This 2004 photo shows squatters who had been living at this Los Angeles Van Nuys district for at least six months hassle free from the (DBS) Department of Building and Safety. This is one of hundreds of squatting sites in Los Angeles. While DBS Inspectors hand out citations for minor violations like sagging fences, to tax paying property owners, they refuse to do anything about violation like this.

This property, filthy, with human waste abound, located in Van Nuys, is home to squatters and vagrants. There is no pro-active code enforcement in many parts of Los Angeles. Because no one complains, the LAPD and the DBS don't bother to cite property owners. But even when someone does complain, little action is taken to make owners comply.