Is Cleaning Up Skid Row A Racist Act?
There is an interesting perspective on the “debate” over how to clean up downtown L.A.’s Skid Row… or in this case whether we should even clean it up. (Thanks to Downtown Central City East blogger for bringing this issue up.) This new perspective is this… the latest clean up effort is actually an act of racism.
As we all know, the focus on cleaning up L.A.’s notorious homelessness mecca—Central City East, or “Skid Row”—has sharpened in the last six months. From law enforcement finger pointing, homeless “dumping” accusations among cities, celebrities being arrested in the area, to the State Legislature wanting to pass laws… all for the sake of cleaning up an embarrassing neighborhood.
In its latest newsletter, L.A. Community Action Network (LA CAN) published an article called, “The Fear of a ‘Black Planet.’” This is what it says about the latest articles on homelessness in Skid Row and the trend toward gentrification…
“What LA CAN reads in these mass media articles, as we look deeper, are the messages that support gentrification: 1) Racism is alive and kicking in downtown Los Angeles, through the vilification of an entire community based on often unfounded stereotypes; 2) Fear of Black men threatens the success of business ventures, such as trying to sell and rent luxury housing; and 3) Wealthy people simply will not pay for million dollar properties with poor Black folks living too close to them, so there must be a justification for moving them out.”
The local “Los Angeles Garment & Citizens” paper calls all of this the “San Julian Street Standoff” that pits local officials and developers against the local residents (including the homeless and poor.)
What is my take in all of this? (I write about gentrification in my book, "How To Increase Homelessness".)
However, in this case, I don’t think the color of the residents is the issue. If anything, it is a socioeconomic struggle between the “haves” and the “have-nots”. The big question is this… what is the real agenda for cleaning up Skid Row? Is it so developers can make millions off of building million-dollar lofts? Is it because public officials are embarrassed over this blighted neighborhood? Or is it because we really want to help those who are languishing on the streets of Skid Row?
Given my experience interacting with public officials and interested parties in the last year, I do sense that our community really wants to help people who are homeless on our streets.
I don’t think this is a “color” issue. And given that the L.A. City Council is seeking to stop the redevelopment of downtown SRO hotels (typical homes for the poor and homeless) from becoming market-rate housing, I don’t think the “haves” are trying to take over the “have-nots” housing.
posted by LA's Homeless Blog at
9:17 AM
7 Comments:
While it is certainly dramatic to place the "cleaning up of Skid Row" into sociopolitical and economic terms, such approaches (true or not) fail to fully engage the real problems of drug abuse, crime and vice that runs virtually unchecked in this neighborhood. Skid Row does not threaten housing in the Historic Core, Fashion District or Artist District - just look at the rate of developement and occupancy. I say that not just to advocates, but also to business and civic leaders that point to the Row as an obstacle to development. It seems everyone wants to point to some characteristic of the people who dwell in this to underscore some position or platform that they support. It's racism to those who fight "gentrification" and promote "share the wealth" platforms; and it's a "public health crisis" to those who would just like it to disappear and believe the market rules. One advocate calls this dynamic "poverty pimping" using poverty to advance individual agendas...I don't know...if we just look at the overdoses, killings, crime and squalor on some of streets where HUMANS live, that should be enough to say we have to clean it up.
cant type and no access forthe homles so sorry, but try ot read..i have been aharrasd and hated fro not only being homelss but having special needs which to agencies and idiots of all sorts means i htnk i shoul dbe treated special most havent heard of the ADA or dont wan to know. how about being left ina wlderness areA ONPURPOSE BY PD SAID NO ER PSYCHE OR NOTHING with fractured shoulder nad my wlker lions and cootes, no food phone or the transport they took over disbeld parking / access was the excuse. i was tryijng to cook healthy way form adicts and crmianls but whilemost residents were fine withme a female evengave kids camp food and told htem wild animal i seen stories soemtimes..(certain neuvoriche dont like it)forwhich i was severely punished.
even the church couldnt get the shelter to take me in and housing delaueyd hte voucher didnt give priority until things got too public....i was slanderd by the shelter in a newspaper. false diagnoses claims buy non licensed all inthe name of not lettting disbaeld getinto housing..in an ever shrinking pool of p;laces disbaled are institutionalized or elft in the raod and legalservcies wont handle the ada hud or discrimiantion in entitlements .as agencid sare intertwined betwen mentlahela as the shelter acess and to hosing and often if youhave medical cna block or simplyy dont provide specialty diagnoses there can stop ada for being a reality. as now only have as manycivil rights as the lawyer we can afford.. we very lowincome disbaled have none. this city when couldnt get me out only really sick cutting off all water wheni was lockeed infor weekend built 15000 $ gate keep everyone but locals out and all disabled..theni went to cook on other side wasnt good enogh the rich kids club dodnt want my presence. and idont abuse substances so dont rellay look homless exceprt when they took my car and left me unable ot even wash pushin g a wlaker up and down hills throghthe rain and cold.. when is there going to be preotections forthe homless.now im in a city pd woke me with flashlight wouldnt take out of my eyes @ 3am well hidden in a church park lot said its illegal to sleep incar onprivatee or public prorperty by ordinance.. i mentioned the aclu and wasnt that oerturned insandiego owr somewher read them the riot act on dealing withmentally ill and wouldnt let me seee if I was safe who they were.... tactics to upset and more. not back since but sure they are plotting like that last city.
when can we get civiland humn rights and advocates.?notthe ones who run discirmiantory programs with conflicts.. not even skid row has disabled parking or accessiblity in the slum motels there. cleanit al up make it accesiblemake the programs work forthose withspecialneeds not the easy fixes,. half the people i see ther eare inpain. mentaly ill etc. i know ive run into disbaled none would help but idid after took tim eandno threats they trusted me enough ot get ehm some beenfits..
why isnt there coverd sleepng use old -local artist repainted-storage containers three walls at least .. buy wifi or po boxes watches phone time neccesssary at withwelfare or ssi..on group .discount ... skid row starbucks partnership or likepartnership profits to skid row etc.. make it cool to help..pay homless for picking up bags of trash will keep streets clean. i iddnt see trash bins and people live there.24 /7?! clean up the streets .and are there enough public showers? where?. any safe palce disabled or sick women ot rest in day?
yes, clean up the people, not cleanout the people.
when will people admit they KNOW the feed the war starve the poor policies are creating evenlossof the middle calss as the bottom falls out oneeryone not of the uppermost escelons? life is hell fro homless disbaled. but as one owman said to me whenshe asked and i told her waht painiowas inindesperate attempt to deny but its it a lovely day. i was horrifed at he denial and why and now realise this is too m uchof hitlers i mean bush's america. resdistributionof the wealth is for the old nice america not the new leaner and meaner america taxes are for the poorand middle wihtout tricky writie offs. republicans say gred is good. now success is when you get allthe profits insualtion form the harsher relaities beauty and services taxes can afford wihtou paying in. using the poors taxes and never sharing.. the world deosnt like us much any more and i dont think we deserve any better. until we once again become better.
realties for the homeless disabled.
1. the police no longer protect and serve.
2.you'll get free medical and psyche assessments daily from strangers
u go away cant rest here but first ague you can work. we are too sleepless and tired and in pain to listen
3. they comlplian were dirty and wont ok a shower in thier city.
they compalinif youcook in thier park and then when poor oblige and drink lunch instead.
4.ever see a food bank that helps be healthy.or special diets most disabeld are sick.mostly white bread and bakery sugar and fast food junk will kill you faster..with rare exception.its baout short term survival not about getting better.or long term solutions.
5. many want developers buyout of very low income hosuing obligationso none ever willlive there.see march9,2006 newport beach planing commissionmeeting and thiersept 12 2000 item 12 comments. keep he poor out! no acessible and affordable fro disbeld even mentioned.
6.evenla homless statisitics and hud statisitcs dont dstingushnebetwen mentaland physical disablities so physicalyy disabled are intitution or streets as only option. no stats equals invisible and no programs to help.
7. hud says 25% take 120 days and 7% take more than 180 days to find hosuing but phas dontwanto house disbaled and many physical disbaled lose the 60 day voucher. none asked if it was homles who need accessible housing as the 7%.
8 shelters dont have to dowait lsits so no proof they ahve discrimianted against the phsyical disbaled needs or others theydont want .again ha ha to the ada.
9. since disbael d need accessibel shleter left inthe road or isntituion how do they ever afford search and deposiuts on the less than1%per year availble accessible afordabel once survie to a voucher..or is this anohter way to create permenant homeless forthose too much trouble need longer, more help?
10. how do workers and students who have bills and then become disbaled then homeless maintainperfect credit hud allows most landlords to require? or is this anohter way to keep the disabeld out?
11. the ada says congregate doumping all unlike disbaeld into same isnt ok why wre those typical vicitimized dumped in with maybe not so sober reovering addicts and petty thieves.?
12. why can those with out 5 years sobriety or just becasue they are mentally ill work as intake and counselors who have so much authority and little training or supervision? would you let them decide your life decisions?
13 how can la times nice inla, but how got oc fair housing award with only 5 overpiced oc rental ads most days.? will anyone ever be required to at least show upper or lower units for low income ssi ssdi disabled?
14. im now too stressed and tired to do anything more for hours...
Great article! Thanks.
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Thank You! Very interesting article. Do you can write anything else about it?
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