I see. If the big box store comes after the mom and pop store has been established, it will put them out, but if the big box store comes first, then the mom and pop store can open just fine.

Exactly. If there isn't much existing entry-luxury retail, there's not much existing retail to displace, and the draw of shoppers will make it possible for other complimentary / non-featured businesses to open.

That's a lot different from a Wal-Mart coming in across the street from a shopping center where an existing toy store, hardware store, and grocery existed and taking all of their business.

You've posted what's across the street from this development. It's hard to threaten an empty storefront.

Those enterprise subsidies are open to both mom and pop retailers AND large retailers, but the mom and pop shops typically don't have the awareness / sophistication / bandwidth to take advantage of them. They're still available though.

If the underlying conditions are underemployment and inequality, isn't bringing retail employment and better shopping options (these may be chains, but they're not all big-box discounters) a start?

Ultimately, many poor Angelenos are caught in a bind due to the basic laws of economics. Real estate and rents are a lot more expensive than most basic retail jobs can support, and enough people like the weather enough to deal with it, rather than move to a second tier city where jobs are more plentiful and homes are MUCH cheaper, but it snows once in a while.

Manufacturing jobs aren't coming back to L.A. Even if we weren't transitioning to a post-industrial economy, the real estate's too expensive, the taxes and regulations are high, and too many of the neighbors would rightly complain about the pollution.

What do you think a comprehensive and feasible solution to the underlying conditions is?

I'd be all for a substantially higher minimum wage, but that wouldn't make the rents/real estate any cheaper.