"My first reaction, when I heard about the proposed $2.3-million fence around MacArthur Park, was skepticism. Yeah, the park and the immediate neighborhood have long dealt with a nasty web of urban nightmares, including homelessness, crime and a rather astonishing open-air drug scene, all of which I spent a few months looking into not long ago. But what would a fence accomplish? Well, after looking into it, maybe it's not the worst idea."
"It's something of an occupational duty, and how can you not be cynical about promises and plans in Los Angeles, where each time you open the newspaper, you have to scratch your head? I'm still having trouble understanding how county supervisors approved another $828 million in child sexual abuse payments, on top of an earlier settlement this year of $4 billion, even after Times reporter Rebecca Ellis found in which people said they were told to fabricate abuse allegations."
MacArthur Park and its immediate neighborhood face entrenched problems including homelessness, crime and an open-air drug scene. A proposed $2.3-million fence has prompted skepticism and debate about effectiveness and priorities. The city holds primary responsibility for park conditions, while the county contributes through housing, public health and addiction services. Recent work rebuilt a playground damaged by arson, and visits show modest progress and reduced chaos. Critics warn a fence could further criminalize homelessness or divert funds from services. Public cynicism is heightened by large, controversial county payouts and questionable administrative decisions.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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