~ ~ ~ Valley Plaza
North Hollywood's Valley Plaza, one of the oldest open-air shopping centers in Los Angeles, has been in the process of slow decay for at least a decade. Shops, restaurants and its theater have closed, one by one, for the sake of progress. Meanwhile, the homeless population in its twin city parks has exploded. Those who are able to work line up outside the Labor Ready office on Victory Boulevard, hoping to get enough hours to pay for food.