𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗦𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗣: Police Clear Homeless Encampment at Venice Graffiti Park

VENICE, CA — Friday, June 27, 2025 — A coordinated multi-agency cleanup unfolded Friday morning around Venice Beach Graffiti Park as part of an ongoing effort to improve sanitation, safety, and accessibility at one of Los Angeles’ most visited coastal destinations. The operation involved personnel from the Los Angeles Park Rangers, Los Angeles Police Department, Department of Public Works, LA County Beaches and Harbors, and Clean Harbors Environmental Services. Crews removed debris and enforced camping restrictions under Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 63.44(b), which prohibits unauthorized lodging in city parks and beaches. Sanitation workers engaged individuals camping near the Graffiti Park and advised them to vacate the area to facilitate scheduled maintenance. Advance notice of the cleanup had been posted. Items left behind were collected and stored or discarded in accordance with city protocol. No arrests or citations were reported. Park Rangers led the enforcement component, while outreach teams from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) were present, distributing food, water, clothing, and hygiene kits to those impacted by the operation. Representatives from Councilwoman Traci Park’s office were also on site to observe and assist with coordination, underscoring the city’s ongoing strategy to combine enforcement with service-based outreach. City officials emphasized that these cleanups are part of a broader initiative aimed at restoring public spaces while connecting unhoused residents with housing programs and long-term support services. Santa Monica Closeup continues to document the evolving intersection of public safety, sanitation policy, and homelessness outreach across the Westside. #VeniceBeach #Homelessness #CleanupOperation #PublicSafety #lahsanrate — 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘂𝘀𝗲. 𝗔𝗻𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗿𝗲-𝘂𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗵𝗶𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱. © 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗙𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝘄𝗸𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗰𝘇 / 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗽. 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱. — 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗥 Fabian Lewkowicz is an award-winning photojournalist based in Santa Monica and the creator of 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗽. Known for his compelling imagery and neutral reporting, his work captures the pulse of the city—from civic affairs and emergency response to cultural moments and beach life. His photography has been showcased in galleries, museums, and public installations. — 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗔 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗔 𝗖𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗘𝗨𝗣 PayPal 👉 https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/fabia... Venmo 👉 https://venmo.com/u/santamonicacloseup — 𝗙𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪 𝗨𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗗𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗬 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗚𝗘 Instagram 👉   / santamonicacloseup   Facebook 👉   / santamonicacloseup   Twitter 👉   / smcloseup   — 𝗕𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗔 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟 𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗘𝗫𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗞𝗦    / @santamonicacloseup   — 𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 & 𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗔 𝗜𝗡𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦 Email 👉 [email protected] — 𝗧𝗔𝗚𝗦: Photojournalism, Visual Journalism, Street Reporting, Documentary, Observational Photography, Press Photography, Independent Media, Southern California News, SMCU, SM©U