Santa Monica's world-renowned beaches, once synonymous with the glamour of "Hollywood by the Sea" and the backdrop for "Baywatch," are increasingly being referred to by locals as "Sleeping Bag Beach." Sunrise scenes now reveal scores of individuals bedded down on the sand, a stark visual representation of Los Angeles County's escalating homelessness crisis. Photographer and Santa Monica council candidate Derrick Townsend documented dozens of people sleeping on the shoreline, with belongings scattered across the sand just yards from the Pacific Ocean.
Townsend, who has been documenting the conditions for months, stated that the situation has led to "degrading our economy." He described instances of homeless individuals urinating on the beach and digging holes in the sand for waste. Residents and business owners have voiced alarm, with some comparing the decaying beach conditions to those of the notorious Skid Row.
Critics, including Townsend, suggest that city policies are contributing to the problem. Townsend claims that the city council engages in a "civic whack-a-mole," pushing individuals experiencing homelessness away from downtown and other areas, ultimately concentrating them towards the beach. This displacement is exacerbated by large events, such as FIFA World Cup matches held at nearby SoFi Stadium, which draw international visitors and lead to increased enforcement in other public spaces.
The impact of the crisis extends beyond the beach, affecting public safety and the quality of life for residents. Townsend reported hearing from mothers who no longer feel safe allowing their children to walk to school. The city's famed Third Street Promenade, once a thriving shopping district, has seen a significant increase in storefront vacancies, with rates reportedly around 27 percent, far exceeding the typically healthy range of 5 to 10 percent.
Local businesses have also suffered. Jennifer Rush, owner of the restaurant Blue Plate Oysterette, described incidents of vandalism and threats, including a homeless individual slashing patio screens with a knife and a propane tank being thrown at the front window. She noted that mentally ill individuals are seen wandering the streets, and illegal drug use is apparent in public parks, while staff and tourists feel increasingly unsafe.
Townsend has also criticized the Los Angeles County Public Health Department's harm reduction policies, specifically needle distribution programs. He argues that these programs provide the tools for drug use without a clear path to recovery, contributing to the problem in public spaces.
Despite the visible challenges, recent statistics from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) in 2025 indicated a slight decrease in unsheltered individuals in Santa Monica, with 475 people counted, down from the previous year. However, the number of individuals in shelters increased to 202.
Concerns about safety on the beach have been highlighted by a string of incidents. In 2025, Santa Monica State Beach led the state in property crimes, with a theft rate of 59.87 per 1,000 residents. There have also been reports of sexual assaults on the beach, including an attempted assault in March 2025. Other violent incidents near the beach and pier in 2025 included a stabbing of a restaurant employee 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.
The once-idyllic shores, celebrated for their beauty and leisure, are now grappling with complex social issues, leaving residents and business owners feeling fearful and demanding solutions to what they describe as a degradation of their community's fabric.