Bureau of Sabotage
Neighborhood advocates or vigilantes?
Montavilla Initiative began doing its own foot patrols, which others had done previously. Experts say similar groups have sprung up in other cities, including Long Beach and the west San Fernando Valley, as a conservative, tough-love response to the problem.
The county had to hire extra security after seven visits by the group, officials said. Among other things, they said, Montavilla Initiative members photographed clients of the needle exchange, some of whom feared being exposed on social media.