Venice homeowners hire ex-gang members as private security to curb homeless encampments

Frustrated Venice homeowners and businesses, numbering about 250, have turned to Ghost Town Consultants, a private security outfit employing roughly a dozen staff, including founders Bobby Luna and Ricky Myers, who previously were involved with gangs such as MS-13. For a monthly fee starting at about $300 per client, the firm patrols Rose Avenue, documents conditions, and contacts owners with updates, seeking to dismantle a tent city that once stretched across the main thoroughfare and the nearby boardwalk.

Luna, a former alcoholic, and Myers, who escaped gang life as a teen, now use personal outreach—providing burritos, water, and occasional shelter assistance—to persuade encampment residents to relocate or seek treatment. Their approach avoids weapons, relying on conversation and community knowledge. The initiative arises as the LAPD, down by about 200 officers since February and short roughly 4,000 officers overall, struggles to address rising crime and drug activity in the popular tourist area. Critics note the broader political climate and police staffing cuts have left residents seeking private alternatives for safety.