Baba often cries when he sees that the people where he lives don’t have enough to eat. One time a man asked for a single free tomato from the fruit and vegetable stall Baba works at and it brought him to tears.
Londoners have a lot on their minds going into 2025. But there was one topic that came up time and time again. Soaring rents and a cost-of-living crisis have affected almost everyone. Baba, who doesn’t want to give his last name, often sees the worst of it.
He told MyLondon: “Everything costs a lot, things are going up, everything costs a lot. Nowadays there are people who are eating just one time a day. Lots of people can’t afford to eat.”
Baba says his biggest concern is people not having enough to eat in 2025
(Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga)
Simon Zucconi, who owns a flower stall, says London has changed a lot in his lifetime. He believes the city is becoming one of ‘haves and have nots’ and that rent controls need to be brought in to help tackle the housing crisis.
“It’s a two class system – you’re either very poor, or you’ve got money or you’ve got a good job and you’re earning good money, or you’ve got old money,” he said.
Mr Zucconi also worries about the death of the high street. He said: “Business has been impacted. Everyday shoppers aren’t around and the people that are don’t have the money for these luxuries. It’s the rent – [we need to have] have a better quality of home and the rent. It’s very hard to rent in Brixton, and anywhere in London.”
Pat, who doesn’t want to give her last name, says that in order to deal with London’s problems we need to be more honest about how bad things are.
“For the up and coming next generation things appear quite bleak on all fronts,” she said. “The high cost of food, job prospects, what is out there, what is enticing people and encouraging people to strive to do better.”
Pat feels that gentrification is having a negative impact on communities. Even though she admits this is inevitable, she says more can be done to help those who suffer from it.
“We can’t forget the other community members who may not be as affluent,” she said.
“On the one hand we have a lot of people living on the streets and a lot of office properties that are empty and we haven’t even considered opening them up so they have proper shelter.”
Sascha and her mum Babs feel that London has lost its sense of community
(Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga)
Sascha Gray and her mother Babs Turner agree that communities are suffering in London. They worry that London is losing its very essence.
“It’s not as familiar as it used to be years ago. London was a place where everyone knew everyone. It’s not the same – no one really interacts,” said Sascha.
“We need to look after the elderly and bring back community spirit as much as it can be brought back.”
For Ali Rezai, crime is the topic at the forefront of his mind. He has to chain down items in his shop to ensure they don’t get stolen.
“Nothing happens here if the police come, if something happens, the next day the person is walking around,” he said.
“Knife crime isn’t really here [in Brixton] – it’s stealing and drugs. Schools in London are the most dangerous places for knife crime.”
Diego Vela says that going into 2025 he worries about life in the hospitality industry. He said: “You are working all day, all the weekends. It’s important to get time for you – to get your stuff to do your things, mental health is important,” he said.
Mr Vela is originally from Peru. He’s been living in London for two years and hopes to one day own his own hospitality business.
“London is expensive and I don’t think it’s going to change but things are more affordable in London compared to Peru.
“You’re putting your effort and energy in so at the end of the day you can feel tired so you think maybe I need something different, maybe I need my own business.”
Diego Vela worries about people working in hospitality
(Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga)
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: “As 2025 begins, the Mayor is determined to build on his work to create the fairer, safer and greener London that all of London’s communities deserve. The year ahead brings huge opportunity for the capital as he continues to work with the new Government to unlock growth and prosperity in every community.
“Tackling violence continues to be the Mayor’s top priority and he will continue to build a safer London for everyone by being tough on violence and the complex causes of crime. This means protecting front line services like the Metropolitan Police following 14 years of cuts by the previous Government.
“Sadiq will also be focussing on supporting Londoners with the cost of living, including delivering free school meals to all state primary school children; building more council homes and affordable homes to buy and rent; tackling homelessness; supporting businesses to create jobs and growth; pedestrianising Oxford Street, cleaning up London’s rivers and continuing to lead the way in tackling the climate crisis and pollution.”
A New Met for London is a two year plan on how Metropolitan Police Service will deliver more trust, less crime and higher standards. It aims to put more officers and Police Community Support Officers into local neighbourhoods.
The plan also states that the Met will become a force that doesn’t discriminate – tackling racism, misogyny and homophobia. It also aims to fix the Met’s foundations by better organising, training and deploying its people better.
The Met Police website reads: “A New Met for London is the product of more than 10,000 interactions with Londoners, our people, and partners from across the city. It represents what they’ve told us they want us to focus on. We’ve already made considerable progress in the last nine months, but there’s much more to do.
“We’re building A New Met for London where communities know their local officers, help to shape their policing priorities, and work with them to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour; and when victims call us for help, they’re satisfied with our response.”
Got a story? Please get in touch at katherine.gray@reachplc.com
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