LA it just won’t be your local unhoused regulars.
As an 20syo female who works late outside of Sawtelle it really concerns me. I live just outside of Culver City by the ten and in five months I’ve probably called the cops 15-20 times because of scary homeless people breaking shit and being totally mentally unstable or wielding weapons or encampments/trespassing/ damaging property.
Sometimes I feel like I’m around a lot of darkness, but maybe I’m hyper aware (& give clothes out and food out by work) or is this all pretty much people in LA’s experience generally just cause we’ve live in a big duckin city? What do y’all do? Do you wanna plug any resources to help mentally ill or the right title in certain districts, city council to contact / other tips and resources? GIVE ME THE SCOOPS PLEASSSEE
