Originally Posted by PamWinterReturns

Sadly, you’re right. It shocked me how the area had deteriorated. I went to school there and remember nice houses and yards. We went into Walgreens and the aisle signs were in Spanish. It was one third the size of usual stores. Parking lot had five spaces in a tight area. Handicapped parking was one lane over on broken concrete. Prices were crazy. Toothpaste for my mom, Sensodyne, was $13.99/tube. Locally she pays $7.99.

Houses were in bad shape from paint peeling to siding hanging off. Grass was brown or overgrown.

The area was mostly hospitals or doctor buildings. Ronald McDonald House was unkempt and uninviting.

Buddy did an amazing job of fixing it up, but with him being gone, no one cares anymore. I’m close to the Mall but wouldn’t want to go there now. Last time I went was before a visit to the Civic Center. Thankfully I can order online.

It’s pretty sad. I know the area has a lot of immigrants from Cambodia, Vietnam, Honduras and such, but not all are welfare recipients or stupid. Clean up the capitol city to bring tourism back.