The Art of Community Building

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES —

There was a time when 100 cops at Third and Hewitt meant the party was over. Last night, LAPD was at the same corner before the bands and beer, ready to greet Downtowners for Central Division’s 2007 version of National Night Out.

The street itself has seen filming, art installations, and gallery openings, so locals appeared in a natural migration to Traction once Double Naught Spy Car started the the night with jazz and Royal Clayton’s, The Standard, Ay Caramba, Zip Fusion, Spring ST BBQ, and the Little Tokyo Center opened their booths.

National Night Out was created in 1984 to foster relationships between community and police, and last year LAPD followed it by-the-book in Skid Row. After a small turnout of “75 people and some hot dogs”, organizers decided to explore each Downtown neighborhood. With a Neighborhood Watch Walk in it’s 4th year, and year round work with LAPD, the Arts District was chosen to profile how community policing can work.

“Jose is in the House!” said Night-Out co-coordinator Blair Besten introducing Councilmember Huizar, who then made a quick greet and hello. Organizers hoped the block party would bring out more residents from the new lofts where his district sits at the southern end of the Arts District.

Meanwhile, Diaz was at Traction and Hewitt––still on his way out.