𝗕𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗛 𝗖𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗚: Police Cite Man With Tent Inside Dune Restoration Area

SANTA MONICA — Wednesday, September 23, 2026 — Santa Monica Police Department officers with the Homeless Liaison Program issued a citation Wednesday morning to a man who had set up a tent on the sand at Santa Monica Beach. The tent was located within the perimeter of a coastal dune restoration area, where native vegetation has been established as part of ongoing efforts to restore natural dune habitat along the shoreline. The restoration project uses native plants and seeds to capture wind-driven sand, allowing dunes to gradually build naturally while helping reduce erosion, improve biodiversity, and strengthen the coastline against sea-level rise and coastal flooding. The Bay Foundation has worked with volunteers to expand the restoration area through its Coastal Adaptation Program. Native species planted at the site include California sunflower and California poppy, along with a diverse seed mixture. As vegetation becomes established, blowing sand collects around the plants, gradually increasing the elevation and stability of the dunes. The nature-based approach differs from traditional beach maintenance that routinely flattens and clears vegetation from the sand. Restored dunes can provide a buffer against waves and storm activity while creating habitat for insects, birds and other wildlife. Restoration efforts along Santa Monica Beach have also supported habitat used by the federally threatened Western Snowy Plover. During Wednesday morning's contact, officers spoke with the man at the tent before issuing him a citation for camping in public under Santa Monica Municipal Code 4.08.095(a), which is listed in Santa Monica Closeup's reference information as the city's public-camping violation. The Homeless Liaison Program, or HLP, consists of one sergeant and six officers and works in coordination with the Santa Monica City Attorney's Office, Santa Monica Fire Department, Human Services Division and Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. The team addresses issues involving homelessness while working to connect individuals experiencing homelessness, substance-use issues or mental-health crises with appropriate city and county resources. Santa Monica Closeup continues to document law-enforcement activity, environmental restoration projects and other developments affecting public spaces along the Santa Monica coastline. #SantaMonica #CoastalRestoration #StreetJournalism #Photojournalism #LocalNews #communitynews — ⚠️ 𝗖𝗢𝗣𝗬𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘 This video is protected by copyright and provided for personal viewing only. Any copying, downloading, re-uploading, reproduction, distribution, sampling, or other use, including commercial or editorial use, without prior written authorization from Santa Monica Closeup is strictly prohibited and may result in legal action. © 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗙𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝘄𝗸𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗰𝘇 / 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗽. 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱. — 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗥 Fabian Lewkowicz is an award-winning photojournalist based in Santa Monica and the creator of 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗽. Known for his compelling imagery and neutral reporting, his work captures the pulse of the city—from civic affairs and emergency response to cultural moments and beach life. His photography has been showcased in galleries, museums, and public installations. — 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗔 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗔 𝗖𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗘𝗨𝗣 PayPal/Venmo/Credit Card 👉 https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/M6... 𝗙𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪 𝗨𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗗𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗬 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗚𝗘 Instagram 👉   / santamonicacloseup   Facebook 👉   / santamonicacloseup   Twitter 👉   / smcloseup   — 𝗕𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗔 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟 𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗘𝗫𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗞𝗦    / @santamonicacloseup   — 𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 & 𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗔 𝗜𝗡𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦 Email 👉 press@santamonicacloseup.com — 𝗧𝗔𝗚𝗦: Photojournalism, Visual Journalism, Street Reporting, Documentary, Observational Photography, Press Photography, Independent Media, Southern California News, SMCU, SM©U