Central City East/Skid Row Heights : Downtown Los Angeles

While the cameras were turned away , this former marine just wanted to thank the Mayor and give him a hug. I searched through ton's of my photos this year and I can tell you this one stuck out like s sore thumb , primarily because it wasn't a photo op, and because the Mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa , was comforting a marine and the cameras were busy somewhere else.

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Midnight Mission Launches 2.0 website. It is great looking. But alas it has no blog. As a result bloggers hate this type of thing. We like to feed those blogs to our websites esp if we are supporters. I may need to go give a class to them. All in all it looks great.... but an interactive site is much better than a static site. So far the Union Rescue Mission continues to beat out all other websites in skid row, other than the latowncrier.com website I have set up. I will have a page dedicated to the non-profits, and not being able to feed them stink. Union Rescue Mission so far is listening to those who want to help and get the word out. What I like is the straightforwardness that these organizations are dealing with the public. Instead of just pulling at heart strings with tales of Woe, they are telling us what the needs are. The transparency is amazing. We are jaded. Many are jaded. We see the preacher with the million dollar home , we see the ceos with 6 figure incomes , but we ...

Well, folks. I am getting old and I need to finds me a wife. Hey, women aren't the only ones that have a biological clock. Us mens have a desire to procreate too. And I am gonna get rich this year , makes me some money, goes to Texas and finds me a real bride. A strong independent Texas woman who also knows how to make pecan pies, dewberry pies and real buttermilk biscuits and yeast rolls and a career. You know, I think today I will make me some them there yeast rolls.

Chet Atkins , johnny Cash , June Carter. etc

LAist did a story on skid row in which they touch on the subject of General Jeff and his position on the Neighborhood Council. It is good to see that all of my hard work many years ago proposing that a resident seat be placed on the then forming Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council is paying off. Yes, It was I . And no matter how much General Jeff tries to shoot me down when I say I was instrumental in making sure we had a place on the neighborhood council, again, I will say I . I never ran for the seat because no matter what, I would always be involved in the politics of downtown. At the time, I was the first person ever to be a resident of skid row and on a Community Redevelopment Agency PAC and was one of the only actual residents as a part of the forming committees of the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council. And of course as a veteran of the USMC and actually enduring a combat situation, if you think I was going to shut up, well, think again. So I wanted the people of...

I am sort of out of sorts. I have this horrible urge to sob. I wonder if it is because of the fun I know I missed Yesterday when the 30n3 skid row league had their first games on the new Nike/ general Jeff basketball Court at Gladys Park. Or maybe it is because I know that getting older I will suffer longer bouts of illness than when I was younger. The Diabetes of course guarantees this , so maybe I have to get used to it . Being inside stinks and I hate it. But at least I am warm. Next year looks to be a good ride for me , if I can stay away from skid row activities and service. Gotta get out there and make some money. Some people do not want me to succeed and make my millions, but I personally think they can go rot in a corner somewhere. SO next year Downtown may not see me since I have decided that I will begin my endeavors far from downtown so that the saboteurs downtown don't get in my way. Then , maybe , I will come back downtown. You know, dressing as a woman for the very fi...

Alright!!!!, today I get my ears cleaned at the doctor's office. I suspect it has been that wax that has been causing me all of these problems. Ever since I was a little kid, lot's of colds and bouts of bronchitis , believe it or not, started with ear wax clogging up my ears.

The most influential person for 2008 in skid row has been not a person , but a situation. The most influential person this year has been the recession , which some see as a depression. Progress had been made in opening the Shelter for women and Children at Hope Gardens operated by the Union Rescue Mission and everyone celebrated a place where families could go to get away from skid row. As A result of the recession there are 54 families residing at the Union Rescue Mission downtown. Donations are down at the Missions and the shelters, and it looks to get a lot worse. Thank you mr recession and bad economy.

The teachings of the LDS Church are great. Esp when it comes to agency , what they call free will. Unfortunately just like parents of any religion they all want to go to the highest heaven and have all of their children there with them. Same sex attraction in the LDS Church and the main stream Christianity is supposedly the worst sin one can committ considering in both main stream christianity and the LDS doctrine part of getting into the highest heaven involves marraige of some sort to persons of th e

Knowing that the food bank has been having problems with keeping up with this recession, we know that desperate times make for desperate measures. Having been challenged by a Downtown Resident to come to Gays on ice in drag and he would donate 50 dollars for each man dressed in drag. Well, I couldn't pass it up. Watch the video to see Downtown Donna and learn why she was at Pershing Square. Thanks To Wendy Bruget for making up Downtown Donna for the event.

I have a surprise when I announce this years most influential persons of skid row. It will surprise you!!!!

Ayer visite LA MIssion Union de rescate aqui en skid row. Hoy fue el ultimo dia de la tienda pero en este video hay una mensaje importante sobre la urgencia y emergencia sobre el tema de familias que tienen que usar lugares donde quedarse porque no tienen donde vivir.Se esta aumentando los numeros de familias en las calles. New_VID00003 Uploaded by dgarzila

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is taking drastic steps to lower our costs; hiring freeze, wage freeze, and put a hold on matching employees 401K. All while increasing our services

Edar Comes to Downtown Los Angeles and the Union Rescue Mission

Well , the answer would soon be made known , but I had no idea it was going to happen this way!!! We have been having some big aftershocks for a while now, according to abc7.com from the earthquake we all felt on Friday. Well, the answer is pretty simple. Today the Midnight Mission thanked me for being me in front of their donors and supporters and board of directors. It was a trap. I got a facebook message that was inviting me to the get together at 2 pm yesterday. NO problem. I can go eat , take some photos , hang out and come home. Well, when the party got to the point of the Midnight Mission CEO and other administrative staff thanking us for our involvement, Kathy Ward started to mention a person that comes to the Midnight Mission every Easter , Thanksgiving , Christmas, eats at the mission now and again and to see that the patrons are treated with dignity and also takes lot's of pictures and if they missed some photos I usually have them when they ask , then they mentioned m...

Once again the laws of thermodynamics are permeating those dreams. It is amazing the dialog I have with myself half awake and half asleep because of the sleep apnea and not being able to use the oxygen concentrator. I hear myself talking to people in my dreams as we discuss the laws of the universe. Last night and into the early morning I was in a place where there were nothing but geniuses and it was a weird place to be to discuss all the intricacies of the world of quantum mechanics and esp because i could hear myself speaking these things because I was lucid dreaming. Sleep apnea constantly wakes you whenever you stop breathing to make you start breathing again. For those concerned the apnea is not as a result of being overweight. i wished it was. Anyway. I was in a place that was sort of a university setting , like those ivy league schools , but hidden from the rest of the world. It had a huge quad in the middle of ivy league type buildings which was filled with a sort of village...

Last night was the first time in a long while I didn't use my oxygen concentrator . I got up several times in the night with my chest so heavy and gasping for breath. I get up because I stop breathing. I have to get up and run around pounding on my stomach hoping that I get started. It is horrible. It is 2:11 in the am and I still won't use the concentrator until tomorrow night. Another night of getting up with that sinking feeling gasping for breath. SRO thinks it is a joke and some sort of power trip when I tell their managers not to put poison in my room unless I am there. Asshats!!!! I have every right to get angry knowing I have to go through this when they pull this crap.

Andrea Soto going over words of the choir piece before the Friday Show Reposted from Last Year Virgen de Guadalupe makes New York Times LA Virgen de Guadalupe Dios Inantzin is a wonderful pageant put on every year by the Latino theater Company at the Cathedral of the Angels in Downtown Los Angeles. It has run for 7 years free of charge as a gift for those who normally would never be able to purchase a ticket for a show at another venue. This was my 3rd year in the pageant.The New York Times Article starts with the story of my friend , Andrea Garcia Soto , who sings in the choir. She has always been fun to be around as we have put on the show. This year I got to know her a lot better as I was not in my usual role as a spanish soldier , but as a member of the choir. The times mentions that Andrea is suffering with cancer. She broke her foot the first night of rehearsal when I was away , but she came back to perform for both free shows at the Cathedral of the Angels. Andrea Soto Befor...

Got there a little late but was in time to hear the Vantastics which is the quartet that Dick Van Dyke sings with. And , yes , that woman that has been stalking me since last Saturday was also there enjoying Dick Van Dyke and that quartet take us back to our childhood days. DSC01595" height="334" width="500"> The house loved it and we all had fun. It is always fun at the Midnight Mission and this is the place I call my home on Thanksgiving Day and Easter Sunday and Christmas Day. The Mayor was over at the serving Table. I walked over to snap some pix. There he was and would you believe he was serving the beans, green beans that is. Goes to show even the Mayor knows he can be full of beans. DSC01634" height="500" width="334"> DSC01631" height="334" width="500"> Well ,of course , since the Midnight Mission is where I come to enjoy my Holiday meals I grabbed a plate and wouldn't you know it they have t...

This year has been a very dramatic year for those working in the field of non-profits that feed the public. This Thanksgiving was particularly heart wrenching because many of those who usually donate the feasts and volunteer at the feasts in skid row are now seeing themselves as those who need the help because of the bad economy. The LA MISSION has their Thanksgiving day celebration the day before the holiday itself and because of the very intimate setting in the dining area I was able to get a feeling from those celebrities they weren't there for the photo ops. You see, it rained this day and we had to crowd into the dining room of the LA MISSION to feed those who were there to partake of the Annual Thanksgiving feast We hear it all the time. OH!!! "Those celebrities are has beens that are looking for some tv face time . They are washed out and need some attention." Being that we were in an intimate setting, able to interact with them while they served the thanksgiving...

What can you say about Thanksgiving day in skid row. The Fred Jordan has been serving their Turkey during the Day the Holiday is on. It was a beautiful day yesterday as we all prepared for the Fred Jordan Thanksgiving Day feast. God had blessed us with a beautiful day to give thanks and serve those who were without a Thanksgiving Turkey Day. The Fred Jordan Mission was prepared to serve as many as they could and they have the experience to make sure no one gets turned away. But this day over 500 people were turned away due to dwindling donations. They were expecting to serve 2500 people. But there were more than expected. The Mayor Antonio Villaraiogosa arrived and spoke with the press and then he blessed the meal in English and Spanish. WOW!!!! This little boy had no idea what was to happen next after enjoying the music we hear on stage. The serving Continued... The singing was fantastic and fabulous as praise filled the air for the day and the thankfulness that Jesus loved the devil...

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was having fun at the the Midnight Mission with the guests as he got a chance to pose for photos. Guests were having their photos taken in costumes and were given the printed photos after posing. Gotta love the mayor for being a good sport.

As a big star trek geek it was interesting that I was able to get some great photos of Chris Pine at the Los Angeles Mission yesterday for their Turkey Dinner that was moved indoors due to rain. Yep, that is my latowncrier.com watermark. Gotta love it. And I can't wait to see the new star trek movie next year.

Oh my goodness!!! IT rained yesterday!!! What to do what to do??? That wasn't a problem for the Los Angeles Mission as they still served their pre Thanksgiving Day Meal yesterday. They moved the festivities indoors.

Well after staying up since 1:30 am Saturady Morning and enjoying the company of the guys frying the roast beasts it was time to welcome whoville in all it's glory. After searching far and wide I can't find the Mayor of whoville, who seems to be one to hide. So I searched around the roast beast, I searched around the who hash, I even searched around the who athletes who swing baseball bats. Andre Ethier of the Los Angeles Dodgers Signing autographs Then came the servers of the beast and the hash, along with the salad and gravy for the whoville bash. But no mayor so see, only happy volunteers feeding the throngs of whoville citizens to be.SO I searched and I searched until I came across these. Could this be the mayor of whoville that day? NO it is the General of skid row walking through the throngs as he goes his own way. Respect skid row he says walking around those with delicious whoville meals on a tray. Could this be who we are looking for. IS this the Mayor of whov...