Let's Do Launch

By Ed Fuentes
Published: Sunday, May 27, 2007, at 10:13AM

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — "I like the way you cover people," Eric said over coffee a week ago. I was meeting him to confirm what he wanted me to contribute to blogdowntown. The loose assignment is adding an Arts District perspective with a closer look at the Downtown Art scene, including the performing arts.

It's also a chance to extend what was started at View From a Loft as we profile Downtown's different districts through LAPD's Senior Lead Officers. Of course, I'll be an additional blogarazzi to Dave Bullock.

And if its people Eric wants, it's people Eric gets. . .

Eric Richardson is the 24-year-old publisher of blogdowntown, a site whose readership includes City Hall and the Los Angeles Times. They are among those who read this blog with the same interest as Tommy Lasorda getting advice from Johnny the Shoeshine boy on Police Squad.

On his online bio, Richardson claims his starting date for passing out information was 1998. That may be true for the medium he now uses, but it's less widely known that as a 10-year-old he published a newspaper by making notes from BBC broadcasts via a shortwave radio. His selection of the more interesting reports gave him content for his newspaper, The Sumter Chronicle, which was published for several years as time and reception permitted.

More than once, the quiet, soft-spoken Eric has said his shy approach to people for a story is something he's working on. Yet that same shy calming demeanor was willing to help "Mary" when he found her on his way to the 6th Street Bridge. She was injured after being involved in a fight and Eric told how he stayed stayed alongside her waiting for the Police.

The next day Eric told me while they were waiting she borrowed his cell phone to call her daughter. "No matter what happens to me, know I love you," he remembered "Mary" saying. Eric was thinking; "How crazy is this? You never expect to have someone talking on your cell phone saying a thing like that." For him, it brought to mind that even as Downtown develops, it's still an urban environment and you need to watch carefully.

That's what this blog is about. Sharing with others what to watch for in Downtown. Both good and bad.

Comments

kenarch writes:

Welcome, Ed.

It is great to see this blog becoming so popular, and there's only so much one person can do, so good call, Eric. I've read and commented on Ed's posts from time to time and I really like his point of view and way of putting information and discussions out there.

Blogdowntown is the first blog I check out every day, and the one that covers downtown most thoroughly. Ed's "View from a Loft" is a very complementary.

Ed, will you be keeing your blog running or are you folding it into blogdowntown?

# on May.27.2007 AT 10:44 AM

Ed Fuentes writes:

Thanks Kenarch,

Good question. I was on the cusp of finding a good balance between the blog and the print column I was writing and will use that prototype to have VFAL continuing growing into itself; starting with have more graphic and photo content. I'll still cover the little things specific to inform or promote the Arts District, and I'll wander into East L.A. from time to time as well.

# on May.27.2007 AT 11:16 AM

Don Garza writes:

See, Ed Fuentes already writing human interest stories. Starting with Eric himself.

Gotta love it. Now I don't have to jump around to read what ED has to say.

# on May.27.2007 AT 01:08 PM

Benjamin Pezzillo writes:

This all sounds great.

I've often thought it would be useful to integrate the LAPD's Crime Map system with a way to directly connect to the SLOs in a particular geographic area.

Let's say you see a string of car thefts and remember seeing some suspicious looking people around that block, drop an e-mail to the SLO linked to that geographic area.

A neighborhood watch with a cyber spin.

I know Dave expressed some interest in making this happen after he overcomes some of the hurdles of the filming notification system and it would certainly be something we could steer DLANC's Public Safety committee towards exploring and supporting.

My point? blogdowntown is already we positioned to serve as portal for many kinds of cyber+community projects and I am pleased to hear Eric is expand to include more content providers like Ed.

Sorry to have missed the picnic...

# on May.27.2007 AT 03:32 PM

Tim Quinn writes:

I am so tickled that my favorite bloggers will be at one stop. BDT is my first stop, too, though 'in the morning' would be a stretch.

Sorry to miss the picnic, we are having music here at DC this afternoon, like most Sundays.

See you soon, Ed, and congratulations.

# on May.27.2007 AT 03:50 PM

Don Garza writes:

Hey Tim . Don't forget you guys were nominated as an ambassador of goodwill . SO be expecting an invite to pick up your award.

# on May.27.2007 AT 07:12 PM

Benjamin Pezzillo writes:

Seems I didn't read Eric's initial announcement -- I'm very happy to see Dave Bullock will also be a contributor to this blog. An excellent choice and a great photographer!

# on May.28.2007 AT 06:42 AM

Bert Green writes:

Congrats, Ed. Now I'll read you on both blogs!

# on May.28.2007 AT 12:24 PM

Ed Fuentes writes:

Don: Does that mean I can misquote you freely now? Benjamin: Good idea. That expands what LAPD's Werner and I were doing, posting his neighborhood watch info. Tim: Dropped by Sunday, but I was late. We will see you next time. Bert: Comment often!

# on May.28.2007 AT 07:28 PM

Don Garza writes:

of course. Ed ... You can misquote me as much a you want...... And Yes ED was nominated for the Town Criers Best Choice Ambassdor of goodwill award for his coverage of Skid Row Earlier last year along with the community nominations. SO I will let you guys know when and where......

# on May.28.2007 AT 08:37 PM

Let's Do Launch

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