UPDATE: Residents of Humboldt Street in Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles, are in crisis as abandoned RVs continue to flood their neighborhoods, bringing sewage, trash, and rising crime rates. The situation has escalated to the point where local business owners have reached out to 7 On Your Side Investigates for urgent assistance from city leaders.
Local business owner Stacy Vierheilig expressed her frustration, stating, “This is not OK.” Her industrial property, which houses toys for underprivileged children, is surrounded by a growing number of inoperable RVs that have led to pools of wastewater accumulating outside. Just recently, her security cameras caught a thief stealing copper wire from her air conditioning unit, highlighting the rampant crime linked to these vehicles.
According to Gabriel Perez from the nearby St. Vincent de Paul thrift store, break-ins occur almost every night. He voiced concerns about the safety of his employees and customers, noting that they often have to walk in the street due to the RVs blocking sidewalks. “For every dollar we have spent on patchwork, we are taking away from our mission to serve those in need,” Perez lamented.
In response to the growing crisis, Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez acknowledged the severity of the situation, stating it is a top priority for her office. Recently, she voted against a new state law intended to facilitate the removal of RVs, which raises the threshold value for removal from $500 to $4,000. Hernandez expressed concern for the individuals living in these RVs, emphasizing that she did not want to create false hopes about immediate solutions.
While Hernandez is exploring options for more homeless accommodations, she cannot provide a timeline for when the RVs will be cleared from Humboldt Street. “I don’t have a timeline for when those RVs will not be on that street,” she admitted. Until then, local businesses are fortifying their properties. Vierheilig has installed an iron fence, and Perez plans to do the same at St. Vincent de Paul.
The city has approved the new RV removal law, which will take effect next year, and Mayor Karen Bass‘s office is optimistic about its potential impact. They described the law as a “vital tool” to tackle RV encampments across Los Angeles. A spokesperson stated, “This effort demonstrates Mayor Bass’ work to break with the status quo that allowed the homelessness crisis to worsen over decades.”
As community frustration grows, residents and local leaders are calling for immediate action to reclaim their streets and restore safety. The situation on Humboldt Street exemplifies a larger crisis facing many neighborhoods in Los Angeles, prompting urgent discussions about solutions for the homeless population and the safety of local constituents.
Residents are left awaiting decisive action from city officials as the growing number of RVs continues to pose significant safety and health risks in their community.
