Part 3/12:
The sidewalk-level storefronts are sparse, with many boarded up or completely vacant. The few operational stores, such as high-end handbag outlets, seem like anomalies in a landscape that has become largely dormant. Local business owners express confusion and frustration, pointing out that the city’s environment—marked by rising crime, homelessness, and a perception of lawlessness—is discouraging clients and employees alike.