Watching the police await the coroner outside our window just after the Super Bowl.
I was sitting at my desk searching airfares or something and noticed sirens from a fire engine or ambulance. This is a very common occurrence here so I initially paid no attention. But, I then felt like the light intensity escalated and for whatever reason I should be looking. Sure enough, there was a fire engine, paramedics, But not 1, rather, 3 or 4 police cars. I looked across the street. It looked like there were 2 or 3 bodies crashed out on the street. I yelled out to Mac, "they are here to pick up the dead." I was being largely sarcastic. At the very most, I has assumed some drug overdose was sending someone or somebodies to the hospital. That shouldn't be normal and isn't even here, but it is a possible reality.
They taped the scene. I knew that didn't seem good. Shortly after, the fire engine left, the paramedics left, all but one police car. Mac realized they are awaiting the coroner. Fuck. I didn't mean it. Really, there are dead bodies across the street?
As it turns out, there was one. His possessions are in piles around him. I say him as I am fairly certainly we know, at least are knowing of him. Mac has actually spoken to him. I found him annoying in that he chanted all the time, but harmless and well meaning. He was a spiritual man that prayed with rocks, with palms, that was trying, I imagine, to trying to save all of us from the evils. This is a prime example of how good simply doesn't always prevail. We don't know how this man ended up on the streets of LA, other than I know that the rate of homeless in LA has increased over 70% in just the last few years. We don't know what pains inflicted him. He had 2 different winter coats (which you don't really need much here) and he would change them with frequency. Something tells me he would have longed to have been able to clean them more often. He smoked, reflectively. He seemed to almost always keep to himself. He seemed content that way. Then again, he reached out to Mac and told him he was a "seeier."
I went back and forth to window while the one male and female police officer "stood guard." About one hour later (and I missed the missed the actual transaction) the corner must have come and taken the body. The 2 other piles, which I initially mistook for possibly bodies where put together in a corner at the store front. The crime scene tape was removed. It was just another night on Broadway in Downtown LA.
For me, though, the progress and pride I felt from the day I moved here 9 or so months ago, was suddenly seriously deflated. Since I moved here, I felt this was like Time Square 1985 (where I spent much of my teenage years) and it's pretty accurate, except our theaters are money laundering jewelry stores and quinceanera shops rather than porn theaters with public sex and prostitution. Drugs here are just as rampant and perhaps even worse than back in the day. But even more than I felt in the 80's around Time Square, when I was younger and simply more fearless, I always felt more safe here. Knowing though someone was stabbed just outside an entry to our building, by the arcade of our building that was still open just after the Super Bowl, that sense of security was stolen from me. Yes, it was a homeless person most likely attacked by another homeless person. But, I could just as easily been in the way. I could have just as easily pissed off the person with the knife (I won't assume it's a guy-there are some scary women around here too).
The number of homeless have grown by over 70% in something like 3 years in Los Angeles! 3 years! We have more people on the streets in LA on any given night than cities the size of West Hollywood or Palm Springs. I have no doubt that ending up on the streets further derails, destroys people from whoever they were before they got there. I have often thought I would likely end up a "crack head" if on the street. I'd want not to feel the reality. I've met people, at the same time, that ended up on the street, that ended up there, because of their addictions. Some, having successful jobs, loving families that just couldn't tolerate their behaviors any longer. Luckily, when I met them, they were on a rebound, making me believe it can happen. In my work over the last few years and given living 2 blocks out of Skid Row, I've spent increasing time reading, studying, talking to others, observing issues relating to the homeless. Far from an expert, I can say we have many programs but their effectiveness and whether or not we are best putting our resources where we should needs to be closely scrutinized and political correctness and bureaucracy needs a step back and doing the right thing for all needs to be pushed forward so we may correct was is perhaps the most current greatest shame in American society and not something representing a city of Angels.
They taped the scene. I knew that didn't seem good. Shortly after, the fire engine left, the paramedics left, all but one police car. Mac realized they are awaiting the coroner. Fuck. I didn't mean it. Really, there are dead bodies across the street?
As it turns out, there was one. His possessions are in piles around him. I say him as I am fairly certainly we know, at least are knowing of him. Mac has actually spoken to him. I found him annoying in that he chanted all the time, but harmless and well meaning. He was a spiritual man that prayed with rocks, with palms, that was trying, I imagine, to trying to save all of us from the evils. This is a prime example of how good simply doesn't always prevail. We don't know how this man ended up on the streets of LA, other than I know that the rate of homeless in LA has increased over 70% in just the last few years. We don't know what pains inflicted him. He had 2 different winter coats (which you don't really need much here) and he would change them with frequency. Something tells me he would have longed to have been able to clean them more often. He smoked, reflectively. He seemed to almost always keep to himself. He seemed content that way. Then again, he reached out to Mac and told him he was a "seeier."
I went back and forth to window while the one male and female police officer "stood guard." About one hour later (and I missed the missed the actual transaction) the corner must have come and taken the body. The 2 other piles, which I initially mistook for possibly bodies where put together in a corner at the store front. The crime scene tape was removed. It was just another night on Broadway in Downtown LA.
For me, though, the progress and pride I felt from the day I moved here 9 or so months ago, was suddenly seriously deflated. Since I moved here, I felt this was like Time Square 1985 (where I spent much of my teenage years) and it's pretty accurate, except our theaters are money laundering jewelry stores and quinceanera shops rather than porn theaters with public sex and prostitution. Drugs here are just as rampant and perhaps even worse than back in the day. But even more than I felt in the 80's around Time Square, when I was younger and simply more fearless, I always felt more safe here. Knowing though someone was stabbed just outside an entry to our building, by the arcade of our building that was still open just after the Super Bowl, that sense of security was stolen from me. Yes, it was a homeless person most likely attacked by another homeless person. But, I could just as easily been in the way. I could have just as easily pissed off the person with the knife (I won't assume it's a guy-there are some scary women around here too).
The number of homeless have grown by over 70% in something like 3 years in Los Angeles! 3 years! We have more people on the streets in LA on any given night than cities the size of West Hollywood or Palm Springs. I have no doubt that ending up on the streets further derails, destroys people from whoever they were before they got there. I have often thought I would likely end up a "crack head" if on the street. I'd want not to feel the reality. I've met people, at the same time, that ended up on the street, that ended up there, because of their addictions. Some, having successful jobs, loving families that just couldn't tolerate their behaviors any longer. Luckily, when I met them, they were on a rebound, making me believe it can happen. In my work over the last few years and given living 2 blocks out of Skid Row, I've spent increasing time reading, studying, talking to others, observing issues relating to the homeless. Far from an expert, I can say we have many programs but their effectiveness and whether or not we are best putting our resources where we should needs to be closely scrutinized and political correctness and bureaucracy needs a step back and doing the right thing for all needs to be pushed forward so we may correct was is perhaps the most current greatest shame in American society and not something representing a city of Angels.
Of all the people for the "Shamin" (we called him) to chose to address me... briefly, spiritual; like a blessing. After that, when I saw him I would stop in front of him, head bowed, prepared for his ritual.
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