In a brazen display of disregard for both law and safety, individuals have been recorded BASE jumping from the top of the graffiti-marred Oceanwide Plaza, a derelict high-rise in downtown Los Angeles, amid an increase in illegal activity at the site, as reported by KTLA. Viral footage shows thrill-seekers parachuting off the building's ledge which along with other acts of trespassing and vandalism has sparked a law enforcement crackdown, including the arrest of 23 individuals by local police.
Residents near 12th and Flower streets not only witness these extreme stunts but also report clandestine dance parties and other dangerous behaviors such as cooking and target shooting inside the building, raising serious safety concerns for the community, one neighbor expressed his apprehension, "I get it…it’s fun and it’s something to do, but we don't want anyone to get hurt…people are risking their lives to get up there and leaning on these ledges," he told KTLA.
LAPD Chief Michel Moore has stated, "…isn't art. It’s a crime," in reference to the various illegal activities taking place at the Oceanwide Plaza. To curb these activities police presence has been amplified around the property and efforts are being made to clean up the graffiti and secure the building against further trespass, the task has been complicated by the structure's state of abandonment since a financial downfall in 2019.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has taken issue with the burden placed on city resources by such reckless behavior, stating to KABC, "I hate the fact that we are using city and other police resources in that manner, but we do not want to see a tragedy take place, and I guarantee you that a tragedy will take place there." A resolution from the council demands the building's developers commence clean-up by the weekend, with failure to do so resulting in the city stepping in and billing them for the effort; this decision comes on the heels of multiple arrests tied to vandalism and trespassing on the property.
Councilman Kevin de León has echoed concerns about the potential for mortal consequences stemming from these acts of rebellion and urban conquest; speaking with KTLA, he stated, "Someone’s going to fall to their death." De León has also indicated willingness to go to extreme lengths to address the problem with the building's Chinese developers, who, according to him, have a history of abandoning properties both in the U.S. and China.
