Santa Monica businesses plead with reluctant mayor to get serious about homelessness, crime

Image by Mel Melcon

Frustration is mounting among business owners in Santa Monica, where incidents of crime and widespread homelessness are affecting daily operations for the coastal community. LA Local TV 11 reports.

The normally bustling Wilshire Boulevard, famous for its variety of eateries and shops, has become a focal point for the community's growing distress. Business owners along the street are grappling with a spike in crime and the increasing presence of homelessness that's transforming the vibe of the once-vibrant area. They report frequent instances of vandalism, theft, and more serious crimes that are impacting the community.

"Mayor, we need your help. We need your help in this area," said Sean James, an independent contractor who runs a business in Santa Monica.

"It’s like a horror movie," he added.

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Nearby, empty buildings and vomiting on the streets mark a decline in the area’s condition, exacerbating the challenges businesses face.

James said dealing with violent people has become an everyday hurdle.

To combat break-ins, including three recent burglaries at a single establishment, some shops have resorted to installing metal gates and buzzer entry systems to prevent unauthorized access.

Other businesses in the area are vacant or have boarded up windows from smash-and-grab robberies as shop owners are doing what they can to survive.

Santa Monica Mayor Brock weighed in Gov Newsom's recent directive on homelessness by stating, "The reaction right now is it doesn't do anything in Santa Monica except help clear the I-10."

Some business owners claimed that because of increased crime in the area, police aren't responding to 911 calls.

Adding to the safety concerns, a recent incident near the beach involved a homeless man who was arrested after allegedly attempting to rape a woman as she sunbathed near the Santa Monica Pier. This has underscored the sense of urgency for solutions.

Read the whole thing here.

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Related:

• How SF—and other cities—can level up its anti-homelessness playbook (part 3 of 3)

• Housing expert says: San Jose—lots of homeless spending, still-soaring homelessness

• Project Roomkey case study: Homeless housing sans behavioral requirements is just plain dangerous

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