Neighbors and families in a South Los Angeles neighborhood said Wednesday that they are furious about a homeless encampment near 60th Street and Vermont Avenue.
NBC Los Angeles’ cameras captured images of the alley packed with piles of trash, several mattresses, chairs and more.
“It’s a constant issue,” Pablo Flores who lives 20 feet away from the alley said, adding his biggest concern is health.
“Rats and infestation of other animals in there, and, of course, that slowly starts to moving into the homes. Next thing you know, we have that inside the house,” Flores said.
The South LA resident said the city hasn’t been much help. According to Flores, city crews would pick up the trash and clean out the alley, only for the encampment to return within a day or two.
“(The homeless) either brings everything back in there or it looks the same within a few days,” Flores said.
The homeless encampment may be also impacting children as a middle school stands across the street from the alley.
Another neighbor, who identified herself as Sheyla, said when she walks by the alley with her children almost everyday, she often witnesses some people “doing crazy stuff.”
“They need to clean these streets up for us and for everybody,” Sheyla said.
Businesses in the area have to worry about vandalism, in addition to trash the homeless leave behind in front of their buildings, according to Jose Meza, a business owner.
“I have to check my cameras over here two times a week because they break the cameras,” Mesa said.
The office of Councilmember Curren Price, who represents the area, said it was not aware of the issue. A representative from Price’s team told NBCLA in a statement that the office never received complaints directly from community members.
The council office added that it’s planning a comprehensive cleanup by Monday, July 20 while urging community members who experience similar issues to call 311 or directly contact their council office.