It's amazing how a few houses on a tiny street, which is now known as Olvera street, started it all for the beautiful city of Los Angeles. This historic district has become the roots for many families and overall the roots of Los Angeles. When you're there you see how the city began; so losing Olvera St. would be like losing a glimpse into Los Angeles' past.
When we arrived at the famous cobblestone street lined with Mexican shops and restaurants, we were in the middle of all the tourists and employees of the various businesses. What stood out the most were the posters posted everywhere that read "Save Olvera St." As we began asking information about whether the rumors were true -- was Olvera Street going to be closed down? We discovered quickly that employees were not allowed to speak about the issue and simply just cut us in our tracks. We immediately had to change the angle in which we approached employers because we were being denied interviews by almost everyone. We ran into some tourists from Arkansas that were completely clueless about the issue of the possible loss of the street and in fact they were quite shocked because they had enjoyed their visit there.
Olvera Street is more than just a tourist attraction, it is a place where people who immigrated to the U.S from Mexico can go and actually feel like they're at home. " This street is where many locals come to get a piece of their culture," an employee on Olvera St. said. The overall atmosphere there was very welcoming and warm, with people that had as much love for Olvera St. as they loved their home, Los Angeles.
Written by Brenda Solis and Sussete Nuñez
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