Hollywood's Walk of Shame: Once-glamorous boulevard is filthy, overrun by homelessness and struggling to cope with rising crime after police patrols were halved – but is it finally getting a facelift?

The Hollywood Walk of Fame is overrun with homelessness and violent crime, making tourists and locals feel unsafe.

The iconic LA Landmark, once the epitome of glitz and glamour, is disappointing visitors with its dirty sidewalks and repulsive locals who have experienced violent attacks.

It comes as the 1.3-mile stretch along Hollywood Boulevard, often closed for movie premieres and other A-list events, is currently undergoing a much-needed renovation.

The makeover plans are led by the city council and will include wider sidewalks, additional shade trees, a protected mobility lane and pedestrian safety improvements.

Hollywood Boulevard's sidewalks are often congested, certain pieces of infrastructure are outdated, and the area lacks a cohesive, unifying design aesthetic. The Heart of Hollywood plans read.

“The goal of the Hollywood Walk of Fame Master Plan is to bring this iconic walk forward into the 21st century, respecting its rich history while establishing a holistic and long-lasting vision.”

However, plans to address the increase in homelessness and violent crime, which have risen significantly in recent years, are not in place.

Assaults with a deadly weapon, sexual assault and incidents involving homeless people have all increased, according to the report data analyzed by KTLA.

A local woman, Amy Michele, said she was punched in the face while shopping on the boardwalk.

“I've seen people with machetes and knives cutting the air in front of them hoping to catch someone passing by,” she said in a Tiktok video warning others.

'I've seen people selling drugs from the back of a truck.

“I witnessed a hostage situation in one of the apartment complexes on Hollywood Boulevard.

“I got hit on the back of the head by a homeless guy,” she added.

“It's definitely not what we expected,” said tourist Sarah Saryan.

“It's not clean and everything looks like movies,” she explained.

Social media images show rows of tents, people sleeping rough near the famous stars and rubbish strewn across the sidewalks.

The situation has not been improved by a significant reduction in police patrols on the boulevard.

Pre-pandemic, 60 officers were assigned to the Hollywood Entertainment District alone, now that number has been cut in half, according to Steve Nissen, president of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

“If you feel something that makes you uncomfortable, you don't come back,” Nissen told KTLA.

“Part of feeling safe is not only that the crime statistics are going down, but also that you're walking streets that look clean and these streets are not often clean,” Nissen said.

He added, “When you walk down the street; you don't want to be mistreated or spoken to.

“The idea of ​​modernizing Hollywood Boulevard and making it one of the most beautiful streets in the world still exists.”

Nissen said he hopes the rejuvenation program will be completed in time for the 2028 Olympics.

“We want the rest of the world to see Hollywood Boulevard and go back and talk about it with friends and neighbors around the world instead of leaving like they do today, a little disappointed.”

The homeless crisis in Los Angeles has shocked in recent years — an issue Mayor Karen Bass committed to addressing as soon as she took office last year.

The number of homeless people in LA has more than doubled in the past decade.

There was a 9 percent increase in homelessness in Los Angeles County between 2022 and 2023, with the unmarried population now totaling 75,518 people, according to the latest data from the Lahsa.

The city of Los Angeles saw an estimated 10 percent increase to a total of 46,260 residents.