What used to be a peaceful corner of Los Angeles has transformed into a source of anxiety for residents.
Winnetka, a neighborhood tucked in the San Fernando Valley, is now seeing a surge of RVs parked on its streets—some leaving behind trash, while others openly engage in drug use.
Once-Quiet Streets Now Cause Fear
Longtime resident John Shreve, who has called Winnetka home for 27 years, describes the area as once having a “nice persona.”
“It was quiet but still felt like part of the city,” he told the Daily Mail.
Today, though, that sense of security is gone.
Shreve admits he often hesitates to leave his home after dark. “I’m 6’2” and I’m scared to go out of my door at night,” he said.
“I’ve seen people shooting up right on the street.”
Encampments Close to Schools Spark Concern
The RV hotspot drawing the most attention is at Winnetka Avenue and Chase Street, just steps from the Winnetka Recreation Center and Winnetka Avenue Elementary School.
For Shreve, the proximity to children is alarming.
“My biggest concern is the kids down the street with all these schools.
They’re seeing all this trash and open drug use,” he told KTLA.
Residents Reach Out for Help
Neighbors say they’ve contacted city council member Bob Blumenfield, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the LA Department of Transportation in hopes of action.
In response, Blumenfield’s office acknowledged the problem and assured that they are coordinating with city departments to clean up the area.
Their statement also noted the ongoing challenge of connecting unhoused individuals living in RVs with supportive services, but promised continued efforts.
Enforcement Efforts Stall
The Department of Transportation has issued citations to RVs parked longer than the 72-hour limit.
Yet, Shreve says there’s been little real progress.
Trash, rats, and other vermin remain widespread.
“People are living in squalor,” he told the Daily Mail.
A Neighborhood Feeling the Strain
Reflecting on the changes he has witnessed over the past decade, Shreve believes Winnetka’s struggle reflects a bigger issue across California.
“Everybody who has any sense is sick of California,” he said.
With no clear solution in sight, residents are left wondering: what’s next for their once-idyllic neighborhood?