Over the past few months, sales in the Fashion District and Santee Alley have declined drastically and right now, it’s worse than ever. The rising cost of living, inflation, and ongoing changes in the U.S. economy have hit low- and middle income communities the hardest. And for areas like this, which are built and run largely by immigrant families, the impact has been devastating. This district has always been a symbol of immigrant hustle. For decades, families from Mexico, Central America, South America, and beyond have come here chasing opportunity building something out of nothing. Many of us started with street stands and worked our way into storefronts. We created jobs not just for ourselves, but for others in our communities. We’ve been proud to provide goods, services, and support that major retailers never offered to our people. But now, businesses are being forced to shut down. Some are closing earlier due to low traffic, others are permanently shutting their doors. The landlords aren’t offering flexibility. They simply say, “If you can’t pay, leave,” or issue notices threatening lawsuits and eviction. This is especially cruel when many of the people running these businesses are immigrants who don’t have access to legal protections or safety nets. Many of us live in constant fear not just of financial collapse, but of being targeted because of our status. Some of our vendors and workers are undocumented. Some have Temporary Protected Status. Others are mixed-status families just trying to survive. The recent events on June 6, 2025, only deepened that fear. What happened scared off both customers and employees. People are terrified of being profiled, detained, or deported just for showing up to work. This is more than just a business crisis it’s an immigration crisis too. If these immigrant-owned businesses disappear, a piece of LA’s cultural and economic identity will vanish with them. The people who work here are not just vendors they are mothers, fathers, daughters, sons. Many have sacrificed everything to come to this country and build a better life. They are the backbone of this district, and they deserve dignity, protection, and support. We need real solutions. We need our local leaders, landlords, and policymakers to step up. We need rent relief, legal aid, access to business assistance for undocumented and mixed-status entrepreneurs. We need customers to keep coming, and we need allies to share our stories, spread awareness, and advocate for us. We cannot let the Fashion District and Santee Alley become another space erased by gentrification and corporate takeover. We cannot let this immigrant-built economy collapse. If we are pushed out, what happens next? We are still here. But we need your help now more than ever
#santeealley #fashiondistrict #fashiondistrictla #lathingstodo #losangelestoday