LOS ANGELES, CA — I was meditating at the LA River/Los Feliz Blvd. The great blue heron flew by and told me to make some more tamales for the young homeless dudes in the tents. They might also need some packs of underwear. They are not criminals but need help. I guess I gotta take a quick drive to East Los to buy the masa and hojas de elote.
One kid, Carlos, a filipino, asked me to bring some tamales. He and a tall 20-something dark Black man have been living in the drain tunnels for quite some time. At least they get to be one with the birds. The beautiful geese seem to live with them. The river is indeed being taken care of by the city and the animals are thriving. I love it. The trash from the rainstorm is regularly cleaned up by crews in large trucks. I am glad the wealthy homeowners of Atwater Village are not sending evil cops to abuse these survivors in tents. They are trying to understand and bring food for the homeless as well.
Editor’s Note: Artist, dancer and educator Johnavalos Rios says of himself: “I have been starting a journal on searching for housing as a gay, disabled senior with a little dog and a monthly Social Security check that won’t get me anywhere in Tongva [the original inhabitants of the Los Angeles basin] Land.”
