By ALEXANDRIA BORDAS | Reporter
Government officials, Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) authorities and the Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness (PPTFH) joined about 20 residents at the corner of Temescal Canyon Road and Pacific Coast Highway where the first-ever sign restricting access to “high fire hazard severity zones” was erected on Wednesday, Oct. 7.
Bruce Schwartz, who heads government relations for the PPTFH, and Fire Inspector John Novela spearheaded the efforts to install eight signs to prohibit entry to Palisades hillsides as a way to deter homeless camping and the increased risk of fires that is associated with homeless encampments.
Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer
The signs read: “Restricted Entry: Trespassing and Loitering Forbidden By Law.”
Councilmember Mike Bonin, PPTFH Chair Maryam Zar and West Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Assistant Chief Patrick Butler collectively agreed that adding new signs to the area was a huge step in the right direction for compassionately addressing the issue of homelessness in the area.
“The signs were concocted by Bruce who initially had this wonderfully inspired idea that we could secure our bluffs with new signage and a new code. He worked with the City Attorney’s office and Inspector Novela and LAFD West to get these done,” Zar said in a speech to onlookers. “It’s been a long road, as you all know. It’s been about nine months, but we’ve been working diligently and we’ve had the help of the Councilman’s office as well.”
The Highlands Homeowners’ Association and the Palisades Rotary 8 funded the 16 signs to be enforced by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and the Department of Recreation and Parks.
Penalties for camping illegally, smoking or discarding any burning object in the hillsides can result in $1,000 fines, citations and subsequent penalty assessments depending on the severity of the situation and if it involves a repeat offender.
Bonin thanked the members of PPTFH for all of their work and stated that homelessness is the city’s greatest challenge and the community’s greatest risk.
“The way the Palisades has come together to try to find humane and proactive solutions to homelessness has actually been pretty inspiring,” Bonin said. “We are declaring a state of emergency on homelessness and the city is spending $100 million—and the county significantly more—to help address and solve this problem to get folks off the sidewalks, out of encampments and into housing and shelter.”
Palisadian Patrick Hart, a PPTFH member, invited a local homeless man who lives in the hillside to the sign installation ceremony. The man brought his dog and listened while Assistant Chief Butler discussed the grave dangers of illegal hillside fires.
“I am homeless by choice and have been living in the Palisades for seven years without disturbing anyone,” he told the Palisadian-Post. “I may be a blight to the community, but I stay hidden.”
He said people look down on the homeless population and that the community just wants them out, even though being homeless isn’t illegal. In response to what he will do now that enforcement of illegal camping is becoming more serious, he said he will simply move farther north.
“Where am I supposed to go now? People are very giving here, and I have made a home for myself that I feel comfortable in. They might just have to drag me out,” he said with a wry smile.
He added that he has been offered services in the past but has always declined, preferring to live outdoors because he gets anxious indoors.
Sharon Shapiro, Bonin’s field deputy and a representative to neighborhoods and organizations in both Pacific Palisades and Brentwood, attended the event and stopped to talk to the homeless man while petting his dog.
Judi Jensen, a Santa Monica Canyon resident since 1971 and a member of the local canyon organization BOCA, said she is overjoyed about the signs.
“We can’t have people camping and defecating in the high fire areas right where we live, which is why I am stoked for these signs,” Jensen told the Post.
In closing, Zar thanked everyone for continuing to support the PPTFH.
“Thank you all for supporting us as we secure our beaches, bluffs and our streets for the long haul,” Zar said to cheers from residents.
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