Elizabeth Rojas, DDS, is considering selling her dental practices based in Los Angeles' Van Nuys neighborhood because the activity in nearby homeless encampments has made her and her staff feel unsafe, she told local ABC affiliate KABC-TV.
Dr. Rojas told KABC-TV she opened her practice in Van Nuys, where she grew up, because she wanted to help build her community. However, she and her staff have become increasingly concerned with the behavior they encounter from homeless individuals around the practice.
"It's just become a scary situation," Dr. Rojas told KABC-TV. "They're defecating, urinating but now it's just become violent. It's constant; they're always fighting — they have machetes, they have knives, they have hammers."
She also shared that the practice's security footage often reveals people who are naked on the street, attacking each other or armed with weapons. The footage also showed two men breaking into the building, Dr. Rojas told KABC-TV.
Dr. Rojas told KABC-TV she asked the city to help but hasn't received a meaningful response. She also said she feels the issue is growing worse.
"We employ 10 assistants, hygienists, two other doctors," she told KABC-TV. "I'm at the point where I ask myself, 'Should I leave? Should I just sell and get out of here?' I don't know. Take a loss and leave?"
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