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When I was a kid you used to see kids riding bikes and skateboards or playing baseball on the street. You don't see that on Drew Street. A lot of the kids are inside their apartments.
Twice a week I'm out here working. I start at 4 a.m. and end around 3 p.m. I go all the way down to Olympic and Soto to bring my nopales by bus.
I arrive in the morning and they all know me because they know that I'm the one that feeds them and gives them water. They start neighing and talking to me and I whistle at them, talk to them and they're happy.
We are not too far from the original freeway which goes to Pasadena. They have renamed it back to the original name Arroyo Seco.
Last night police officers did stopped to see what age I was. And I told them my age, I'm eighteen, and they told me, be safe, go home.
Friends, you know in prison and stuff like that. But, I was never into that. You know, I got shot in front of my house four years ago.
Well, I'm planning to get a bigger place so I won't be here for too long. I like the area, but I need a bigger place because my business is getting bigger.
My job is great, I love it very much, and like I said, one has to be responsible, one has to work, be triumphant in this country, that's all, you just have to be strong and do what you know how to do.
Photographer Ricardo Palavecino's portraits provide an insight into the daily lives of individuals and communities based around the L.A. River in Northeast L.A.
I think the most important thing is that kids stay active in something, taking them out of the streets, and bringing them here to train.
The river, them hills roundabout. I think this is one of the most beautiful areas in Los Angeles County.
I have seen changes. I was just driving to Glendale and I saw that there are a lot of apartments being constructed.