It’s the symbol of the American dream, the city the whole world looks up to: every year, over 42.2 million tourists flock to Los Angeles, excited to see the mythical Venice Beach or its chic Beverly Hills neighbourhoods. The film capital of the world has become a beacon for Americans and expatriates in search of the dolce vita. But, for many, the glitz and glamour of the City of Angels has lost its lustre.
Just ten kilometres from the studios, the notorious Skid Row district is still going strong. Here, 4,757 homeless people live in makeshift shelters or on the asphalt. If, just a few years ago, the homeless area was confined to these four blocks of Downtown Los Angeles, it now extends all the way to the Pacific Coast, where tents and motorhomes flourish on the roadsides. This is due to an unprecedented housing crisis. In America’s richest state, housing has become almost impossible to come by. As a result, Californians are abandoning their houses to live in motorhomes or converted vehicles.
Violent crime is also increasing. More people are being killed in LA than in other big cities. Armed settlements between gangs result in 1,000 shootings every year. We take a closer look at this destroyed California, from Skid Row to the southern suburbs, investigating the rise of gangs, crime, homelessness and a distressed middle class.