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According to Heavy Trash, many things. Specifically:
The problem is, gated communities do not increase people's trust in each other or the overall quality of life. They may in fact do harm to both.
To combat this spirit of distrust in our local communities, the arts organization erected bright orange viewing platforms at three key locations throughout the city. We're sure the gated communities are working quickly to get them removed but, for now, you can climb the stations at the following locations:
1. 3rd Street and Burnside Avenue, at Park La Brea
2. West Sunset Boulevard and North Gunston Drive at Brentwood Circle
3. Los Feliz Boulevard and Cummings Drive at Laughlin Park
found via World Changing.
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Park La Brea? It's got to be the most public "gated community" in town. Actually, all of these places are more public than David Geffen's beach.
Man, are these guys dumb. Park LaBrea is a RENTAL community, unlike the other two. If you're battling elitism, this is definitely not the place to do it.
But Park La Brea is so poorly laid out, and all the buildings are so innocuously alike, that it's like the Hotel California: you can never leave.
Which is kind of like being gated.
I admit I don't know much about what these guys are doing and don't really have much interest and care in doing any research on their objective. However, I saw one of these orange things outside of Park Labrea on the sidewalk when I was walking to work and had no desire or even knew what this orange thing was. I don't think anyone knew or cared...it was just a random object in my way. The orange thing was removed rather quickly...seemed like a waste of time and money not to mention pretty ineffective.
If the platforms help encourage debate about public space, privacy and paranoia in cities and L.A. in particular, then I think it's great.
The people behind this effort are right in targeting Park La Brea (which gets unfairly dissed too often). PLB’s status as a tenant-occupied development does not at all preclude it from this discussion. Without getting too wonky or stuck in the Mike Davis school of thinking, let's just say the issue is not exclusively (so to speak) about elitism in single-family residential gated “communities”.
But the artists/activists/whoever might wanna work on the physical vulnerability factor of this concept as evidenced by the comment above. And last night the platform on Los Feliz Blvd. was spotted resting on its side.
Last time I checked PLB was private property and has been private property since it was built. I choose to live there because of the gates. Call me paranoid, call me elitist but as a single woman who chooses to live in LA I have a right to pick out a community that I feel provides me with a relatively safe environment. Instead of picking on the people who choose to live in a gated community, why not pick on those people who choose to rob, rape, carjack, and vandalize?
What's wrong with being safe in a gated community? I bet these protesters haven't had their car vandalized and broken into, otherwise they would forego this dumb protest in a nanosecond.
I don't have general stats for crime rates in gated areas vs. "open" ones, but I was told by a noted geographer that crime actually *increased* in Park La Brea after the gates were installed.
I'd say Park La Brea is definitely a gated community. And not only that, but after having several friends live there I (and they) say it's a pretty fascist place as well. DON'T DO THIS. DON'T DO THAT. YOU STEPPED ON THE GRASS AND MUST BE SHOT. Plus their visitor policy is ludicrous as you have to leave by 5pm. Give me a break.
Sorry, Kevin, but you are completely WRONG with regard to PLB.
I've lived there for two and one-half years and NOT ONCE have I been reprimanded for anything. If your friends exist and were reprimanded for something then they were probably doing something to offend their neighbors. I have thrown parties, landscaped my own garden areas, painted the interior of my apartment, torn out carpet, changed cabinet doors and doorknobs, etc. - all without any approval or punishment.
This is one of the most relaxed places I have lived in LA - it's quiet, multi-cultural and has a huge amount of open space. That said, if you are noisy and blast your music after 10pm you will be asked to turn it down - but what's wrong with that? With 12,000 residents the enforcement of some rules is well within the rights of the owners and residents. You may want to look up the word "fascist" again and try to put it in a proper context next time. When you sign the lease, you are presented with a list of do's and don'ts...if you don't like them, don't sign the lease. Simple.
As far as stepping on the grass and getting shot, get over yourself. Try making a point without stooping to such a ridiculous and immature level.
Regarding their visitor policy, your statement is a complete and total fabrication. Vistors check in at the gate but do not have to leave the premises at 5pm. Maybe your friends didn't want you to stay? If they stay longer than the twelve hours allotted to visitors, you simply go to the front office and get another pass.
Jess, you may actually want to get your facts about crime statistics from someone other than "a noted geographer". How about the LAPD website, which states that crime in that particular area is down, not up. If you read the Larchmont Chronicle or other local papers, you will see that the vast majority of crime in that area is in the adjacent neighborhoods, which are coincidentally not gated.
I too live in PLB and it's the nicest, quietest place I've ever lived. Since I have been there they have added 600 parking spaces, a great kids/BBQ/volleyball park, upgraded the electrical, installed great plantings and been nothing but responsive with regards to any unauthorized parking or visitors such as salesmen. No, I do not work for the management.
The people that have issues with gated private property truly don't understand property law in the US. Get a better job, tune into something other than Pacifica Radio and let others enjoy what they have worked so hard to earn.
I guess I'd argue that gated communities aren't really the problem but that they are a symptom of an increasingly complicated class problem in Los Angeles and in America in general.
And while the problems of crime are very real and I would never begrudge anyone's desire to be safer, I think that one of the unintended consequences of this is that we might be less aware of the societal problems of our communities that should be important to all of us to want to fix.
If everything is rosey within the walls of our protected enclaves then maybe we don't know how bad it is for everyone outside of them and what needs to be done about it.
Jason--it's LA--we can't help but notice "how bad" it is for "everyone else". The art project isn't doing anything to make the world better. I don't see any of these artists hanging around Magic's house.
Jason T - you may want to read up on some US and world history - there HAS ALWAYS been a class structure in society and there always will be. It certainly doesn't excuse ignorance or intolerance of other people's problems, but you can't be so naive to think that class is a bigger issue today than it was 100 years ago.
Don't believe I said anything about the size of our class problem...only that it was "increasingly complicated" as in it has gotten more complex over time as in there aren't any easy answers.
Probably not hanging around Magic's house because of his involvement in job creation, social services, and the like in communities less well-off than his own.
Tony,
When I last checked in at Park La Brea, I was told by the guard that visitors have to leave by 5pm. Besides, even if that weren't true, who would want to go to the guardshack to get another pass? That's fascism, my friend. And as far as calling me immature for saying you'd get shot for walking on the grass, that is what people tend to call "a joke". Try it out sometime. You might like it. And speaking of maturity, we're debating the pros and cons of Park La Brea on a website. I would await your reply, but you have probably used up your three hour monthyl Park La Brea internet access quota.
While you are at it why don't you put up your bs signs in front of every apartment or condo building in Los Angeles with a security entrance? Why not take away the security gates at some of the projects?
Shit for brains you have far too much time on your hands and are really reaching. I don't live in these areas you are protesting but I would love to see somebody cram one of your sign up your keister.
I believe Park La Brea's security is a joke. I would love to speak with some of you who feel the same way. Please e-mail me at antoinecross@gmail.com. I'm involved in a law suit against them, and possibly you can help. Thanks!!!