Santa Monica, a city once celebrated as 'Hollywood by the Sea' and a frequent backdrop for television shows like Baywatch, is now grappling with a deepening homelessness crisis that has transformed its famed shoreline into what locals are calling 'Sleeping Bag Beach.' Shocking images captured on June 20 by Santa Monica council candidate Derrick Townsend revealed scores of individuals sleeping on the sand amidst their belongings, just yards from the Pacific Ocean. This scene has become a stark symbol of Los Angeles County's escalating homelessness issues.
The beach, which ranked among the top U.S. beaches in TripAdvisor's 2026 Travelers' Choice Awards and boasts an average home listing price of approximately $3.1 million, is now reportedly facing a decline in its economic vitality and public safety. Townsend documented scenes of people defecating on the beach and starting fires, stating, "It's legitimately degrading our economy." He also claims the city council is engaging in a "civic whack-a-mole" by pushing homeless individuals towards the beach, away from downtown events and neighborhoods.
Residents and business owners have voiced alarm over the changing atmosphere. Businesses, including the once-successful Third Street Promenade, have seen increased vacancies, with storefronts reportedly at 27 percent empty. Jennifer Rush, owner of the Blue Plate Oysterette restaurant, described incidents of vandalism and threats to staff safety, including a propane tank being thrown at her restaurant's front window. "Our staff doesn't feel safe, and tourists see that and don't want to come back," Rush told FOX11.
Concerns extend to the safety of residents, particularly children. Townsend cited mothers who are afraid to let their children walk to school. "People are paying an enormous amount of money to live here, you shouldn't feel like your kids can't walk to school safely," he said.
The situation has also drawn criticism of Los Angeles County's approach to homelessness and addiction, with Townsend specifically targeting harm reduction policies. He questioned the effectiveness of needle distribution programs, arguing they enable drug use without providing a path to recovery.
According to the most recent statistics from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), Santa Monica had 475 unsheltered individuals in 2025, a slight decrease from the previous year, with 202 people in shelters. However, recent incidents have heightened public concern. Santa Monica State Beach was identified as the riskiest beach in California for property crimes in a 2025 study. Reports from the past year include attempted sexual assaults, a stabbing near the Santa Monica Pier, and a multi-stabbing assault near the pedestrian staircase connecting Ocean Front Walk to Appian Way. In July 2025, a homeless man was charged with sex crimes and a hate crime that occurred on the beach bike path, with detectives believing there were additional unreported incidents.
