The Other Side

 The funny thing about L.A. (Well, most of California really...) is that it is both the best and the worst place to live on earth.
When most people think of L.A. -  they probably imagine something like this.

 Many people visit the creative and entertainment communities of a places like Venice.
The area looks nice... as long as you stay west of Lincoln.

 But the town also has white, Asian, Hispanic and Black gangs. (Sho' Line Crips)
Most people cannot afford the nearby beach and canal homes so most just live fairly mundane lives with 'survival' being their primary focus.

In most situations, there is a flip side to the official story.
More often, sordid stories and lives are littered with the detritus of those just passing through.
And it is these stories which tell the true tales of nations, cultures and people.