Venice Beach ranks second worst worldwide in new beach complaint index

Tech firm Cloudwards examined TripAdvisor feedback for 200 of the world’s most visited beaches, flagging keywords related to filth, crowding and disturbance. Waikiki Beach earned a 100-point complaint rating, making it the dirtiest according to the index, and Venice Beach earned 89.7, ranking it second. Over 60% of the Venice complaints cited lack of cleanliness, with reviewers noting urine odors and trash.

The beach’s reputation is compounded by a visible homeless population, insufficient maintenance crews despite a city budget for Operation Healthy Streets, and a drop in LAPD personnel to multi-decade lows. Residents at a recent community meeting voiced frustration over rising violence and unsanitary conditions, blaming nearby shelters such as Journey Apartments and the Safe Place for Youth for the perceived lawlessness.