'Operation Healthy Streets' Starts Power Washing, Disinfecting Skid Row Today

In response to the developing health crisis on L.A.'s Skid Row, the City of Los Angeles today launched a comprehensive program to address the ongoing health hazards on the area's streets, such as human waste, hypodermic needles and condoms.

Dubbed Operation Healthy Streets, the program was initiated by the Department of Public Works and includes an intensive, multi-day cleaning of the poverty-stricken neighborhood's streets and sidewalks. A release, which notes some of the other health hazards as rodent infestations and contaminated objects, says "the required cleanup will include street and sidewalk power washing and disinfection, which necessitates the removal of all items from the affected public rights-of-way."

To aid in this removal, the city along with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) have reached out daily to the homeless and other encampers to inform them of the cleaning and request that they move their belongings in advance. Two free property storage options -- 500 new storage bins at the Central City East Check-In Center and a secure warehouse on East Temple Street -- have been provided by the city for the area's inhabitants.

Patrick Butler, assistant chief with the Los Angeles Fire Department and acting spokesman for Operation Healthy Streets, told Los Angeles Downtown News, "Were coming out Tuesday morning with the Bureau of Sanitation, Bureau of Street Services and public health experts and were going to identify those items which are clearly public health issues as referenced in the county report."

The 32-page report followed the city's May request for a public health inspection of Skid Row, which revealed the neighborhood's hazardous conditions. Ordered by the county to clean up the area by May 29, the city obliged and is obviously taking cleanliness matters further. The city hoped the inspection would aid in its fight against a court injunction limiting controversial sweeps to dismantle sidewalk encampments; a decision by 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is expected this summer.

Focusing within the six blocks of Skid Row bordered on the north by East 5th Steet, on the south by East 7th Street, on the east by Gladys Avenue and on the west by Wall Street, the cleanup is expected to last for about two to three weeks. The release added that the work area will expand as needed to address all public health concerns.

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'Operation Healthy Streets' Starts Power Washing, Disinfecting Skid Row Today