Do We Love LA?

I live in one of those crazy buildings that artistic types and people who are not Kardashians live in. It’s functional, but not glamorous. Very convenient, a walkable neighborhood, with blue collar people, who mind their own business, functionally exist, and get about with their day.

Because it is affordable and walkable, I’ve spent the last 4 years here, away from my long-term old residence of Hollywood, and it hasn’t been half bad.

The people are nice, the air is surprisingly good, and I have this great view towards downtown LA.

Well, that little too good to be true world ended today as I found out the building below this view, which is not protected by the city or any historical society, is about to be torn down and replaced by an eight-story, high-end apartment building, with only 11 livable income units.

But of course it is. I’ve been watching my friends have to move out of Silverlake, Echo Park, Hollywood, West Hollywood parts of Beverly Hills, and Culver City, so it’s only fair that it’s my turn, right?

You would almost think that they are trying to get rid of the middle class here in Los Angeles, and keep only the homeless people and the mega rich, with a sprinkling of tourists here and there.

I was watching a video on YouTube yesterday that my friend posted of what Sunset Boulevard looked like the first time I saw it in the early 1980s, and I just felt really nostalgic. There was very little traffic, either by car or foot. Everything was a decent height, not a skyscraper, and billboards were not made of LED lights.

It was livable. This LA is not.

Oh yes I know, the Olympics are coming in X amount of years, and The City needs to get rid of all blight, because the people from around the world will show up at our doorstep, needing a place to stay.

I’m sorry, but I don’t remember voting for the Olympics to come to Los Angeles, does anyone else?

Oh, but the developers want it, because the land underneath these old buildings is worth more than the buildings on top of them. They want everything to go up, like we’re Hong Kong, and get rid of any character, or humanity that may exist below them.

My grand aunt, a lifelong New Yorker, told me when I moved out here 35 years ago, that I would watch a city get built, and it would break my heart and fascinate me at the same time.

She got that right.

So before they start bringing the wrecking ball and the jackhammers next door, I guess I’ll have to sign up for all the apartment apps, and hope I don’t have to move too far away.

After all, I did like the view.

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