Latest news with #AnitaCavallo
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Yahoo
Violent Squatters Terrorize Ritzy Southern California Neighborhood
Violent squatters in Los Angeles are prompting concerning cries from residents, and many are calling on city officials to remedy the situation. Surveillance footage revealed that some squatters—people who unlawfully occupy an empty building or lot—have been setting fires and vandalizing property around certain California neighborhoods. The first accounts of the terrifying behavior occurred in Beverly Grove, an upscale neighborhood located in the Mid-City West region of Los Angeles—where the median list price is $1,195,000, according to May data. The area is known for its vibrant shopping and dining scene, including the Beverly Center and the Grove outdoor mall. The neighborhood is situated between Beverly Hills and West Hollywood. 'It's been absolutely terrifying. We are on hold with our lives right now until this is resolved,' Anita Cavallo, a woman who lives in the Beverly Grove area, told ABC7. The concerns come after a transient attacked a gardener outside a home in Brentwood, and it was all captured on video footage, according to ABC7. The footage shows the gardener being slammed over the head with a long pole, then falling to the ground momentarily and clutching his injured head. Even as the gardener tried to create distance by putting a garbage can between himself and the attacker, he was still in a vulnerable position. The squatter was seen advancing toward the victim, yelling loudly. Cavallo said roughly 20 transients roam around a boarded-up apartment complex on Flores Street. Although several of the houses in this area have tall fences to maintain safety and privacy, they do not always protect residents from unsuspecting, random attacks. Cavallo noted that one woman set fire to a vacant apartment complex over and over until residents were forced to extinguish the flames themselves. 'She's an arsonist,' Cavallo told ABC7. 'She got arrested a couple weeks ago … saw her light of fire last week, and she lit a big one last night. 'It feels like no one has proper answers for us. Everyone just blames someone else and tells us nothing they can do, so we don't know where to go anymore for help,' she added. The building owner mentioned that they have plans to rebuild the property. In the meantime, residents are worried that more violent attacks will ensue as unhoused people misuse the property. 'Californians have consistently cited homelessness as a top issue facing the state, and in 2024, homelessness reached record highs,' according to the Public Policy Institute of California. 'Of the nation's 771,500 people experiencing homelessness, over 187,000 (24%) were in California. Two in three were unsheltered, accounting for almost half of the country's unsheltered population.' Although these numbers are troubling, the institute also noted that unsheltered population growth in the U.S. (7%) outpaced California (0.4%), reversing the previous decade's trend of larger increases in the Golden State. In California, the presence of homelessness and homeless encampments can negatively affect property values, particularly when these encampments are visible or create disturbances. Generally, properties located near homeless encampments sell for lower prices than comparable properties. However, the impact on property values can vary, and some research suggests that affordable housing, when well-managed, can even have a positive or neutral impact on neighborhood property values. In May 2025, California Gov. Gavin Newsom released a state model for cities and counties to address dangerous and unhealthy encampments and connect people experiencing homelessness with shelter and services. 'There's nothing compassionate about letting people die on the streets. Local leaders asked for resources—we delivered the largest state investment in history,' Newsom said in a press release. 'They asked for legal clarity—the courts delivered. 'Now, we're giving them a model they can put to work immediately, with urgency and with humanity, to resolve encampments and connect people to shelter, housing, and care. The time for inaction is over. There are no more excuses.' How a $25 Million Sale Changed a Beach Town in New Jersey Olympian Gary Hall Jr. Starts Over in Florida After Fire Destroys Palisades Home—and the 10 Medals in His 'Fireproof' Safety Box Saving for a Home in Hawaii Takes 29 Years—See How Long It Takes in Your State
CBS News
21-06-2025
- CBS News
Abandoned apartment buildings in Beverly Grove could be demolished after removing hazardous materials
A Beverly Grove neighborhood that has been dealing with squatters living in three abandoned apartment buildings was given a glimpse of hope that their problems would be solved on Friday. The residents say that their usually quiet street has been hit with a rash of fights, fires and people using drugs because of the nearly 20 people squatting in the vacant buildings. "I just feel like we are going in a circle calling the cops," resident Anita Cavallo said. "We called the cops, I don't know, about 20 times, 25 times." After residents raised their concerns on CBS News Los Angeles on Wednesday, the property owner said that he's doing everything he can to secure the buildings and push forward with construction. He said he's tried everything from securing the property to turning off the utilities, but the squatters keep coming back. "I don't believe anything he says," Cavallo said about the property owner. "It's been too long. We've been asking, requesting for signs up for protection, security, and he just finds excuses or he just doesn't answer." While there has been some progress, the neighbors called the Los Angeles Police Department twice on Friday to handle squatters and check out a disturbance at the vacant buildings. "I personally think that the owner only had the cops here to save face, but he refuses to put the property city trespassing signs up," resident Caron Feldmen said. The property manager said crews were removing hazardous materials on Friday but would have to wait two weeks before demolition could start. "Since you guys and the other media showed up, it looks like something's finally happening," one resident said. "They came the next day to start removing asbestos and taking down part of the roof." But with an alleged arsonist and a string of unsettling behavior, neighbors believe a little progress just isn't enough. "We wake up to screaming, drugs, violence, all of it," Cavallo said. "I have to keep my windows closed and my daughter is traumatized to sleep at home. She doesn't even like to come home." The property owner also said he plans to take the doors and windows off the units to speed things up.
