Thursday, March 19, 2009

Semi Tropic Spiritualists' Tract Homeless Encampment


Photo: Diane Edwardson, March 13, 2009. Homeless encampment in California Black Walnut Woodland. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

The natural beauty of the Semi Tropic Spiritualists' Tract comes with a reminder of that it's still in Los Angeles: a homeless encampment. Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority has attempted to provide assistance to this individual; LAPD invited him to leave the property in February, and yet, he still persists. He's got an incredibly beautiful home site, why should he leave?

Developers allow homeless activity to continue on their hillside lots, because it makes them look like they're solving a problem by developing the site. However, it would also indicate negligence of their property and complete disregard for their neighbors. It is a potential liability if a camp fire were to spread to the surrounding area and damage neighbors' property.

Worth noting, the trees and this slope, along with the plateau above, would be completely removed and compacted 2:1 under the developer's proposed plan for subdivision.