Skid Row

I'd like to mention an interesting dialogue that I've been following on my friend Spencer's blog Leftcoast Breakdown. The debate is about the seeming gentrification of Downtown Los Angeles. Over the last 5 years, LA has been making a concerted effort to "rejuvinate" its downtown. New shops and restaurants have been popping up, and more visibly Loft and Condo's have been springing up like dandelions. Some of them are renovating old historic buildings and wharehouses and therefor recycling the urban environment. Some are being built on tight pieces of land crowding the already crowded area. In the midst of it all are the homeless or near homeless. Whether they are drug addicts, mentally ill, or just down and out in one way or another...there are plenty of people living on the streets down here. Both working downtown and sharing a studio space with a friend of mine, i'm able to witness the state of things on a day to day basis. Our downtown has its Skid Row like most cities. But the thing that always amazed me about it....our skid row is actually called Skid Row. I mean, there's a sign that says Skid Row. Now, the extent of the homeless population far exceeds this one small street, but this just shows how blatent the whole situation is. And how does one solve this issue. Its terribly difficult. One would hope that there would be a way to help the homeless, use whats around them to help them and rejuvinate those who are willing. But being a middle class resident of this town, I'd also like to go to some of these new venue's and not get harrassed by crack-heads and skin-and-bones prostitutes. I certainly dont have the solution, but as I always say the solution begins with debate.

So first I direct you to the OpEd piece that sparked the conversation. Then to Spencer's retort. Then the conversation that continued.