Posted on 09/02/2015 1:53:57 PM PDT by BenLurkin
Crime has jumped across the city this year, but nowhere has the increase been as large as in L.A.'s hippest new domain: downtown.
Here, the forces of rapid gentrification are crashing up against the chronic poverty, homelessness and crime that have long been a part of life in the city center. Police and residents say the influx of new lofts, luxury high-rise apartments, bars and eateries have made these new downtown dwellers easy targets for street crime.
"Those two communities are rubbing up against each other and for some reason it has gotten more aggressive," Mishkind said. "We understand there is a grittiness downtown, but that aggression against other people is not acceptable."
Overall, violent crime in the LAPD's Central Division — which covers parts of downtown, skid row and Chinatown — was up more than 57% through the end of August compared with the same period last year, and property offenses increased nearly 25%, according to police data.
Certain crimes have captured extra police attention. "Creeper" burglars look for unlocked apartments or cars. Organized crews lift unattended purses or smart phones from tables at cafes. Others prowl around apartments, checking for open windows or doors to sneak inside.
...
In more upscale parts of downtown such as Bunker Hill and Little Tokyo the situation is not as grim. But authorities say crime patterns have a way of spreading from rough areas to the edges of more prosperous ones.
The busy stretch of 5th Street between skid row and Pershing Square is a pipeline for drug dealers and people looking to score. Merchandise is frequently stolen from the shelves of markets and clothing stores. Fights break out on the sidewalk in the middle of the afternoon.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
SoCal ping
Worded to sound like there is fault on both sides.
I’ve always wondered about the percentage of liberal handwringers who write about the evils of gentrification who live in gentrified neighborhoods.
New folk=soft targets
L.A. Times Libs.
[white folks return] == [gentrification]
Either way you know who's at fault, and who therefore must pay.
I’m sure the increase in crime has nothing to do with the tens of thousands of undocumented immigrants openly living with in LA.
This wouldn’t be a problem if they would just invite the thieves and hobos to live with them.
Oh well, liberals get what they vote for!
Thank heavens it’s a gun free zone, or else things could become really ugly. /src
oh, so, like, it’s not so hip and cool after all I guess is some thug just wants to whack you over the head and take your wallet, huh?
Somewhere spike lee is fuming
Please ping me with any Southern California related articles. Thank you!
If you want on or off this ping list, please FReepmail me.
It doesn't work that way. We bring savages into the country, and they behave savagely.
It isn’t a gun free zone, but most of the “gentrify” people you see after dark are single men walking their little dogs.
Old abandoned office and retail space converted to “lofts”
Forget it, Jake. It’s Chinatown.
The idea is that gays will often be the first wave of white gentrifiers. If you buy investment property where gays are buying, you'll get in on the ground floor of a soon-to-rise market.
But I think the idea runs up against demographic reality in downtown Los Angeles. Are there really enough young SoCal whites around, gay or otherwise, to really gentrify what is essentially a slum in Mexico?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.