This transient was found illegally camping below Via de las Olas and was asked to leave.
The number of new transients in Pacific Palisade jumped from 34 in May, to 82 in August.
The evidence of illegal fires, especially below the Via de las Olas bluffs jumped from four in May to 11 in August. The uptick in camps also increased: in May there was four and it jumped to 11 in August. The statistics can be found on the Pacific Palisades Task Force on the Homelessness website https://palisadeshomeless.org/
The beginning of September has brought increased numbers of transients, many mentally ill and some dangerous, such as the individual that kicked a local waiter who fell to the ground, hitting his head, causing him to be hospitalized.
Many areas of the city may laugh at what they think is a low number of new transients – “Only 82,” they might say. They don’t understand the entire Pacific Palisades is in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ), surrounded by mountains and canyons.
One cigarette butt, one cooking fire unchecked and the entire town could burn. With fires currently ranging: the Line Fire, the Bridge fire and the Airport fire, firefighting resources are already stretched beyond capacity. Over the past 10 years, there have been fires in 2011, 2014, 2015, 2019 and 2021. In 2022, CTN reported “Fire Races up Corona Del Mar: Contained at Two Acres: PCH Closed Over Night.” Many of them have closed Pacific Coast Highway, a major artery.
A transient was found below Corona del Mar, near the Caltrans wall on PCH, and asked to leave.
SENSITIVE USE AREAS:
This individual was camped across from the high school. He has now moved to this bus stop.
A transient was across from Palisades High School at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Temescal Canyon at the park. A young teen was waiting for a bus across Sunset next to the high school (many high school students) used public transportation. She appeared nervous, keeping her eye on the transient.
CTN reported the individual to the police, because according to the law 41.18, it allows LAPD to cite individuals who are essentially camping near sensitive sites such as schools, libraries and parks, without the need for special signage.
The local community council supports the use of 41.18, as does Councilwoman Traci Park. At the Brianna Kupfer trial, which Park attended, CTN asked about the regulation. The councilmember said it should absolutely be enforced.
CTN reached out to Senior Lead Officer Brian Espin and to West L.A. Captain Richard Gabaldon about the lack of enforcement.
Espin responded by email on September 10 that “The 41.18 LAMC is specific for obstructing public right of way. Please see below. When the individual was sleeping on the ground, if he was impeding the public right of way then we have a reason (probable cause) to engage and enforce. As I mentioned in a previous email. When we (LAPD) were made aware of the individual sleeping across from the High School we had no available units to address the situation at that time . . .
“If an individual is just standing in the area, we have no violation of 41.18 LAMC unless they are blocking the sidewalk right of way (not leaving the required 36 inches for ADA compliance). I wanted to clarify this information, so everyone understands we are constantly being scrutinized by homeless advocates in how we (LAPD) deal with the unhoused community and we are not violating individual’s civil rights. With that being said, we will still try and engage individuals to gain voluntary compliance. We just can’t force them out of an area without some violation we can enforce or detain on. “
CTN reminded Espin and Gabaldon that 41.18 prohibits camping in sensitive use areas. The captain said that if people see the individual near the high school to let him know and he’d send a car.
The LAPD Beach detail normally helps with policing in this area. But, with vacations, promotions, lack of staff, officers are pulled out to help out in Brentwood around Vice President’s Kamala Harris’ house and sent to cleanup encampments in different areas of L.A. it has been nonexistent from late July through August and now into September. LAPD is hoping to fill those slots.
VHFHSZ CAMPING:
This man was found camping on the Via de las Olas bluffs and told he was camping illegally and had to leave.
On September 2, there were four camps found in the Via de las Olas bluffs (Meth Mountain), two had people in them. They were camping illegally in a very high fire severity zone and required to leave.
The remaining campsites need to be cleaned. In the past PPTFH volunteers have expedited the cleanup, but that land is Rec and Parks, and needs to be cleaned by them, not only to discourage future transients from camping, but to ensure the garbage at the sites doesn’t attract rodents, nor flow into the Pacific Ocean, which is just across from the hill.
On September 3, three campsites were found below the Corona Del Mar bluffs. An LAPD officer with aid from resident Carlos Rodriquez went behind the wall. One transient was escorted out and Rodriquez cleaned up the trash.
Today, September 11, former PPTFH President Sharon Kilbride found two abandoned fresh encampments along Temescal Canyon.
This pillow and sleeping bag were found along Temescal Canyon Road this morning.
What can residents do? Support PPTFH, urge the Community Council to insist there is law enforcement in this area, contact Traci Park’s office and ask that police resources be given to this area. Insist that “No Camping” in very high fire severity zones be enforced.
METH MOUNTAIN!
Thanks for this important article. In the past week, I have seen four or five different homeless men walking up Bienveneda Avenue. I assume they are camping on hiking trails or on the fire road between Lachman Lane and the Highlands. Who is responsible for patrolling these areas? They are obviously very high fire danger zones.
The public needs to be aware that our 26 square miles are extremely understaffed. We have one officer 40 hours a week, 48 weeks of the year. Our beach detail is frequently pulled away and as reported here has simply not shown up for routine and incredibly important foot patrols of our bluffs.
By contrast the City of Hawthorne, about six square miles, and not in a very high fire severity zone, has almost 100 dedicated police officers. 60 support staff, and a helicopter.
Beverly Hills City, also without any wildfire risk, has 145 sworn officers, and 95 non-sworn positions.
Think about it… Pacific Palisades with its existential risk of wildfire, is almost FIVE times larger than these cities and staffed at less than one percent of these two cities.
We live on hope and a prayer. Thank God for PPTFH and our security firms. Please support both of these organizations and ask the Mayor of Los Angeles and the what she plans to do to staff up LAPD for the Palisades.
Thank you for this article on the rampant influx of the unhoused who have been dislodged from encampments that other communities have successfully and lawfully removed. These individuals are not just the ‘down on their luck’ suffering from abuse, addiction and mental instability. They include the opportunists, drug purveyors and criminals that prey on those in need. The numbers are staggering, and the potential for mayhem, especially fire, has increased exponentially.
Thank you for all the information and facts you provide. Many events you write about have an impact on local people for sure but also raise important issues that truly affect us all. Homeless, fires, law enforcement are all important issues that need our attention to help, end , and support. Thanks again for raising up important, thought provoking subjects.