Gather round, folks, and hear a tale of two beach towns, only 8 miles apart, but living in vastly different worlds.
An X post by LA real estate investor @LA_Multi_Fam recently went viral after showing a calm, postcard-perfect photo of Manhattan Beach.
Families on the sand. Clean shoreline. No tents. No trash. No chaos.
Eight miles up the coast sits Santa Monica. Same ocean. Same weather. Very different reality.
That contrast isn’t an accident. It’s the result of choices.
There is a stark difference in the way different cities in LA county are run.
Manhattan Beach (pic below from today) is 8 miles south of Santa Monica. Clean beaches, good schools, and zero homeless or fentanyl junkies anywhere.
Homeless industrial complex and its issues are a… pic.twitter.com/lqA9OLzvSI
— Paul (@LA_Multi_Fam) December 28, 2025
A Fork in the Sand
According to the 2024 Los Angeles homeless count, Santa Monica’s unhoused population rose about 5 percent to 812 people.
That increase came even as the county overall reported a modest decline. Much of Santa Monica’s growth came from people living in vehicles.
Manhattan Beach, by contrast, reports negligible homelessness. Local officials and volunteers conduct regular counts, enforce camping bans, and respond quickly to complaints. Encampments don’t linger long enough to become permanent.
Same state. Same county. Very different outcomes.
Supporters of the Manhattan Beach approach say the reason is simple. The city enforces its laws. Public spaces stay public. Help is offered, but disorder isn’t tolerated.
Santa Monica has taken a different path. The city has invested heavily in “housing first” programs, taxpayer-funded units, and expansive services.
Police are often limited to cite and release for low-level crimes tied to homelessness. Parks and beaches can remain occupied for long stretches. Critics say the result is predictable.
The Rules of the Village Housing Market
Housing policy is another sharp divide.
Manhattan Beach has zero rent control. Prices are high, no doubt. But supply responds to demand, and property owners have incentives to maintain and improve housing.
Santa Monica has rent control on roughly 53 percent of its housing stock. Conservatives have long argued that this kind of policy discourages new construction and pushes costs higher elsewhere.
In Santa Monica, even luxury units reportedly sit empty, not just because of price, but because renters worry about safety and quality of life.
It’s like putting a lid on one pot while the rest of the stove boils over.
When the Guards Stand Down
Supporters of strict enforcement point out that Manhattan Beach feels safe because it is safe. Police respond quickly. Laws are clear. There’s no confusion about what’s allowed on public sidewalks or beaches.
In Santa Monica, police and fire officials have acknowledged that a large share of calls involve homeless individuals, often tied to drugs, mental health crises, or repeat offenses.
Critics argue that policies meant to be compassionate end up burning out first responders and leaving residents feeling unprotected.
Businesses notice. Families notice. Tourists notice.
The Moral of the Story
This matters for Nevada because we hear the same debates here, especially in Clark County.
Should cities focus on enforcement first, or services first? Should rent control expand, or should the market be allowed to work? Should some public disorder be tolerated in the name of compassion?
Manhattan Beach offers one answer. Santa Monica offers another.
Communities don’t need a decade or billions of dollars to change direction. They just need voters willing to demand accountability.
Critics of the Manhattan Beach model say it pushes problems elsewhere and lacks compassion. Supporters respond that real compassion includes safe parks, clean streets, and rules that apply to everyone.
For Nevadans reading this cautionary California tale, there are a few morals to the story. Policy choices matter. Enforcing the law isn’t cruelty. And pretending chaos is kindness helps no one in the long run.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. Digital technology was used in the research, writing, and production of this article. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
