From Shadows to Solidarity: DTLA Community Rises Beyond the Smoke to Give Back to LA Fire Victims

Too often than not when Downtown LA makes headlines it’s usually for stories we’d rather not read about: a shooting at Target, the burning of a Metro bus, riots, looting, homelessness, or street takeovers.

Featured photo: Jorge Garcia – DTLA Photo Group

But in the case of the LA fires, Downtown has been making the news in a more positive way for coming together for the first responders and the victims of the largest disaster in LA History.

If you’re not exactly familiar with how Downtown leadership works, the city is divided into several districts, i.e., Bunker Hill, Arts District, Historic Core and so on, all led by respected, executive directors, presidents and CEOs, each with the task of developing local businesses, and keeping the tenants happy.

There are also councils and lobbying committees that carry the messages of the locals and leadership to the lawmakers to our voices in City Hall.

Because the districts are all very separate with distinctive personalities, they mostly stay occupied with separate goals, usually getting along and awarding themselves for their own accomplishments within their own boundaries, but not this time.

This time, Downtown LA leadership and the community came together in a way like never before.

When the fires broke out in Pacific Palisades, followed by Malibu, Hollywood, Eaton Canyon, and Altadena, at first DTLA was largely unaffected besides being shrouded in smoke.

Like many others around the country, hearts and prayers were sent out on social media in hopes the fire would end quickly without causing too much devastation. Instead, almost 100,000 people lost their homes, some even losing their lives.

No stranger to helping those without homes and still recovering from the pandemic, Skid Row non-profits like Sharing Love with Others, and LA CAN led the way. Soon others joined forces in the Historic Core such as the Reserve LA nightclub’s donation center, even going so far as sacrificing the Historic Core monthly Art Night event, due to poor air quality.

Neighboring Fashion District’s Quirk and Brookfield’s California Market Center set up donation stations with CMC postponing Market Week until Jan 28th. FD Boutique hotels like Stile (formally known as Ace Hotel) is offering discount stays while shared office spaces like Secret Spot LA opened to non-members with free Wi-Fi.

Where’s there’s smoke…there’s fire

Soon, the fires would begin taking their toll on Downtown as well. With fewer visitors than usual due to the fire, downtown businesses are seeing a significant decrease in patronage. According to a recent article in the Los Angeles Times, popular downtown restaurants like Rossoblu are reporting a lack of patronage altogether.

As news of some of Downtown’s own cherished community members losing their homes began filling the pages of Go Fund Me, among them Deisy and Kieth Giles of Desaur Spa and Daniel Shembob of Hatch Yakatori, instead of price gouging our lofts, or making it difficult to find office space, Downtown LA realtors like Loftway are opening the doors of opportunity to the victims of the fire to get back on their feet again.

In the Social District (formally known as South Park) 33Taps joined forces to donate over 160 meals to first responders and local incomes hit hard by lower numbers. A concept no doubt newly appointed SD CEO and NOLA transplant Nolan Marshall III held over from his days working with the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

DTLA Alliance, (formally DCBID) set up blood drives, and volunteer efforts at TheBloc, while the Sheraton Hotel hosted long lines of stationed LA City Fire trucks outside its valet court on Hope Street.

Joining forces with Bunker Hills Ketchum YMCA, DTLA Residents Association (DTLA RA), Downtown Neighborhood Council (DLANC), and others would show their support, helping to collect donations, with the YMCA offering free child care while 930 LA event space prepared to transform into a donation station and shelter in the Arts District.

From clothing, to toiletries, product discounts, and free meals to fundraising events, DTLA offerings just became too many to name. Becoming a precursor to FEMA despite its perceived decline, taking the brunt of people’s jokes and being the victim of its own urban terrors, Downtown managed to put its best face forward.

This unprecedented show of unity and compassion has proven that when faced with a common crisis, Downtown LA can rise above its challenges and become a beacon of hope for the entire city. Stay Healthy DTLA!

*During the months of January and February DTWeekly will be donating 10% of all ad buys to Forestry & Fire Recruitment Program

Author: Keri Freeman

Military mom and proud parent, artist, writer, musician and film maker. Cocktail connoisseur. Publisher of DTLA Weekly.