SKID ROW FOLK

Meet the neighbors, housed, unhoused, or just in transition in Skid Row, Los Angeles. This is a collaborative project with residents. (scroll down for more...)

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Remembering Charly Africa Keunang. Jury decision in civil lawsuit comes 3 years later and against LAPD use of excessive force in police killing of Africa. Thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

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High at the park. Addiction in broad daylight. Learning to love those who suffer from a disease and from trauma that goes untreated. Thinking of my friend Tracey and sending him love... never enough love. He passed away from an overdose. This is not him but someone else who stood next to me. What happens in this neighborhood happens everywhere in America but behind closed doors.

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Tina became homeless after she was aged out of a foster care program. She loved to talk about Justin Bieber, Kanye, and spice. She was heavily into smoking spice; so much so that I was afraid to give her a dollar. She seemed to live in her own world, and while street smart...she would talk in a delusional, vulnerable manner that made your heart drop and worry for her safety. She told me she would get tickets for riding the metro without paying. One time I gave her a ride to Hollywood... that's where she would sleep at night because it was safer than Skid Row. Someone stole her luggage. Maybe she found a shelter in Hollywood for homeless youth... or moved back to Baltimore. Nobody knows.

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Deportation fears. I met Juan (not his real name) at the shelter. He was always sitting in the same spot waiting for a shelter bus to arrive. He looked like he was in his early thirties. He told me he was concerned about Trump and deportations. Juan came to the US on his own as a kid from Mexico. His parents knew he was leaving by himself. He stayed with friends and went to school in the US. He didn't finish his education but later on he started working in a manufacturing company in Simi Valley. He got the job there using fake documents. He kept his job for many years until 9/11 terrorist attacks increased regulations, and the company found out about his undocumented status. He lost his job. He now has a daughter, only a few years old, but she is in foster care and staying with a foster mom who wants custody. She went to court claiming Juan can no longer have custody of his daughter because he is homeless and her mother is an addict. But Juan told me the judge won't take away his daughter just because he is homeless and will give him time to find a job. He told me wants nothing more than to regain custody of his daughter and work full time. He is trying to find another job as soon as he can. His friend told him about a position that pays under the table and requires no documentation. He wants to stay in the US under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA ) program that Obama started. He wants a good future for his daughter. He says he tries to keep by himself and he doesn't like to talk to anyone about his family. He is afraid of getting any tickets or arrested while he is in Skid Row and homeless. He repeats that he doesn't associate with other people living on the street out of fear of getting arrested. He told me he was at a shelter in the valley but he didn't like it there. He felt they didn't like immigrants there. Juan told me if I don't see him at his spot at the shelter here, that means he got the job and has started working. I haven't seen him. I hope he can reunite with his daughter and be safe living in the US. My own parents came to the US seeking political asylum and fleeing a dictatorship when I was young. I understand the challenges Juan and his family face. Juan told me that he hates how Trump portrays all immigrants as bad. He told me, "Look around us...look at the problems in the US...right here in Skid Row.... You can't blame everything on immigrants."

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Remembering Barbara Brown who died from hypothermia one year ago today. Skid Row community gathered for a memorial today. Rest In Peace. With family. Mural by Bandit. @banditstreetart.

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“Charly "Africa” Keunang was a disabled individual with certain rights defined by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. The United States is a signatory to these rights.

Article 13 states: “In order to help to ensure effective access to justice for persons with disabilities, States Parties shall promote appropriate training for those working in the field of administration of justice, including police and prison staff.” There is nothing Mr. Keunang did, in my opinion, that warranted instantaneous death by police homicide. Six armed officers shooting numerous bullets into this unarmed, homeless, disabled man shocks my conscience in the greatest possible extreme.

There is no hospital anywhere that would have needed six armed officers and numerous bullets to bring this man under better control, even if he were high on meth, as was found on autopsy.

We cannot continue to condone the sudden execution of psychiatrically disabled individuals by police officers. While this action might have been legally justified, this confrontation did not need to rise to the level that it did. These kinds of incidents must be handled only by those officers with advanced mental health training and skills.

I feel compassion for police officers put into situations like this with inadequate training, skills and experience. Most do not ever want to take someone’s life. It’s a profoundly traumatic experience much like that experienced by soldiers in wartime. In addition, it often compromises an officer’s career trajectory.

We must all insist upon immediate change.“ – Dr. Mary McLaughlin

"The United Nations Commission on Human Rights has designated Dec. 3rd as International Day for Persons with Disabilities. Most individuals who are chronically homeless are disabled. We have a L- O - N - G way to go towards respecting disability rights."

Dr. Mary McLaughlin​ is a Rehabilitation Psychologist, Behavioral Neuroscientist, and Disability & Chronic Homelessness Consultant. She is the Executive Director at Cape Haven.

[skidrowfolk]

A painting by Tracey. Courtesy of Rory White, former LAMP Arts Program Coordinator. Tracey lived under a bridge for years before moving into low income housing. He was my friend and a brilliant guy. Tracey lived in subsidized housing for a decade or more before he overdosed. He stopped taking his meds and relapsed and turned to self medication. He stopped talking to his social worker and there was no mental health outreach in his building. We would sit in his tiny room and talk about politics, NIMBYism. He had a unique, interesting view of the world. He felt he was not wanted or accepted by the mainstream. Tracey was taken to the hospital after running up on the roof of his building naked. He was released quickly from the hospital and returned to his room. He had a pet rabbit in his room that was found after his passing. This painting is another surprise because I had never seen his artwork. He never talked about his paintings. He would sit for hours in his room talking and drinking and smoking pot with his friend Larry. He overdosed at Larry's place but his family never came forward after his death or contacted the building management. Tracey was from Arizona and a computer tech/repairman. There was just so much that I never knew about him and I will miss him. . . #skidrowfolk #dtla #skidrow #skidrow #skidrowlosangeles #dtla #downtownla #skidrowfolk #painting #homeless #unhoused #housing #lensculture #downtownlosangeles #la #streetlife #photography #lamp #art #nimby #homelessness #addiction #relapse

[skidrowfolk]

Carol is a longtime Skid Row resident and recently got housing. She and her boyfriend were living together on the streets. They were waiting for housing. They are both serious about sobriety and support each other. Carol also had a small featured role on the TV show "Ghost Adventures". She played the ghost of an elderly woman that haunts an abandoned Scientology building in Los Angeles...before the building was a Scientology research center, it was an actual homeless shelter and Carol played the woman who ran the shelter for women. Full circle. She was so thrilled I saw her on the show, she decided to pose for me.

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We had a great time last weekend at the Festival for All Skid Row Artists, organized by Los Angeles Poverty Department, at Gladys Park. The annual two day festival really transforms the park, and neighborhood, as Skid Row residents and community members put on a show, display their creativity, artwork, photography, music, spoken word, poetry…and just have fun in the park. It’s great to be able to attend and photograph the community relaxed, dancing, and enjoying themselves. Housed or unhoused, everyone comes together in the park to celebrate. Thank you Los Angeles Poverty Department. More info at www.lapovertydept.org

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"Every city got a Skid Row. Every major city got a Skid Row. Every city got Broadway. Every city got Main Street. I mean everywhere you go.... Just some cities are bigger than others, so that you have more people...more people that do illegal things. You see how they (police) are jumping out on people? This is all day and half tonight. And it's not very comfortable down here. Me...I don't have a criminal record. I'm not running from the police. You know. And crackhead motherfucker...he been sitting there smoking crack. You know what I mean? Everybody thinks because they see you with a camera, you the police. Yeah, you see where I'm at now, nobody bothers me. And I can fight now. Don't think I can't fight. Just because I'm an old man, don't think I can't fight. I can fight. I grew up in the hood. I can defend myself. Like right here...where we are now...it's peaceful. It's quiet. You don't see the police jumping out on us like they did down the street, right there. And if you sit here long enough, you'll see them come by here (down the street) again and jump out again." George talks about a typical day on his street in Skid Row and the constant police busts in the neighborhood. For George and everyone who worked hard to make this project happen...we now have a fundraiser on Indiegogo to pay for postproduction, crew and talent to finish the film. It feels great to be part of this project with George, Ajay Santos, Tony Anthony, Anthony Taylor. Thank you to mural designer General Jeff, and Skid Row residents. Bluesman On The Row fundraising page at: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/bluesman-on-the-row-film#/ Thank you!

[skidrowfolk]

We are raising funds for postproduction on Bluesman On The Row. Please check out our fundraiser page at: http://bit.ly/2dFQwXx.

George Porter lived on the streets of Skid Row for over a year before finding housing. The film is about his experiences and features the talent of Skid Row residents. We collaborated with Skid Row residents, unhoused and housed, to shoot the footage. Everyone gave of their own time and talent to create this project. Now it’s time to give back to the community and finish the film. We all are paid for our hard work. Let’s give local talent and crew compensation they deserve. Thank you.

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“This store location is significant because you used to be homeless near here?” “Oh yeah…I was homeless and on drugs. I’m twenty-two years sober. But I went through the programs down here. I was in the Weingart, Tea House, Gravy Joe’s. You know…I am a product of the environment. I made it through.” Von is a small business owner in Skid Row and long time resident. He is generous enough to let us sell our dvds at his Madd Phat Shopper store on the corner of Fifth and Wall Street. Mr. Blassingame dvds are now available there and you can also find some unique items, clothing, t shirts, movies, knick knacks, toiletries, and best of all, his friendly customer service. He explained that he doesn’t know if he can keep his stores open more than another year. Most residents in the neighborhood can’t afford to spend more than a few dollars. He also says the wide availability of drugs in the Skid Row also means residents have less money to spend and make it a challenge for a small business to thrive. “It’s either food or drugs. Most people will only spend $2 here.” Von devotes long hours to his stores but is barely getting by. He is now waiting to get into Section 8 housing and plans to eventually retire. But for now, you can still experience his customer service and friendly demeanor…and shop locally in Skid Row. Show some support for local businesses in Skid Row. Visit his two store locations: The Madd Phat Shopper, on the corner of 5th Street and Wall Street, and Sassy’s on 7th Street. Open from 1pm-8pm.

[skidrowfolk]

Endless busts on the corner.

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Always positive and sweet, Linda was always kind to me and I was amazed by her spirit. She gave me a t shirt once and told me it would look good. She always had positive things to say about Tony, and liked to joke around, dance and sing. Here are some photos of her at LA Poverty Dept.'s Festival for All Skid Row Artists. I didn't like to take too many photos of her or bother her with questions, because I felt that she just wanted to be a "regular" person, to stay in the moment. But she was more than that and really an inspiration: how to stay positive and true. Nevermind anything else. Rest in peace. A memorial will be held for Linda, organized by Demetra Wilson-Washington...her friend in the photos below. This Sunday at Central City Church of the Nazarine, service begins at 8:30 am.

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Truth and power in a t shirt. The look in his eyes. The ancestors. His memories and the reality we all see in front of us. In Skid Row, no one can deny the message on his t shirt: the need for justice and equality. When people wear messages, the truth, on their bodies...they cannot, will not, be denied.

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Eddie H. at the tribute for Mr. Blassingame. Watch the entire live event on Vimeo at http://www.vimeo/ondemand/mrblassingame.

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Magical porta potties on 5th St. Rented by The Row Church. Notice how clean the street is? Magic.