Pershing Square Tape Watch: Twelve Weeks and Counting

Terry MM on July 17, 2006, at 12:47AM – #1

Eric, that yellow tape can be seen as symbolic of the major dilemma that continues to hurt the community: Large numbers of homeless people, unpleasant behavior in public (urination, defecation, aggressive begging, drug usage), vandalism and other forms of criminality.

You're dealing with a Catch-22 quagmire. I'm guessing that if a more permissive approach to managing Pershing Square were implemented tomorrow, the area probably would be quickly overrun by the problems described above. If the park's managers or overseers, in turn, then wanted to return to a no-nonsense policy, they may worry that the homeless-advocate crowd would be far more hyper-alert about such a change, and even more anxious to hand the city another lawsuit.

I'm sure you've heard about the new program to pressure wash a few of the sidewalks of Skid Row. Even something as basic and practical as that has been setting off a band of opponents and protestors.

ed on July 17, 2006, at 02:15AM – #2

Terry,

Your points are valid and it is the harder reality. If the Pershing Park Patrols was as upfront as your posting, it may even be fodder for advocates to demand that the park be opened for all making it vulnerable to damage. Idealism gets mixed with demands for safer and cleaner streets even from us bloggers, and inside we know its a contradiction, and naive to think there is an easy solution.

At the other end of the reality is that for some of us who work and live in the city, this park is worthless in it's present state. Before, it was unusable because of the points you mention. Today, it's just as unusable because there is no access (even during some concerts) except to pass through. And during weather like we had the last week, it's design makes it not even worth walking through, much less take one of the few seats left for lunch. I resigned the first week that the park was lost to those protecting the park from homeless the same day the tape went up, and that security guards are forced to make very flimsy reasons behalf of those demand the tape stays up.

Right now the other hard reality is Pershing Square makes for a very uninviting patch of land that is marketed with "Welcome to Pershing Square."

Fred Camino on July 17, 2006, at 09:51AM – #3

I don't live downtown, so I'm not sure, but does the police tape really stop the negative things that Terry brought up? To me it seems improbable that some flimsy yellow tape would do much to people who are already in a position where the law doesn't have much effect on them.

Also, I'm liking the redesign!

mike on July 17, 2006, at 07:08PM – #4

I emailed Councilwoman Jan Perry last week about this issue and I'm still waiting for a reply. Beyond the moral, political, and social implications of the park being essentially closed, I'm not sure it's even legal. The green signs that are sprinkled around announcing the closure all reference LA Municipal Code Section 63.44.B.7. If you cruise over to the online LAMC (http://lacodes.lacity.org), this is what you'll find for that citation:

SEC. 63.44. REGULATIONS AFFECTING PARK AND RECREATION AREAS. (Added by Ord. No. 153,027, Eff. 11/16/79.)

[munch]

B. Within the limits of any park or other City-owned Harbor Department designated and controlled property within the City of Los Angeles: (Amended by Ord. No. 174,737, Eff. 9/9/02.)

[munch]

7) [Suspended until further action by Ord. No. 176,929, Eff. 10/1/05.] No person shall use any area or facility set aside, used, maintained or designated for a specific recreational or park purpose by the Board, Department, Commission or Department of Beaches, which purpose is reasonably apparent from the appearance, construction or designation of such facility or area, or as to which reasonable notice of such designation or purpose is given by signs posted thereon, for a purpose contrary to or inconsistent with such specific or designated purpose.

The ordinance that suspended this section appears to have been intended to deal with Venice Beach in particular. At the very least, I'd requested that the Council address this and make Parks and Rec. get new signs, but as I said, I've still heard nothing.

Next step, I'll pass the email and the same questions on to Steve Lopez at the Times & anyone else in the press who seems to cotton to the issue.

Brian on July 17, 2006, at 10:39PM – #5

Time for Civil Disobedience.

Remember, don't use a pair of scissors or a knife. They'll probably arrest you for carrying a weapon. Just rip down that silly tape with your hands.

Joel C on July 19, 2006, at 09:46AM – #6

Mike, I went through the same process of discovery months ago and wound up at the same conclusion: that the paragraph of LAMC cited is not even in effect.

I have to agree w. Brian, it's time to take matters into our own hands and remove the tape. If someone is patrolling guarding the tape, then there is no need for tape, because they can just as well monitor the grass for illegal behavior.

If PSq is such a failure that it can't even be used by the public, then it should either be redesigned or just replaced with something useful.

latransitrider on July 19, 2006, at 02:59PM – #8

Yes, I too am disappointed with most of the "Square" being taped off.

I say remove the tape and increase police presence in the Square to discourage illegal activity.

It's really sad to see what has happened to Pershing Square since it was destroyed with the addition of an underground parking garage in the 50's. And i don't like the current design. If you look at old photos of Pershing Square "pre-Parking Garage" it was wildly popular, simply designed and lushly planted. Also, the surrounding area has lost a lot of beautiful old buildings that are now parking lots.

Michael on July 20, 2006, at 05:11PM – #9

This tape thing makes no sense to me. It only blocks use of the grass. Why just the grass?? As a dog owner, the grass is the most useful part of the park. Where do we protest this nonsense?

Michael Campbell on July 20, 2006, at 08:50PM – #10

Please send your protest to:

Louise Capone, Senior Rec. Director of Pershing Square 532 South Olive Street Los Angeles, CA 90013 ph fx Email:

Harold Sosa on July 20, 2006, at 10:27PM – #11

I live on 5th and Broadway. Yesterday I came home to eat lunch at NY Pizza on 6th st. I cut through the Park. and found myself in the noon show. walking past a band playing live music. The first thing that stuck out to me was the yellow police tape . I assumed there was a crime committed in the park. In my opinion the Yellow Police tape should go. The tape sets a negative tone to the park.

Don Garza on July 28, 2006, at 07:38AM – #12

The GArment and citizen explains the tape in Todays Issue.

http://www.garmentandcitizen.com

jim on July 28, 2006, at 06:51PM – #13

walking through biddy mason park today, i noticed that it is now largely taped off. i guess that some (or all) of that may be related to the tacotime going in to the little building that fronts broadway.

the .

Porto on July 28, 2006, at 06:57PM – #14

Is anyone surprised about the reason parts of the park have been cordoned off.

Hello!

Uh, duh, you mean downtown is full of homeless folk who pee and sh** in public? You mean there are a lot of drugheads in the area too? You mean there are druggies roaming around in spite of the presence of security guards!?

If the park once again becomes a crime-filled pit in the future, will people who've been complaining about all the yellow tape start complaining about all the vagrants, beggars and drug users?

.

Smith noted that difficulties in keeping drug users out of the park persisted earlier this year despite the fact that it is staffed by private security guards hired by the city on an around-the clock basis.

LAPD had provided extra foot patrols to supplement the other security services when possible prior to closing off sections of the facility, according to Smith. He said the atmosphere at the park has improved in recent weeks despite some built-in challenges.

"It's located right at a Red Line [subway] station, so a lot of people would get off the train, come up and buy heroin on the streets, and then go to the park and shoot up," he said. "But I was over there the other day and it looks as though a good mix has returned to the park."

Dubby on July 31, 2006, at 03:56PM – #15

Its scary to think that the landscape architect who was partner on the much reviled design at Pershing Square is now redesigning Civic Center Plaza into a park just blocks away.

Why do failing out of town architects, landscape and otherwise, continue to work in this town? Especially when there is so much home grown talent?

http://www.downtownnews.com/articles/2006/05/01/news/news05.txt

Ruben on September 29, 2006, at 01:19PM – #16

I just recently returned from northern cal where I spent the past 15 years. I remember going out on college field trips to downtown LA and walking through Pershing Square. I WAS RECENTLY SHOCKED TO FIND OUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED to the Square. After all it's an Historic Landmark that needs to be cherished and not cordoned off by this yellow tape. The mayor and others in charge for this area should not sell out the square for the price of a little tape, but should begin sincere discussions to find a solution to this civic problem.

John Crandell on November 15, 2007, at 03:03PM – #17

Reading the July 31st comment regarding the design of the square, I wouldn't hang the responsibility for the design solely around the necks of the Olin Partnership and architect Ricardo Legorreta. I would suggest that all of those walls and buildings (defensiveness) were mandated by both the redevelopment agency and the adjoining property owners. All of that wallwork along the east side of the square essentially says "Stay the *&^% out!" Instead, they ought to have proceeded from a stance that says "Come on in!" in all directions. Everyone should have aimed for a magnetic and magical solution to attract everyone, again and again and again. Magic + Design = the inclusion of artists of the sort you get with a Robert Irwin, a James Turrell or a Red Grooms. Downtown power brokers: please wake up! It's the magic, stupidos and I don't mean Team Disney.