LA claims it’s handled massive RV homeless encampment — neighbors are furious

The city of Los Angeles claims it cleaned up a huge homeless encampment at a park near Balboa Sports Center, but nothing was really done about the countless RVs, neighbors have complained.

Earlier in March, Mayor Karen Bass touted an operation to “restore” the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area, a future venue for the 2028 LA Olympics, in a coordinated effort between the Los Angeles Fire Department, nonprofits, and others.

The 26-member fire department crew removed 4,776 cubic yards of homeless encampment debris and invasive plants, according to the mayor’s office.

Workers also removed more than 50 encampments with services offered to displaced individuals, and they installed more than 50 “No Camping” signs to discourage future encampments.

“Our comprehensive and coordinated strategy to address longstanding challenges in the Sepulveda Basin is centered around public safety – and we’re seeing real results,” Bass said in a statement, whose office framed the feat as her delivering on a promise.

But Encino residents told FOX11 the city hasn’t done much regarding the people living in cars and RVs in the area.

The city, in response, put up “no parking” signs, but the RVs then relocated to the park’s parking lot or to residential streets.

“The residents and the taxpayers are really left behind because we have to deal with the mess in the park, and oftentimes unsafe conditions,” one resident told FOX11.

“Dogs without their leash running around, it gets a little bit crazy, and it’s supposed to be where our kids play.”

The neighborhood council wrote a letter to the city, saying that residents “deserve a real solution, not a temporary shuffle,” according to FOX11.

The city has previously said that cleaning up the basin area will take a continued, sustained effort that takes time.

“Mayor Bass continues to meet directly with Valley residents and community leaders and regularly visits the Basin alongside first responders to ensure sustained progress,” the mayor’s office said.

This is not the first time that residents have been frustrated with the city’s progress on cleaning encampments. Last month, West LA residents complained that encampments would reappear after cleaning operations.

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