Walking down the 3rd Street Promenade, it initially felt like the lower income people had no place in Santa Monica; shops with expensive luxury goods and classy restaurants all lined up along the promenade.
However, on further observation, I realized that Santa Monica, even though might attract the more well-off individuals, is trying hard to cater to all. This can be seen from the public restrooms and water fountains provided through out the
shopping area, and the beach.
In terms of the age demographics, Santa Monica seems to cater the most to young families. There are "No Alcohol" and "No Smoking" signs everywhere, and even a kids section in the workout area at the beach. However, it is not as wheelchair accessible; the only two ways to get down the bluff from Ocean Avenue to the beach are either by a flight of stairs, or a steep slope with a walkway only wide enough for a person.
It does not seem to restrict entry to a majority of people though. There is public parking everywhere, and even for those who do not own a car, there are the "Big Blue Buses" and Metro buses which can bring them there. Locals are of course catered to by the many bike racks all around the promenade and beach.
It can be seen that Santa Monica, historically a playground for the rich in the 1850s, is now making itself enjoyable by the general public, in the sense that a public place should be.
Would you say that there are stores that cater to the lower class instead of strictly the wealthier class?
ReplyDeleteYes. There are definitely cheaper alternatives to the luxurious brands. For example, instead of the higher-class restaurants along the Promenade, there are more economical options such as Mc Donalds, Subway, and even small Pizza and Taco shops. For clothing, there is also stores such as Forever 21 which are not as expensive as luxury brands.
DeleteIn what ways has Santa Monica changed from being a "playground for the rich in the 1850s" to becoming a public place for the general public?
ReplyDeleteIn the past, Santa Monica had things only catering to the affluent. Also, being far from the rest of L.A., not having private transport means it is difficult to get there.
DeleteHowever, nowadays, there are Metro buses and Blue buses to take one to Santa Monica from all over Los Angeles, at a minimal fee. The rise of car ownership also meant that more people could get to Santa Monica on their own.
Public facilities such as restrooms are available for anyone's use. There are also cheaper dining and shopping options to cater to the less wealthy. Thus Santa Monica has indeed evolved into a public place for the general public.
Do you feel Santa Monica could be exclusive to rich people only? How do you feel a shopping area can function as a good public space?
ReplyDeleteI feel that if the authorities wanted it to be, Santa Monica could be exclusive to only rich people. They could just have expensive shops and restaurants, make parking extremely expensive, and even make entry to certain areas cost a certain amount of money. This would deter the less financially able, and thus make it exclusive for the rich.
DeleteThe shopping mall has a square in the middle for the people to interact and socialize, especially when there are events taking place. The 3rd Street Promenade has many performances for all to enjoy be it with their groups of friends and families or with the community as a whole. Shopping displays are also faced outward to the street, and there are small stands along the promenade, making shopping a more social experience. This no doubt helps in fostering bonds among the community, just as a public place should.