A business owner in downtown Los Angeles has stirred controversy after deploying an unconventional—and widely criticized—method to deter homeless encampments near his storefront. By broadcasting the children’s song “Baby Shark” on a loop through outdoor speakers, Shalom Styles, owner of Styles Barber Lounge at the corner of West 11th and Main streets, aims to keep individuals experiencing homelessness from settling outside his shop.
The strategy, which has drawn sharp reactions both locally and online, highlights the growing tensions between business owners and the city’s unhoused population. Styles argues that his decision was driven by necessity, citing damage to property, decreased foot traffic, and safety concerns for staff and customers. “We’ve asked the city for help, but nothing has changed,” Styles said. “We’re not targeting anyone—we’re protecting our right to operate a business in peace.”
However, homeless advocates and nearby residents have condemned the approach as inhumane and psychologically harmful. Tracy, a homeless woman who lives in the area, described the tactic as mentally exhausting. “It plays all night, nonstop,” she said. “It makes it impossible to sleep. We’re already going through enough without being treated like pests.”
The use of repetitive or grating music to drive people away is not new. Similar tactics have been used in cities like West Palm Beach, Florida, and Las Vegas, often sparking public outrage and legal scrutiny. Critics argue that such methods amount to harassment and dehumanization of the unhoused, particularly when used in lieu of providing substantive services or shelter options.
“Broadcasting loud, repetitive music to target unhoused people is cruel, counterproductive, and emblematic of a city that’s failed to respond compassionately to homelessness,” said Pete White, executive director of the Los Angeles Community Action Network (LA CAN). “This doesn’t solve homelessness—it just displaces it.”
Los Angeles has long struggled with a growing homelessness crisis. According to the latest count by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), over 70,000 people are unhoused across Los Angeles County. While city and county officials have allocated billions of dollars toward housing, shelter beds, and mental health services, progress has been slow, and encampments remain widespread.
City leaders have attempted a range of interventions, including sanctioned encampments, temporary housing, and street clean-ups, but with limited long-term success. Meanwhile, business owners in commercial districts—especially in areas like downtown—often feel caught in the middle, frustrated by the perceived lack of timely or effective government action.
Legal experts suggest that while property owners have the right to take certain measures to protect their businesses, playing music continuously at volumes that disrupt nearby residents or passersby may violate city noise ordinances or public nuisance laws. “There is a fine line between private property rights and actions that impact public spaces or infringe on others’ rights,” said Loyola Law School professor Jessica Levinson.
This incident has reignited a broader conversation about how Los Angeles should address homelessness, especially as public frustration mounts over encampments in high-traffic areas. Mayor Karen Bass has made tackling homelessness a central priority of her administration, launching programs like Inside Safe to move people off the streets and into permanent housing. However, with demand far exceeding available shelter capacity, many continue to live outdoors, often near businesses or transit corridors.
Community advocates say that instead of resorting to tactics like loud music or hostile architecture, city resources should focus on outreach, mental health support, and affordable housing. “If we want real change, we need solutions rooted in dignity and human rights,” said Cathy Song, a social worker with Housing Works.
As of now, there has been no official city response to the “Baby Shark” tactic, but community organizations are urging the city council to investigate and consider ordinances to prevent similar actions in the future.
The clash between business concerns and humanitarian needs remains one of the most challenging aspects of the homelessness crisis in urban centers like Los Angeles. The question for city leaders, residents, and advocates alike is whether a balance can be struck between preserving public order and upholding the dignity of all Angelenos.