Articles from L.A. Taco
"To Understand Which L.A. Neighborhoods Have the Most 'Power,' You Have to Understand Redistricting. Here’s a Primer"
800 Traction Ave
For decades, this large loft building in the Arts District that was once filled with Japanese-American artists like Nancy Uyemura, an artist who moved to the neighborhood in the 80’s. She and all of her neighbors were eventually evicted from the building.
Arts District
The neighborhood started as an industrial part of Skid Row, until artists started moving into lofts there in the 70’s and 80’s. As the years went on from the 80’s into the 90’s and 2000’s, the Arts District transformed, pushing further and further into Skid Row.
Arturo's Building
Arturo is a mariachi musician. He lived in a building filled with other mariachi musicians, just a couple blocks from Mariachi Plaza. Most try to live within a couple blocks of the Plaza so they’re nearby if people want to hire them. A couple years ago, Arturo’s landlord tried to raise his and his neighbors’ rent by almost double.
Boyle Heights
The working-class Latinx neighborhood where Huizar grew up. Mariachi Plaza, Wyvernwood, and Arturo’s building are all here. When some residents saw signs of gentrification in their future, they banded together to create a militant group to fight back, called Defend Boyle Heights. It’s just across the river from downtown.
Broadway
For many years, Broadway was the only part of downtown that was in Jose Huizar’s district, CD 14. He had a very specific vision for it – a plan he called Bringing Back Broadway. The idea was to make Broadway glitzy and glamorous.
Carmel Partners Development
A planned 35-story tower in the Arts District of downtown LA that was embroiled in the FBI investigation of Huizar. The developer, Carmel Partners, would later pay $1.2 million to avoid prosecution by the Federal government.
