Readers React: A sign of the times for the homeless?

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“The Skid Row Super Mural” on San Julian Street near 6th in the heart of the downtown area known as skid row “creates conversation and debate, which often great public art does,” says Rick Coca, spokesman for City Councilman Jose Huizar. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

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Kelly Kunta, 64, who says he has been homeless on and off for decades, arrived on skid row about six months ago. Kunta says he hopes the mural serves as a wake-up call to the city and the nation to do something about homelessness. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

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A homeless man who calls himself White Boy, with fist in the air, says society’s not ready for skid row. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

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General Jeff Page, left, a community activist and kind of unofficial mayor of skid row, walks along Stanford Avenue. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

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General Jeff Page, center, and Adam Rice, of the Los Angeles Community Action Network, walk along 6th Street. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

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The decal “Firehouse Wine-O, Nine-O” appears on the front door at Station 9, the 7th Street firehouse that serves the skid row area. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

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General Jeff Page, left, talks with skid row residents Nina Carruthers and Eric Clark in front of Gladys Park on 6th Street. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

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General Jeff Page, left, talks with Jeff Childs, 67, a skid row resident for the last 10 years. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

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A man passes by part of the skid row mural on San Julian Street. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Aug. 26, 2014 6:47 PM PT

To the editor: As I look at the photo of the poignant new mural on skid row, I wonder whether it helps or hurts the plight of the homeless. (“Sign of survival,” Aug. 24)

It goes nicely with the gentrification around it. Maybe it is a little daring to so boldly point out the obvious. Yet I don’t believe the homeless themselves can afford to give it more than a glance.

Here in northeast Los Angeles, we have been pointing out the obvious too. Homeless encampments have sprung up along the Arroyo Seco from Elysian Park to South Pasadena in Debs Park, the Audubon Center, Hermon Park and along the freeway.

No one thinks this newish zone of encampments — mostly without toilets, running water, roofs, garbage pickup, police patrol or social services — has an easy fix, but it seems to have gotten little notice from our City Council members.

If we commission a mural, perhaps the homeless in northeast L.A. will get some needed attention.

Or perhaps we can all just like the mural.

Jack Fenn, Montecito Heights

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