The corner of 6 and Gladys Street in downtown Los Angeles is unlike any other in this bustling city. Much traffic, many pedestrians, and a lot of dirt and grime.
But this corner is very unique. A magic corner, almost. And somewhere at this intersection, in the richest cities and poorest in the world is a story.
Leta's see if I can say.
In Los Angeles, "Skid Row" is the common name for a period of six blocks the downtown area that provides clothing, food and shelter for thousands of residents of most of the oppressed who have decided to call A "as described on Alibris"
These men and women in the battle against alcoholism, drug addiction and homelessness. Many more suffer from mental illnesses ranging from depression to complete simple schizophrenia and void. The castaways of what we call the company's daily war with a combination of the above, have the strength nor the resources to fight.
"Cardboard condominiums" places lining boxes made of paper and trash line the streets. Below the line "the number of stores liquor far exceeds the places of employment. Is most likely to score crack and heroin that training or medical care.
Men and women that make up the population of Skid Row are not recent immigrants, all men or most of them chose to live in streets and alleys.
They were our neighbors, friends and classmates. They are our veterans. Some are our brothers and sisters. Before falling so far, some have even been called other names of mother and dad.
At this junction of desperation and kitchens detox centers rarely fail to customers. AA meetings take out every night and twice on Sunday in a park is a park in name only, some concrete and some old trees surrounded by a high metal fence. Lines measurement of the shape of a final paragraph that ends where our magic corner.
But like a magician should be experienced in person, you must at 6th St. and Gladys during the visit day, so you can clearly see and experience immediately. Come see how the other half really lives. And while walking in the corner magic to do what your people almost never do.
Arriving at the bus stop which borders the park of concrete, surrounded by grim realities of life people on the other side … remain there for a moment and look around this weÂ've be.
And you, so that its residents can not afford to do.
Look up.
Look up and read.
Read the sign above the bus stop that says "460-MTA Disneyland.
You see the corner of 6th and Gladys, from the middle of Skid Row is a direct bus route to Magic Kingdom, the happiest place on Earth.
Unless a place "the gayest of the Earth" is not a destination for those who live here.
Somewhere someone has made a big mistake.
And although there may be magic, it's certainly something.
Jon Heller has experienced Dual Diagnosis as both a counselor and a client. The creator and former developer of SoberRecovery.com, he was one of the first to use the Internet to make addiction and mental health resources easily accessible and widely available. Jon has received numerous awards for Journalism and his website work, and has recently returned to writing and reporting on Addiction. Through HellerNetWorks, Jon provides Internet marketing consultation to a small, exclusive client-base of Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centers.
