For the first time in years, I hopped on the red line and zoomed downtown (a scant few months ago), to spend a carefree day on Olvera Street in a part of town affectionately known as "Little Mexico".
Over the decades the popular tourist attraction has blossomed into quite a picturesque respite from the cement ravines bordering the precious little strip of property on all sides.
In fact, I was so captivated by the decorative tooling on the facades of Mexican-style restaurants - and a handful of historic buildings dating back two hundred years or so - that I was inclined to capture some footage on HD Video which I posted to YouTube.
Quaint Olvera Street Restaurant (Little Mexico)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vC8U3ybdwLw&feature=player_embedded
Olvera Street Sign (Cart)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfzNgGCTWRw&feature=player_embedded
Sun Dial (Olvera Street)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZT70ruP84I&feature=player_embedded
Curiously, later in the week, a local newspaper reported that city council was holding meetings behind closed-doors with the aim of raising the rents in the festive little oasis (cut off from the rest of the city when the highway and bridge over-hangs were installed years ago) because they were too low.
It suddenly dawned on Council members that the valuable strip of property - a potential hefty earnings-getter - was being rented out for a song with virtually no profit flowing into the Los Angeles City coffers.
So, in January of this year - after a market value study of the property was completed - Council decided that the rents would be raised to be on par with other properties owned by the City and its tax-paying citizens.
Moreover, the extra funds were needed to balance the budget.
For example, the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument Society - charged with the upkeep of a memorial in the historic square - required an $800,000.00 subsidy from the city's general fund to balance its budget in recent years.
Increasing rents now is the best way to prevent subsidies from depleting city funds in coming years.
The report recommended that retail shopkeepers pay $2 - $6.50 per square foot.
The city controller's office has confirmed that most tenants on Olvera have been paying a paltry $1.35 per foot until the new rates were calculated and put into effect a few weeks ago.
Owners of kiosk-style spaces on the strip, on the other hand, have been paying an average of $300.00 a month.
Olvera shopkeepers should be charged $950 - $1350 monthly depending on the location.
El Pueblo officials have tried to push for rental increases over the years, but confided to the media in confidence, that a powerful politically-connected group has been thwarting their efforts.
Who could be more powerful than City Council or the California State Government?
It appears there may be an "invisible black hand" behind-the-scenes orchestrating control of the land.
If so, there must be a full investigation, to determine who the players are.
And, likewise, there must be swift severe action to nip the nefarious forces in the bud.
Surely, Citizens of Los Angeles don't hanker to the idea of corruption and violence breaking out in the streets downtown, true drug-cartel Latino-style!
In spite of the fact industry analysts have noted that the increases aforementioned are at a low end of the scale (tenants are still gettting a great deal) Olvera street tenants are rebelling.
A number of businessman, for instance, have held back rent money - and in some cases - checks were returned from the bank unpaid marked "stop pay" at the direction of digruntled merchants.
Imagine that!
Vivien Bonzo, President of the Olvera Street Merchants Association, is one of the flakes (who allegedly owes $5,095.00 in back rent).
Shouldn't Miss Bonzo (bozo?) be holding herself up as role model to her business neighbors?
Other tenants substantially behind include - Myrosa Enterprises (which is operated by Mike Marsical) - which currently owes in excess of $4,324.00 in back rent.
When a reporter from a weekly paper called Marsical's office to verify the facts, he hung up the phone angrily.
I expect that rude tantrum translates to: no comment!
Will the defaulting rent-payers be given legal three-day notices to "pay or quit"?
Let's hope so!
After all, if any - White, Afro-American, or Asian tenant refused to pay their rent - they'd be tossed into the street on their despicable deadbeat a**es.
In closing, it appears that Latino tenants have chosen the wrong time to fudge on their responsibilities.
The Governor in Arizona was recently forced to pass a landmark Immigration Reform Bill to resolve the issue of illegal immigrants crossing the border, and subsequently, draining vital State resources.
Now, their refusal to pay rent in California, underscores that Latino Immigrants are pparently a bunch of free-loaders who don't like to pay their way, bent on sapping America dry.
Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if the next time Americans catch site of a Latino marching in U.S. Streets waving a Mexican flag, that they'll finally put their foot down and issue an ultimatum.
"Get out!"
Hopefully, the city will stand tough on the eviction notices, and other states will follow with similar immigration reform bills, to purge the nation of the illegal immigrant nightmare
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