Skid Row Los Angeles Part One: Once in the life

A look into the area of Los Angeles known as Central City East, commonly known as Skid Row.

Los Angeles. City of Dreams. The bastion of the entertainment world. Where many an aspiring actor comes to make it big from all over the world. And where many a tourist visit for the Hollywood experience. To see a movie or a show getting made. Or to catch a glimpse of their favorite movie star whether living or deceased. So that they can say with authority: “I was there. I saw it.”

But there’s an area of Los Angeles that you will not find in the brochures. Where the locals politely but firmly will tell you that this is not a topic of conversation. Where even tourists will deny it even exits. The only part of Los Angeles that gets intense media coverage once a year but at no other time: during Christmas.

It’s a part of the city that no Uber driver or Lyft driver will take you by choice. Where the Metro bus lines suspended their services earlier in the evening for their drivers safety. All restaurants in this area literally close at sundown.

The rules of society do not apply here. For a generous fee of $10 you can get anything under the sun. No questions asked. Crack-Cocaine, Heroin, Crystal Meth etc. Anything else is guaranteed but it will cost you extra. Prostitutes come in all shapes, ages and sexes. There are a few golden rules:

-Do not ask questions.

-Whatever you buy has to be consumed on the spot. In someone’s presence.

-You may have to prove you’re not a Narc. It might mean stripping to your bare butt.

…….other rules will be explored later.

This part of L.A. is officially called Central City East. But local Angelinos gave it a different name: Skid Row.

Skid Row is widely considered an eyesore to most. But for the homeless population in the city it’s the closest thing to home. Skid row is famous nationwide, known and whispered by fugitives from justice, newly-released felons, teenage runaways and homeless shelters throughout the United States. For these and others, Skid Row is a sanctuary from Federal and/or family persecution. Where one can hide and disappear and nobody questions your presence. Not just for days but even years.

The climate favors the residents. It never snows in L.A. The summer is the best time to sleep on the streets. And you will see it firsthand. However the holidays are a time of terror. Those unable to spend Thanksgiving or Christmas with their families take out their frustration on anyone present, usually with fatal results.

Where are the Police in all this? Cops will tell you that they’re understaffed and overwhelmed. Although there is an actual police precinct in the heart of Skid Row, a lot of them are assigned here by way of punishment because of insubordination or something. The denizens know this and constantly insult them. With some exceptions the only time arrests are made is if they are looking for a specific individual.

Its no secret that Los Angeles has the highest amount of homeless people in the United States with Skid Row housing a huge chunk of that number. There are three main homeless shelters in Skid Row:

-The Los Angeles Mission

-The Union Rescue Mission.

-The Midnight Mission.

Each of these homeless shelters will be explored further into the series. However they have a common thread: they are usually full to overflowing so an alternative was agreed upon: they started passing out tents. As a result Skid Row was further nicknamed “Tent City.” In any block there are as many as 20 tents erected,making it impossible to walk on the sidewalk. Therefore one has to walk directly on the road and dodge oncoming traffic.

Food and clothing are in ample supply.There is no way to starve to death in Skid Row.At any given time or day during the week a charity or church will set up shop in Skid row and hand out anything from cheeseburgers to chicken wings.In some instances clothes, shoes,deodorant and the like.The above-mentioned shelters have designated times where they are open to the public and anyone can come to shave and shower.In fact hygiene is a top priority with the homeless over here;you can stink all you want but at some point you will be stripped naked and a water hose will be aimed in your direction.Whether you like it or not.They will not take any chances with you.

*To be continued in Skid Row Los Angeles Part Two: My name is Africa.