Downtown LA graffiti: Kevin de León, property managers point fingers at each other

Los Angeles City Councilman Kevin de León, downtown neighbors and the property management are pointing fingers at each other to deflect blame in the wake of the now-viral videos of the downtown high-rise being covered from top to bottom in graffiti.
Subscribe to FOX 11 on KZbin: / @foxla
Watch more FOX 11 on KZbin:
Police Chases: • Police Chases
Brazen Crime: • Brazen Crime
Homeless Crisis: • Homeless Crisis

[@sageoldmann5157]

The only real winners in this situation are the hardware stores selling spray paint in the area.

[@DonnaFoster-p3j]

I can't believe that China is allowed to buy land anywhere in this country. Iam in Shock

[@chaoswitch1974]

Any corporation can, anywhere in the world. This wasn't China. It was some Chinese businessmen. Most countries don't allow non-citizens to buy land. The US is a huge capitalist experiment.

[@bennylee4464]

you're shocked that business entities and foreign citizens can exchange their currency for USD and purchase things with it? money moves the world, not nationalities

[@Avogadros_number]

@@bennylee4464you know that buying commercial land in another country is different than the exchange of goods and currency. Stop playing dumb.

[@AlexandarHullRichter]

The country was founded by people who were aware they were the children of immigrants, so xenophobic rules other countries have were deliberately left out. This gives current and future generations the chance all current white people's immigrant ancestors had, long before Great Britain's colonies declared themselves independent United States.

[@bennylee4464]

@@Avogadros_number missed the point, it can and has been done with enough money. obviously the scale would have differences in the process of the exchange

[@NT-fo3me]

How are they going to force a bankrupt Chinese company to do anything?

[@jamesbills5998]

Won't happen. Biden has their back.

[@ryanbarker5217]

you don't. you figure out a way to take the property and have a plan what to do with it.

[@tubby_1278]

​@@ryanbarker5217 Either some other company has to step up and buy it so it can be completed or just demolish it. Sad to see the unfinished building succumbing this though. I was excited bout the whole project when I heard about it. Sounded really cool

[@ryanbarker5217]

@@tubby_1278 demolish it on who's dime, though? that's going to cost a lot of money. that's why i say figure out a way to confiscate and just give it to a developer who's going to tear it down. that's probably not realistic -- or legal for all i know -- but it's an idea, which i don't think any of their 'leaders' have other than ignoring it.

[@SkinE-Vadee-Veechee]

It's the Bones of an unfinished and most expensive part of a building. All the hard work has been bought so I'm sure someone is going to buy and complete the structure for a discounted cost. It would cost more to demo it and build something new on that same land then to just use what's there and finish it. Hopefully it's an American company this time.

[@GenaroPerales-ls9dg]

They'll recoup the cost from China that's one of the funniest things I've ever heard.😂😂😂😂

[@misocriallo4379]

China said we can just deduct it from the TRILLIONS our government owes theirs 😅

[@GenaroPerales-ls9dg]

@@misocriallo4379 You'd think after deliberately unleashing a virus that killed millions they'd be the ones owing that much and more.

[@djobidjoba6143]

This is probably the biggest graffiti/tag display in recent years going all the way back to the 80s/90s. For a graffiti artist 👨‍🎨 this is probably one of their biggest accomplishments, to be on national news.

[@aaronbradwell989]

I was thinking the same thing. Graffiti artists from all over the world are probably very envious of this.

[@MongolianMonk]

They so lame...and this ugly reporters gets paid good money for reporting this .

[@ButterfatFarms]

Taggers from out of state all over the place coming to leave their mark. 😂

[@abraxasjinx5207]

​@@ButterfatFarms OMW!

[@djobidjoba6143]

I personally like it, no gang tags related or scribble just old school graffiti/tags.

[@yourefatandlazy]

The fact that it went on for this long without being noticed shows how much of a failure downtown la is

[@jayceecee8651]

Most likely it's in a part of town they don't frequent. Then again with their high and mighty attitudes, they probably don't care.

[@EikottXD]

Without being noticed? What are you talking about?

[@LA23R]

Are yall joking or something? most of LA already has been having graffiti plastered everywhere this ain’t anything new it’s just making headlines because it’s on a massive skyscraper

[@esmeraldarodriguez8385]

​@@LA23Rexactly 😂 this is why I'm laughing! Because los Angeles, has tags everywhere 😅

[@SkinE-Vadee-Veechee]

The real question that should be asked is why is China buying these massive structures in America? Are they running out of room in China? Well done Graffiti Artists keep them tags coming that's a great spot to highlight!

[@xrismanessa3993]

After chasing people who were living there and build half finished structures now it’s pure dirt. Good move America

[@Warriorprincess101]

😊

[@abraxasjinx5207]

*pure canvas

[@jimmychanbers2424]

If you don't pay rent, you kick rocks.

[@gonelucid]

Gotta love these democrat strongholds

[@racso-gk6cz]

​@@gonelucideverything is democrat. Kinda annoying by now

[@Heavy_Distortion]

California should require a cash bond before construction. If developers default on project then bond pays for demolition. If project is complete then bond is paid back in full (minus 1% royalty paid to me).

[@ryanbarker5217]

who's going to give them a bond like that in a state barely able to give homeowner's insurance?

[@kl3nd4thu]

I saw this problem developing years ago when the developer didn't pay their contractor(s). They put a lien on the building due to non-payment. It was all in the news. This was when they were in active construction. If you don't have money at that time of construction, that doesn't bode well for the project's completion. And here we are. Another ghost building in the city.

[@vickijohnson9367]

Someone should do a lot of media on America’s “ghost” towers, like they did on China’s problem, after all, our fraudulent financing already took the world down once this century. Bet that our financing is well on it’s way to round two, just watch our real estate bubble burst. Can’t hide the non-payments empty buildings, still fresh in everyone’s minds. Maybe finance needed that real regulation it used to have decades ago.🧐

[@Avogadros_number]

It’s China though, so what do you expect? They can’t even finish buildings in their own country.

[@JacksonWalter735]

@@Avogadros_number it’s not just them. There are so many abandoned construction projects from companies that don’t have ties to China around LA. In this area alone the surrounding buildings are filled with failed projects from defunct partnerships between real estate developers/companies and their investors where the land owners aren’t from China (4 of them if I recall correctly from the last time I was forced to go to LA for my promotion training). That is just this block and the few abandoned construction projects that are within walking distance too. It’s not the first time this has been news and Downtown LA is on a downwards spiral.

[@einnAnnie]

​@@Avogadros_number What are you talking about? China's got something like 65 million finished, vacant housing units and the grounds are absolutely pristine. No graffiti, not a scrap of trash, and no homeless in sight.

[@sarahbaartmansrevenge]

follow the money - - deleon got his share and now he’s pretending to be outraged smh

[@edwardmiessner6502]

How do you know he got his share? The only way you can know he did is if the Chinese developers finished the project to completion and the construction turned out to be the same in quality as the tofu-dreg construction now famous for what gets built in China.

[@peekaboopeekaboo1165]

​@@edwardmiessner6502 Funny false narrative and disinformation. This high-rise buildings used American contractors !

[@shelbynamels973]

I dontl think DeLeon was councilman at the time construction began (surprised he is still in office and nobody is talking about the "little monkey" incident any more). There was talk that the developer greased the wheels to get permission to demolish the low-income buildings to make room for this project.

[@sarahbaartmansrevenge]

@@shelbynamels973 doesn’t matter. he likely took campaign contributions and/or other kickbacks from this same developer during his time in the senate. there’s almost no way that his hands are clean

[@shelbynamels973]

@@sarahbaartmansrevenge The developer wanted the site over the objections of local housing activists. The go-to guy was the local city councilman. That wasn't Kevin DeLeon at the time. A senator would not have been of help.

[@jaynederp5236]

wow... paint on abandoned buildings. *THIS* is the most pressing issue in my life!

[@abraxasjinx5207]

Right? Slow news day it seems. "This is major outrage!"

[@therealbs2000]

Yall let it get to that point, how could you let one of the most important cities in your country just go down like that where people are defacing property and no one cares. That is a major fail

[@abraxasjinx5207]

@@therealbs2000 you say "defacing", I say "regenerating".

[@traceykoontz2868]

​@@abraxasjinx5207I know not about homeless people or trying to help others but they have to complain about something so those buildings were never finished? Why let the state buy them or the federal government and make them into affordable housing that is after they are finished there has to be a way to do something helpful instead of complaining.

[@johnscott2218]

Especially with all the illegal alien trash these DemoRats love to pamper with PRIVILEGES they simply do not deserve....

[@littlerascal6112]

That city deserves everything they voted for!!!

[@em.415]

Shut up

[@sbss924]

Racist De Leon included?!!!

[@zhenren9703]

It looks better than it did tbh.

[@FutureCivilWarHero]

Maybe we can show them to your neighborhood?

[@amoliski]

@@FutureCivilWarHero If there was a massive unfinished tower in my neighborhood, sure.

[@FutureCivilWarHero]

@amoliski And how about your home, your parents home, your start up business, your family business?? Can we agree that would be a problem at least? Esp done WITHOUT your consent.

[@ramgladore]

Well this is what you get when you elect leaders who are soft on crime.

[@bigt4050]

Companies shouldn't be allowed to abandon stuff like that without a CEO going to jail

[@pinefilms3141]

1:16 bruh that looks sick!!! 🔥🔥🔥

[@drewbrewer8379]

Straight up...this is so well done...if I didn't watch the story I could easily believe multiple guys/gals getting up there on the same night!!! Just amazing!! Killer spot too with a nice view and full balcony to have plenty of room.

[@craigalbrechtson5364]

My guess is this is going to wind through the courts and litigation for probably the next 20 years before anything gets done with the building.

[@tubby_1278]

Lol reminds me of the Mile High Club highrise building in GTA V. Been 10 years since the game released and that building is still incomplete

[@2swole4u74]

How about we remove all corprate advertisement around the city before you remove the graffiti art ... I rather look at that then a brain dead add and subliminal message.. " They live was a documentary " ..

[@KarlLind]

And we are all out of bubblegum!

[@traceykoontz2868]

What you said is a brilliant idea especially with the location, with the advertising the businessrs make money and pay to have the ads there it's a win type thing

[@CinqueMalcolm]

You're a moron and this is coming from a former tagger.

[@lennyskinnard3091]

I didn’t know it was possible to feel so disgusted and impressed at the same time. 🤦🏽‍♀️

[@jaad9848]

The property managers obviously dont care because the owners are being derelict in paying anyone they hire. This is effectively an abandoned building

[@flexor212000]

City was ok with these Chinese developers coming in...Yet now they are so shocked that they give two shits and left hahahahah

[@rootwsprcful]

The people that put up a half built skyscraper and left it to rot in the middle of the city should be arrested, not the artists.

[@checkdown3774]

I agree. How did the city not look at the company balance sheet? Fing amateur hour.

[@sarahbaartmansrevenge]

EXACTLY

[@pharoahzeus]

Exactly 😩😒

[@edwardmiessner6502]

How did the city not look at the construction budget? I bet that it would have become clear that the Chinese developers were intending on bribing building inspectors and proceeding with typical Chinese tofu-dreg construction.

[@Ron-zu3iv]

ARTIST'S....

[@jlv3x]

If the construction stopped in 2019 of a property not even completed, more than an eye soar it seems like an actual danger to the area. If that many taggers are getting in I'm surprised squatters haven't started moving in.

[@misocriallo4379]

That's a r*pe trap and a dope den, for sure

[@jamiereife5581]

LA was once a great city. I wanted to take my grandchildren and show them this amazing place. I would never bring them to a place of such hopelessness. Nor would I take them to San Francisco.😢😢😢

[@marketbuy]

In Singapore, the crime is death penalty

[@missfreshair]

good suicide mission idea 😂

[@LoadOfGraff]

Made it into an art gallery 💯💯

[@dakotamaiden4331]

99% of graffiti makes the city look like dogshit.

[@EbonySaints]

Most of those tags are decent, especially the ones higher up the building.

[@Big_Caesar1]

@@EbonySaints They all look kind of similar though? Just a jumble of different words, no murals or artistic style, just the same sht replicated since the 90s, its wack

[@aenema22]

I've seen graffiti like this in my town, you should come up here and film a story on it, it's definitely newsworthy right?

[@abraxasjinx5207]

Where do you live? This is some fire graff.

[@aenema22]

@user-ds1pp6sz8n My comment was clearly sarcastic and my criticism is that graffiti is everywhere and is not newsworthy. I couldn't care less which stadium is nearby.

[@lyricjackson8301]

This is HISTORICAL shut up

[@cactusbound]

This building looks like a bad 70’s movie about the future 😮

[@kodij]

There is no such leaders in California just followers.

[@pfzht]

I hear that if you make functional examples of vandals, it cuts down on vandalism.

[@misocriallo4379]

Let's make a "functional example" of the defunct Chinese corporation responsible for the REAL eyesore and taxpayer burden, the building itself. Although, with the company being DE-funct, that may run counter to your word salad "functional example" 😅 I guess the word "example" needed an adverb???

[@NowOne3006]

And Biden keeps telling us crime is down😂

[@Jimmy-Legs]

Try to keep up. Crime is down bro. Jokes on you. 😂😂😂😂😂

[@ozfest8573]

Crime is down. This is just part of the little crime that's left

[@NowOne3006]

Easy to have lower crime numbers when police officer numbers are down and we don’t prosecute illegal immigrants!

[@RippyClippy]

Is this a crime? Does it scare you?

[@ButterfatFarms]

🤡

[@-Katastrophe]

You know, when I'd see this stuff in sim city covering half the skyscraper I thought it was unrealistic. 10 years later:

[@stoiccrane4259]

In the 90s it was everywhere. I mean like in places it seemed impossible to get to. Graffitti artists are craftsmen that get disrespected by the media.

[@missfreshair]

this is the whole point of the built environment 😂

[@dancromwell5265]

Hay Gavin Newsom Good lookin city nice job as Gov...

[@Warriorprincess101]

That man don't give a damn about nothing but that money

[@ohok7525]

Blame everybody but the criminals 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡

[@angelsimkins]

I like how it looks. Better than the original. Nice art.

[@c.l.9344]

A lot America's major cities are down on the dumps. Just sad!

[@davidbakies5022]

Whoever that Skeam fella is got some mad cred to tag like that. I normal think most Grafitti is bad but i am impressed

[@FutureCivilWarHero]

Pandering to these assholes is how we got this bad

[@missfreshair]

merch, rekm and endem too...I really need to return to instagram to my daily dose 😢😂

[@bhornannawindeedeigh5007]

🙄 Kevin de León 🤭 He's about useless. Why doesn't he sign up for Security Guard watch. He can throw a solid right hook, yeah? 😐... 🤣😂

[@beck1365]

Graffiti and tagging are very different. Some of that graffiti is really quite good. Graffiti is all over in many big European cities, and they have far lower rates of crime than we do. So to say crime and graffiti go hand in hand is just wrong.

[@Jazzyhanz]

It all looks like shit. Lowlife art at best.

[@TheLexiechey]

Wth does mental health crisis have to do with graffiti? cut the crap with the excuses for criminal behavior

[@herewegoagain7403]

buzzwords from the libs

[@doctorworm3735]

The true graffiti artists are the ones who see through the BS, hence the guy writing Skeam on their building. It certainly seems to me that they understand the situation quite well and it is ypu who has no idea what the corporate world does to create these situations. Was there crime, or graffiti first?

[@doctorworm3735]

​​@@herewegoagain7403maybe "mental health crisis", but "criminal behavior" belongs to the right. I would be willing to bet that by the stance on crime you are both reps ya clown

[@QuentinoGiangrande]

The real crime is the abandoned building without security that will never be finished sitting in a city with a major housing problem. If graffiti artists tagging abandoned buildings is the crime you are worried about in LA you may need to get your head examined.

[@Jazzyhanz]

@@QuentinoGiangrande ALL crime needs to be punished, this lax approach is what got that horrible state in this condition to start with. The people there are too stupid to not be punished

[@pumpkinpri]

Why is the building being cited now??? What a joke. They only started caring when the graffiti artists made it visually clear the building was abandoned.

[@1fan164]

Don’t they have a lot worse problems?

[@Warriorprincess101]

👏👏👏👏

[@FutureCivilWarHero]

Sure. But it's leniency on shit like this that's created "worse problems."

[@sbss924]

Wasn't Kevin De Leon the same guy making racist comments in a meeting? Those buildings should be taken over by LA and used to house the homeless!!

[@reneesimerale]

WHY not press charges??? That is VERY suspicious, they caught ppl and the owner lets them go??

[@stevebutler8387]

Police and officals say they dont know what to do.........duh, arrest them

[@patpalma6260]

Looks like El Salvador

[@ramgladore]

Yeah before they started rounding up gang members in mass. lol

[@tubby_1278]

We just need the cartels to move in and take over.

[@kds365]

When the wolves dont fear the sheep.

[@misocriallo4379]

Useless, vague comment. For four likes.

[@chrisaskfotiy967]

Kevin DeLeon needs to resign, we all still remember the recording with his voice.

[@darthnihilus511]

Newsome is doing a great job 👏

[@abraxasjinx5207]

😂 this is awesome! She even gave Skeam a shout-out!! How would they stop with this worldwide publicity? Great pieces!

[@JoCasinoCCP]

Graffiti is ART, they should be paid for turning that building into a masterpiece. All those different artist styles plus the dangers of climbing some spots. It’s crazy people call this art form a crime.

[@stoiccrane4259]

Absolutely. The establishment that disparages graffiti artists are souless puppets. Graffitti livens up otherwise gray and dismal cities. Giving them a vibrant flair and hope for the hopeless that there's beauty in life. In spite of how wretched man can make conditions.

[@atomic66]

Wrong

[@FutureCivilWarHero]

So if they decide to do it on someone's property who doesn't want it, is that not a problem?

[@stoiccrane4259]

@@FutureCivilWarHero Maybe the person ought to change their perspective of the situation instead of complain about it. Maybe find another property in another location or donate the building towards urban recreation. It's not really what happens but how we choose to respond that matters.

[@ryanbarker5217]

i'd write this thing off. eminent domain my ass, if the owners can't or won't secure and maintain an useless property, condemn it, take it, and give it away to a developer who will incur the cost of demolition and provide a plan for new construction -- along with secured financing -- in exchange for being given the property and expedited building permissions.

[@just_dom144]

Yeah, THIS is the most pressing matter in California right now. 😂

[@unclemike5840]

You have to admit , some of it is pretty darn good art

[@geraldj3623]

The police ARE responsible. This is destroying property like anywhere else. Who cannot see the idiots doing this?

[@First1ToComment]

MSK! ❤

[@mikeas2764]

We thought Kevin gone last year ? Unbelievable? Why he is there and making fortunes after what he done?

[@annabelleecho8056]

This happens often in China. People invest in the building hoping to get a high return. Eventually the building is imploded by controlled demolition.

[@nati032158]

You should leave it! We got bigger problems

[@LiKWiDjay]

I can never read most grafitti but this is cool😂. Worry about the million other things california got going on. Dont worry about taggers writing on an abandoned building

[@Warriorprincess101]

Exactly 😂

[@lindabrooks1863]

With all the homeless people in LA. Pathetic!!! Turn it into home for the homeless.

[@AWSKAR]

Bro now that ever graffiti artist will see this on YT they are going to fall down on that city like a freaky all colored blizzard gathering from all ends of the earff

[@tberman2386]

Foreclose using imminent domain due to negligence, code violations and abandonment of the project due to bankruptcy. The company is foreign and declared bankruptcy. Screw them! They made the mess. Sell it to a developer that can finish it. What company wouldn't want to take over a project for pennies on the dollar. Looks like it is under roof and a matter of repairing some damaged infrastructure and then equipping the units.

[@AlexandarHullRichter]

If the city fines them and assesses collections for clean up and other actions the city requires, and the owner doesn't pay, the city gets to take the property to satisfy the unpaid fines and costs. That's what happens if you don't pay property tax too.

[@mehg8407]

The city should just take what is left. Finish the project (with less luxury) and turn it into affordable housing.

[@First1ToComment]

Dumbest idea ever

[@chrismackey2832]

Yeah, for the ghetto folk so they can rltsg the whole entire building. Brilliant idea

[@edwardmiessner6502]

How big is their housing the homeless budget? They could take a big bite out of the homeless problem with just this one project alone.

[@axelreboot8475]

​@@First1ToComment not really the dumbest idea would be to just demo it and let the property just sit vacant so the homeless can use it as a camp ground

[@First1ToComment]

@@axelreboot8475come on man - putting up homeless in a billion dollar building high rise across the street from crypto arena? 😂 everyone will claim to be homeless to live in that high rise 😂

[@shoelessb4515]

De Leon? Hasen't LA gotten rid of this joker yet ?

[@briansass9551]

Graffiti is ART.

[@thend4427]

Trashy art

[@Jazzyhanz]

low clash trash art. it looks like shit

[@SamTouro777]

@@thend4427 Is it? Even when its done legally?

[@justenboyd805]

Graffiti is art

[@misocriallo4379]

🙄🤔 Whaaaaaat?!? A Chinese company abandoned the project?? Like it was a 2nd daughter, just left it for dead, huh? Wow 🤯

[@popcultureoverdosed]

Graffiti is art. Stop demonizing it

[@jeffreyb8770]

You don't want a better life, you want to deface other people's property.

[@universalkush3140]

That’s the homie 😅🤣🤣🤣

[@melissagilbert9654]

Kevin de Leon needs to leave !!! He’s a failure!!

[@michaelmanning6501]

Taggers around the world need to come help the locals

[@LazaroAlejo]

Why you invest in LA. in the first place !! Now pay the price 🤷

[@Stew-Ped]

The City can get the money from the Federal Government then turn them into tiny units to solve the homeless issues. Don't create luxury but a restart tiny studio to help people get back into society.

[@FutureCivilWarHero]

Or more dependent on government.

[@joserosa6880]

This is prime real estate, highly doubt they would do this for affordable housing.

[@Stew-Ped]

@@joserosa6880 Something to solve the homeless issues would be better than nothing.

[@Kimistry333]

I say, hire them, so they can FINISH 😂😂😂

[@joselcruz2700]

Regulate spray paint like gun's 😅

[@mikeas2764]

Sad But I heard some other property owners hired them to do so those buildings are demolished and bought by other developers cheaper at auctions. Many this type of investor which you will hear in Korean town ? I heard from one of the Korean developer .

[@minicova]

Beautiful Crime❤ 🎨 Well done writers of the streets! Free Art!!

[@diaz4664]

Can we work on our homeless crisis first

[@coolhand6669]

pay for it no no no no we should take it over and not pay for it and that's where she pulled the homeless people there's a lot of jobs there they can do like get rid of the graffiti and fix the place up

[@loligagger85]

HOW are there property managers on properties that were abandoned? Really wish this was Just stop oil... they do nothing worth talking about other than pissing people off, this is helarious

[@michelleeckert6348]

I hear the new generation can't even read, so maybe all the crazy graffiti lettering we can hardly read will end up just being pictures and then we can keep calling it 'art' 😁

[@Bo-on4on]

If the property manager don’t care then oh well lol

[@Hack_The_Planet_]

Police want to hold the graffiti gaffers in jail but let killers go free no problem.

[@YouCorny]

Homelessness, fentanyl, theft that's fine but this graffiti, we got to stop this. 🤡

[@claireconover]

so what? maybe someone should have taken the project, finished it for local housing. … and as annoying as graffiti is, chances are it’s not the “crime” you aught to be so fixated on.

[@rsm014]

They have the right to be offended. Owners have the right not to prosecute. Buy the property, or suck it.

[@okieg8960]

Neighbors would rather have a massive abandoned towers next to them.

[@aenema22]

Hey news guys, breaking story here. Someone put graffiti in the bathroom at the qwik stop, it says "X4 locos" I think their talking about 4lokos the drink. You should come up here and do a full news story about it since graffiti is so newsworthy.

[@djc31100]

La doesn’t deserve anything good.. yet yall keep building

[@malikford4786]

This is nothing new in California when I live in LA briefly not only did they tag churches they tagged palm trees as well

[@glee841]

It’s the 90’s all over again

[@michelleloynes7825]

Towers of art 🎉

[@dot_monty192]

It's gonna be up for a decade before it's down watch

[@crackerbarrel6965]

LA City Council: ‘Your’e really getting my dander up!’. Chinese: LMFAO

[@timothykearns2232]

Felony vandalism is now called "graffiti culture".

[@greencityman420]

If it’s a Chinese based company then of course it’s abandoned. It’s funny how they mix graffiti in the story when taggers aren’t the root of the problem. Tabloids for ya

[@freedomrulesjavier3904]

I blame bad parenting...period!