The Hollywood Walk of Fame is rife with homelessness and violent crime, leaving tourists and locals feeling unsafe.
Once the epitome of glitz and glamour, LA's iconic landmark is disappointing visitors with its dirty sidewalks and repelling locals who have been victims of violent attacks.
The 1.3-mile stretch along Hollywood Boulevard, often closed for movie premieres and other high-profile events, is undergoing urgent renovations.
The redevelopment plans are being led by the city government and include wider sidewalks, additional shade trees, a protected mobility lane and pedestrian safety improvements.
“Hollywood Boulevard's sidewalks are often congested, certain portions of the infrastructure are outdated, and the area lacks a cohesive, unified design aesthetic,” Heart of Hollywood's plans state.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame is inundated with homelessness and increasing violent crime
The LA landmark disappoints visitors with its dirty sidewalks
Assaults with a deadly weapon, sexual assaults and homeless incidents have increased on the boulevard
“The goal of the Hollywood Walk of Fame Master Plan is to bring this iconic corridor into the 21st century, respecting its rich history while developing a holistic, long-term vision.”
However, the plans do not address the rise in homelessness and violent crime, which have increased significantly in recent years.
Assaults with a deadly weapon, sexual assaults and incidents involving homeless people have increased, according to data analyzed by KTLA.
A local woman, Amy Michele, said she was hit in the face while running errands on the boulevard.
“I've seen people with machetes and knives just cutting through the air in front of them, hoping to catch someone walking by,” she said in a TikTok video warning others.
“I saw people selling drugs out of the back of a truck.
“I witnessed a hostage situation at one of the apartment complexes on Hollywood Boulevard.
“I was hit in the back of the head by a homeless man,” she added.
The number of homeless people in LA has more than doubled in the last decade
More than 46,000 people now live on the streets of Los Angeles
The 1.3-mile stretch along Hollywood Boulevard, often closed for movie premieres and other high-profile events, is undergoing a much-needed renovation
Mayor Karen Bass has been committed to addressing the homelessness crisis since taking office last year
“It’s definitely not what we expected,” said tourist Sarah Saryan.
“It’s not clean and everything looks like in the movies,” she explained.
Social media footage shows rows of tents, people sleeping next to the famous stars and trash strewn on the sidewalks.
The situation was not improved by a significant reduction in police patrols on the boulevard.
Before the pandemic, there were 60 officers assigned to the Hollywood Entertainment District alone, but now that number has been cut in half, according to Steve Nissen, president of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.
“If you feel something that makes you uncomfortable, you’re not going to come back,” Nissen told KTLA.
“Part of feeling safe is not only that crime statistics are going down, but also that you're walking on streets that look clean, and those streets aren't often clean,” Nissen said.
He added: “When you walk down the street; You don't want to be mistreated or spoken to.
“The idea of modernizing Hollywood Boulevard and making it one of the most beautiful streets in the world is still there.”
Nissen said he hopes the rejuvenation program will be completed in time for the 2028 Olympics.
“We want the rest of the world to see Hollywood Boulevard and go back and talk about it with friends and neighbors around the world, rather than leaving somewhat disappointed like they did today.”
The homelessness crisis in Los Angeles has grown rapidly in recent years, an issue that Mayor Karen Bass has been committed to addressing since taking office last year.
The number of homeless people in LA has more than doubled in the last decade.
According to the latest data from LAHSA, there was a 9 percent increase in homelessness in Los Angeles County between 2022 and 2023, with the homeless population now totaling 75,518 people.
The city of Los Angeles saw an estimated 10 percent increase to a total of 46,260 people.