A Local's Perspective

Walking along Pico, heading west from Fairfax, I was able to get to know a couple of the local residents. First let me say that I was blown away by how welcoming and helpful everyone was in the many shops I ventured into. They were friendly and warm, and very open about their lives and community.


The first long conversation I found myself in was with a young man named Asif (featured far right in the photo), but who goes by “Asi.” I first meant Asi at an auto body shop, and then later at a local restaurant. Asi knew the store owners along this section of Pico Blvd very well because he helped them out in many ways and has built a personal relationship with them. As a profession, Asi sold fire extinguishers to the stores and followed up with them regarding the products. Born and raised in Israel, Asi worked for the Israeli army for three years and then moved to Australia for 9. One year ago, at age 30, he moved to the United States and into this neighborhood where many of his family members already lived. Asi stated that he loved the area, but has a hard time meeting people around his age. He will sometimes go to clubs or bars at night, but often will stay nearby and spend time with his cousins and other family members.


A little further down Pico, just a couple blocks west of La Cienega Blvd, I met the second resident as I was taking a picture of the trash along the street. I was documenting the conditions of the area just outside the local nursing home, Country Villa Terrace Assisted Living and Nursing Home. Because I was very low to the ground to get the shot, Kobi, who had been working in his nearby store, thought that someone had fallen and was injured on the ground. Like a true good Samaritan, he rushed out of his store to find that I was just a crazy photographer trying to get the angle I desired. This strange encounter led into a forty-five minute conversation about our lives and the surrounding community.

Kobi has been living in the area for fifteen years. Like many other Jewish residents, he moved east, from the traditional Jewish community west of Robertson, in search of affordable housing. He purchased his home at a small fraction of its million-dollar-tag that it has today. He has also owned and ran his store, Vital Signs, for this amount of time. They design and print signs and banners for businesses throughout the Los Angeles area. He is passionate about his job, and feels like through this work he is able to help local businesses thrive. He takes great pride in the ability to help others succeed at what they set out to do professionally. Kobi has also started a non-profit organization called Shabazi which is affiliated with the Jewish synagogue he attends regularly. This organization helps young people connect with one another and make a positive impact on their communities.

The problems that Kobi recognized in his community were the crime and the commonality of homelessness. Many people in the area have bars on their stores and an alarm system if they can afford it. There have been many occasions where thieves have gone at night from store to store, robbing various items from many stores in a row. The homeless, however, are not seen as a threat, and are assisted as much as possible by the local people. Many will allow them to do odd end jobs from time to time, or will give them food. One man who we saw walk by as we were talking has been in the area for over ten years, living on the street and getting assistance by the local community.