Van Nuys Boulevard, long known as the heart of San Fernando Valley youth culture, is now marked by tents, trash and shuttered storefronts. The Van Nuys Boulevard stretch that once drew teenagers cruising in hot rods now looks like a street many locals say has been left behind.
On a recent morning, a walk between Sherman Way and Victory Boulevard turned up crack pipes, needles and empty whiskey bottles near makeshift camps. Sidewalks were cluttered with trash, clothing and even open jars of mayonnaise, while broken spoons and lighters sat near bus stops. Workers in the area said the buildup has become so persistent that local crews have had to use leaf blowers to push debris away.
Several businesses along the boulevard are boarded up, but the ones still open say they face daily uncertainty. George Barak, who is originally from Syria and was working his second day as a cashier at a 99-cent store, said the situation was heartbreaking. “It’s so sad, so sad. We are in California, the best state in the United States, right?” he said. The store had to move its customer entrance to the alley west of the boulevard because tents were blocking the original Van Nuys entrance.
Aziz Saxenian, a Los Angeles native and dental assistant at another local business, said the camps have settled in front of nearby shops and offices. She said her boss bought the dental office six months ago and hopes the boulevard will recover. “We’re hoping our taxes would go somewhere where this situation wouldn’t exist on the streets,” she said. “It’s very sad. We would love the city to do something about it.” Her comments reflected a wider frustration among merchants who say they keep showing up to work not knowing what condition the block will be in from one day to the next.
