Residents of Lincoln Heights are sounding the alarm as abandoned RVs have taken over Humboldt Street, creating a hazardous environment filled with trash, sewage, and rising crime rates. Just announced, local residents have turned to 7 On Your Side Investigates for urgent help, highlighting the dire situation that has plagued the community for years.
Stacy Vierheilig, a local business owner, expressed her frustrations, stating, “This is not OK.” Her industrial building, which provides toys to underprivileged children, is now surrounded by pools of wastewater from the RVs. Security cameras have captured alarming incidents, including thefts of copper wire from her air conditioning unit. “We need help,” Vierheilig added, emphasizing the growing safety concerns.
Residents have been forced to fortify their properties against crime, with many installing iron fences and caging utilities to prevent theft. Gabriel Perez of St. Vincent de Paul reported that break-ins occur almost nightly, further stressing the impact on both employees and customers who navigate the now unsafe streets. “For every dollar we have 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 stated her office is prioritizing the issue. However, she recently voted against a new state law that would allow the city to remove more RVs, raising the threshold from $500 to $4,000. Hernandez explained, “I didn’t want to give constituents the false hope that this is going to be the game changer around RVs in our city.” Instead, she is advocating for more funding to provide beds for the homeless, with no timeline currently available for when the RVs may be removed.
Until tangible solutions are implemented, local businesses are taking matters into their own hands. Vierheilig has just installed a new iron fence, while Perez plans similar upgrades for the thrift store. The situation remains critical, with the city now working to figure out the implementation of the new law, which will take effect in 2024.
The Mayor Karen Bass‘s office expressed optimism about the new law, describing it as a “vital tool” to address the ongoing RV encampment crisis throughout Los Angeles. In a statement, they highlighted the need for action, stating, “This effort demonstrates Mayor Bass’ work to break with the status quo that allowed the homelessness crisis to worsen over decades.”
As residents await effective solutions, the fortification of Humboldt Street continues. With rising tensions and safety concerns, the community is eager for immediate action to reclaim their neighborhood from the encroaching RV crisis. The urgency for intervention has never been clearer, and residents are looking for city leaders to respond swiftly before the situation escalates further.
