Talk:La Perla, San Juan, Puerto Rico/Archive 1

La Perla from visitors point of view...
My son and I were on a cruise (May 2007), stopping in Old San Juan. Having never been on the island, and knowing very little of the area and culture, we walked freely all around, including venturing into La Perla. We both looked very much the tourist, and soon realized that we were in an area that was local people only.

It was beautiful in its own way, with cats everywhere and music playing from every corner and window. Women were cooking in their doorways, and men and children were walking and standing around, talking and enjoying the company and the fine, warm weather.

No one bothered us, although we were being watched, just as we were also watching others, too. We both mentioned later that we felt quite safe, although we knew that it would be best if we found our way up over the hill to the other side as quickly as possible.

Only one small insident occured when my son started to focus his camera lens on a beautiful mural painted on a wall. A couple of men began yelling at us in Spanish, which we don't speak, but with their gestures we understood that we were not to take photos. We politely put the camera down, waved, and we walked away smiling. And, that was that.

Upon speaking to my fiance who grew up in San Juan, who was back in the US, and relaying our adventure to him, he was upset that we went there. Apparently his father worked in the buildings above La Perla as an architect years ago, and he had seen his share of muggings, drugging, and such. Little did we know at the time, and we are both grateful that we had no idea.

I probably won't have opportunity to go back and walk the streets again, but it was a wonderful experience and I'm grateful we were able to do so. I guess a lot depends on who's around, who's going in to La Perla, when they go, and what kind of energy they are presenting. Our entire being were joyful and excited and in awe of the beauty surrounding us. I guess we were kind of glowing and I tell people that that was what had kept us safe.Baweepa (talk) 04:25, 18 January 2009 (UTC)Kate N. PA.

Objections
As a puertorrican who has family residing in La Perla and visits the place on occasion, I am a bit uncomfortable with the description given of this neighborhood. La Perla is a place where all kinds of people gather peacefully, wether to talk, hang out or attend its many festivities. Yes, there are drugs, but most of the delictive conduct by the youth of this community is a consequence of discrimination by the 'outsiders' who don't fully understand or see the great amount of talent this group of people have yet to develop, often ignoring resumes just because the address reads "La Perla, Old San Juan" Without the tools that are available to puertorricans outside of La Perla, it is not a surprise that some of its people incline to a delictive conduct as a way to survive.

Tourists can go and leave as they please; they won't be in harm's way because La Perla residents benefit economically from anyone who visits its markets, bars and diners, which at the same time encourages legit businesses in the area. We must not ignore the historical and cultural importance of the community either.

La Perla's reputation has been exacerbated by the higher interests who recognize the great potential the area has for real estate development. People like Donald Trump, among others, have demonstrated open interest in the neighborhood's localization. The government of Puerto Rico hardly attends the needs of the community and has often tried to 'buy out' La Perla residents, offering them to move to public housing, or caseríos. La Perla has suffered innumerable injustices, stereotypes, and discrimination, but Wikipedia can stand above the rest and do an objective and fair description of the place and its community.

Please edit this in a more objective way, and not through the eyes of someone who may have never even visited the place. The beautiful and humble people of La Perla will be very thankful. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 136.145.22.171 (talk) 17:46, 14 January 2009 (UTC)

BS. I can't even take a picture of the freaking place for a Puerto Rican History course, since that would get my camera smashed. The day a friend of mine wanders into La Perla for anything that does not include drugs or drinking, I'll remove this comment in a second.70.45.51.78 (talk) 06:05, 19 May 2009 (UTC)

Unsentimental View
Ok, who keeps deleting my comments here? This is nonsense! I have a differing viewpoint on this issue, I have a right to state it, and Wikipedia readers have a right to hear dissenting opinions. La Perla is a blight on Puerto Rico, it needs to go. Not everybody is a starry-eyed condescending granola-crunching, bedwetting liberal who thinks it's, gosh, just so lovely to see those wonderful drug-hawking slum dwellers. Puerto Ricans in their natural habitat, I suppose. Give me a break!Cd195 (talk) 20:39, 4 January 2010 (UTC)


 * I keep deleting your commentary per Wikipedia's talk page guidelines, as I stated on your talk page. --Matt (talk) 21:00, 4 January 2010 (UTC)

Dissenting view
Ok, Matt, I'll rephrase this. I feel this article is too slavishly fawning over how wonderful La Perla is, as if everyone in Puerto Rico agrees with this view. This simply is not true. Many in P.R. (myself included) are distraught over the continued existence of this slum, and this controversy should be addressed in the article.Cd195 (talk) 21:48, 4 January 2010 (UTC)


 * I encourage you to constructively contribute to the article! Please make sure your edits are well cited, not original research and that you avoid weasel words. --Matt (talk) 21:58, 4 January 2010 (UTC)


 * How is it slavishly fawning? It talks about drug trafficking and crime? --AW (talk) 17:27, 5 January 2010 (UTC)