Evening Buzz: Hidden Underworld Revealed
Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer
Happy Friday night! Tonight on AC360°, we take you inside a once secret world located under a L.A. freeway. To some it's called the Cave. While in the L.A. Times, a sheriff's deputy describes it as "hidden city" and added he's seen nothing like it in his nearly 30 years on the job. What caught our attention is that about 30 people were living here. 30 people in a space that's only about the size of two high school gyms combined.
We're also following the American on trial in Italy accused of killing her roommate in a drug-fueled orgy. Is she getting a fail trial? Don't miss the 360° exclusive interview with her father.
And, we'll introduce you to a remarkable couple that's been married 81 years. Frank Milford, 101, and wife Anita, 100, tied the knot on May 26, 1928, after meeting at a YMCA dance. In February, they'll become the longest married couple in Britain. What's their secret to marital bliss? It's tonight's shot.
Grab your Friday night snack and get comfy on the couch. AC360° is coming your way at 10pm ET. See you then!
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Filed under: Maureen Miller • The Buzz |
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I truly feel for these people; obviously life has driven them to their living conditions...whatever each person's situation may be. However, where is our government aid to help them? How about Oprah who doesn't mind building a school in Africa but denying the plight of Americans? Why destroy their "home" without providing them an alternative solution? This happens all over America and yet people (e.g. the one's that can help...the government, Oprah, etc.) chose to turn a blind eye to what it is...poverty.
Everyone of us are outraged that the homeless peoples' home is being taken away from them.
I wonder how many of us would invite them to live with us if that were our city? None. That includes me too. Oh, I might toss them a blanket or two or even some good food.
They will find another bridge, another home. They're tougher than the rest of us.
When the homeless were invited into the shelter on the terribly cold nights and didnt go it was for a couple reasons: 1. they were saving the spot for people who they believed truly needed it. and 2. they prefer to stay and possibly freeze w/ their families/ friends and 3. shame.
@David: such outrage! Have you invited any homeless to live w/ you?
Only in America! While we continue to try and solve the many problems our country has this is an ongoing story & not just in L. A..
We continually send billions – trillons? to other countries because we cannot stand to see them suffer. But when it comes to our OWN, we can't afford it! Doesn't say to much for our country.
I worked at a homeless shelter in Newport, RI. I was the first woman to work the "midnight shift", and 3 times a week I spent the night with 20 or so guys in varying states of civility in the next room, and a dozen very verbose women on the next floor.
Often I tried to temper arguments before they turned into fist fights, sometimes had to call the cops (who knew most of them by name). and sometimes I'd just sit with them, and listen.
Most everyone there was deeply afflicted with chronic alcohol abuse (and the brain damage that often follows), drug addiction, mental illness, and a myriad of other flawed and faceless fortunes. Rehabilitation wasn't really in the picture. Each person was what he or she was, and getting anyone "fixed" for their next job opportunity or dinner and a movie just wasn't a reasonable part of the protocol.
But something else was. And it was there, in the basement of that homeless shelter, that I first experienced the primordial grace of giving
and receiving unconditional love.
Thank God no one showed up there with brooms and bags and condescension to shovel all that away.
ps: I now live on Martha's Vineyard.
There are homeless people here, too.
But no one can find them.
Yet.
This shows the difference between our real country and the people that run it! What a suprize, people living in these terrible conditions, under ground, under bridges, in the woods. It has been happening in every city in this country since I was born, and that was 67 years ago. I have never been homeless, thank God, but I live in a small town, we see them everyday. Now we have families with children living the same way, no fault of their own! Lost jobs, lost homes, our school busses are picking up the children for school at these homeless camps for school! We have so many VERY WEALTHY PEOPLE in this country, there is no excuse for people to have to live like this. The average shelter is filled on the cold nights, the raining nights, etc. There is no place for these people to go! It is true that alot of them are drug addicts or alcholics, but in the same respect we don't have rehabs to send them too! Unfortunately greed controls this country, WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE, PEOPLE HAVE PARTIES THAT COST FAR MORE THEN IT WOULD TAKE TO HOUSE AND FEED MANY FAMILIES!
We all need to remember that every one is about 2 paychecks
away from being homeless–the "cave" became some ones home
-leave them alone
The Lord Said "Give to the poor" and "Treat thy neighbor as you would like to be treated. If you take away from the poor you will anger the Lord. Please give to the poor. Why take away their home under an LA freeway? The Homeless & poor arn't hurting anyone, Why be crewel to them? Read your Bibles it states "the poor will always be with us living amung us until the end of time we must take care of them.
It is so sad people have to live like this in the US. Due to tragic life situations. Where is the," projects" for these people like Sotomayor was provided for her Mom and Dad. Where is the medical help. Where is the Church. Or do we just help other countries?
Everyone deserves a right to live. If this cave is the best that they could do that is what they can do. The homeless are the same as any other community, some kind, some mentally ill, some addicted some followers of Jesus. In the city I live in in Upstate New York the homeless have a simillar hiding place where they can keep warm in the bitter winters. I met a homeless man once who had his fingers and toes frozen off and near death because he was turned away from a homeless shelter in below freezing weather, now he has a law suit against the shelter, In Orlando FL the homeless had camps in the woods which the police would raid for no good reason. With case management and direction most of the homeless can be helped if they want off the street. I know because I worked with many successfully. Yes there are special cases where some have been so beaten down by cruelty that they don't try, yes there are some who want only their addiction but there are children, women and men on the street who really don't want to be there and they should be helped .
What was the point of destroying the only place these individuals could call home? Its so dehumanizing what the gov't. has done, where will these people sleep? You mention shelters, well guess what? Most of the time they are full and people just get turned away w/ no other option than to remain in the streets. Where is the compassion? Now the will literally have to remain in the street, last night they at least felt safe w/ a "roof" over their heads and a dry place to sleep in. America has to do better than this.
Rather than interviewing the father of Amanda Knox, how about interviewing the parents of the innocent victim and asking them how it feels to lose a child at the hands of someone like Knox.
It's beyond the pale to give deplorable, attention-seeking, mindless, sociopaths like Knox the time of day.
She right up there with Spector; throw away the keys.
I can't believe how CRUEL humans can be! These people had no where to go. All their meager possessions were there. This was a safe place for them- and now it's gone. Their few jackets, money, books- gone. Why? Because humans are cruel. There are no places for most of these people....
I'm not religious, but I have stronger morals than most people apparently. When I see someone on the streets, I buy them food, cigs, whatever. Even if I'm down to my last $5 (no money in the bank, nothing, I'm being literal here), I'll still give it to them because I have family to fall back on, a roof over my head, and access to clean water. Seriously people- those of you who judge and call yourselves Christian should be ashamed! Instead of harassing the homeless, help them out. A watch, a bus pass, a shower, a job- all of these things they need! Who cares if they drink? Who cares if they smoke? That's their choice! You would too if you were in their place....
Those poor people....Why were they kicked out? Why does no one seem to care about the PEOPLE? What is the world coming to?
This is a continuing, devistating human condition from the Regan error when the majority of psych facilities were closed and these people were placed on the street....and where they remain.
You should not close it .Until you build more shelters. It is awful they can't even have that . Most are mentaly ill . And can't wait the years it takes . To get in S.S.D. They have to have an address . And be getting therapy . Very very sad .
Human's do not choose these conditions. They are forced by life. Some by bad choice. Some by economic conditions, loss of jobs, mental health, drug addctions or whatever may be. Believe it or not they were a community providing support to each other in the struggle to survive. And in America if you can not provide a solution I don't think goverment should destroy their self preservation..... Where do these hundreds sleep tonight? Their children, hungrey and cold? PS... Anderson, "Meet the Press" can only be hosted by you. You and Tim are one in the same....... Nobody but you can fill that spot.
Talk about a non-issue. These people have NOTHING and yet that is taken away for no other reason than--? Not sure why there was a reason to dispel these people from from a place one would think is perfect for them. Some place we need not even have to think, see, or feel for these people. When asked where these people will go I believe I heard NO answer at all!
What is ther matter with this picture!
Anyone professing spirituality of any kind--please respond.
I was offended by the condensending attitude of the reporter on the case of the underground city below the freeways of LA. Does he believe that the people living there choose to live there opposed to, say, Beverly Hills. His sneers and disgusted facial gestures were a turn off. He should try losing his job, having a mental illness or just being down on his luck .... perhaps he won't be so judgemental. Not once in the story was any kind of "solution" to the homeless or any sympathy for the homeless even addressed. Some displays of human kindness would have been greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Theresa Gallagher
Homeless people have been living under Wacker Drive here in Chicago in the winter for years. When the wind chill is -30 F and lower staffers from shelters plead with the homeless to go inside just for the night, but many of them won't go no matter how cold it gets.
I believe it was Anatole France who said that the law, in its majestic equality, forbids both rich and poor alike from sleeping under bridges.
what a horrific story. those poor people. where will they go now? what kind of society are we that we let this go on?
When all you hear about is how disposable marriages have become. It brings faith back when you hear about happy couples such as Mr. And Mrs. Milford... My parents 45 yrs of marriage is in good company...