LA is still the place

In spite of its many problems, I believe Los Angeles, my hometown, is definitely worth fighting for. I know, it’s challenging: we have a seemingly exponential increase in homelessness in our county; too much traffic, failing schools; gangs; drugs, tragic fires, and the recent loss of some legendary public figures. And on a lesser note, my beloved Dodgers lost another chance at the World Series while the baseball wounds are now rubbed raw with the revelations of cheating by the Astros.

However, I believe there are still more positive aspects that outweigh the negatives in Los Angeles. I love the diversity, the interesting food, endless entertainment choices, world class health care, the emerging and exciting DTLA Arts District, and neighborhoods like Echo Park that are enjoying a renaissance. We’re more crowded, the buildings are more dense, and the demographics are ever changing, but that fuels my curiosity to explore and find beauty in my city.

A few months back, I had the opportunity to take the Metrolink from South Pasadena to Little Tokyo. I enjoyed the passing views while listening to music which I find to be a poetic and romantic experience, even for a 20 minute ride.

I ate sushi for lunch with my daughter in Little Tokyo, admired the fourth floor view from the technical school she was attending one block away, visited a few unique stores on the edge of the Arts District, and ventured over to Olvera Street. After that, it was time to get back onto the train which I did at Union Station, right across the street. I slowly walked through that gorgeous building, visualizing women in hats and heels and men in suits and ties while listening to the echoes of piano playing in the historic waiting area.

My images focus mostly on Olvera Street as I found them the most interesting. The “street”, officially founded in 1781, is probably less than the length of a football field and does cater to tourists with trinkets and t-shirts, but look closely at the original adobe architecture and you can glean some historical perspective there.

And it never hurts to grab a drink, enjoy some chips and salsa and take a break before exploring another exciting part of Los Angeles.