Central City East : Downtown Los Angeles

According to the LA TIMES , the City Council of the City of Los Angeles has raised electricity rates.  Estela Lopez of the Central City East Association , who has members in the Industrial and Arts District of Downtown Los Angeles , expressed concern on behalf of those 1800 business and property owners.

On main Street, in the heart of the Historic Core of Downtown Los Angeles, Skid Row Housing Trust broke Ground on it's redone Genesis Hotel.  More news at LADOWNTOWNNEWS.com

It is one of the first hotels that will include loft style apartments and not just house those with special needs. Dignitaries were present and more news to come from the Downtown News.

Easter Celebrations will be coming to skid row soon!! The list, of course, is long and culminates with the big party at the Midnight Mission. Celebrations and street feedings and giveaways are done by all Missions in Skid Row Leading up to Easter .

Good Friday will see the beginning of the Long weekend Celebration in skid row.

The Union Rescue Mission will also be doing a feeding, but so far there are no updates, once the update is made this blog will see an update.

The Fred Jordan Mission also hosts a Easter Celebration, their celebration will be on Saturday April 3.


Los Angeles Mission
The LA Mission will conduct it's feeding on good Friday There will be a shoe giveaway as well as feet washing . It is a lot of fun and there is good food as well as many celebrities.



 The Midnight Mission is the culmination of all of this as Easter Sunday and Passover are celebrated with music , food , and fun. Easter Sunday is a comin..WOOOOHOOOO!!!
From www.midnightmission.org

On Sunday, April 4th our staff, participants, and 200 volunteers come together to create a special brunch and celebration for about 2,000 of our closest friends... this year will be no exception!
We clear the street in front of our facility, set tables and chairs for our 2,000+ guests, most of who happen to be suffering from the condition of homelessness. We have an Easter Village for children, clothing giveaway and live entertainment.
For more information about the event or for sponsorship opportunities please contact, Mai Lee Community Relations Manager 213-624-4588. Volunteer opportunities, send an email to volunteer@midnightmission.org.

General Jeff Raises Concerns over the Purchase of the Rossylyn Hotel by Single Room Occupancy Housing Corporation at the CRA Commissioners Meeting  


General Jeff Speaks at CRA March 18
Uploaded by dgarzila. - Watch the latest news videos.

Brooks Brothers, in Downtown Los Angeles, is closing it's doors. According to the Los Angeles Times, Brooks Brothers in Downtown Los Angeles , via Downtown News , will be closing it's doors for good in the city center. There will be no closeout sale. Many hip hop clothiers have been drawn to Downtown as of late and unfortunately high end suits seem not to be the product of choice. Many enjoy buying their suits in the Garment District on Los Angeles Street from 7th to 11th street.

Ah... Another high end store closing in Downtown Los Angeles.

The New Genesis Hotel will break ground on March 30th. Those in Attendance will be Jan Perry , the Federation of Labor Representative , and Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council President Russell Brown.

According to Skid Row Housing Trust there will be ground floor retail and new jobs will be created. The first turn of the soil marks the birth of the next evolution in the Trust's solution to homelessness. The New Genesis Apartments will combine permanent supportive housing for homeless and disabled men and women with commercial space for community retail. The New Genesis Hotel is located on 5th Street and Main Street.

One of the attributes of Skid Row Housing Trust is their focus on creating huge spaces in their buildings to accommodate the social services. Skid Row Housing trust has made it clear that they intend to be good neighbors in the Historic Core as well as make sure that the ground spaces accommodate retail space.

On March 2nd, homeless folks at  one of the armories that was a part of the Winter Shelter Program in Los Angeles County saw their last meal in the form of a Steak Dinner because that winter shelter was closing. Today , Andy Bales, and his URM Crew barbecued steaks on the roof of Union Rescue Mission for those at other Winter shelters that will see their doors close.

Below is an excerpt from Andy's Blog detailing what is happening with the Winter Shelters and a video  I took today of Andy Bales and his crew barbecuing on the roof of the Union Rescue Mission... What people fail to realize is that between the 15th and the 7th of the next month , middle of the month and the first week of the month, 0ver 1500 souls in skid row from the various social service housing providers utilize the free breakfast , lunch , and dinners , as well as those 1500 who find themselves in the various missions , provided by the various Missions in skid row, and those others who do sleep on the streets. What is desperately needed at this time , besides donations of money, are vegetables and fruits. These Missions do not just provide food for the skid row residents , but do reach out to the  whole Los Angeles community  Let's end homelessness by providing healthy food options for all Angelinos and those that may find themselves  utilizing these shelters and Missions in these tough economic times.

From Andy's Blog, CEO of Union Rescue Mission:

Why in the world would we close down this vital safety net? How can we send folks out to the streets who want to stay in a place that provides a roof over their heads and a connection with case management and vital services?  The Governor of California, during these extraordinary times, could declare a state of emergency, keep the armories open, and our city and county could team up with us and the other agencies running shelters to make sure that these 1600 beds stay open, and that our friends experiencing homelessness could be provided with a shelter long enough to get back on their feet.  It could cost as little as $1,000,000 per shelter to operate them at capacity(150-200 persons each night) for 1 year.   

For the sake of these precious souls, would you consider contacting the :

Governor: Click here for email form.

LAHSA: Click here for email form.

County officials: Click here for contact list.

City officals: Click here for email form.

Thank you!

 Andy B.

 Don Garza Downtown Los Angeles

According to an article at LAIST . Angels Flight Funicular in Downtown Los Angeles will reopen on Monday. Word comes through the Angel's Flight website. The March 15th Opening Date looks to be a lot sooner than was expected!
This past Thursday word was sent forth that Angel's Flight had passed the necessary safety  inspection to be able to resume service.. The Downtown Angel's Flight is known as the world;s shortest railway.

Enjoy Luciano Pavarotti singing about another Funicular.....Mt Vesuvius Funicular

Don Garza  Downtown Los Angeles

With the sun shining bright and under the auspices of wonderful spring weather, John Perez , who made history by becoming the first openly gay person to serve as the Speaker of the California State Assembly, was sworn in by an enthusiastic crowd that gathered in Little Tokyo this morning.  Pérez who  is the 68th Speaker of the California State Assembly was formally sworn-in just over a week ago in Sacramento.

John A Perez is the cousin of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa . The swearing in ceremony took place on the steps of the Japanese American Museum. The swearing in was conducted by  Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge M.L. Villar, Pérez addressed the crowd about the need to support education at all levels, create jobs and cut the Assembly’s budget by 15 percent.  Many around downtown asked me if I attended the swearing in and they expressed their disappointment and heart brokenness at not being able to attend . Many Downtown Residents are also business owners , property owners and were actively involved in the Art Walk the Night before. Many said that they were so overwhelmed with art walk activities  that the swearing in ceremony had slipped their mind. Many who reside in downtown Los Angeles know the new State Assembly Speaker intimately and as a result many felt that they were not able to support their neighbor and friend the way they  always do.

Many in the Los Angeles community  are very proud of John Perez .

Sidenote:

We here at Central City East Blogger support all of the efforts of those making a difference in the Los Angeles Community regardless of race , religion ,  sex ,  color , creed , disability , or sexual orientation and will always publish those things that are of historical significance and highlight how these events represent historical value.

LAPD on the Corner of 4th street and Main keeping vehicle traffic of of 4th street between Main and Spring during March Downtown Art Walk

Don Garza Downtown Los Angeles


According to sources from LAPD , the LAPD had to block 4th street between Main Street and Spring street from vehicle traffic during the March Downtown Art Walk, as a response to the many art walk visitors in the street  and crossing the street and impeding traffic ; traffic slowed to a crawl. LAPD , with good cause, responded to the high possibility of a pedestrian vs. auto incident.  Kudos go to the Central Division for their quick thinking , which may have saved lives.

According to other sources, the ART Walk organization may have to pay a fine for this intervention , since it can be considered a blocking of the streets for  a special event. It is not certain at this early time if The Downtown Art Walk will be able to get a fee waiver  considering the changes involving special permits and fee waivers and the current financial crisis facing the  City of Los Angeles which has made it difficult for any entity to receive a fee waiver.

 Don Garza - Downtown Los Angeles

After over 8 years of being denied because MTA had decided it was too dangerous to have stop in skid row , the residents , social service provider employees , and Garment workers  in skid row have cause to celebrate. The MTA has placed a rapid 720 bus stop on the corner of 5th Street and San Pedro. Word came down today through a message from General Jeff about the new stop. With the impending loss of the Central City East  DASH service , this new  RAPID 720 stop will help the people of skid row to leave the area quickly on a major line as well as bring them to the services.  It took the efforts of an unfunded group of grassroots organizers and advocates, who live in skid row, to accomplish something the million dollar funded social service organizations could not... Kudos to MTA and kudos to General Jeff and OG MAN and Life is Crushow..

The E-mail sent by General Jeff can be seen below:

 Don Garza Downtown Los Angeles

Estela Lopez and Carmen Trutanich were consistent in highlighting the efforts to keep skid row  crime under control while  the new US Attorney Andre Birotte Jr , being sworn in today ,from Southern California looked on. The  Los Angeles City Attorneys office was also there in full force giving support to their efforts at the initiatives that have made an impact in reducing crime in the area. On hand was Senior Lead Officer Deon Joseph who was very articulate in detailing the effects of the initiatives such as Safer Cities Initiative  and the Streets or Services Program  that have led to people being able to walk day and night more safely in the area. Carmen Trutanich also made it clear that he would fight to keep both programs intact.
Deon Joseph continued to explain how the skid row community, after 10 years of hard work, is now able to communicate with the LAPD , whereas in the past no one spoke to each other on the issues that plagued the community.Songhai Miguda -Armstead was also very imformative , where many in local city government can't tell you where anything in skid row is , Songhai has developed the street cred with the community to have also been able to speak on the issues succinctly that have plagued the area as well as how the initiatives of the City Attorneys office have helped in the making of skid row a safer place while being mindful of the special issues and needs of the skid row community.



Estela Lopez  of the CCEA, the LAPD , and the Midnight Mission have been consistent in the mission of the monthly skid row walk. While there is still more work to be done, Carmen Trutanich emphasized before the walk that he is committed to making it even more safe at night to walk the streets of skid row. He says he will fight to keep the 50 officers of SCI and City Attorney initiatives in skid row intact.

Reposted from August 2009

I was so inspired by this man you can see that I don't look like that last photo anymore and have lost over 88 lbs and am training to be a fitness trainer


Residents at the Midnight Mission in Downtown Los Angeles Skid Row had the opportunity to learn from one of Scandinavia's best selling and marketing coaches in the industry of sales. I was one of those that was allowed to attend the 5 day seminar on the various selling techniques that make for professional and qualified sales professionals.

Per Lange of Lange Sales was the presenter of the 5 day seminar. Residents and employees of the Midnight Mission sat through an intensive class from 9 am until 1pm the whole 5 days as they interacted with one of the best coaches in sales in Europe and around the world. It was very exciting to learn the techniques that make for high level sales year round instead of  the roller coaster that many expect through the year.  Just after the first two days I was able to use the first techniques and had success.  Then it was on to the psychology of selling and the wonderful explanation of pipeline management.

Per Lange is here on vacation and decided that he wanted to take time out to be of service and used his skills as a way to give. The residents going through the Midnight Mission program some already had experience in sales and  some didn't , but all who attended learned much.  Per Lange is very much greatly appreciated by those who attended the free seminar and many are saying that they too are already benefiting from the  5 day seminar. I have appointments all next week with clients and with those who may be of service to the Midnight Mission . It is amazing....



Per taught us things are possible and that we should have a beginners mind in all that we do. I don't want to give it all away ,( eventually I will share my techniques) but suffice it to say, I now have a certificate from PER LANGE SALES ACADEMY and am thinking of hiring 2 of those who attended his seminar . Everyone who went through his Academy received a certificate of completion in pipeline management, sales psychology , and the sales process....

 Don Garza Downtown Los Angeles

General Jeff and Manuel Compito were interviewed Yesterday on ESPN Talk Radio.. They spoke on the mission of the Skid Row 3on3 Basketball Leaugue and what it is promoting.. you can go to the ESPN website to hear the interview and this post will be updated with the video , hopefully by today.. you can click on  this Link to hear the mp3 of the show.

Recently , the League was awarded a Los Angeles News Downtowners of Distinction Award  for their tireless efforts in the Downtown and Skid Row Communities promoting the positive and good things the people in the skid row community are contributing to Downtown Los Angeles and Los Angeles in General.