A few months ago I visited the Marina del Rey-LA County Library, located along the new bike/walking path. I planned to walk to the new Bank of America branch, then pick up something at the new Trader Joes. As I walked behind the library to the path, I was surprised to see an encampment at the back door, overlooking the marina. So I went in to ask the librarians about the encampment, which we could view from inside through the children’s area windows. Librarians said LA County Sheriffs responded when a man heaved a huge rock through the windows, smashing them, and it was a good thing no children were near the windows at the time. Other library windows in the back area have been smashed and boarded up. So I sent an email to Supervisors Janice Hahn & Holly Mitchell (past & present district sups), and the Sheriff imploring them to fence off the back lot area, as the librarians said they have no use for the back lot and it only attracts vagrants. No response came from either supervisor, except for the auto-generated message “Thanks for getting in touch with us” messages. Just last year Janice Hahn led a re-opening dedication ceremony of the Marina branch library and it’s so disheartening to see the property being used as an encampment “with a view of the marina” along the walking path. Fortunately, the property owners at the new Bank of America & Trader Joes police their areas, so at least the marina slips and surrounding walking paths are clear of encampments and garbage. Santa Monica MUST increase security/police presence like property owners are doing in neighboring Marina del Rey.
A few months ago I visited the Marina del Rey-LA County Library, located along the new bike/walking path. I planned to walk to the new Bank of America branch, then pick up something at the new Trader Joes. As I walked behind the library to the path, I was surprised to see an encampment at the back door, overlooking the marina. So I went in to ask the librarians about the encampment, which we could view from inside through the children’s area windows. Librarians said LA County Sheriffs responded when a man heaved a huge rock through the windows, smashing them, and it was a good thing no children were near the windows at the time. Other library windows in the back area have been smashed and boarded up. So I sent an email to Supervisors Janice Hahn & Holly Mitchell (past & present district sups), and the Sheriff imploring them to fence off the back lot area, as the librarians said they have no use for the back lot and it only attracts vagrants. No response came from either supervisor, except for the auto-generated message “Thanks for getting in touch with us” messages. Just last year Janice Hahn led a re-opening dedication ceremony of the Marina branch library and it’s so disheartening to see the property being used as an encampment “with a view of the marina” along the walking path. Fortunately, the property owners at the new Bank of America & Trader Joes police their areas, so at least the marina slips and surrounding walking paths are clear of encampments and garbage. Santa Monica MUST increase security/police presence like property owners are doing in neighboring Marina del Rey.