The anxious Election Day scene in Los Angeles includes scores of boarded up stores and additional law enforcement.
Following the events of this spring and summer, when some social justice protests splintered into violence with stores looted and vandalized, some business owners aren’t taking any chances, the Los Angeles Times reported.
DTLA Bikes owner Rodney Masjedi boarded up his windows and doors, and plans to “use giant locks” to secure his business, he told the Times. High-end shops on Rodeo Drive are boarded up as well.
L.A. Police Chief Michel Moore said that most officers in the department will be working 12-hour shifts on Tuesday, and he’s promised immediate action if there are disturbances, according to the Times.
Retailers in other cities, including New York, have also boarded up their stores, preparing for the possibility of unrest. In Manhattan, those include chain stores such as Staples, Ann Taylor and Bed Bath & Beyond. [LAT] — Dennis Lynch