NOWHERE in the modern world is the dichotomy between rich and poor, advantaged and disadvantaged, wealth and impoverishment, juxtaposed more obviously, or more recently, than in downtown Los Angeles. As a former owner/operator of hotels, including multiple Marriott brands, I naturally pay attention to the local scenery and ambiance wherever I stay. A recent business trip brought me to the areas shown here. A jaunt around the nearby streets surrounding my hotel revealed huge discrepancies.
Above, a local underpass samples a very common sight in the area: extensive communities of street dwellers. Looming large in the skyscape is the graffiti-decorated, multibillion-dollar OceanWide Plaza, abandoned in 2019, festooned with the colors and markings of the street. Towering over all is the recently upgraded JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton complex, more than 1,000 rooms of luxury hotel and residential space. From the upper floors, the world can seem quite good in certain ways. At ground level, it appears to be a different story.
Yet, we find joy and despair in both places. Which trend will dominate in the end? The order imposed by capital? Or the chaos of the street? Which residents are most content with their lives? The answers are not always as obvious as they may seem. Veritas Chronicles is equally interested in stories from the street as well as from the top floor, shining its light on the innovators and problem solvers in every place.
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