By Larry O’Connor and Producer Dean DeMilio
The Larry O’Connor Show dedicated 2 hours to the homeless issue that is plaguing Los Angeles. The complete failure of Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Bonin to alleviate or solve the growing homeless problem that is gripping his district has brought the issue to a boiling point for residents and business owners.
Mar Vista business owner Demetrios Mavromichalis and Keep LA Moving founder John Russo joined the Larry O’Connor Show to discuss the homeless man who wielded a large Bowie knife from a makeshift homeless encampment in Mar Vista in the shadow of the LAPD Pacific Division.
KABC News reporter Kevin Tripp was live from the Mar Vista Homeless Encampment to discuss the mobile shower unit that was launched for the first time. Exclusive Motors owner George Frem joined the Larry O’Connor Show to express his dismay at the mobile facilities being placed in front of his business which has impacted his business in a negative way.
Travis Binen spoke with Larry O’Connor about the video he shot during Great Streets Centinela: Walk and Talk with LA City Councilman Mike Bonin. Travis’ video appears to show Councilman Bonin walking away from a homeless man who started a small fire next to his homeless encampment. Travis was able to give a firsthand account of what happened that October night.
A growing homeless encampment on Venice Boulevard in Mar Vista now has portable showers and toilets.
By Kevin Tripp, KABC
A contractor for the City of Los Angeles set the showers up next to George Frem’s car business and he’s not happy.
”Obviously, this is not good for any business. The city knows very well that we complained about that for a long time. But, they’re not doing anything about it. So, we’re becoming like a dictatorship.”
The showers and bathrooms are brought in on a trailer once a week and hooked up to a fire hydrant. The homeless encampment now covers both sidewalks of Venice Boulevard under the 405 freeway. Resident Luis Parada says it’s getting worse.
”The longer they stay out here, the worse they get mentally. And I’ve heard about people getting shot here, people getting assaulted.”
Another neighbor told us he’s giving up and leaving Mar Vista.
