L.A. Sheriff Says ‘Paid Activists’ Are Behind Opposition To Cleaning Up Homeless Encampments

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva on Monday lashed out at some homeless advocates he says are “paid activists” who are impeding his efforts to help transients living at Venice Beach obtain services and housing.

While he did not mention any names, Villanueva posted an image on Facebook showing Ricci Sergienko, a progressive organizer with the People’s City Council-L.A., shouting at the sheriff while disrupting his media interviews on the boardwalk last week.