Homeless Crisis: Sheriff Asks Board To Declare State Of Emergency

VENICE, CA — Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva called on the Board of Supervisors this week in a letter, asking them to declare a state of emergency in response to the growing homeless crisis in Venice and across the county.

"Venice Beach, Olvera Street, and Hollywood are currently under siege," Villanueva wrote to the board. "The homeless situation and lawlessness citizens are experiencing is keeping tourists from coming to Los Angeles County. Venice was once the number two tourist destination in Southern California, second only to Disneyland."

In 2020, more than 60,000 people were living on the street across the county, he said.

"The economic hardships our local business owners and residents are facing is unacceptable," he said. "The homeless situation in Los Angeles County is at a crisis level. If we do not get a handle on this problem, more businesses will close adding to already increasing unemployment rates."

Villanueva has been critical of local leaders, including Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and City Councilmember Mike Bonin, who represents Venice, Mar Vista and other Westside neighborhoods. Earlier this month, the sheriff announced that deputies would patrol areas in Venice, prompting a scathing response from Mike Bonin.

This spring, Bonin proposed a series of Westside homeless housing options and has criticized the sheriff's department for its recent actions on the boardwalk. Venice Beach is outside the sheriff's department's jurisdiction.

"The presence of LASD in Venice is disruptive & counter-productive," Bonin said via Twitter. "Villanueva should leave outreach & housing to the professionals. It's harmful to strut in & interfere with the work of service providers who are trying to house people, quietly, diligently, and in good faith."

A push is underway to begin housing efforts for people on the streets in Venice. Starting Monday, a team from St. Joseph Center will begin offering housing to more than 200 people living in encampments along Ocean Front Walk.

"The six-week initiative, a collaboration between neighbors, government agencies and nonprofits, will offer nearly 200 people a pathway to permanent housing and appropriate services to help them succeed," Bonin said.

Bonin has proposed multiple housing and "safe camping" sites, including locations in Marina del Rey and Pacific Palisades. Residents criticized the move to suggest parks and beach parking lots on the list of potential sites for homeless facilities.

Last week, he was served with a recall notice at his Mar Vista home. A group calling itself Recall Bonin 2021 served the notice, which included signatures from residents in Venice, Brentwood, Westchester and Pacific Palisades.

Bonin called the recall effort "the latest in a series of recall attempts to silence strong progressive voices," in a statement to the Los Angeles Times last week.

"This recall has been championed and promoted by the same right-wing forces that are trying to erode the democratic process and take down progressive officials around the state," Bonin said.

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