A disgusting reality within Los Angeles’ homeless encampments was brought to life in new video released by the LAPD.
A disturbing video posted by the Los Angeles Police Department shows a massive homeless encampment overrun by rats just steps from homes in an LA neighborhood.
Trash and debris spill into the street while tents, makeshift shelters, bikes and garbage block the sidewalks.
A second clip is even more gross, showing rats swarming through piles of trash as the disease-carrying rodents crawl in and out of shelters and debris.
“When people ask why we do enforcement at homeless encampments, this is why,” the post from LAPD read. “It is completely blocking the sidewalk making it impossible for our neighbors with disabilities to pass and it creates a health hazard,” they continued.
The LAPD eventually stepped in to make arrested.
“This operation ended with several felony and misdemeanor arrests as well as multiple citations,” LAPD said.
It comes as LA’s homeless crisis continues to blight the city, with The Post reporting recently about an encampment set up in the sewer system.
This is despite a $2.6 billion cash injection from Gov. Gavin Newsom to buy and renovate properties for people sleeping rough.
There are still about 3,800 living in Skid Row, one of the densest concentrations of people in America.
Los Angeles has about 43,699 homeless people in the city alone, with the total topping 72,000 countywide, according to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.
The homelessness problem has also been a focal point of the upcoming Los Angeles mayoral election.
This week, LA Mayor Karen Bass shrugged off questions about her pledge to end street homelessness in the city — blaming “bureaucratic barriers” for her failure to follow through on promises she made when first elected.
During an interview with CNN, Elex Michaelson asked why voters should trust Bass after she said in 2023 that her goal was to eliminate street homelessness by the end of her first term.
“I didn’t anticipate some of the bureaucratic barriers that I would experience, but I am prepared to take those on now,” Bass responded. “When I said that, it was at the beginning of my term. I am very committed to achieving that goal.”
Bass’ formidable opponent, former reality star Spencer Pratt, has repeatedly criticized the city’s handling of homelessness, infrastructure and emergency preparedness.
The Post reached out to Bass office for further comment.
