Growing numbers of homeless tents in public facilities and grounds are raising significant concerns among residents of Koreatown, Los Angeles.
Bus stops, sidewalks, and parks in Koreatown are increasingly being avoided as homeless tents have taken over one after another.
On December 20, homeless campers occupied a bus stop and adjacent sidewalks at the intersection of Olympic Boulevard and Arlington Avenue. It often took over the sidewalk, blocking pedestrian traffic.
“It has been a public nuisance for years,” the owner of a nearby car repair shop expressed his frustration. “It is only when the city cleans the streets that the streets are clean, but then the homeless move right back in.”
On December 13, LA Sanitation & Environment conducted a cleanup at the park in front of the Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) School on Wilshire Boulevard. It was the efforts of the Wilshire Center-Koreatown Neighborhood Council, which submitted a petition signed by more than 100 people to the 10th District Councilmember’s office. However, homeless tents reappeared in the park within a week.
Many homeless tents are occupying public spaces and lots in Koreatown. In one instance, a senior homeless man has camped out at the bus stop northwest of Olympic Boulevard and New Hampshire Avenue for over three years. Pedestrians reportedly take a detour to avoid the area where such tents are located altogether.
NBC4 reported that many of LA’s bus stops are increasingly becoming havens for the homeless. Bus stops have roofs and shade, making them a favored location.
Nearby residents are increasingly concerned about the inconvenience caused by these encampments. One resident of the Willowbrook of El Segundo Boulevard and San Pedro Street said, “There’s nothing we can do. They just go back there when the cleaning is done.”
“There are still a lot who need a place to stay,” said Christina Ash, a formerly homeless resident of Watts. “If you want to take the bus, you just have to stand around and wait. Homeless people at bus stops are not particularly a threat to the public.”
Meanwhile, the LA Metropolitan Transportation Authority clarified that the management of bus stops or bus shelters within the City of Los Angeles falls under the jurisdiction of the city government.
BY HYOUNGJAE KIM, HOONSIK WOO [kim.ian@koreadaily.com]
