Residents of an idyllic Los Angeles neighborhood said unwanted RVs have invaded their community – with their owners spilling trash and openly using drugs over the past several months.
The growing number of campers in Winnetka, located in LA’s San Fernando Valley, also has locals concerned due to their proximity of several schools and parks.
Local John Shreve, who has lived in the area for 27 years, told the Daily Mail that Winnetka ‘always had a nice persona to it.’
‘It was quiet but it was still part of the city,’ he said.
Now, he and other neighbors are often afraid to go outside.
‘I’m 6’2 and I’m scared to go out of my door at night,’ he explained.
‘I have witnessed people shooting up right on the street.’
The encampment drawing the most attention stands at Winnetka Avenue and Chase Street, just steps from the Winnetka Recreation Center and Winnetka Avenue Elementary school.
The growing number of campers in Winnetka has locals concerned due to their proximity of several schools and parks
Winnetka is located in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley
‘My biggest concern is the kids down the street with all these schools. They’re seeing all this trash and open drug use,’ Shreve also told KTLA.
Neighbors said they’ve contacted their local city council member, Bob Blumenfield, as well as the Los Angeles Police Department and the LA Department of Transportation.
In a statement to KTLA, Blumenfeld’s office addressed the ongoing concerns.
‘My staff and I are aware of the RVs and ongoing issues at this location. We are working with City departments, including LA Sanitation and LAPD, to conduct a cleanup,’ it read.
‘Connecting unhoused folks in RVs to supportive services and having them accept those services has been a consistent challenge. However, we will continue to provide all resources at our disposal to address these issues.’
A Department of Transportation official showed up to issue citations to the vehicles for parking longer than the 72-hour limit.
But Shreve said there has yet to be any movement.
Trash, rats, and vermin are everywhere, he told the Daily Mail.
Local John Shreve, who has lived in the area for 27 years, said he is ‘scared to go out of my door at night’
The encampment is located near an elementary school and steps from Winnetka Recreation Center
Neighbors have contacted their city council member, Bob Blumenfield, about the problem
‘People are living in squalor,’ he said.
Shreve noticed a shift in his neighborhood decade ago, saying it speaks to a larger issue.
‘Everybody who has any sense is sick of California,’ he said.
The Daily Mail reached out to Blumenfield and LA Department of Transportation for comment.
