Exclusive | 13M of pounds of trash and hazardous waste removed from MacArthur Park

Shocking new records reveal the filthy reality of Los Angeles’ notoriously rundown MacArthur Park — where city crews hauled away nearly 13 million pounds of trash and hazardous waste last year.Records obtained by The California Post through a public records request show sanitation workers dragged out more more than 6,359 tons of disgusting debris in 2025, including a staggering 142,329 pounds of human waste.The records paint a disturbing picture of one of Los Angeles’ most promising public spaces, which has been plagued by homelessness and open drug use for years under the leadership of lefty Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez, whose district includes the park.Hernandez has supported city-funded programs that distributed tens of thousands of syringes and crack pipes in the public space, pouring more than $27 million into the park and surrounding area.“It’s now proven that these harm reduction programs, where tax dollars are spent on facilitating drug use by handing out syringes and keeping people addicted, do not work,” LA’s top federal prosecutor, Bill Essayli, who’s office has worked with the LAPD and DEA to crack down on drug use and dealing the park, told The California Post.California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.

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Never miss a story “It also generates tons of harmful garbage in our communities.Tax dollars would be better spent on combating drug use, building shelters, and offering drug treatment.”In early March, Hernandez posted a video featuring LA Mayor Karen Bass touting a major cleanup effort of the long-troubled space.

But when The Post returned to the park a week later, trash, debris from homeless encampments and drug waste were seen littering the ground.In May, a man linked to a nonprofit that has received millions of dollars in contracts ...