A day back in the hood!!! And the lines are getting longer!!!!

on Garza - Downtown Los Angeles

Reposted from December 2009










I spent Christmas Eve at the Los Angeles Mission today to see what was going on at the Christmas Eve Celebration. To start this post it must be said that the line is getting longer . I missed Thanksgiving this year , but others told me that the line was even longer. Suffice to say that the folks in the line were moved along through the event quickly , but what was poignant , even for a 10 Year skid row veteran such as myself ,was the long line of not bussed in families. Yes, these people were not bussed in and to me this portends that more families are suffering around this great city if they made their way to the Los Angeles Misson..I could see that many were not there to eat as a result of coming down to shop in the Toy District and the wholesale district of downtown. It was distressing to see the line now extended onto 5th street . More families with children .. not bussed in...hmmmm..on Christmas Eve? Something is up.. The ten years I was living on 5th street and witnessed the Thanksgiving and Christmas events of the Los Angeles Mission , I had never seen this many families and people in that line.

Commander Andy Smith



One thing happening was the coat giveaway...nice coats...


The usual suspects were all there to serve the meal ,and the councilrazzi , myself, was ready to catch the politicos photos who showed up.

You can see who was there below in the photos
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa with Corbin Blue



Dennis Zine with Stephanie Pratt


Tom Labonge



As usual those living in skid row just can't get enough of the Mayor... they love him...it is always quite interesting to see this . There are movie stars all over the place , celebrities , media personalities , yet the people fall all over themselves to want to get the attention of the Mayor of the City of Los Angeles..




We are all blessed , those of us who live in our homes and in our safe places. We are eating. Many of us are still working. This year I give my thanks for my new found health and opportunity to live a dignified life . I also give thanks for those of you who contribute to these organizations in such hard times...after witnessing these families in that line , those many who made their way to skid row this day , tears welled in my eyes because I know things are tough out there for many...and wonder if it will get better anytime soon...