Dismantling of Tent City Begins

Dismantling began today of Los Angeles’ temporary tent city across from City Hall, where 300 homeless huddled for the holidays. Many of the men and women returned to the streets.

Organizers say publicity about the effort resulted in offers of jobs and housing for about 30 of the tent dwellers but failed to achieve any lasting changes in county welfare requirements, blamed by sponsors as a cause of homelessness. The tents, pitched on state-owned property, were sponsored by volunteers who work with the homeless.