In a hot and packed elementary school auditorium, Venice residents swarmed around Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Bonin, peppering him with questions.
Reporters and activists strained to hear as Bonin laid out his case for setting up a temporary shelter for homeless people a few blocks away.
“Nobody wants sidewalk encampments, right?” Bonin told one woman at the event, an “open house” ringed with informational tables and placards where people could post suggestions. “If we don’t provide the alternative to sidewalks, encampments will continue, encampments will increase.”
Marie Hammond listened with her arms crossed. “Are you going to allow more and more people to come to Venice and camp on the streets to get into the shelter?” she asked.