LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles City Council Tuesday delayed a vote until Wednesday on a resolution seeking to expand the city’s anti-camping law to include two streets in the Third District.
Councilman Bob Blumenfield introduced a resolution seeking to expand the city’s anti-camping law, known as section 41.18, to incorporate 5400 Alhama Drive and 5416 Comercio Way.
The law allows the city to designate specified areas for enforcement to prevent sitting, lying, sleeping, storing, maintaining, placing personal property and otherwise obstructing the public right-of-way.
According to a statement from Blumenfield’s office, the area has had “serious criminal activity” that the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed stemmed from an encampment there.
Jake Flynn, communications director for Blumenfield, noted there had been recent stabbings, drug overdoses and other criminal activity in the area.
“Councilman Blumenfield does regular homeless outreach and his staff is at West Valley encampments every day,” Flynn told City News Service. “This location has continuously gotten more problematic and the recent criminal activity made it applicable for 41.18 buffer zones.”
Flynn noted Blumenfield is strategic when pursuing where to apply 41.18, and one of the main issues involves public safety. He emphasized that Blumenfield’s staff has been visiting these locations multiple time per week for months, adding that housing assistance is continuously offered and some have accepted the help.
“He and our team will continue to provide available beds and services, as we always do,” Flynn said in an email.
The resolution calls for relevant city departments with jurisdiction over those two streets to post notices and begin enforcement once the posting period ends.