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An ordinary commercial building at the corner of 11th and Main streets in downtown Los Angeles caught the eye of Los Angeles officials recently for blasting “Baby Shark” to discourage homeless individuals from loitering in the area. Shalom Styles, owner of Styles Barber Lounge and a tenant in the building, revealed that the landlord started playing the song on Thursday via a speaker on Main Street, just a few feet away from a homeless encampment that had been present on the sidewalk for over a year. Property owners have been making various attempts to prevent homeless people from gathering or sleeping in commercial zones, citing concerns about the impact on business.
“These businesses are thriving, and we can’t have that stuff around here,” Styles commented on the homeless encampment. However, by Monday, the catchy children’s song was no longer playing. Styles explained that the landlord had informed him about receiving complaints from the police regarding the music, potentially facing citations for disturbing the peace. The landlord expressed interest in meeting with city officials before agreeing to turn off the music. Unfortunately, attempts to reach the landlord for comment were unsuccessful, and the Los Angeles Police Department did not respond to inquiries.
Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado’s spokesperson mentioned a meeting between the landlord, LAPD, and city officials but provided no further details. Jurado emphasized the importance of addressing the housing and homelessness crises with care and compassion, aiming to create lasting solutions to support the unhoused population without losing sight of humanity. In response to the situation, Dennis Oleesky, CEO of the Los Angeles Mission, announced a collaboration with Styles to host an event offering free haircuts and grooming services to unhoused individuals in downtown Los Angeles.
Despite the ongoing efforts to address homelessness in the city, tensions between business owners and the homeless population persist. In 2019, 7-Eleven made headlines for playing loud classical music to deter homeless people from their stores, while other businesses implemented measures like planters and fences. While the unsheltered population in Los Angeles decreased last year and is projected to decline further, residents and business owners remain frustrated with the city’s response to the crisis. Recent audits of homeless services in the city revealed deficiencies in data systems and financial controls, raising concerns about the management of contracts for compliance and performance.
Styles Barber Lounge faced challenges with homeless individuals in the area, leading the landlord to play “Baby Shark” as a means of drawing attention to the homelessness issue. Nearby businesses like Rage Ground also encountered problems, with a homeless man reportedly causing disturbances and engaging in unsafe behaviors. The interactions between business owners and the homeless population underscore the complexities of addressing homelessness in urban environments, highlighting the need for comprehensive and compassionate solutions to support vulnerable individuals in the community.
