From Blight to Beauty: Venice's Homeless Encampment Receives Stunning Makeover
Los Angeles, June 8, 2023 - Yesterday marked a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to revitalize Venice Boulevard as a joint operation spearheaded by Los Angeles Council Member Traci Park, in collaboration with St. Joseph's Center, LAHSA, CIRCLE, and SHARE, successfully completed a comprehensive homeless encampment cleanup. In the aftermath of this remarkable achievement, the community-driven initiative known as Beautify Venice united with Mariposa Landscapes Inc. to transform the area by planting over 200 native and drought-tolerant plants.
The landscaping endeavor not only aims to enhance the visual appeal of the surroundings but also highlights the significance of sustainable practices in urban environments. The diverse range of plants introduced includes Indian Hawthorne, Matilija Poppies, and Fox Tail Agaves, each carefully selected to thrive in the local climate and contribute to a vibrant ecosystem.
Beautify Venice, an informal neighborhood group driven by a collective community spirit, rallied together to secure funds for the purchase of plants and materials required for the construction of a protective fence. This fence serves a dual purpose: safeguarding the plants and deterring the return of homeless encampments along the sidewalks. To ensure the project's success, a professional landscape company was engaged to oversee its implementation. In a testament to their dedication, members of Beautify Venice volunteered their time to assist in planting the native, drought-resistant plants.
During an interview with a neighborhood volunteer involved in the beautification project, they expressed their gratitude for Council Member Traci Park's election, which paved the way for such transformative initiatives. The volunteer highlighted the severity of the homeless encampments in the area, describing incidents of violence, drug use, and unsafe living conditions. The recent fire in the Venice canals acted as a catalyst for change, motivating the community to seek solutions and bring about positive transformations. The collaborative effort between residents, the city, and various city services, including sanitation and homeless services, resulted in the successful implementation of the project.
Another resident, Mike Maloy, who has lived next to the homeless encampment and is now witnessing the beautification project, expressed his joy and relief. As a surfer, Maloy emphasized the importance of Venice Beach as an inclusive and enjoyable destination for people from all walks of life. The encampments had dampened the vibrant spirit of the area, but the recent cleanup and landscaping efforts have revitalized the community. The installation of non-intrusive barriers, replanting initiatives, and overall cleanliness have brought back a sense of joy and safety to the neighborhood.
The funding for the project came from a collective effort of the neighborhood, with individuals who have personally experienced the negative effects of homelessness stepping forward to contribute. While the city provided mulch and topsoil, the neighborhood's continuous funding ensures the project's sustainability, with the community demonstrating their commitment to being the change they wish to see.
The success of this endeavor is a testament to the power of community collaboration and serves as an inspiring example for other neighborhoods facing similar challenges. It also highlights the critical role played by elected officials, law enforcement, sanitation services, and transportation in addressing complex issues like homelessness.
The cleanup and landscaping efforts along Venice Boulevard represent a significant step forward in improving public health and safety. However, it is essential to acknowledge that these initiatives are just one part of a comprehensive approach needed to address the larger issue of homelessness. The City of Los Angeles remains committed to implementing sustainable, long-term strategies that tackle the root causes of homelessness while providing essential resources to those in need.
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Fabian Lewkowicz is an award winning Santa Monica-based professional photojournalist and press photographer, and the creator of the photo blog, Santa Monica Close Up. With years of experience as a staff photographer for several media outlets including the Santa Monica Daily Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica Observer, and the Santa Monica Corsair, Fabian has captured some of the most iconic moments of Santa Monica.
Fabian's photographs have been exhibited in a variety of settings, including museums, art galleries, hospitals, department stores, banks, fire stations, police stations, commercial buildings, amusement parks, offices, and homes. His photography captures the essence of Santa Monica, from its beautiful landscapes and stunning sunsets to its unique culture and diverse community.
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Пікірлер: 56
Give the homeless a month and all this great work will be destroyed.
@vincente184
Жыл бұрын
I'm going go move over there right now.
@dennislang7417
Жыл бұрын
I'm surprised they didn't plant poppy plants and marijuana plants would be more beneficial just like the $11,000 taxpayer-funded crack pipe dispensers in New York, should try Poison Ivy and cacti plants
@dtna
Жыл бұрын
These city planners are total bozos!
@Barb296
Жыл бұрын
Agreed...they just throw stuff all over...
@zambimaru
Жыл бұрын
I was gonna post the same thing.
Thank goodness for positive things happenings in Venice.
Good work Venice! So nice to see 😍
Philly did this 2 summers ago. They cleaned up a park and put in a 12 ft high fence. Once the cops started to trespass and arrest ppl...it worked. Best Wishes....l
Buen trabajo espero lo hagan en todo el mundo🥹
"fed up" is a great term for the situation
Thanks, Fabian. Good work per usual.
This is some back breaking work. I hope it’s not all in vain.
Viva La Raza!! This man work hard to beautify the city. Give them incentives so they can get ahead of what they do now towards the future to be city officials and city managers and organizers. Prayers for a greater future.
First, I enjoy your channel very much. Never been to your area but your outstanding photojournalism skill paint the Good, the bad and the ugly. However when a community comes together beautiful and positive results can happen. Venice is a lovely place and it’s residents deserve their community back. The police, park rangers, sanitation works and volunteers to a great job under difficult circumstances and always professional. Other cities around the country needs to see Venice at work. Keep up the great job Fabian. Need to see more updates on the landscape projects. From an Oregon Coast resident! ❤🏖🥰
Hammecks, trees/bushes provide stellar foundation, nylon rope, one tent transition well within 4-hammecks.
Amazing work! All the BEST!
It’s going to be beautiful, if everyone will leave them alone.
Why do city officials let it get to a point where taxpayers have to throw a fit.
@sunsensational
Жыл бұрын
Covid resulted in her hands off laissez-faire policy. I’m hopeful the tide is turned.
@scottanderson9656
11 ай бұрын
There was an absolute looser of a councilman for the Westside who was instrumental in letting this problem get out of control before Park was elected.
Can’t wait to visit again! ❤️🔥✌🏼😘
Thanks for your vids, SMC. I like seeing signs of hope & improvement. By contrast, I see what a combo of social & political trends are doing to parts of LA, SF, Seattle, Portland, etc, & I'm really irritated with what's happening to society. I originally had positive impressions of most of the cities of the West Coast, but they now increasingly strike me as turnoffs & places to avoid. I know a closer look may give a more nuanced impression. However, the public, when forming an opinion, has only so much time, money & patience to do that. I recall all the yrs I've treated names like "Detroit," "St Louis," "Cleveland," etc, with some trepidation. Now I see more of the US in general that way. Post-2020, that includes other names like "New York City" and "Washington DC." SMH.
@ananava4102
Жыл бұрын
Demócratas
Jetzt sieht das wieder schön aus mit neuen Flanzen im bett so wie es auch mal war super an die Gärtner wie sie es gemacht haben weiter so
So they pay taxes, and have to do/pay the work themselves?
Did the homeless kill all the plants yet to make more room? Perhaps I've just seen it happen to many times. Nice/clean isn't first on their list of concerns it seems. Thanks for the videos. Next time I drive by I'll have a look.
What happen to Daisy the healer??? I'm a little worried. 😊
@BNice505
Жыл бұрын
😂 She's busy with her prince. No longer concerned for the beach.
That is a great idea. I hope it's not just a band-aid solution, though.
Oh, DAMMIT! Even the volunteer gardeners are stealing shopping carts now!!! 😅
Probably need to install an electric fence and razor barb to keep them away. I give it a few weeks and the homeless will be back.
@mshottprisslav
Жыл бұрын
Mothballs lol
This clean up must be to lure the German tourists during the summer.But it will resume back to norm after summer.
The homeless have no respect I bet it will be trashed in a day! I feel bad for the people that have to live in that area!
So where did the people go I wonder? Skid Row?🧐
@sunsensational
Жыл бұрын
About 70% of them were taken to shelter/housing. The other 30% will re-absorb somewhere.
They should plant cactus
Why was it allowed to grow?
At this rate, the whole city will be fenced off by Christmas. Whoopie !
But if a well intentioned healer does this the city pays its employees to dig it out..
Why are the encampments allowed to accumulate? They should be either told not to live there or get arrested for trespassing before the homeless are setting down roots. Ordinances need to be put in place to start with. Drug use and mental illness are the common issues for homelessness. Not an easy solution is out there as landlords don’t want to take on these problems either. The services are just temporary fixes. It is sad as almost every city and town have this problem.
Co depending snd enabling the homeless lifestyle is never a solution the government giving these people $1000.00+ a month I the biggest problem and I was homeless at a time in my life it was a means to an end not a lifestyle I worked and never took any public money unlike these grifters good for trying to improve the area let's see how long it lasts
who is gonna water all these plants?
@billkallas1762
Жыл бұрын
A fire truck should drive by every day to hose the area down. Turn the pressure way up, to "clean off" the tents that will pop up.
@arktos298
Жыл бұрын
@@billkallas1762 sounds good!! as long as you provide the soap, shampoo and towels, and a hot cup of coffee after for all of our friends from those tents...
This isn’t going to last. No. Watch. A few months from now. You’ll see. It’s a constant revolving door.
We do not invest in combating symptoms but in enforcing the law. Cheaper for the taxpayer.😁 / translated