WILSHIRE WALKING

Even on holidays, street traffic is in full swing. Birds are screaming at each other for their own parking spots. Homeless are continuing their routine of recycling private garbage cans and pushing squeaky market baskets. Dogs don't take holidays. So, everyone, outside, is moving. (Or passed out from the riotous doings the night before.)

This week, Memorial Day, because of the Lakers vs. Celtics War, was a bit louder (at night) than usual. The sports bar, right on the next street, was packed all the way back to our block. Late night wakefulness was a bit more forced, even than usual. It wasn't fireworks and kids with water balloons that kept me up. The entire week has been one of ebb and flow of noise. (Part of me wonders if the missing among us came down to celebrate, too...at least in L.A.)

Today is almost the end of the week, again. Checking my money situation, I realize I better deposit latest unemployment check AND a birthday present from Mom. The bank is only three blocks down Wilshire Blvd--the epi-center of "The Miracle Mile". Today broke cloudy and fairly cool. Seemed like a good time to get out of the mini-loft and enter the "river" flowing just below.

First thing that greeted me: the rising odor of fresh tar. (Sometimes, especially as a child, summer meant oozing tar along back roads. It was comforting and acrid and we got to squeal over the delicious "ickiness" of it.) But I can't locate where the tar is being poured. That's a bit disconcerting.

Here, even as the population suffers the worst unemployment in decades, and countless "for lease" signs fill every other business along the boulevard, there seems to be an odd abundance of "building" sites. Hi-rise structures are popping up and down, and I mean New York City-sized hi-rise buildings! (I'm sure they are earth-quake fitted and up to code; they make my two story apartment building seem like a safe cave, in comparison.) I also wonder, if there is any emergency whatsoever, where all these people in these suddenly springing up places, are supposed to go? If they even stream into the streets, those streets are already clogged with parked cars and recycling containers...homeless, taco trucks, fruit vendors, people peddling incense, tube sox, stuffed animals and balloons.

I don't get how "for rent" signs dot almost every apartment building up and down side streets off Wilshire Blvd., in the residential "sections", like my own, while new "skyscraper" buildings pop up like giant mushrooms. (How can they possibly be filled? They will have higher rents, share the same problems, and pack more folks in like peeps in a candybox...) Meanwhile, small residential "neighborhoods", like my block, get graffitied, and treated like parking lots for the bars.

The new "logic" about these structures is that they will have "commercial and parking spaces under the buildings and along street level"--offering shopping amenities and easy access, to the packed residents in the floors, above. But, if the shops along Wilshire are closing, right and left (only massage parlors, office supplies and beauty shops seem to survive-- even these are cutting back hours of operation), how are these other stores going to fare? Advertising shouts "Coming Soon--Burrito Bonanzas!" or "Froggie Yogurt In The Fall!" It isn't like high-end luxury products or services are going to revitalize the place. The same old/same old is just recycling.

Or maybe L.A. will get a huge wave of Preppie High Rollers to move into the sky-filling new buildings and demand for frozen yogurt and semi-healthy-sounding-fast-food will thrive? We do have a Quiznos and a Subway which are always packed. But we also have a neighborhood coffee house with Wi-Fi and a big Starbucks with Wi-Fi and the Sports Bar has a taco restaurant during the daytime (attached) that has Wi-Fi and that's just on one block. So, how many more spots offering the same stuff can exist?

Traffic, already problematic, will be ridiculous when these places open. It isn't like the folks likely to inhabit them will be taking the bus any more than I do. L.A. is not a "bus" town...unless you don't have a car that moves. It isn't a bike town, either. (In a recent altercation when cyclists tried to do a ride-a-thon, cops started throwing fists and knocking people off their bikes. Video footage--of course--showed only one side of the demonstration--but all the media carried the scenes--not encouraging "riding without motors" in L.A.) But the building continues. And the tar keeps getting mixed and poured--somewhere. (I should be Zen Happy that somebody has a job, doing something, somewhere.)

Meanwhile, I lace up my Hi-Tops and stroll to the bank--itself tucked handily inside the grocery store. I pass Subway and Quiznos with a Ralph's turkey sandwich, and try not to inhale the bus fumes.