A new video captures a stark reality at Santa Monica’s famous beach during sunrise, revealing many people sleeping in bags scattered across the sand.
This footage, shared by City Council candidate Derrick Townsend, highlights how the shoreline was lined with what appeared to be homeless individuals dozing as the sun broke the horizon.
“We’re calling this ‘Sleeping Bag Beach.’ Another Saturday sunrise in Santa Monica,” he remarked on social media.
Santa Monica is renowned globally for its beautiful beaches, tourism, and upscale real estate.
Interestingly, the average home listing price in the city hovers around $3.1 million, while median sales prices fall between approximately $1.7 million and $1.8 million.
However, critics argue there’s a widening divide between Santa Monica’s glamorous image and the pressing issues observable in its streets.
Many locals and business owners attribute this to years of liberal governance, claiming that city policies have prioritized homelessness without adequately tackling public safety, downtown deterioration, and overall quality of life.
The roots of visible homelessness in Santa Monica are often traced back to 1981, when the progressive group Santa Monica Renters Rights gained a majority on the City Council.
Led by figures such as future mayor Ruth Janatta Goldway, they influenced a political direction described by critics as lenient on enforcement.
Now, over four decades later, homelessness remains one of the most contentious issues in the city.
The population density in Santa Monica stands at about 97 individuals per square mile, and some contend that this concentration fuels ongoing tensions around the beach, downtown, and tourist spots.
Safety issues are increasingly contributing to public frustration.
On May 24, authorities arrested a 49-year-old man from Illinois named Nei Min Tar on charges of targeted assault, which included an incident involving a dog attacking a Jewish couple.
In a separate incident over the Labor Day weekend in 2025, a worker at Pier Pizza Subs and Salads near the Santa Monica Pier was stabbed multiple times while having lunch.
Earlier in August 2025, police apprehended a homeless man in connection with a series of unprovoked stabbings near a pedestrian stairway linking Oceanfront Walk and Appian Way.
In June 2024, a homeless man faced attempted murder charges after allegedly attempting to drown an elderly woman.
Additionally, in May 2024, a homeless man was accused of assaulting a female jogger and dragging her toward a beach restroom.
In July 2023, former City Councilman Phil Bullock encountered a homeless individual on the Third Street Promenade, who confronted him aggressively, reportedly making his third felony arrest within two weeks.
This controversy has rippled through the business community in Santa Monica, with the Third Street Promenade experiencing a retail vacancy rate ranging from 25% to 30%, and numerous storefronts displaying “For Lease” signs.
Recently, the Santa Monica Fire Department’s Community Response Unit has sparked discussion, costing $523,000 during its initial two-year pilot phase, with an estimated continued annual cost of $300,000. This program involves two firefighter teams along with specialized de-escalation equipment.
