Once known as the spot of utter glitz and glamour in a city already known for fame and splendor, now the Hollywood Walk of Fame has become a Walk of Shame for the city. Rather than being a beautiful spot for tourists and interested locals to visit and bask in the fame of Hollywood, it’s turned into a wasteland of homelessness and violent crime.
In fact, a recent report in the Daily Mail sheds light on the extremely problematic circumstances surrounding the city’s Hollywood Boulevard problem, noting that the 1.3 mile stretch is currently under renovation after both locals and tourists were repulsed by the squalor and filth on it and many experienced violent attacks when trying to visit.
Describing the plan behind the renovation, the LA government said on its Heart of Hollywood page, “The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a Historic-Cultural Monument that is the “Main Street” of the Hollywood community, while also attracting millions of visitors per year. It is located on the sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard, 1.3 miles east to west, from Gower Street to La Brea Avenue; and on Vine Street, 0.4 miles north to south, between Yucca Street and Sunset Boulevard. However, sidewalks are often congested, certain pieces of infrastructure are outdated, and the area lacks a cohesive, unifying design aesthetic. The goal of the Hollywood Walk of Fame Master Plan is to move this iconic corridor forward into the 21st century, respecting its rich history, while establishing a holistic and long-lasting vision.”
Further, describing what changes are in store for the filthy boulevard, the city government said, “The Master Plan project envisions “a street for everyone,” particularly the residents and businesses that call this area home. The project aims to create an inclusive space with wider sidewalks, additional shade trees, a protected mobility lane, and pedestrian safety enhancements.”
While the projected plans for the space look beautiful and exciting, it remains to be seen if the city will be able to address the bigger problems afflicting the Boulevard, namely rampant homelessness, out-of-control crime, and squalor and filth on the sidewalks.
For example, local media outlet KTLA examined the data on violent crime in the area. It found that numerous sorts of incidents have shot up, including assaults with a deadly weapon and sexual assaults, along with various criminal incidents involving the homeless population in the area. Though wider sidewalks and more trees will look nice, those aesthetic changes won’t address the crime problem.
Speaking to Fox News about the situation near the Walk of Fame in the summer of 2023, one local described the homeless encampment situation by saying, “These are people who want to be out there getting high, and they have the perfect opportunity because the city, law enforcement, nobody is doing anything about it.”
Numerous videos on social media platforms like TikTok have gone viral for showing the immense amount of filth on the sidewalks and homeless individuals sleeping or using illegal narcotics in the area, horrifying people online. Check out one such video, originally shared by thestreetsofhollywood, here:
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video
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