The Rich War on the Poor

Stasia Skonberg

Cultural Geography: Dr. Richard Simpson

February 2, 2021

Reaction Paper 3

The Rich War on the Poor

         In Mike Davis’ “Fortress Los Angeles: The Militarization of Urban Space,” he brings the reader through the ins and outs of modern day Los Angeles and how it all stemmed from an obsession with policing of social boundaries which gained popularity and momentum in the 1990’s. Through control of taxes, businesses, and human life, the elite and rich of L.A. use their money to erase poor people, people of color, and immigrants, those who make their full and expensive lives available. All in the name of “safety” they are able to control entire groups of people with money and power.

              Due to the militarization of architecture in the downtown and urban areas, its inhabitants are being forced out and made to live in spaces controlled by police. The after effects and continuation of these now 30 year old ideas are what now wreak havoc on the poor, lower class, and homeless citizens of L.A. by creating a landscape of fear and terror. “The defense of luxury has given birth to an arsenal of security systems and an obsession with the policing of social boundaries through architecture” (Davis, p.154). From the shrinking of public spaces and amenities to the installment of architecture specifically designed to keep humans unable to inhabit it, and finishing it with criminalizing things like camping and loitering L.A has become a “fortress city”.  A city in which from the outside boasts diversity and inclusion, is riding on the backs of those that they choose every day to actively fight against.