Introduction
Watts is a neighborhood in Los Angeles that has many problems. Because of these problems, the number of businesses and the overall quality of life are decreasing. The neighborhood is known for its high prevalence of gang activity, unemployment, and murder. It is considered one of the city’s most dangerous and impoverished areas. Because these problems have been around for too long, immediate action must be taken to resolve them if a substantial change occurs (McAndrew, 12). In this paper, we take a comprehensive approach to addressing the issues now afflicting the Watts area and attempt to get to the bottom of what is causing them. Our strategy will focus on increasing economic possibilities, assisting entrepreneurs, and assisting homeless people. By doing so, we will be able to improve everyone’s lives in our community to be safer, more exciting, and more successful.
Problem
Watts’ problems are made much worse by the absence of any viable economic alternatives. The region’s persistently low incomes and high unemployment rates provide fertile ground for the growth of criminal gangs. Because of the residents’ concerns, local businesses have difficulty attracting new consumers (Muchow, 32). There may be many homeless people in this area, and many of them may have a mental illness or addiction. The fact that this group has a more difficult time obtaining a job, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and having a roof over their heads contributes to the existing challenges in the neighborhood.
These challenges are experienced by all individuals in the Watts community, including residents, workers, and visitors alike. Residents have difficulty obtaining steady employment and are always on alert due to the high prevalence of crime. The owners of businesses now have to deal with more competition, crimes, and property damage. The already precarious economic situation in the region will only worsen if visitors stay away from the area because they believe they will be unsafe there.
The many environmental issues in the neighborhood have significantly impacted the health and well-being of the people who live in Watts. The region is home to a significant number of polluting industrial facilities, including a significant number of power plants and oil refineries (Muchow, 34). This pollution has been linked to various diseases like cancer, neurological disorders, and breathing problems. The scarcity of parks and other options for leisure pursuits in urban settings contributes to an amplified sense of alienation and detachment from the natural world.
The lack of access to high-quality medical services is yet another significant problem affecting the Watts area. Because of the high expense of treatment and the scarcity of medical professionals in the area, many of the region’s citizens need help obtaining the necessary medical attention. Because of this, the frequency of chronic diseases and disorders that might have been prevented has grown, further straining the local economy. Because of the high number of illnesses and deaths in the area compared to other parts of Los Angeles, the COVID-19 outbreak has also brought attention to the fact that the community needs accessible healthcare.
Solution
Our suggested plan for the Watts community’s economic development includes several activities to strengthen the local economy and generate new job opportunities; all of these projects have the purpose of solving the structural challenges that have long afflicted the region. The plan’s target audience is the Watts neighborhood. We will make connections with local businesses and give those businesses financial and tax breaks to encourage them to invest in the area. In addition, we will work toward bringing new companies and industries to the region in the hopes of expanding the selection of accessible employment opportunities.
In the course of implementing this strategy, one of our most important objectives is to set up a community-based job training program (Lambrou, 127). After this degree, students will have the knowledge and skills to work in information technology (IT), health care, building and construction, and many others. We will also work with local businesses to set up apprenticeship programs and other forms of on-the-job training to help grow a workforce that is both well-trained and made up of people from different backgrounds. We will help local business owners train people for jobs and help them find jobs. Low-interest rates, technical help, and marketing help will be available to these businesses to help them grow and develop (Lambrou, 126). The government’s support of small businesses will have a positive effect on the local economy, the number of visitors and investors, and the number of jobless individuals.
Assisting those living on the streets is an essential component of our plan. We are committed to doing everything possible to make getting medical care, mental health services, and helpful housing options easier for people. In addition, we will work with groups in the community to offer job placement assistance and vocational training for homeless people. This will increase the homeless person’s chances of getting permanent employment and help them reintegrate into society. We want to reduce the unemployment, violence, and poverty rates in Watts by enhancing the economic and job opportunities available to local inhabitants there. A city that is more vibrant and affluent for everyone will be the consequence of investments made in job-readiness projects, providing assistance to local firms, and handling the needs of the homeless population.
Benefits
The fact that the city of Watts is making efforts toward a more affluent future is fantastic news for the area’s residents. Residents will be able to get well-paying employment due to relationships with local firms and participation in job training programs, and they will be equipped with the skills and resources required to do so. As a consequence of this, the economic conditions of the many families in the neighborhood, as well as the community as a whole, will improve (Alper, 98). If we give local business owners some money, we can help them meet the community’s needs and bring in new customers. These are two things needed for a local economy to grow and become healthy and diverse.
If fewer people were living on the streets, everyone in the Watts area would be in a better position to protect themselves and look after their health and well-being. Homeless people often struggle with untreated mental health conditions and addictions, creating additional obstacles to treatment. We might be able to lessen the adverse effects of homelessness on the community if we give homeless people access to resources like medical care, shelter, and help to find work. The region’s residents and those who are just passing through will feel more welcome and secure as a result of these improvements.
Businesses in the Watts neighborhood that are owned and run by local people will also benefit from the plan. Small companies are significant contributors to the local economy because of the employment and services they provide to the community. Small firms in impoverished nations have difficulty growing and thriving because they need access to finance and technology. The area’s proprietors of small businesses must get help in order to facilitate an improvement in Watts’s overall standard of living (Alper, 98). In addition, tourists that come to the region will find our strategy to be helpful and informative. Tourists may be dissuaded from visiting the Watts neighborhood due to the wrong preconceptions surrounding it, such as its high crime rate and the vast number of people living without homes. Boosting the local economy by making the region more welcoming and less hazardous for tourists would accomplish this goal.
Using our plan will lead to a more accepting society of differences and gives everyone the same chances to do well. Economic inequality and poverty hurt people of color and low-income people more than other groups (Alper, 102). If we invest in the small businesses in the area and work to create more jobs there, we can help even out some of the economic differences that are already there. In addition, we can combat the causes of poverty and inequality, laying the groundwork for a fairer and more equitable society if we provide comprehensive assistance to homeless people.
Our strategy to improve the region’s economy will benefit Watts’ residents and the local companies and tourists visiting the area. We can strengthen and prosper our local economy, reduce violence in our town, and make our community more open and fair for everyone if we help the homeless, support local businesses, and create jobs. The opposition to this plan and the expenditures connected with putting it into action outweigh the advantages accruing to the Watts neighborhood and the rest of the city of Los Angeles. Therefore, implementing this plan is essential for the long-term health of our community.
Drawbacks
The advantages more than justify the work required to achieve them, even though there is no question that massive investments in this form of economic growth are required to succeed. Promoting small businesses owned by people in the area and creating more jobs could help the local economy and the flow of money (Cupchoy, 85). As crime and homelessness decrease, the neighborhood will become safer and more desirable, increasing the number of tourists and possible investors.
This strategy to develop the economy may get financial support from various sources. Grants, public-private partnerships, and other types of funding might fall under this category. Helping the Watts community is good not only from a financial point of view but also from a social and moral point of view (Cupchoy, 86). Social justice means ensuring everyone in the community has access to the opportunities and resources they need to do well. Even though many people are skeptical about how well economic development projects work, much evidence suggests that these projects may have positive results. By helping local businesses and giving job training, we will make it easier for the Watts area economy to keep growing and getting better over time. If we support the homeless, it is feasible that poverty and inequality will have less influence on the neighborhood.
Counterargument
Increasing the police presence in Watts may assist with the crime in the short being, but it will not tackle the fundamental problems that have led to this situation. There is a correlation between a negative perception of law enforcement and higher poverty and crime rates (Datar, 25). Because of this, public trust in law enforcement may decrease, making it more difficult for authorities to combat crime and other problems successfully. People will have more possibilities to better themselves and their communities as a direct result of investments made in the economy. To stop criminal and gang activity, it might work better to deal with the reasons why people do these things rather than the effects.
According to Datar (22), residents have a lower propensity for criminal behavior when they have access to chances for personal development and a sense that they have a place in the community. Putting more money into the economy helps people and makes it easier for law enforcement to work with the public. Law enforcement agencies can change from watchdogs to active partners in protecting and improving their communities. Building confidence may necessitate adopting a more collaborative strategy to address concerns about public safety.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the problems afflicting the Watts neighborhood may most effectively be addressed by implementing an all-encompassing strategy for economic development. Helping those without houses find jobs, supporting local businesses, and providing refuge for the homeless are all things that may help us establish a community that is more affluent and friendly to newcomers. We hope that the residents of Watts, as well as the relevant governmental agencies and any other interested parties, would support our proposition and collaborate with us to make the neighborhood a better place.
Work Cited
Alper, Joe, et al. “Workshop 1, Session 2: Training PCOR Investigators.” Accelerating the Use of Findings from Patient-Centered Outcomes Research in Clinical Practice to Improve Health and Health Care: Proceedings of a Workshop Series. National Academies Press (US), 2022.
Cupchoy, Lani, and Dawn A. Dennis. “Watts Teach-In:“Restorative Histories” through Activist-Led Scholarship.” California History 99.4 (2022): 82-97.
Datar, Ashlesha, et al. “Assessing impacts of redeveloping public housing communities on obesity in low-income minority residents: Rationale, study design, and baseline data from the Watts Neighborhood Health Study.” Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications 25 (2022): 100879.
Lambrou, Nicole. “Downscaling Resilience from Los Angeles to Watts: Contestations, Appropriations, and Opportunities.” Justice in Climate Action Planning (2022): 119-138.
Muchow, Ashley N. “Community-Oriented Policing and Violent Crime: Evidence From the Los Angeles Community Safety Partnership.” Police Quarterly (2023): 10986111231162353.
McAndrew, Breann M., et al. “An exploratory study to characterize the HIV testing-to-care continuum to improve outcomes for Black and Latinx residents of South Los Angeles.” Plos one 17.8 (2022): e0268374.
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