Image of overrun Hollywood Boulevard shows chaotic reality of iconic LA stretch

The sight of an iconic stretch of Hollywood Boulevard teeming with street vendors has forced at least one Karen Bass supporter to acknowledge the “disgusting” state of her city’s streets.

The voter, who identifies as Miss Jilianne on X, posted a photo on Sunday showing the sidewalk next to the Dolby Theatre packed with various vendors lining the walkway.

The number of vendors appears to stretch for more than a block along the boulevard, which is also home to the legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame.

“As a Democrat, I can admit I’ve been voting wrong. Look what Mayor Karen Bass has allowed to happen to Hollywood Boulevard,” she wrote in the post, which had garnered more than 1.2 million views as of Tuesday afternoon.

“It’s not only disgusting, it’s an embarrassment. It’s much worse than the picture depicts.”

Dylan Kendall, a candidate for the City Council seat that covers the area, piggybacked on the post to express her dismay at the situation.

“The sidewalk is too crowded for people to pass comfortably or safely,” she said, noting that “the vendors are running full stores on the Boulevard.”

“Master cartons of infringed souvenirs are piled up next to card tables,” Kendall added, placing the blame on incumbent Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez, who lobbied to loosen restrictions on street vending along the highly trafficked boulevard.

Challengers like Kendall have been attacking Soto-Martinez, a Democratic socialist, for the lack of clean streets in the district.

Miss Jillianne followed up her viral post with a video of the scene, as well as clips highlighting the stretch’s “horrific stench” and “filthy” conditions.

Soto-Martinez responded to a request for comment from The California Post by pointing to the 2018 Safe Sidewalk Vending Act, a state law that prevents local governments from banning sidewalk sales and sets the rules on vendor regulations.

“Since the passage of [the law] in 2018, street vending has been decriminalized across California, and our responsibility now is to implement it in a way that is fair and functional,” he said. “That means building a system where vendors can operate legally and safely, while also ensuring sidewalks remain accessible for residents, people with disabilities, and brick-and-mortar businesses.”

The California Post contact Bass’s office for comment.

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters