Homeless in Venice
LAPD Sgt. Theresa Skinner, left, supervises as officers detain Chesnel Dorceus while waking up homeless people sleeping along 3rd near Rose Avenue. Under a 2007 court settlement, homeless people may sleep on sidewalks in the city of Los Angeles as long as they move on by 6 a.m. When they don’t, officers may find themselves on wake-up patrol. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Al, a homeless man, strolls along the Venice Boardwalk. Though some homeless people leave a mess behind where they camp, annoying residents, Al likes to clean up after himself. As he swept his spot clean outside the planned Google site, he said, “Even though I’m in the streets, I like to be neat.” (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Homeless people gather their belongings after being awakened by LAPD officers before sunrise. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Some of the “unhoused” in Venice accuse police of harassing them with petty tickets they can’t pay. “They’re trying to get us so frustrated to move us out,” said Gregory “Buddha” Gussner, a 1985 Venice High School graduate. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
At Councilman Mike Bonin’s request, the city started cleaning the boardwalk twice a month, hauling unattended belongings downtown. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
LAPD Sgt. Theresa Skinner works in her police vehicle at sunrise while looking for homeless people sleeping on the sidewalks. “Sometimes I wish I had crime that was more police-related,” said Skinner, who estimated that 75% of the complaints she deals with as a senior lead officer were about transients. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Al, a homeless man, passes early morning joggers. The peaceful coexistence that the community has been known for has been put to the test lately, with some newer residents quick to call police about things the old guard would have shrugged off. At the same time, young, aggressive transients -- other homeless people call them “dirt punks” -- are upsetting longtime residents. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)