The People Down on Skid Row ~ Photo Essay by Tom Andrews
“I made practice runs down to skid row to get ready for my future.”
― Charles Bukowski, Ham on Rye
There is no one reason that brings people down to Skid Row. Everyone has their own story, but when you strip away poverty, addiction, abuse, mental illness and other details of people’s lives, what you’re left with is another neighborhood in Los Angeles. If you live in this city, these are your neighbors and fellow travelers. You may not recognize yourself when you hurry by, or peer out your car window, but you will when you look through the lens of Tom Andrews’ photo essay “The People Down on Skid Row”. -Blz
The History of Skid Row
In Los Angeles, this 54-block area in downtown developed into a Skid Row in the late 1800′s because this location was the last stop on the train for the whole country. Hobos, aimless rail riders, transient workers, and people running away from past lives ended up here short-term and long-term. Daily rate hotels and various entertainments (mostly bars and brothels) catered to the culture of rail riders who were transient by nature.
As Los Angeles further developed and with growing industrial markets, particularly the flower and fashion districts adjacent to Skid Row, the need to improve the area arose; various groups consistently initiated efforts to improve the community. In 1975, a Redevelopment Plan was adopted, which included a “Policy of Containment,” concentrating social service agencies and people experiencing homelessness in this section of the city, where many of them naturally congregated. – Union Rescue Mission
Eriksarni.com wrote:
Nice Essay , you made it out alive!
Posted on 10-Apr-12 at 10:18 am | Permalink
Argos wrote:
thanks, Tom.
Posted on 10-Apr-12 at 11:29 am | Permalink
Gee wrote:
Great, this spoke to me. I walk through there at times in utter fascination as well.
Posted on 14-Apr-12 at 11:18 am | Permalink
Katherine wrote:
Beautiful photos. Thanks for documenting my ‘hood with care.
Posted on 18-Apr-12 at 11:40 am | Permalink
travis vs wrote:
Very moving photos. Skid Row has been a sensitive area for decades. The city of Los Angeles has either been very lenient or incredibly cruel to allow this area to continue. I understand there are new housing developments specifically designed to aid the people of skid row. There shouldn’t be this level of poverty in LA let alone America. It’s sad that this is a reality.
Posted on 23-Apr-12 at 11:49 am | Permalink