Saturday, July 5, 2014

LA River War Zone

Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 4, 2014.  Despite the lights being left on at Elysian Valley Rec Center, a few fireworks were fired off from there.  This is the first time I've ever seen the lights left on at both the Rec Center & at Taylor Yard.  Usually they are mysteriously out on the 4th of July.  (Click on photos to enlarge.)
Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 4, 2014.  I noticed an awful lot of folks who have a view of the LA River from the hills seemed to be having parties to watch the illegal fireworks show (that sounds more like a war zone when you live closer to it).  Of course, there were some idiots on top of Echo Park Ave & Landa as well as Cerro Gordo & Fellowship Parkway who seemed to feel the need to participate in shooting off the illegal explosives in the hills in a year of record drought.
Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 4, 2014.  Late July 4th, I exchanged emails with a Fellowship Parkway neighbor, who remarked there seemed to be a lot more fireworks than recent years.  (The economy is doing better.)  

I also noticed the fireworks seemed more concentrated on the east bank of the LA River  in Glassell Park.  Gentrification seems to be changing Elysian Valley.  However, the northern part of Elysian Valley near the 2 Freeway had its usual massive displays shot from backyards, just below my hill. Unfortunately for good photos, the trees block the view.