Urgent Action Needed as RVs Overrun Humboldt Street in LA

UPDATE: Residents of Humboldt Street in Los Angeles are demanding immediate action as abandoned RVs continue to dominate the area, bringing with them a wave of sewage, trash, and crime. Frustration has reached a boiling point, prompting residents to reach out to 7 On Your Side Investigates for help.

The RVs, which have plagued the street for years, have created hazardous conditions, including pools of wastewater and an increase in criminal activity. “This is not OK,” declared Stacy Vierheilig, a local business owner who has fortified her property with security cameras due to rampant crime. Just recently, her surveillance captured a thief stealing copper wire from her air conditioner.

Local organizations are also feeling the impact. Gabriel Perez from St. Vincent de Paul reported nightly break-ins at their thrift store, raising concerns for both employees and customers. With RVs blocking sidewalks, pedestrians are forced to walk in the street, escalating safety fears. “For every dollar spent on security, we are taking away from our mission to serve those in need,” Perez lamented.

In response to the crisis, Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez announced her office is prioritizing this issue. However, she recently voted against a new state law that would allow the city to remove more RVs, as the current law limits removal to vehicles valued at $500 or less. The new law, set to take effect next year, raises this threshold to $4,000. “I didn’t want to give constituents false hope that this will change everything,” Hernandez explained.

Despite her reservations, the city is moving forward with plans to address the situation. Mayor Karen Bass‘s office expressed optimism about the new law, describing it as a “vital tool” to tackle RV encampments across Los Angeles. The mayor’s office stated, “This effort demonstrates Mayor Bass’ work to break with the status quo that allowed the homelessness crisis to worsen over decades.”

As residents continue to fortify their properties against crime, the immediate future remains uncertain. “I don’t have a timeline for when those RVs will be gone,” Hernandez admitted, but she has secured funding for more shelter beds to help alleviate the situation.

For now, the community of Humboldt Street is left to contend with the growing threat posed by the RVs. As the city prepares to implement the new law, local residents are left hoping for a significant change that will restore safety and cleanliness to their neighborhood. Immediate attention is crucial, as the situation continues to deteriorate, with vital community services at risk.