Advertisement
California

Occupy L.A.: Central City Assn. headquarters

Occupy activists who declined to provide their names camp outside the headquarters of Central City Assn., a downtown L.A. business group that represents local shop owners but also large corporations and banks. Many of the activists are protesting gentrification in downtown and how, in their view, it is pushing out the poor. But as was the case when the protest was centered at City Hall, not everyone connected with the movement is particularly political.

Occupy activists who declined to provide their names camp outside the headquarters of Central City Assn., a downtown L.A. business group that represents local shop owners but also large corporations and banks. Many of the activists are protesting gentrification in downtown and how, in their view, it is pushing out the poor. But as was the case when the protest was centered at City Hall, not everyone connected with the movement is particularly political.  (Ariana van den Akker / Los Angeles Times)

Share

Since early June, Occupy L.A. protesters have been training their cross-hairs on the Central City Assn., a downtown business group that represents local shop owners but also large corporations and banks. The association donates to local politicians and lobbies on major City Hall issues. “It is the bridge of money into politics,” said Ryan Rice, a 27-year-old protester who joined Occupy in October. “There is no better target here in L.A.” See full story

Occupy L.A.

Occupy protesters have been camping outside of the Central City Assn. headquarters, at 626 Wilshire Blvd., for more than a month. The business group donates to local politicians and lobbies on major City Hall issues, from utility rate increases to the recent “responsible banking” ordinance supported by Occupy protesters.  (Ariana van den Akker / Los Angeles Times)

Occupy L.A.

With the exception of some new faces, and the fact that the tents must come down every morning at dawn, the new Occupy encampment feels a lot like the old one on the City Hall lawn. After each night’s encampment, crews wash off the protesters’ chalk on the sidewalk, a now-daily ritual that is just one example of how Occupy is sucking resources from the downtown community, according to Central City Assn. Director Carol Schatz.  (Ariana van den Akker / Los Angeles Times)

Occupy L.A.

There is often music at the Occupy encampment, sometimes blasting from a boom box, other times echoing from guitars and bucket drums. Above, an Occupy protester who goes by the name Ninja tunes his guitar while Skyler Davidson listens.  (Ariana van den Akker / Los Angeles Times)

Occupy L.A.

Nathan Sierdsma of Riverside is among the Occupy activists camping outside of the Central City Assn. headquarters on a recent night. Critics have complained that the local contingent of the original Occupy Wall Street movement lacks focus and chose the wrong symbol in L.A. City Hall. They say it has a rag-tag constituency undeserving of media attention.  (Ariana van den Akker / Los Angeles Times)

California

More From the Los Angeles Times

Advertisement