Following a gang-related shooting on January 22, 2023, Mayor Karen Bass mandated increased police patrol and barriers in MacArthur Park, disrupting local vending. The Westlake area faces severe drug and homelessness issues, prompting city efforts including sanitation and mental health outreach. Although barriers have halted illegal activities, the future of local vendors remains uncertain as the city seeks safer and legal vending solutions. Bass emphasizes the need for community collaboration to reclaim and improve the park's conditions.
LAPD surged resources into MacArthur Park at the direction of the mayor - increasing a visible foot-beat presence and making arrests for suspected gang-related activity.
The mayor looks forward to working with community leaders and Councilwoman Hernandez on a safe and legal way for vendors to vend in the MacArthur Park community.
The Westlake neighborhood has been the center of a raging drug and homelessness epidemic that has driven families out of the park and affected the quality of life for thousands.
Bass told me back in August that the situation was unacceptable and called for an urgent response.
Collection
[
|
...
]