Arrogance continues to be a problem in Downtown Los Angeles , esp. amongst the business community. Small businesses seem to think that money allows them to do whatever they please.
The situation is tense underneath the great facade we place on main street that shows that we are all getting along. The truth is that, as we continue to see the residents and the denizens of skid row treated like criminals because they smoke their dope on the streets and the loft dwellers can use their drugs inside and even in certain establishments on main street , the double standard is so obvious that even those who have tolerated the incursion into the neighborhood welcoming new neighbors and new amenities are beginning to be angered by this situation.
The test will be how will those who have leases living in low income housing on Main Street be treated in new establishments opening up. This will be the determining factor if other businesses will be able to make their incursion into the heart of skid row and set up shop next to the low income housing that receive subsidies from the Housing Authority. This is a group of tenants that will not tolerate any disrespect in their part of the neighborhood.
I have heard and have seen video tape of a small riot that almost occurred here in skid row last month because the Parks were closed and the people had no where to go , thus they congregated on the street corners. IF the folks who live in that housing on Main Street are forced to move from the sidewalks in front of their abodes on hot days , I can only assume there may well be violence . These business owners only see these people as nuisances. I see them as neighbors trying to stay cool on a summer's day.
Arrogance almost cost two of my friends to have egg on their face. If I didn't claim them as my friends I would not have warned them of the consequences of conducting business the same way as one person has done on 4th and main in reference to hiring employees and rewarding those who can keep the "rif raf " out of their establishments. Someone last night told me that if an incident were to occur involving a clash of social classes, who cares? They wanted to treat the people in a bad way,so what? They deserve it. Well , I have never been one to see my friends be taken down such a bad road , even if that costs me my friendship; to be heard so they don't fall off that cliff , so be it. I have to sleep with myself.
The situation is tense underneath the great facade we place on main street that shows that we are all getting along. The truth is that, as we continue to see the residents and the denizens of skid row treated like criminals because they smoke their dope on the streets and the loft dwellers can use their drugs inside and even in certain establishments on main street , the double standard is so obvious that even those who have tolerated the incursion into the neighborhood welcoming new neighbors and new amenities are beginning to be angered by this situation.
The test will be how will those who have leases living in low income housing on Main Street be treated in new establishments opening up. This will be the determining factor if other businesses will be able to make their incursion into the heart of skid row and set up shop next to the low income housing that receive subsidies from the Housing Authority. This is a group of tenants that will not tolerate any disrespect in their part of the neighborhood.
I have heard and have seen video tape of a small riot that almost occurred here in skid row last month because the Parks were closed and the people had no where to go , thus they congregated on the street corners. IF the folks who live in that housing on Main Street are forced to move from the sidewalks in front of their abodes on hot days , I can only assume there may well be violence . These business owners only see these people as nuisances. I see them as neighbors trying to stay cool on a summer's day.
Arrogance almost cost two of my friends to have egg on their face. If I didn't claim them as my friends I would not have warned them of the consequences of conducting business the same way as one person has done on 4th and main in reference to hiring employees and rewarding those who can keep the "rif raf " out of their establishments. Someone last night told me that if an incident were to occur involving a clash of social classes, who cares? They wanted to treat the people in a bad way,so what? They deserve it. Well , I have never been one to see my friends be taken down such a bad road , even if that costs me my friendship; to be heard so they don't fall off that cliff , so be it. I have to sleep with myself.
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