Latest news with #BlueChirper
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
LA man creates device to deter homeless from sleeping outside his condo — but is it the best solution?
In West Hollywood, a new device called the "Blue Chirper" is stirring controversy as it aims to deter homeless individuals from settling near businesses. Invented by Santa Monica resident Stephen McMahon, the device emits a chirping sound and flashes blue light when it detects motion. McMahon describes it as a non-aggressive deterrent. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) "We're not trying to punish anybody," he told NBC Los Angeles. "We're just trying to divert them." The Blue Chirper, priced at about $400, was developed after McMahon experienced homeless encampments outside his condominium complex's storage area. He also noted a break-in and a neighbor with her infant daughter being assaulted, according to the Los Angeles Times. Local news channel KTLA5 says McMahon has sold about two dozen devices to business owners and residents in various Southern California locations, including the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica. In West Hollywood, it was recently placed near a Trader Joe's on Santa Monica Boulevard. While some area residents appreciate the effort to keep sidewalks clear, others find the constant chirping and flashing lights disruptive. 'It's so annoying,' grocery shopper Jeffrey Howard told the Los Angeles Times. 'It's like an alarm from a smoke detector that you're just waiting for somebody to turn off.' Another shopper, Travis Adam Wright, called it a bad look for West Hollywood. It feels like 'a jerk's first response to people living on the street,' he said. The city has received no official complaints, but a code enforcement officer is set to assess the situation. As one local woman pointed out, it may be more impactful to address the root of the issue rather than just one symptom. 'It makes me sad that that's what we're doing to get people to move on. On the other hand, this is someone's business, it's their livelihood,' she told NBC. 'We need just a better solution to the homeless situation.' Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it This local initiative comes amid a national surge in homelessness. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), over 770,000 people were experiencing homelessness on a single night in January 2024, marking the largest number since data collection began and 19% more than in 2007. Factors contributing to this rise include rising inflation, stagnating wages among middle- and lower-income households and a severe shortage of affordable housing, with median rent increasing by 18% since 2020, says the National Alliance to End Homelessness, and a deficit of over 7 million affordable rental homes nationwide, according to National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates. Notably, the baby boomer generation is facing homelessness at unprecedented rates. People aged 65 and older are now the fastest-growing group among the homeless population, with Justice in Aging projections indicating their numbers will peak by 2030. Many in this demographic struggle with rising housing costs on fixed incomes. In fact, in the 2024 HUD report, about one in five people experiencing homelessness on a single night was 55 or older. Almost half of adults in this age group (46%) were experiencing homelessness in "places not meant for human habitation." While a chirper may get rid of people occupying public stairways, it does nothing to address the broader issue at large — and a substantial solution remains to be seen. Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you'll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Chirping device used to keep unhoused from West Hollywood Trader Joe's
A shopping center in West Hollywood has deployed a chirping device to keep the unhoused from a stairwell outside a Trader Joe's store, but it has some upset. KTLA's Gene Kang was outside the Trader Joe's store off of Santa Monica Boulevard, where the chirping could be heard loud and clear during his live report Friday morning. The device mounted above the popular grocery store chain's door makes a cricket or smoke detector-like chirping sound as blue lights continuously flash to keep people from loitering or sleeping in the stairwell. The 'Blue Chirper' is a motion-activated device invented out of frustration by Santa Monica resident Stephen McMahon after a neighbor was attacked by two men. McMahon has since sold about two dozen of the devices to local business owners and residents looking for a 'less-aggressive' way of keeping the unhoused away. Building managers at the plaza where the Trader Joe's is located have reported positive outcomes since the device was put up. However, some say that simply pushing the homeless to a different neighborhood does not help solve the city's problem. West Hollywood officials have said the device undermines the city's homeless outreach efforts and plan to investigate potential noise code violations. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
West Hollywood shopping center installs chirping device to discourage homeless from camping out. Will it work?
Some customers walking out of the West Hollywood Trader Joe's wear an annoyed look on their face, and it has nothing to do with rising grocery prices. The source of the irritation is a small blue box installed in a stairwell leading to the market, the latest tactic used by property owners to deter unhoused people from camping out in the area. The motion-activated device chatters like a loud, anxious cricket as people pass by the shopping center. "It's so annoying," Jeffrey Howard said as he left the market with his groceries. "It's like an alarm from a smoke detector that you're just waiting for somebody to turn off." Another shopper, Travis Adam Wright, said he thought the device was a poor response the homeless problem and a bad look for West Hollywood. "It feels indicative to a jerk's first response to people living on the street," he said. The blue box joins a growing list of deterrents deployed by Southern California business owners and property managers who have taken matters into their own hands to address the homeless crisis. In downtown Los Angeles, a property owner blasted the monotonous children's song "Baby Shark" to deter camping last month. In 2023, L.A. Metro began blaring loud classical music as part of a pilot program to drive away homeless people from subway stations. But the blue box, dubbed the BlueChirper, emits a racket that is devoid of rhythm. The chirping sound is triggered by the passing of anyone under the motion-sensing device, regardless of their intention. A spokesperson for the city of West Hollywood said a code enforcement officer is scheduled to visit the stairwell to see if the device complies with the local noise ordinance. If there is a violation, the city will recommend alternatives. West Hollywood spokesperson Joshua Schare said the chirping device is not in line with the city's response to the homeless population, which includes having nonprofit organizations provide outreach services. The property management company at the shopping center learned about the device through other news stories and installed it several weeks ago. The company said it is testing out the device, but so far the results seem positive. "We are all cognizant of and concerned about the care of our homeless population," Investors' Property Services President Robert Warren III said via email. "On the other hand, we have a responsibility to work to provide clean and safe access to and throughout this shopping center.' Read more: Editorial: To understand homelessness, listen to homeless people. Here's what I learned The chirper represents one of the not-so-subtle ways property owners and others are making public places feel unwelcome to the unhoused. Armrests protruding from the middle of a bus bench or park bench are an understated way of keeping people from lying down, said Esther Margulies, professor with the USC School of Architecture and Dornsife Spatial Sciences Institute. Margulies said she understands the frustration property owners encounter when people are trying to seek shelter around their buildings. But she said devices like the chirper represent the private sector trying to solve the problems that should be addressed by local government. "By creating these kinds of hostile elements that take people away from shelter or just move them around, we're not treating the root cause," Margulies said. "We are diminishing and demeaning the quality of our public environment, because we're responding to this social and economic problem without treating the cause." The latest data show there were 75,312 homeless people in Los Angeles County in January 2024, roughly 200 fewer than in the previous year, but about 6,100 more than in 2023. In March, Los Angeles County Supervisors approved a $908-million-funding budget for homeless services, including the first rollout of funding under the Measure A sales tax intended to address the city's homeless problem. Read more: Santa Monica residents go to war against Waymo, including obstructing driverless taxis The BlueChirper device retails for $400 and was invented out of frustration. Stephen McMahon invented and first deployed the device outside his Santa Monica condominium complex storage area after a break-in and a neighbor with her infant daughter was assaulted by two men. McMahon initially proposed a solution to his homeowners association board to deter trespassers. Now the retired director of photography is fielding orders for the BlueChirper after teaching himself how to make a circuit board that can emit the annoying sound and flash a blue light. He says the device works as intended at his condo complex. The majority of sales are from women younger than 40 who like the "non-aggressive aspect" of the device, McMahon said. He wishes he didn't have to resort to this tactic, but feels there has been little done to address the homeless crisis in Los Angeles County. "I don't want to punish anybody. I just want them to go somewhere else," he said. In West Hollywood, local merchants say the device has managed to deter people from camping in the stairwell that leads to Santa Monica Boulevard and several eateries. The chirping is hardly noticeable at a nearby pizza restaurant with the doors closed. But four businesses away at Waxology Weho, employee Roxanne Moreno said she can hear the sound and finds it embarrassing that this is the solution used to address the homeless problem in the area. "These people are patrons too and this comes across as another step to criminalize homelessness," Moreno said. "What is the end goal for all of this?" Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
30-05-2025
- General
- Los Angeles Times
West Hollywood shopping center installs chirping device to discourage homeless from camping out. Will it work?
Some customers walking out of the West Hollywood Trader Joe's wear an annoyed look on their face, and it has nothing to do with rising grocery prices. The source of the irritation is a small blue box installed in a stairwell leading to the market, the latest tactic used by property owners to deter unhoused people from camping out in the area. The motion-activated device chatters like a loud, anxious cricket as people pass by the shopping center. 'It's so annoying,' Jeffrey Howard said as he left the market with his groceries. 'It's like an alarm from a smoke detector that you're just waiting for somebody to turn off.' Another shopper, Travis Adam Wright, said he thought the device was a poor response the homeless problem and a bad look for West Hollywood. 'It feels indicative to a jerk's first response to people living on the street,' he said. The blue box joins a growing list of deterrents deployed by Southern California business owners and property managers who have taken matters into their own hands to address the homeless crisis. In downtown Los Angeles, a property owner blasted the monotonous children's song 'Baby Shark' to deter camping last month. In 2023, L.A. Metro began blaring loud classical music as part of a pilot program to drive away homeless people from subway stations. But the blue box, dubbed the BlueChirper, emits a racket that is devoid of rhythm. The chirping sound is triggered by the passing of anyone under the motion-sensing device, regardless of their intention. A spokesperson for the city of West Hollywood said a code enforcement officer is scheduled to visit the stairwell to see if the device complies with the local noise ordinance. If there is a violation, the city will recommend alternatives. West Hollywood spokesperson Joshua Schare said the chirping device is not in line with the city's response to the homeless population, which includes having nonprofit organizations provide outreach services. The property management company at the shopping center learned about the device through other news stories and installed it several weeks ago. The company said it is testing out the device, but so far the results seem positive. 'We are all cognizant of and concerned about the care of our homeless population,' Investors' Property Services President Robert Warren III said via email. 'On the other hand, we have a responsibility to work to provide clean and safe access to and throughout this shopping center.' The chirper represents one of the not-so-subtle ways property owners and others are making public places feel unwelcome to the unhoused. Armrests protruding from the middle of a bus bench or park bench are an understated way of keeping people from lying down, said Esther Margulies, professor with the USC School of Architecture and Dornsife Spatial Sciences Institute. Margulies said she understands the frustration property owners encounter when people are trying to seek shelter around their buildings. But she said devices like the chirper represent the private sector trying to solve the problems that should be addressed by local government. 'By creating these kinds of hostile elements that take people away from shelter or just move them around, we're not treating the root cause,' Margulies said. 'We are diminishing and demeaning the quality of our public environment, because we're responding to this social and economic problem without treating the cause.' The latest data show there were 75,312 homeless people in Los Angeles County in January 2024, roughly 200 fewer than in the previous year, but about 6,100 more than in 2023. In March, Los Angeles County Supervisors approved a $908-million-funding budget for homeless services, including the first rollout of funding under the Measure A sales tax intended to address the city's homeless problem. The BlueChirper device retails for $400 and was invented out of frustration. Stephen McMahon invented and first deployed the device outside his Santa Monica condominium complex storage area after a break-in and a neighbor with her infant daughter was assaulted by two men. McMahon initially proposed a solution to his homeowners association board to deter trespassers. Now the retired director of photography is fielding orders for the BlueChirper after teaching himself how to make a circuit board that can emit the annoying sound and flash a blue light. He says the device works as intended at his condo complex. The majority of sales are from women younger than 40 who like the 'non-aggressive aspect' of the device, McMahon said. He wishes he didn't have to resort to this tactic, but feels there has been little done to address the homeless crisis in Los Angeles County. 'I don't want to punish anybody. I just want them to go somewhere else,' he said. In West Hollywood, local merchants say the device has managed to deter people from camping in the stairwell that leads to Santa Monica Boulevard and several eateries. The chirping is hardly noticeable at a nearby pizza restaurant with the doors closed. But four businesses away at Waxology Weho, employee Roxanne Moreno said she can hear the sound and finds it embarrassing that this is the solution used to address the homeless problem in the area. 'These people are patrons too and this comes across as another step to criminalize homelessness,' Moreno said. 'What is the end goal for all of this?'
