Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Acapulco vs. L.A. -- I'll take Acapulco

While it is tragic hearing what is happening across the Mexico-U.S. border--I couldn't help but furrow my brow in an unconvincing manner after reading a two-page article dedicated to describing a violent Acapulco: "Amid Drug Violence, Acapulco Watches Tourism Recede." 


I just returned from a month-long work trip around Mexico and found much of the cities and areas, even touristy one where supposedly a lot of this stuff is happening, relatively safe. I would be walking with friends and during the day because, well, that's just safe traveling. Here's what got me.


I find it ironic that there's plenty of headline about 650 people killed in four years (that's 162.5 a year), I think it's hyped and I think while there's media mention about L.A.'s violence, it's downplayed. They say about Acapulco: " ... the famed resort city has been the scene of vicious fighting among rival drug gangs ..." -- If you think about it, couldn't you use that line for Los Angeles? Actually, you couldn't, L.A.'s homicide is vastly larger than that of Acapulco. If you weren't sure, there was something like 314 homicide killings in 2009, 216 in 2010 and from Jan. 1 to Feb. 13 2011 L.A. has outdid itself with 83 homicides (barely two months and it's half of what Acapulco garners in a whole year). I edited the LAPD magazine for a few years and would always hear about these killings. However, I will say L.A.'s homicide rate has been dropping in the past few years--in 1992 there was a whopping 1,200 homicides. 


I just found it strange that L.A., a city with nearly triple the homicides of that of a foreign, beautiful Mexican city like Acapulco, would dedicate so many inches to denounce it. Violence is there and no one can get around it. But let's keep perspective. Besides wasn't L.A. the city where songs like "Murder was the Case," "Eazy-E" and "Straight Outta Compton" originated from? I don't think I ever heard a track like that come out of Acapulco. 


Check out the nice shot my friend Adriana took of me while we were driving along Champoton, Arnie Weissmann a great editor in chief I befriended while traveling here wrote up a nice story for Travel Weekly about the experience. 


Along the Mexican Gulf Coast in Champoton.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

City's Best Los Angeles: My Interview with Tracy Helper

Recently, I've been writing with AOL's City Best for the L.A. edition. I've been tasked with writing on green living in Los Angeles. I interviewed Tracy Hepler of Your Daily Thread -- not only is she a good friend I've come to know through working in green living, but she's also got some of the best eco-etiquette I've seen around the city. From her compost, DIY vegetables to tin cans she's always carrying to avoid contributing to the plastic bottle fiasco, she's got top-notch manners when it comes to being good to the planet. Here is my recent interview with her.  

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Abuelita & Su Abrigo

Grandma decided to gift me her 1970s-era coat that grandpa bought from one of those fancy window displays. She only wore it a handful of times. Funny enough, it fits me to a tee. Alas, where would I wear such a glam piece?