In the Golden State of California, where Vice President Kamala Harris hails from, no home is seemingly safe from the clutches of lawbreakers.
A sprawling mansion in the upscale Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles has been overrun by squatters, transforming the once-stunning residence into a graffiti-marred blight. The legal homeowners in the vicinity are living in fear, as their unwelcome new 'neighbors' have already begun to cause harm.
According to The Gateway Pundit, the graffiti 'art' adorning the mansion features a smiling heart figure that spans the entire height of the house, surrounded by "tags" - the squatters' names and initials sprayed in various fonts and colors. The house, which has been vacant for around ten years, became a squatter's haven less than two years ago, with graffiti making its appearance over the past week.
In an interview with NBC Los Angeles, local resident Mateo Herrerros revealed that the squatters have started to target other homes, creating a sense of threat among the neighborhood's inhabitants. "The guys who come tag, theyre tagging other houses on other properties, Herrerros said. I couldnt care less about this house. Its an abandoned house. The owner doesnt care about it. I dont really care about it. Its just the element it brings.
Another resident disclosed that homeowners have been physically assaulted by the unwelcome squatters, with one homeowner being attacked with a "steel rebar and beer bottle." NBC Los Angeles reported that the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has been called to the property four times in the past two days. WPVI reported that ten people were removed from the property on Wednesday, and one individual was arrested on a warrant. However, the police have expressed their inability to fully address the squatter issue due to the absentee homeowner's inaction.
Public records obtained by KTLA reveal that the mansion is owned by John Middleton, son of the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team owner. Middleton has reportedly not paid taxes for several years, and the property is under a lien. The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety declared the property a nuisance in October 2022 and ordered Middleton to secure the property by building a fence. When Middleton failed to comply, the city took matters into its own hands and erected the fence.
Middleton is also the owner of another Hollywood Hills property that is heavily targeted by squatters. Councilmember Nithya Raman has labeled the house a "public safety issue" and has called on Middleton to take action. However, she stopped short of condemning the squatters in a statement released by her office:
"Our office has been in close contact with the Los Angeles Police Department as well as the Department of Building and Safety regarding the ongoing situation at 7571 Mulholland Drive. An abatement order was previously issued by DBS, and subsequently ignored by the property owner. While DBS secured the property with fencing, that security measure was breached.
This owner is in egregious violation of the law and we are elevating the issue with the abandoned buildings unit at the Department of Building and Safety to ensure that the fullest extent of enforcement is being implemented urgently and swiftly. This is a public safety issue with serious consequences for both neighbors and the surrounding community. Irresponsible property owners like the one at 7571 Mulholland Drive must take accountability for their property or face action from the city."
The situation underscores the pressing need for property owners to take responsibility for their properties, particularly in the face of the growing squatter problem. The safety and peace of mind of law-abiding homeowners hang in the balance, as they grapple with the unsettling reality of their neighborhood's transformation.
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