Opinion: La La land, the City of Los Angeles, seeks restoration

Many do not like homeless because they commit crime to innocent people. However, how does “hating” help with the situation? Many blame politicians and city council members for the unhygienic environment of downtown LA. However, how does “blaming” help with the situation?

Have you been to LA LA Land?

After the movie La La Land was released last December of 2016, the city of Los Angeles has gained its popularity among tourists from all around the world. They come with the hope of seeing the pink sunset with the background “City of Starts” music, standing in the midst of Hollywood and Beverly Hills. The magical pink sky, the beautiful theme songs of La La Land, and impressive cafes and restaurants do exist. The movie definitely portrays the dreamy side of the city: artsy people who work for film industries, studios, and those who aspire to become movie stars themselves. Los Angeles indeed has all of these features.

However, is this all that LA has?

The forgotten side of Los Angeles

As little as 15 to 20 minute drive to downtown LA from Beverly Hills, there is a street full of homeless people in barefoot, intercepting through the roads dangerously, wandering around to find something edible. Right behind them is a street packed with high window-covered buildings, busy people looking down at their cellphones, or driving around in their luxurious cars.

According to California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, 24.2% of African American, 23.7% of Latino, 23.8% of Native American have income below poverty level. It is almost impossible to disregard such evident ethnic disparities across the city. These individuals below poverty level is susceptible to infinite poverty cycle, and it does not take long until they reach homelessness. Does this sound like a dramatic transition? Definitely not. The culture we live in only exacerbates the situation: constant rent increase, tuition hike, relationship breakdown, substance abuse, and et cetera.

Socioeconomic inequality is inevitable, yet it is so common that many neglect the issue. Maybe the most we can do to assuage this issue is to pray that new politicians would implement better policies, or donate financially to homeless shelters online. It is not wrong to practice new policies, nor is it a bad idea to donate from our own pockets.

I am here to tackle this issue in an intangible, some may even say an obscure way. Something else needs to be done to fix this social issue from the cornerstone: the mentality.

Many people seek purpose in life, while many succeed, many fail to achieve or even to find the foundation of their purpose. Those who live in a more well-off side of the city probably have a different purpose from those who live in the dark side of the city. Those who spent their childhood in a lovely family probably have different purpose from those who went through domestic violence, and those who studied Chemical Engineering probably have different purpose from those who studied English Literature. To have the same exact purpose in life is almost impossible and even traumatic for everyone. However, it is possible to twist our definition of purpose a little, and maybe this could even become a long-term project to initiate a change within the city.

Renowned author and psychologist Angela Duckworth puts purpose as “the intention to contribute to the well-being of others.”

The city seeks change, and it has to start from the root of the issue: individual’s mentality in life. I am not here to judge the wealthy or condemn those in need. I am one ignorant individual myself who just observe this apparent social issue from a distance blaming the city itself. I am here, writing this article, with the hope that just one reader finds a true “purpose” in life, the purpose that could initiate a change in this neglectful urban culture we all live in.

It is mentality that creates reality. This article has a very cliche take-home message: change your mentality. Live a life of purpose, and for the benefit of others. The dream LA from La La Land is not everything we see in life. The real LA awaits restoration of the city.