NM3

God’s plan was better than mine 😊

Everyone has an opinion about Downtown LA - especially those who haven’t been here lately. Here’s what I shared at the Social District’s Annual Meeting about what’s actually happening on the ground: If your only impression of Downtown LA comes from headlines, social media threads, or that one friend who hasn’t actually been here since 2019, I completely get why the narrative feels bleak. But here’s the thing: I’ve spent eight years on the Board of the Social District (the last four as Board Chair), walking these streets, talking with residents and business owners, and working alongside people who care deeply about this neighborhood. I see the good - and I see the hard - up close. So let’s talk about both, honestly. First, the challenges. Real ones. - COVID hit our restaurants and retail harder and longer than most neighborhoods. - Foot traffic still hasn’t fully returned. - As the geographic center of the city, big events and moments of unrest land here first. - The loudest “DTLA narrative” often overshadows what’s happening block by block. - Add homelessness and public perception, and you get the full picture of what we’re working through. These aren’t secrets. They’re real - and they’re part of the story. But they’re not the whole story. This week at our Annual Meeting, I reflected on a neighborhood I’ve watched evolve for almost forty years. What used to be a low-rise commercial and industrial pocket has grown into one of the most dynamic residential and entertainment districts in Los Angeles. This community has weathered more ups and downs than almost any other part of the city - from championship celebrations (and their aftermath), to protests and curfews. The Social District has felt the full range of LA’s energy and challenges. And yet, within just a few walkable blocks, the momentum is undeniable: - A $2.6B Convention Center expansion, anticipated to bring nearly 500,000 visitors a year. - The LA28 Olympics, which will concentrate activity here more than anywhere else in the region. - Nearly 4,000 LA28 employees moving into South Park Center. - California Hospital’s $250M expansion, nearly tripling emergency and maternity capacity. - Erewhon heading to Olympic & Hill. - A new 54-story Onni tower, among the tallest residential buildings on the West Coast. - Thousands of new market-rate and affordable residences delivered within the district over the past decade. - And our own "The Eden" delivering 235 new homes earlier this year and already welcoming 200+ residents, many brand new to Downtown. These aren’t speculative. These are live, funded, operational changes reshaping the district. The small things are improving too... often in ways you feel first: - A weekly farmers market that keeps getting busier. - New string lights, tree lights, and streetscape touches. - 11th Street planters that soften the urban edges. - The long-awaited Pico Triangle improvements finally getting started. - And the steady, daily presence of our Clean & Safe Ambassadors, who quietly make the district feel cared for. Neighborhoods don’t transform because of one megaproject. They transform because of hundreds of small decisions made consistently. I’m grateful that the Social District has a strong team - and that our CEO, @NolanMarshall, brings vision, executional skill, and a real sense of urgency to match the moment. Here’s what I’ve learned: You can acknowledge the challenges - and still recognize the momentum. You can see the complexities - and still feel optimistic. You can hear the headlines - and still walk the district and think: “Wait… this feels pretty good.” The Social District is entering its next chapter - not overnight, not without effort, but through the work of real people who believe this place deserves it. If you haven’t been down here in a while, come take a walk. Grab a coffee. See the progress for yourself. You might leave with a different story than the one you came in with.

@KarmSumal Freddie Mutha Fuckin Freeman!!!!!!

What a game!

@VanLathan Even in the parts of LA where we want them to build more housing - like Downtown - I can’t get them to get out of their own way to do it quickly. Or invest in the infrastructure that supports housing (like street lights) even after private sector has spent millions to built it 🫤

I saw this interview. I don’t want to be disrespectful to this lady but holy shit is LA in trouble if this is the city council

@davegordon14 @damonhemmerding This is actually a really great idea. Standby.

@damonhemmerding Seriously. One week with our team.

I literally can’t stop watching this clip. Probably 20 times at this point. My eyes get wider every time… feels like I’m about to get lasik. Pls send help.

Thanks, Dave. Appreciate it!

@KarmSumal All Star Game vs All Star Game… sure. NBA All Star Weekend as a destination for all the untelevised activations and events that take place is still a peak vibe second only to… WrestleMania 😂! NBA regular season, playoffs, and star power still outpaces NHL.

@NolanMarshall Sorry man it’s true 😂 Lebron has a sore ankle. These hockey players out there playing but all on the line

NHL > NBA. This last decade of NBA has been too soft, bunch of participation trophy players out there.

@SarcasticallyAJ @KarmSumal nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna1…

@KarmSumal It’s an OnlyRugs video. What did you expect 😂 Somebody is definitely making more money off the views from people sitting through the entire video than the cost of the rug.

@NolanMarshall Probably spent more on washing it than it’s actually worth 😂

All that work for that ugly ass rug!? Should’ve just left it as is 😂

@terryyungyvr Best thing I’ve seen on this app all day! Congrats!

Excited to officially launch my campaign to represent the BC NDP in Vancouver-Yaletown. My priorities are public safety, housing and affordability. Looking forward to delivering this riding in October with your help! #bcpoli terryyung.ca/post/news-rele…

@KarmSumal This is the first, and last, hockey game I’m watching this year 🫤

Well at least the fans haven’t given up #canucks

@KarmSumal @araghougassian @A_Steele2 @iamkennethchan @DailyHiveLA

@NolanMarshall @araghougassian @A_Steele2 @iamkennethchan @DailyHiveLA Haha oh man. You got any of that American money for us to set up shop

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@KarmSumal @araghougassian @A_Steele2 @iamkennethchan When am I going to get my wish for a @iamkennethchan clone that writes about development in Los Angeles. I feel like I’ve been following @DailyHiveLA for years. It’s the main reason I moved here! I don’t have all day…

@araghougassian @A_Steele2 Oh man. High praise for @iamkennethchan

@KarmSumal As a fan of both, and someone with PTSD from Pac and Biggie my senior year of high school, I’m NOT enjoying this😕 I wish Kendrick would go back to making enlightening rap and Drake would go back to making these pacifying and entertaining songs that I ride to in this LA traffic!

Kendrick’s Euphoria is a masterclass. It also highlighted today’s culture is so vapid and dumbed down. That track and the delivery went over so many people’s heads. Drake is gonna need to get some intellectual 👻’s on his payroll to reply. Posting IG stories like a kid ain’t it

@KarmSumal I did my part to reverse the Canadian growth, Karm! 👀😂 All the major urban population centers around the globe need to get serious about clearing every last impediment to housing development. Maintain the safety code, but punt the rest of the regulations in favor of density.

This level of population growth isn’t sustainable. What’s the end game here? To add this many people we need to invest in our cities infrastructure. Reduce government bloat while we are at it.

@KarmSumal @iamkennethchan @DailyHiveLA Have Kenneth drop you off on his way to Anaheim 😂 I was in Vancouver for a week during our Thanksgiving break, but the youngest got sick and we barely made it out of the hotel room. We plan to head up that way at least once a year. I’ll let you know next time!

@NolanMarshall @iamkennethchan @DailyHiveLA This is eerily similar to a photo of mine at the beach lol. I gotta come visit you man!

@iamkennethchan and @KarmSumal… This is a recent photo of me at the beach, still waiting on @DailyHiveLA to launch….⏳

@iamkennethchan @KarmSumal @DailyHiveLA It’s a start. I’ll take what I can get.

@NolanMarshall @KarmSumal @DailyHiveLA @DailyHiveDizzney in Anaheim. Wait for us at Paradise Bay.

When I moved to Dallas, Vancouver, and now Los Angeles, and inevitably there was a major weather event, I’ve said out loud some version of “we need to find out who the @MargaretOrr is of this city!” or “Where is their Margaret Orr?!” Congrats on an irreplaceable career!