People living near a vacant lot in Los Angeles’ Koreatown neighborhood say a massive homeless encampment has become a “tiny city,” with those living in it even stealing electricity from surrounding buildings.
Residents told KTLA’s Gene Kang on Friday that the unhoused settlement on South Manhattan Place between 7th and 8th streets began in May with just a few tents, but has grown into an elaborate transient community.
Aerial video from Sky5 showed the massive urban campsite, surrounded by apartment buildings and businesses, had several large temporary structures with piles of trash littered throughout.
A woman who lives in the area said the transients have destroyed property and sold drugs in front of her daughter.
“They blew up two cars,” Sasha told KTLA. “It started off as a clean tent area, and then going to the store, they were passing drugs … in broad daylight.”
Other residents say they are concerned about fire dangers, telling KTLA that some of the unhoused have been running extension cords across the street to steal electricity.
City leaders have been alerted to the matter, but said that one of the issues is that the encampment is on private property.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said that city departments are responding, and an outreach team has been sent to the area.
“It is entirely unacceptable for private property owners to allow their lots to become a nuisance and a danger to the community,” Bass said in a statement. “All necessary City departments are responding to this location to hold the owner accountable and to keep the community safe. Outreach workers are visiting the site to engage with the unhoused.”
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