The City of Los Angeles is considering a proposal to close Wilshire Boulevard and reconnect the two halves of MacArthur Park in hopes of reducing homelessness, drug abuse and mental health issues.
Some people from the area are concerned about the traffic the road closure may cause, but many say they support the proposal if it makes the park cleaner and safer.The City of Los Angeles is considering a proposal to expand MacArthur Park by removing Wilshire Boulevard from the middle and reconnecting the two halves of the park.
"It's really dirty. It's not properly maintained especially the pond over there. I feel the birds are sick. I don't feel safe at all," said BB, a parkgoer who didn't want to share her last name."MacArthur Park is the overdose epicenter of the city of Los Angeles and it's something we can't turn away from," Los Angeles City Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez said.
"This reconnection is about social justice. It addresses racial discrimination, environmental injustice and unequal health and educational outcomes," LAUSD School Board Member Rocio Rivas said. "The lack of access to parks and green spaces has impacted urban communities."
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