Last week's LA Weekly had a cover story on the vice scene in the Skid Row area of downtown Los Angeles. That's the area where the bums (homeless) hang out.
The title on the cover reads:
"Skid Row's Super Dope Cops: hustlers, gangsters, addicts and narcos are all trying to get their chippy on where it's always mardi Gras on crack"
Then on Dec. 23, there was a big article in the newspaper (L.A. Times) on a Skid Row drug sting. The day before, undercover detectives, posing as drug dealers, arrested 14 buyers, including a 23 y.o. Hollywood actor.
I was trying to figure out if I had wandered through that area (6th & Spring), last spring, when I toured downtown L.A. at night. During the day, I was attending a conference. At night, I'd get together with a friend who knew some of the history of downtown L.A.
He'd lead a group of conferees, usually fellow Vancouverites (I'm not one, but I can blend in) to grab a bite at various old eateries. And along the way, he'd point out different places (the library, Union station, Disney hall, etc.)
I don't think we ventured into the Skid Row area. No one came up to us trying to sell us drugs... not that we were seeking to buy such stuff.
Makes me wonder whether they teach about vice-ridden areas in urban planning at UCLA (where my friend is a grad student).
Posted by raacluse at December 30, 2005 01:21 AMAs a follow-up to this Skid Row report, I should mention that the article says that stings targeting buyers will continue. The next phase will be surveillance of sellers, with the aim of their eventual breakup.
It would seem to me that the police wouldn't want to advertise their intentions, just like the Feds wouldn't want to vis-a-vis the terrorists.
But, maybe, the LAPD figures that the major drug dealers don't read newspapers. Or more likely, they can't keep the press from reporting on their future plans. And, anyhow, the dealers would expect police to try to figure out how to go after them. It's a cat-and-mouse situation.
Posted by: raacluse at December 30, 2005 07:47 PM