DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — So yesterday I went on the monthly Skid Row Neighborhood Walk. If you want proof, you can check out this picture on Don Garza's blog, featuring me and a couple other people that look vaguely like ghosts.

Walking down San Pedro between 6th and 7th in the evening is one crazy experience. I've been around a lot of Skid Row, but nothing really struck me quite as deeply as that sight. The block is completely cleaned in the morning and by that same evening it's a wreck, with trash scattered, the sidewalk covered in tents and even a fire burning in the road.

The most fascinating part of the walk for me was just walking near Captain Smith, Commanding Officer for Downtown's main police station, and listening to him talk about the places we were walking through. I'm continually impressed with him and his commitment to improving Downtown in realistic and effective ways. Downtown's lucky to have him.