A series of high-pitched alarms installed outside businesses on the 8600 block of Santa Monica Boulevard has sparked public reaction in West Hollywood. Designed to deter homeless individuals from occupying doorways or stairwells, the devices emit intermittent chirping sounds throughout the day and night.
The alarms—marketed as “Blue Chirpers”—were developed by Stephen McMahon, a Santa Monica property manager who says he created them after repeated encounters with unhoused individuals inside his building’s garages. He cited a specific incident involving an alleged assault near his property as the moment he decided to act.
“I looked into her eyes and I saw that terror,” McMahon recalled of a mother he says was attacked while unloading groceries with her child. “I [said] to my wife, ‘Okay, that’s it. I got to do something about this.’”
McMahon assembled the devices himself. Priced at $400, the alarms have been installed in commercial and residential properties in Santa Monica and beyond. To date, McMahon says he has sold 76 units across the country. One of those installations was at a West Hollywood property managed by Investors’ Property Services, which owns the site housing Trader Joe’s and Fresh Brothers Pizza. The alarms were placed in a stairwell area adjacent to both businesses.
According to McMahon, the company later requested the alarms be operated continuously—24 hours a day—because the area saw a return of unhoused individuals when the devices were turned off at night. He noted that this was the first request he had received for around-the-clock operation.
McMahon said he tests each unit to ensure it remains under 70 decibels to comply with California noise regulations. He describes the devices as a form of “non-aggressive diversion security” and says a majority of his buyers are women under the age of 40.
An employee at Fresh Brothers, who identified himself only as Kevin, said the alarms have been effective in clearing out the stairwell. He declined to provide further comment.
West Hollywood’s Director of Community Safety, Danny Rivas, confirmed that the city is reviewing the devices after concerns were raised in the media. While no formal noise complaints have been filed, Rivas said the city recognizes that the devices could create a nuisance.
A city code enforcement officer has been assigned to evaluate the installation. Rivas said the city will explore alternative monitoring systems that don’t pose potential disruption to nearby residents or businesses. The review will also include an assessment of whether the devices comply with applicable state and local regulations.
West Hollywood’s broader approach to homelessness involves collaboration with local nonprofits and law enforcement to connect individuals with housing and support services.
Outside of the Trader Joe’s installation, McMahon said only one other Blue Chirper has been sold in West Hollywood, to a cosmetic surgery office on Sunset Boulevard. He has not sold any in Beverly Hills. Investors’ Property Services did not respond to a request for comment from Beverly Press.
📰 News Flash ❗ When I (politely) called the property owner as many others did as well to express my opposition to the use of the chirpers against our unhoused residents. I was informed that the chirpers were removed.👏🏽 This was covered a few days ago in the rival West Hollywood newspaper.
This city/state has failed to adequately addressed the situation with the mentally ill and drug/alcohol addicts that aggressively approach citizens as they go about their daily lives (even though we have spent millions of tax payers dollars). I think this business found a viable solution that causes minimal disruption and no harm. The business is far enough from residential homes, so there should be no issue. If it helps this business and keeps their customers safer…good job.
Do consider that just like the flash bangs💥 & teargas that was turned against the Federal occupier forces🐷 by the LA resistance, the chirpers can be turned against the wealthy property owner/manager types as well.
I am delighted and will buy several. I am not interested in those who say house them Etc. I am more interested in personal safety and the issues with homeless people at all hours talking or screaming at all hours and then sleeping near doorways day and night. I am fed up with the city. I am tired of the violence by the people outside cvs on La Cienega and Santa Monica – the park by the soon to open motel for homeless our taxes will pay for and nearly every morning I have to chase away at least one… Read more »
California Health and Safety Code (HSC) § 46000 clearly emphasizes the state’s responsibility to protect its citizens from noise potentially hazardous to their health or welfare. Citing this activists for the unhoused convinced MTA to move their chirpers in the Metro Line tunnels further into the tunnels and, in DTLA Skid Row several places have abandon their plans for chirpers due to the threat of lawsuits.🎉 This could work for West Hollywood if housed & unhoused residents having standing in this case came out against wealthy property owner & manager chirpers❗
I wish the city was a concerned with the clubs that blast music every night that travels up into the residential neighborhood. That they don’t care about…but the homeless, God forbid they are disturbed by chirping and might have to find another spot to do their drugs in peace. Give me a break.
The difference is that the night club music is confined to a rather narrow period of time, where as the chirpers are active 24/7 and, are by design intentionally disturbing. NO the unhoused are NOT getting more representation than the rich and, the rich on average do way more drugs.
Trader Joe’s and Fresh Brothers pizza have had to endure homeless people living on those stairs for over 10 years. I’m sure the City of West Hollywood and Karen Bass never found a reason to house those homeless people at all.
We shouldn’t have to live like this.
The degraded people that line our streets are a hazard for all of us. Anything that can be done to reduce their numbers is good. I would rather have most of them put in facilities where they can’t harm themselves or others.
So the wealthy real-estate moguls who don’t like the existence of poor working people and unhoused internally displaced refugees are gloating about their sadistic “Blue Chirpers” that emit high pitched intermittent chirps at all hours of day & night. If we return the favor by placing our own chirpers within an audible distance of the wealthy capitalist’s homes & businesses, I’m sure that basic legal considerations regarding noise & potential harassment will immediately be enacted. The California Department of Consumer Affairs Consumer Guide to Alarm Companies states that local governments may regulate alarm systems, require permits for alarm systems and, to… Read more »
Boo hoo….disturbing homeless sleeping under steps of Trader Joes..best idea to date…keep producing these chirpers
Disturbing the sleep of unhoused people contributes significantly to any mental illnesses they may have, making them far more difficult to handle. Also many housed residents especially low income who live in close proximity to the chirpers have been adversely affected.
Then f***ing house them. Californians have spent an unbelievable amount of money trying to deal with the homeless problem and nothing has been done. Politicians promise solutions, but nothing happens. I’m embarrassed to have visitors come into town for visits because I’m always having to apologize for how sh**y our city looks. It’s a quality of life issue and a safety issue. Homeless encampments often force people off the sidewalk and into traffic to walk down the street. Even the most compassionate among us are getting sick of the inaction.
YES a great deal of money has been spent but it’s all unaccounted for and, the unhoused have NOT been housed. Do consider that there are some very powerful people who do NOT want the unhoused being housed due to their own personal ideological convictions and, will pull every dirty trick imaginable to keep that from ever happening❗
You can serve the homeless hot cocoa and melatonin so they have a restful sleep. And there are no low income people living within a half mile radius of Trader Joes steps.
The same way you can serve the victims of drive by shootings by handing out band-aids❗
Noise pollution for the residents who leave their windows open,who live behind trader Joe’s,while California politicians do nothing to relieve homelessness !
Section 415 of the California Penal Code, it is illegal for anyone (including wealthy property owners) to knowingly create loud & unreasonable noises as a means of disturbing another. A conviction of violating this law carries a maximum of 90 days in jail and/or a maximum fine of $400.00. Unnecessary noise can be a violation at any time. You DON’T need the help of a politician, just file civil and/or criminal suits and, let the courts decide.
People that are complaining about this suck. If anything more of these needed throughout the city including pavillions by where the side entrance by the pavillions starbucks used to be … sigh i kind of miss those tables outside…
I’ll take two!
I’ll take one too!