Los Angeles Downtown News 10-26-20

District 14 Kevin de Leรณn sworn in as councilman Page 8

140 Years Los Angeles Athletic Club celebrates anniversary with new outdoor facilities Page 10 October 26, 2020 I VOL. 49 I #43

The Guidance Stefan Pruett was someone everyone needed in their corner

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Covered help LETTERSCalifornia TO THE will EDITOR

The end of police brutality Editor: Solutions are often so obvious that they go unnoticed. How long did it take for us to figure out the advantage of placing wheels on luggage?

Police misconduct is a pervasive problem that costs American taxpayers millions of hard-earned dollars, not to mention innocent lives. These issues would not exist if the unions were as committed to protecting the public as they are to protecting the interests of their members. Rogue cops exist because the majority of good cops face retribution when they call out the misconduct of fellow officers. The unions protect officers who they know are unqualified and even a threat to the public.

So, let’s end police brutality and misconduct immediately by simply making the police unions liable for the conduct of their members. I guarantee you that if the actions of a racist cop forced the police union to dip into its coffers for millions of dollars, police brutality would end next week. Of course, there

Hey you!

Speak up!

will always be misconduct in human interaction. But I don’t think we’d see unarmed citizens shot in the back 15 times as a matter of course. If qualified immunity was limited—no longer protecting police from egregious conduct— we’d see an immediate decrease in misconduct and the beginning of a better overall relationship with communities of color. However, this must go hand in hand with real efforts to increase real opportunities for our youth.

Unions are not all bad. Most are just mismanaged and greed driven, putting union dues and membership over the common good. As we contemplate these issues, let us not forget the teachers unions, who protect the jobs of incompetent and even dangerous personnel. I realize the complexity of these problems, but I sincerely believe that when we make the police unions liable for the actions of their members, we’ll see less killing, more cooperation and a better society.

Billy Mitchell

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Stefan Pruett was someone everyone needed in their corner

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski or as long as Paula Pruett can remember, her son, Stefan Pruett, was obsessed with two things—basketball and music.

His heart condition pushed him out of basketball, so his mother persuaded him to pursue music. The Carefree, Arizona, musician was just about to turn the music industry on its head as The Guidance when he was found unresponsive in his Downtown LA apartment at age 35 in June. He died of natural causes.

“When things like that happen, you really have to wonder what people know ahead of time,” said Tommie Sunshine, who had just signed The Guidance to a record deal.

“He was living on borrowed time his entire life. He knew that from the time he was very, very young. He didn’t think he was going to make it out of being a teenager. Every minute of every day was bonus points. He knew it and he lived in such a way that he never made you forget it.

“He made you feel how important life was and how important it was to do the things you want to do and not hesitate. Having somebody around who’s that much a cheerleader is such a positive thing. You really want someone like that in your corner.”

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A loving brother Paula lost her other son, Alex, to an accidental overdose in 2007, and a lot of Stefan’s music was about his brother, a race car driver.

“His work, music and songs were directed to Alex,” Paula said. “In 2008, he wrote ‘You Matter’ that he composed with David Jackman. It was about Alex mattering after he died.

Stefan alone wrote ‘Carefree.’ He really missed Alex.”

Stefan was born with a congenital heart condition, transposition of the great arteries, and survived three open-heart surgeries, starting at age 2 at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. Stefan, who moved to Arizona as a youngster with his family, lived with a pacemaker.

According to the Mayo Clinic, transposition of the great arteries changes the way blood circulates through the body, leaving a shortage of oxygen in blood flowing from the heart to the rest of the body. Without an adequate supply of oxygen-rich blood, the body can’t function properly, and a child faces serious complications or death without treatment.

It’s usually detected either prenatally or within the first hours to weeks of life. Corrective surgery soon after birth is the usual treatment for transposition of the great arteries.

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Stefan started having arrythmia when he was 9. He still played his beloved sport—basketball.

“He learned to perfect a three-pointer,” Paula said. “He really loved basketball and was really good at it. With the heart problem and the arrythmia, I sat him down. I said I really thought it was a better idea to pursue music.

“At 14, we put him in bass lessons, and he started a few bands as a bassist. He never could find a singer. So, I said, ‘You know, singing would be really good considering the heart situation.”

Stefan took voice lessons at home with Anita Bakey of Fountain Hills, Arizona, for 13 years. He became the frontman because he didn’t have to worry about finding a singer any longer. Bakey trained him to sing so he could balance his breathing. Because of this, Paula said, Stefan became a physical performer.

“He was known for a lot of very colorful activity on stage and off stage,” she said.

At age 15, Stefan, using his music business interests, started a band promotion company called Caustic Summer Productions. He booked bands in local venues in the Phoenix area throughout high school. Stefan graduated from Cactus Shadows High School in Cave Creek, Arizona, in 2003.

“He was about 17 and I asked him if he was going to go to prom,” Paula recalled. “He said, ‘I don’t think so, mom. I think I’m going to go to Coachella.’”

After high school, he attended Scottsdale Community College, where he studied the business of music. In 2003, he founded Peachcake with longtime friend Johnny O’Keefe.

The electronic pop band toured the United States and Canada and released a plethora of songs.

Headed west Pruett moved to LA after playing in Peachcake. When he arrived, his medical condition was followed by Keck Medicine of USC, where he underwent a series of tests to see if he was eligible for a heart transplant. His stress test showed his heart was strong, so he did not qualify for a transplant, Paula said.

The following year, in 2016, he created The Guidance and opened for She Wants Revenge and MXMS, a project from Jeremy Dawson of Shiny Toy Guns.

“That was early 2016, and we just sort of connected,” said Dawson, who found Stefan unresponsive. “We made an entire record, and I ended up managing him for the next three years or so.”

Continued on page 7

Don’t delay the care you need.

Across our Southern California hospitals and care sites—from our emergency rooms to our Birth Centers—at Dignity Health, every step we take is toward healthier days.

Cleaning is even more stringent and frequent. Seating is further spaced apart. And behind every mask you see is a friendly face. Because we think that safety should extend beyond sanitizing and distancing to include understanding and peace of mind.

So if you need medical attention—even in an emergency—don’t delay getting the care you need at Dignity Health. Learn more about our safety protocols at dignityhealth.org/californiahospital. Or, select an estimated ER arrival time online at dignityhealth.org/ER.

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Continued from page 5

Dawson calls Stefan a “very unique artist” who was ensconced in music that reflected Shiny Toy Guns of 2004 to 2007.

“I said, ‘That’s cool; however, it’s 2017,’” Dawson said with a laugh. “I thought, ‘How can we bring The Guidance to now?’ A lot of the music we made was collaborative.

He would write something and translate that forward into something that’s more of a modern aesthetic that he still really liked a lot.

“His sword was his lyric. He was brilliant, a poet, lyrically. He would come to the table with a completed song. Once I connected to his vision, I could take risks. There’s a whole bunch of music coming out by him this year. He allowed me to really push the boundary and take risks. A lot of musicians, they want to stay in the lane and flow with the stream, not against. Stefan was trying to get out of the way of the herd.”

Tommie Sunshine of the dance label Brooklyn Fire/Brooklyn Blue inked a deal with Stefan as The Guidance and released the retro-inspired “She Likes the Dance Music.”

“I saw his star power,” Sunshine said. “This project is everything I’ve ever liked about dance music. It’s cheeky in all the best ways. It has a very, very firm sense of humor and is just really nailing the psyche of where we’re at.”

Sunshine has been hooked since first note. Even more so, they became fast friends.

“He would sign his notes with two black hearts,” Sunshine recalled. “He said to me, at one point, ‘I think I’m going to change these hearts to blue,’ because he was so enamored with Brooklyn Blue. He was so invested in this.

“He was an insomniac like me. He would text me late at night. I was always awake. We would get into these exponentially long conversations about Scott Walker, Donovan, Talking Heads—all of the influences who made us who we are.

“He was my insomnia buddy. We’d send tracks back and forth. I would send an album and say, ‘Please go listen to this album cover and cover and let’s talk about it tomorrow.

He was a sponge. As a record label and as an A&R person, it’s so rare to come across an artist who is so willing to learn.”

He quickly aligned himself with his fellow artists on Sunshine’s labels.

“He would reach out to all the artists and congratulate them on their releases,” Sunshine said. “He’d say, ‘Aren’t you excited? It’s release day.’ That next release day after he passed was devastating for me. There was this deafening silence. It was so profound.”

A new label During the quarantine, Dawson proposed the idea of starting a label for electronic music that wasn’t for clubs. It was merely listening music, background music. The genre didn’t fit into Sunshine’s Brooklyn Fire, so they dubbed it Brooklyn Blue.

“Suddenly, we had a destination, a home, for this stuff,” Sunshine said. “Stefan and Jeremy embarked on a seven-track EP for Brooklyn Blue, which was, basically, all ambient or wholly modular electronic music that Stefan sang on. It was very different than the other stuff he was working on. This was a new channel, and he was so excited about this. His level of excitement about this Brooklyn Blue sublabel was immense.”

Just before he passed away, Stefan signed with Handwritten Records.

“He always had such a vibrant life,” Paula said. “Nothing indicated he would have a sudden death. I talked to Keck Medicine. It could have been arrythmia that went undetected. He worked out a lot. He was in good shape.

“He wanted to make a difference, and he did that through his music. A lot of his lyrics are quite profound. He was very, very versed in music. He was really inspired by what would occur in his life, by the loss of his brother. He loved passionately. He gave all of himself not only to his music but his friends and girlfriend (Jessica Biatte), too.”

Dawson said the shock of Stefan’s passing is “tremendous.”

“He didn’t fully elaborate about his condition, but he really danced with risk and just took it in stride,” Dawson said. “Looking back on his lyrics, he would openly defy death and write about his heart—but never in a negative way. It was a playful way. He acknowledged the fact that there’s probably a clock ticking and it’s going to be a different clock than yours or mine—but not in an emo, sad way.”

Sunshine—who, like Dawson, is sitting on unreleased music—sums it up, saying Stefan’s music will live on.

“The music he made was incredible,” he said. “I was such a fan. But I was so much more interested in him as a friend and as a person. The music remains. That’s the beautiful part of being an artist. If you do it right—and he definitely did—you leave behind these things that go on forever.”

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Kevin de León covers Boyle Heights, DTLA, El Sereno and Northeast LA. Photo courtesy LA City Council

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Kevin de León sworn in as councilman for 14th District

By Kamala Kirk or more than a decade, Kevin de León has been dedicated to public service.

An activist, community organizer and educator, he was elected as the California State senator for the 24th District in 2010. In 2014, he was elected as the first Latino president pro tempore to the California State Senate in more than 130 years. After winning the election on March 3 with 53% of the vote, he was officially sworn in early on October 15 as the Los Angeles city councilman representing the 14th District, which covers

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Boyle Heights, DTLA, El Sereno and Northeast LA. “I’ve had the pleasure of representing all of (District) 14 for the past 12 years, and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to step up and be a voice for others,” de León said. “There are a disproportionate number of profound issues that directly impact (District) 14. We have to do better, and we will do better.”

Following the swearing-in ceremony, which was conducted by Judge Lucy Armendariz, de León delivered a virtual address focused on the urgency of responding to various challenges facing his district.

“My promise to you is this: Starting on day one, my sole focus is to be a voice for the voiceless,” stated de León in his virtual address. “To be the fighter, you need to improve the human condition of all individuals—regardless of you are and where you come from. Regardless of who you love, regardless of the color of your skin, which God you pray to, and yes—your legal status. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for giving me the opportunity to work for each and every one of you, and I cannot wait to see what we will accomplish together.”

De León said he has started work with the city’s planning department to trim away more than 800 pages of convoluted and unnecessary code that was written decades ago. One of the big issues he plans to focus on is the growing homeless problem.

“When it comes to homelessness and housing affordability, what we are seeing in Los Angeles today is a modern-day human catastrophe,” de León said. “A dystopian nightmare unlike anything we’ve seen before. It’s shocking. It’s shameful. We have a moral and human obligation to do better, to improve our collective quality of life—ensuring that everyone can afford to keep a roof over their head.”

At his first council meeting on October 20, de León introduced two motions instructing the city to partner with the county on the construction of more than 200 beds for unhoused Angelenos throughout the 14th District. He will also instruct city departments to begin work on hundreds of transitional housing units across District 14.

“Starting on day one, we are pushing for the construction of more than 200 new beds and prioritizing nine sites throughout CD 14 for potential new interim housing projects,” de León said. “Responding to the needs of our unhoused neighbors through this public health crisis must be among our top priorities as a district and as a city.”

The second motion aims to address the need for additional locations to construct housing for the homeless, directing the city departments to determine the feasibility of new projects at nine sites within CD 14.

Other issues that de León plans to tackle include poor air quality, as well as the economic and public health fallout that has occurred due to COVID-19.

“We have some of the worst air quality in America, particularly in City 14, which has nine major freeways that cause major air pollution,” he said. “Tourism has been decimated, unemployment is horrific, restaurants have been shuttered and people are barely holding on to survive.

Downtown LA has one of the largest economic growth opportunities, and we can build a better future for all of us by making LA the epicenter of the clean energy revolution—investing in innovation to clean up the air we breathe and create good-paying jobs in the process.”

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Los Angeles Athletic Club celebrates 140 years, unveils outdoor facilities

By Kamala Kirk ounded in 1880, the Los Angeles Athletic Club (LAAC) was the first private membership club in the city. The historic club is one of the top athletic facilities in LA and remains devoted to the lifelong pursuit of a healthy mind and body. In addition to state-of-the-art athletic and spa facilities, LAAC offers award-winning bars and restaurants, a boutique hotel, unique venue areas for events, and private workspaces for members.

Recently, the LAAC launched a series of activations and programming to celebrate the club’s 140th anniversary. The festivities, which span 140 days and conclude on January 26, include everything from club games and athletic events to live rooftop DJ performances and guest chefs.

“Pre-COVID, we had planned to host a special weekend celebration with a variety of programs and activities,” said Cory Hathaway, assistant general manager of LAAC. “Instead

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of doing it over one weekend now, we’ll be celebrating over the course of 140 days.

We’re announcing upcoming activations one to two weeks in advance, and many will be listed under the news section of our website.”

Some of the activations are bundled with hotel stays, including a staycation package that LAAC is offering with its sister club, the California Yacht Club in Marina Del Rey. The two-day experience will include a rooftop dinner at LAAC during one of the music activations, followed by a day filled with outdoor activities in Marina Del Rey and dinner at the California Yacht Club.

“We’ll be documenting our anniversary celebrations using #LAAC140 on social media, which people can follow along with,” Hathaway said. “We’re hoping that, at the end of 140 days, we’ll be able to host a party, but we will have to reassess when that time comes.”

To kick off the 140-day celebration, LAAC held a ribbon cutting to officially launch the new rooftop beach bar at Hercules Beach—

OCTOBER 26, 2020

one of the club’s new outdoor spaces that opened in August. LAAC transformed the top two floors of its eight-story parking garage into an open-air space inspired by the famous muscle beach gyms of West LA. Hercules Beach is a 20,000-square-foot space where members can work out using available fitness equipment, participate in group exercise classes, and enjoy food and beverages at the beach bar, which includes a DJ and sound stage.

The other outdoor space is Studio Luna, a 6,000-square-foot studio space located on the rooftop of the 12-story clubhouse. There, members can enjoy stunning views of the DTLA skyline while participating in various mind-body classes such as yoga, mat Pilates and meditation.

Hercules Beach and Studio Luna reflect LAAC’s symbolism with Roman gods. Mercury, the Roman god of speed, is included in the club’s logo and has been a prominent figure throughout its history. The outdoor spaces are also a nod to three of the club’s earliest presidents, whose passion for amateur sports inspired the modern LAAC. “Our guests have been loving the new outdoor spaces,” Hathaway said. “Everything is by reservation, and we have a long list of health and safety guidelines that we fol-

low based on what the county issues. Masks are required, equipment is spread out, there are gaps throughout the day when we close for thorough cleaning, booking windows have limits, and we have a maximum size for group classes to ensure enough space between guests.”

While indoor workout facilities are closed at LAAC, guests are eagerly anticipating the reopening of the swimming pool and basketball court, which are among the nicest amenities in all of Los Angeles. During the statewide business closures, LAAC also renovated several areas of the club, including the firstfloor lobby.

“LAAC features a cool blend of historic and classic elements that contrast with modern touches to create a really dynamic design,” Hathaway said. “The entire clubhouse is almost completely renovated. We’ve also had a lot of new members join in the past few months, as many new people are moving to the DTLA area. We have a very diverse and entrepreneurial group of members ranging from athletes to current and former executives, including those that have been involved in the revitalization of Downtown. A lot of people are looking for a way to connect to DTLA, and LAAC offers the perfect opportunity for that.”

Los Angeles Athletic Club 431 W. Seventh Street, Los Angeles laac.com

Studio Luna is a 6,000-square-foot studio space located on the rooftop of the 12-story clubhouse.

Submitted photos

OCTOBER 26, 2020

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The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation will continue its annual Biofreeze Run virtually from November 8 to November 15.

Submitted photo

Biofreeze Los Angeles Dodgers run turns virtual

By Kendall Rooker he Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation will continue its annual Biofreeze Run this year, but like other 2020 events, it will be virtual November 8 to November 15.

The LADF didn’t want to postpone the race, because its goal is to bring people together—albeit virtually—and run the distance to improve education, health care, homelessness and social justice for all Angelenos.

“It’s very important this year to be able to support our communities,” said the foundation’s CEO, Nichol Whiteman. “We found it very important to raise funds for all Angelenos.”

Runners will participate in the distance of their choice (5K or 10K) and join an online runner community and social media week.

A special drive-thru packet pickup will also be held at Dodger Stadium on November 7 where runners can pick up their Walker Buehler run bobblehead, Dodgers ’20 tech shirt, finisher’s medal, race bib, LA RUNS swag and sponsor giveaways.

Last year the run had about 11,000 participants. This year, the max is 6,000. Whiteman encourages runners from around the world to compete, as usual.

“We have had runners coming from across the world,” she said. “We are encouraging everyone to participate regardless of where they are. We challenge runners to go the distance with us to tackle Los Angeles problems.”

Also included in the swag bags are Gaiter scarves, which Dodgers players have been wearing during the season. The Buehler bobblehead is the only one of the 2020 season.

“The Gaiter scarf is for athletes and runners,” Whiteman said. “They are popular, and it’s an easy way to wear masks.”

During the week of the virtual race, the foundation encourages all participants to use the #LADFrun for a chance to get reposted

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on its social media. It encourages the participants to use it across all platforms of social media, especially Instagram for a chance to get reposted on its Instagram account.

“We are really challenging our runners to see it as a fundraiser, but for runners to go the distance for all the issues in Los Angeles. You are running but for a cause,” Whiteman said.

“We think everyone had to adapt to the challenges of 2020. We hope everyone will participate in the first-ever virtual (run), join us in tackling the challenges LA faces every day.”

External pain reliever Biofreeze, known for offering its on course Pain Relief Zone each year, returns as the title sponsor.

“We’re excited to continue to partner with the Dodgers and LADF and still be able to offer fans a chance to get out and get active. Although we won’t be able to help runners cool their pain on-course this year, we will still be providing product so they can do so on their own,” said Danny Baumwald, senior vice president, North America Consumer, Performance Health.

UCLA Health also returns as presenting sponsor and will pivot its popular health activations to giveaways for runners at the drive-thru packet pickup and offer health and wellness content to engage families at home.

“UCLA Health has been working closely with the Dodgers Foundation to quickly adapt to the challenges of live events and support of our community throughout the pandemic,” said Becky Mancuso-Winding, executive director of the UCLA Health Office of Community. “We are thrilled to partner with the Dodgers Foundation on this first-ever virtual run and provide wellness content to all participants.”

The Los Angeles Department of Water & Power joins as Weekend Sponsor.

Info: dodgers.com/run

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Elevate Your Urban Staycation at

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DTLA, A Staycation Paradise

You don’t need to go far to find an indulgent DTLA escape. The iconic JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE and Sheraton Grand Los Angeles offer all the benefits of a luxury getaway, from plush robes and king-sized beds, to outdoor amenities and packaged perks.

The cornerstone of the L.A. LIVE district, JW Marriott Los Angeles just completed a renovation of all their guestrooms so you know you’ll be staying in style. The new vibe is cosmopolitan chic with plenty of comforts to help you relax and revive. A heated rooftop pool and a weekend poolside dinner and a movie series give you options for outside the room entertainment.

In the heart of downtown, connected to The Bloc shopping plaza, the recently revitalized Sheraton Grand Los Angeles offers stylish spaces ideal for your change of scenery. Elegant guestrooms overlook stunning views of downtown skyscrapers and the new Deck by District is a charming, secret garden with a fire pit, perfect for dining alfresco.

To book a staycation at JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE or Sheraton Grand Los Angeles, visit marriott.com or call 888.236.2427 ADVERTORIAL

After months of sheltering-in-place, now is an ideal time for a vacation close to home. And DTLA, with an assortment of amazing hotels – each possessing a unique charm, history, and point of view for every type of guest and personality – is the ideal staycation destination.

From landmarks of contemporary design to hotspots of Hollywood’s Golden Age and historical buildings reimagined into an urban oasis, DTLA’s hotels are monuments to grandeur, creativity, and ingenuity. Whether your style is elegant and futuristic; historic and glamorous; Bohemian and modern; or somewhere in between – Downtown hotels have them all.

While travel and leisure in the days of COVID-19 can be a tricky prospect, hotels in Downtown Los Angeles have taken necessary steps to ensure that you can prioritize your health and safety. Travel responsibly and check out DowntownLA.com/StayDTLA for our DTLA Hotels Guide.

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The Struts recorded an album, “Strange Days,” in quarantine.

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The Struts acknowledge ‘Strange Days’ with upbeat album

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski he Struts guitarist Adam Slack says the recording of the English band’s forthcoming album, “Strange Days,” very much aligns with 2020.

“Strange Days” sees the Struts and singer Luke Spiller pairing with English pop star Robbie Williams, Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello, and Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott and Phil Collen.

“Luke and Robbie sang it (the title track) together, socially distanced outside his (Williams’) house in LA,” Slack said. “For the safety of everyone, we just sent Luke and the producer. I have not met Robbie, but I look forward to the day I can. It was a very 2020 style of recording.”

The whole album’s process was similar. After getting tested for COVID-19, the band moved into the Los Angeles home of Jon Levine, a producer who worked on their acclaimed sophomore album, “Young & Dangerous.” Within 10 days of “couch crashing” at Levine’s house, the Struts laid down nine original songs and their cover of Kiss’ “Do You Love Me.” The project was meant to be an EP, but they produced an album’s worth of songs in the sessions.

“We quarantined for 10 days in Jon Levine’s house, and we wrote and recorded the whole thing in 10 days,” he said. “We wrote and recorded the whole thing in 10 days. It was very bizarre. We were sleeping on floors, and all this creativity came out of nowhere.

“We didn’t second guess anything. All the songs started writing themselves. We had been touring for five years. We had a chance to rest and recuperate.”

Levine proved to be a valuable partner once again.

“Jon was in the room with us and writing with us the whole time,” Slack said. “He

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was a mediator when we were writing something. He’d say, ‘Why don’t you try this?’ He’s an amazing piano player and he’d jam along with us. We worked so well together.

“He really gets us. He says ‘Strange Days’ was one of his favorite things he’s ever done in his career. It was like summer camp. He let us crash at his house, which was really gracious. We were waking up every morning with no idea what we were going to write that day.”

With Morello, the Struts sent tapes back and forth until the song was finished. The act previously worked with him in person for another project.

“He’s a friend of ours now really,” he said. “It was crazy to say, because we listened to Rage when we were kids. It was a real honor. The song ‘Wild Child’ had the heaviest riff I’ve ever come up with. If anyone would do it best, it would be Tom Morello.

“We just wanted to get as many guests on it as possible because it would be really fun to do. Whilst we were writing, we said this would be cool for this person. We did it, asked them and they said ‘yes.’ Not everyone is doing a lot at the moment. They couldn’t really say they were too busy.”

Slack sees “Strange Days” as a gift to fans.

“We wanted to make something for the fans because we can’t tour, basically,” he said.

“We went through our phone book and people we met over the years of touring. Joe’s been a fan of ours and he’s given us to much praise in the press. We’re grateful for that.

It was lovely. He and Phil wanted to do the song, and that was amazing.

“If it wasn’t for this whole coronavirus, we wouldn’t have this album. So in one aspect, thank you for that. It’s nice to turn something so negative into a positive. It’s a really happy album, a feel-good record.”

The Struts thestruts.com

OCTOBER 26, 2020

DT

Covered California will help ARTS & CULTURE

DTLA Walking Tours offers education, entertainment

By Kamala Kirk hen Neel Sodha was a Union Station volunteer, he frequently gave directions to people who needed help getting around Downtown Los Angeles.

Ultimately, DTLA Walking Tours was born.

“There were companies that gave tours of Hollywood, but there wasn’t anything that was focused on DTLA and catered to tourists,” said Sodha, who has been a Downtown resident since 2007. “I started out leading all of the tours myself, then as the company expanded our team grew to 11 tour guides. Our guests tend to be 50% local, 30% domestic and 20% international.”

Over the years, DTLA Walking Tours has expanded its list of tours, now offering more than 30 tours throughout LA, including Koreatown, East Hollywood, and the Venice boardwalk and canals. It also partnered with Pasadena Walking Tours in 2019 to expand coverage throughout that area.

Prior to COVID-19, the company was offering up to eight tours daily. When the pandemic hit, all of its tours were canceled. Sodha and his team put their heads together and came up with the idea to

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start offering live virtual tours.

“During our walking tours, we share photos and videos on iPads with our guests, so we already had all of this content,” he said. “ Then someone suggested that we could use Google Maps to show the different buildings in DTLA. We converted all of our tours to a virtual format on Zoom, and the feedback we’ve received is amazing. I get people calling me after a virtual tour to say that they can’t believe we’re doing this and how happy they are. I’m also proud of our team of 11 is still together with everyone willing to chip in and host virtual tours. Our guides have been very appreciative that during the pandemic we’ve been able to continue offering services.”

DTLA Walking Tours is offering daily virtual tours, and it recently updated its sanitation protocols to host in-person tours of up to nine people in a group setting.

In addition to tours that cover different parts of LA, one of its most popular tours is Haunted Tales, which includes stories about the city’s murders, mysteries, suicides, unresolved crimes and spooky ghost stories. Other popular tours include filming locations, which highlights filming locations featured in moves like “La La Land”

and “Blade Runner,” as well as old and new Downtown LA, which showcases LA’s history, from its urban development to the early 20th century.

Sodha and his team constantly create new tours to expand their offerings. One of their newest is “Future LA,” which looks at upcoming developments and the future and growth of DTLA. Every year, the company reviews its tours, looking for ways to update and improve them.

“Our goal is to continue to grow and cover many different neighborhoods,” Sodha said. “We want to be the company that people come to whenever they want to learn about a certain part of town, and we also want to provide them with interesting stories and information beyond what’s on the surface.”

Every tour is researched, and it undergoes a review process to ensure accuracy.

“We take great pride in the research that goes on, and we are much more deeply involved,” Sodha said.

“We don’t just highlight tourist attractions; there’s a lot more behind every neighborhood we cover. We also give our tour guides the opportunity to create their own tours, then we do multiple layers of checks and a thorough review. The quality of our tours is very important to us, and we want to make sure that everyone gets the right information.”

DTLA Walking Tours has also shifted its payment structure during the pandemic. In-person tours start at $25 per person for a public tour and $50 per person for a private tour. The company has adopted a “pay-as-you-can” model for virtual tours that allows people to donate whatever amount they choose online. The donations help the company continue operating and provide new content and events throughout the pandemic.

“We understand that many people are currently in the middle of financial hardships, and we don’t want to turn anyone away,” Sodha said. “Everyone who has gone on a tour has been happy to donate and help us out, which we appreciate, so that we can pay our guides.”

Because of the virtual tours, DTLA Walking Tour’s social media following has almost doubled. Sodha

Neel Sodha takes guests on a tour of East Hollywood.

Photo courtesy Walking Tours

has also noticed that more people from around the world are signing up for the tours.

It’s given many more people the chance to be part of the fun, too. Sodha is grateful for the chance to educate and entertain people during these challenging times.

“I love the education aspect of what we do,” Sodha said.

“I love learning how things evolve and change over time and explaining that to others and engaging in discussions.

Whether I’m talking to a local who has lived in LA for over 70 years or a kid who is on a school field trip, I enjoy providing that interactive education experience.”

DTLA Walking Tours dtlawalkingtours.com

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OCTOBER 26, 2020