One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Couple Turns Home Into Faux Prison
Photo by tarasov via Shutterstock
A West Hills couple has literally translated that elusive feeling of being trapped into your own home by turning their house into a prison.
KTLA reports that Lou and Linda DeMarco's home renovations, such as they are, are being billed as a commentary on the current housing crisis. But since the couple is also trying to sell a movie about a couple that turns their home into a prison to make ends meet, it's also part of a PR stunt.
The house has a chain-link fence with barbed wire up around it, a gym for "prisoners" and a sign claiming that the fence is electrified (it isn't).
Neighbors are for the most part supportive of the art/stunt/statement, and some even helped the DeMarcos erect their faux-security fence, according to the Daily News.
"It's a serious thing because so many people are losing their homes to foreclosure and the banks are really, really tough," he said. "We thought that this might be an alternative way for people to start a home-based business."
"We also think it's performance art and a living sculpture," DeMarco added.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
