"In 2000, the Los Angeles Times Mapping LA project recorded that Latinos made up 56.2 percent of the neighborhood's population in its 1.48 square miles, making it one of the highest population densities in the city. The rapid property development since then has become a growing concern for Maldonado's family and neighbors, many of whom have been in the area for several generations. The year 2020 was especially difficult for her mother, who has been the owner of Mariscos Marias for over 20 years and who saw a steep increase in rent while business slowed due to the pandemic. Since then, the family has been able to stay open with a return to the usual customer base that it has served." - Lisa Kwon
