To the editor: Staff writer Roger Vincent’s article about the closing of Clifton’s paints a misleading picture of the reality of downtown Los Angeles as a playground and profit source for rich people (“‘We’ve lost our way’: Clifton’s operator gives up on downtown Los Angeles,” April 18).
Clifton’s became an iconic restaurant because its original owner believed that every Angeleno deserved fair treatment, and he offered food to all on a “pay what you can” basis. He gave away thousands of meals for free.
After purchasing it in 2010, current owner Andrew Meieran changed Clifton’s into a fancy bar catering to the wealthy. Now he blames unhoused people for his failure to turn a profit.
Vincent states that “the neighborhood has grown increasingly unsafe,” despite later acknowledging that crime is actually down. He uncritically quotes a business booster blaming the problem on “defunding” the police, while not pointing out that Los Angeles Police Department’s budget has consistently increased. He does not question or dispute her claim that all downtown residents want more policing without mentioning the thousands of people who face, and oppose, abuse and criminalization by LAPD every day.
Instead of describing unhoused people as the cause of business decline and calling for more policing to make their lives harder, we should follow the example of the original owner of Clifton’s and prioritize addressing people’s needs. Unhoused people need housing, nutritious food and healthcare — not more police harassing them for existing outside tiki bars that sell $20 cocktails.
Jade Arellano, Los Angeles
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To the editor: I am so sad and angry that we’ve come to this.
One after another, businesses and dreamers who came to Los Angeles to build and create are giving up. In the past week alone, KB Home announced its departure (“L.A.’s trailblazing home builder is the latest to leave California,” April 14), and now Clifton’s.
Wake up, City Hall! Empower and respect your agencies that enforce basic laws that keep our streets clean and safe.
We may still have a chance to live up to the promise of Los Angeles as a city of possibility.
Lily Lee, Highland Park
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To the editor: California officials watch businesses leave the state — taking jobs with them — with scarcely a shrug of their shoulders. They seek new sources of funds, like the ill-conceived billionaire tax. Billionaires can leave, and many do.
The best source of revenue is the one you already have. The state needs an Office of Business Retention. I have suggested this to state officials (including our lieutenant governor) numerous times. Not one acknowledgment, let alone actions to this effect.
Douglas Hileman, Valley Glen
The post We should follow the example of the original Clifton’s owner, who treated everyone fairly appeared first on Los Angeles Times.
