"Eagle Rock: Where land use and
planning is a contact sport"
THE EAGLE ROCK ASSOCIATION
TERA
-- e.letter --
In this issue:
1. COUNCIL REDISTRICTING MEETINGS --
IMPORTANT!!
2. TOBACCO PLUS POKEMON PLUS WALGREENS EQUALS .
. .
3. OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL
OPPOSED BY NEARBY RESIDENTS
4. ART EXHIBIT AT GALLERY FIGUEROA -- RECEPTION
JANUARY 25
5. ART EXHIBIT -- AVENUE 50 STUDIO -- JANUARY
26
6. NEXT TERA MEETING -- MARCH 19
7. YES, THERE ARE EVEN MORE COMMENTS FROM
WALGREENS PETITION SIGNERS
8. MTA OFFERING FREE MAPS DETAILING ALL LA
COUNTY PUBLIC TRANSIT LINES
9. LETTERS AND E.MAILS
10. QUOTE OF THE WEEK
11. COMING NEXT WEEK
----------
1. COUNCIL REDISTRICTING MEETINGS --
IMPORTANT!!
The
City of Los Angeles is preparing to map out new City Council districts that
reflect the population changes in our City. The redistricting process is
underway now, and it only happens once every 10 years.
One
community hearing on redistricting was held on Tuesday, January 8 from 6:30 to
8:30 pm. For further meetings, see the
schedule below. This meeting (the
closest one to Hollywood) took place at the Oriental Mission Church at 424 N.
Western Avenue in Koreatown.
These
hearings are sponsored by the Los Angeles City Council Redistricting
Commission, a 21-member body responsible for gathering public testimony and
producing maps of new City Council districts. The Commission will submit its
proposed maps to the City Council by March 1 and the City Council will make a
final decision by June 30.
There
will be a chance for the public to testify at the hearings on topics such as:
How
do the current Council District boundaries affect your sense of community?
How
should the lines be drawn to best keep communities together?
Which
neighborhoods should be grouped in the same district?
Where
does it make sense to draw the line?
For
more information, call (213) 473-4595 or visit http://www.cityofla.org/redistricting
Schedule
of remaining Public Hearings and Special Meetings:
Saturday,
January 26, 2002, 10 AM
Special
Meeting: Wrap-Up Report on Public Testimony and Decisions on Map-Making
Guidelines MTA Gateway Plaza
----------
2. TOBACCO PLUS POKEMON PLUS WALGREENS
EQUALS . . .
The
following article was obtained from the Web site of http://www.tobaccofreedom.org. Very interesting!
Pokemon
and Marlboro -- Just Don't Mix
Tuesday,
January 4, 2000
A
concerned citizen contacted our organization about a week ago. She noticed a
display behind the cash register in Walgreens that contained Pokemon
items, tobacco products and Marlboro cigarettes.
The
tobacco industry couldn't have planned this better. Bring your children with
you to the checkout stand. As you pay, they are magically drawn to the Pokemon
items.
Subliminally,
they begin to focus on advertisements for tobacco, cigarettes and Marlboro
products. The illustration below comes from the Walgreens store. The
Pokemon section is surrounded by tobacco products. The green sign in the middle
(highlighted in blue bubble) reads, "CHECK IT OUT KIDS!! GET YOUR POKEMON
TRADING CARDS HERE!!"
The
tobacco industry has a long history of soliciting support from health-related
establishments. Recently uncovered internal industry documents reveal their
strategies [1]. The Tobacco Institute engaged retailers such as Walgreens
to defend the tobacco industry in the "smoking and health
controversy." A confidential 1977 memo to William Kloepfer (of the Tobacco
Institute) from Horace Kornegay (also of the Tobacco Institute) discusses the
possibility that the Walgreens Drugstore chain could help them promote
misinformation about the link to cigarettes and health:
"We
may have an opportunity to engage another project similar to the one with Mr.
Munford of the Majik Markets....Curtis Judge...told me about [a] meeting with
David C. Carlson, manager of News and Information Services for Walgreen
Drugs. ...Carlson expressed in interest in being of assistance to the
tobacco industry in getting the true word put about....Curt suggested that I
call Mr. Carlson which I have done. He indicated a real interest in being of
every possible assistance to us...I further told him that I would call him in
about two weeks and that we would agree upon a mutually convenient time and
place to meet and discuss what and how he and his company could be of
help."
(http://www.tobaccoinstitute.com/cgi-bin/tisearch.exe?if=avtidx&bool=TIMN0083434)
Indeed,
the Tobacco Institute pursued their plan, sending a letter to Walgreens
describing how Majik Markets had helped them, and proposing Walgreens do
the same (at TI expense):
(http://www.tobaccoinstitute.com/cgi-bin/tisearch.exe?if=avtidx&bool=TIMN0083433)
Walgreens was extremely eager to help, even volunteering to the Tobacco
Institute that their position as a "health center" could be of great
benefit to industry in such a campaign.
TobaccoFreedom.org
visited the local Walgreens on a number of occasions. We complained to
the assistant store manager, and he LAUGHED at our representative. He ridiculed
her for believing that product placement such as this could lead to an increase
in tobacco use among children. She followed up by sending an email to the national
headquarters. Yet, the display remained: Pokemon surrounded by chewing tobacco
on the left, cigarettes on the right, and cigars beneath.
How
did Walgreens handle her email. They casually responded that she needed
to send her comments to a different department. Please help the youth of
America. Contact Walgreens at either the store location (Isleta and Rio
Bravo) or use their Web site listed below.
>
Thank you for writing to Customer Service at walgreens.com. Although I am not
able to answer your question directly, your comments are very important to us.
>
Please click on the link provided below to fill out a customer comment form.
>
> http://www.walgreens.com/help/custserv/email.jhtml
>
>
Our Consumer Relations department will respond to you as soon as possible. If
you would like to contact Consumer Relations directly, you may also contact
them by US Mail or phone at:
>
>
Consumer Relations
>
Walgreen Co. - Mail Stop #2273
>
Deerfield, IL 60015
>
1-800-289-2273
Walgreens
responds [January 26, 2000]
Thank
you for taking the time to email our Corporate Offices. On behalf of Walgreens and our entire Store Team at our 1625 Rio Bravo
Boulevard location, please accept our sincere apologies for any inconvenience
and or disappointment we may have caused you with the Pokemon and Marlboro
display and also the level service received.
I
have shared your concerns with Mr. Rob Hasty, District Manager and Mr. Oscar
Madrid, Store Manager for this location. They too share in your disappointment.
Please be assured that Mr. Madrid has reviewed with his entire store team the
level of courtesy and professionalism we expect our employees to demonstrate at
all times. As you have requested, the display has been removed.
You
are a valuable customer and we value all comments received. Without our
customers input we cannot improve those areas of our store operations that need
correction. We hope after some deliberation that you will allow our 1625 Rio
Bravo Boulevard location another opportunity to serve your drug store and
prescription needs.
January
31, 2000
From:
Rep. Miguel P. Garcia
To:
TobaccoFreedom.org
"I
applaud your efforts in tackling those promotional efforts to attract more
youth to become smokers. If you wish, in any future correspondence to Walgreen's,
feel free to use my name in opposing those types of advertisements that promote
the popularity of smoking -- geared at youth.
Keep
up the good work in being an anti-tobacco advocate."
Su
Mas Atento Servidor,
Miguel
P. Garcia
Sources:
Title:
[REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON TI AND INDUSTRY POSITION FOR INFORMATION CAMPAIGN]
Type
of Document: Letter
Author:
Carlson, DC of Walgreens
Recipient:
Kornegay, H of the Tobacco Institute
Date:
19770316
Site:
Tobacco Institute Document site http://www.tobaccoinstitute.com
Page
Count: 1
Bates
No. TIMN0083435
URL: http://www.tobaccoinstitute.com/getallimg.asp?DOCID=TIMN0083432
Litigation
Usage: N/A
Quote
[Mr. D. C. Carlson of Walgreens to Mr. H. Kornegay of the Tobacco Institute,
March 16, 1977]:
Thank
you, Mr. Kornegay, for taking time from you busy schedule to chat with me about
the tobacco industry...
We
are exploring the possibilities of an information program which will help both
the tobacco industry and ourselves... [a]s an established "health
center", there are many, many things we can do to "gain and maintain
the understanding and support of the public."
Thanks
to Anne Landmand, American Lung Association of Colorado and M. Tac
Tacelosky, Smokescreen for their work on this important issue.
Many
thanks to http://www.tobaccofreedom.org for permission granted to TERA to
reprint this article. [Emphasis
added.]
----------
3. OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL
OPPOSED BY NEARBY RESIDENTS
The
following announcement was submitted to us by Eagle Rock resident B. Morgan
Martin:
CANAL
Group formed to Stop Oxy!
Occidental
College is planning to tear up the south side of Mt. Figi, the hill where
Townsend crosses over into Highland Park.
And they intend to add lighting to ALL their existing playing fields and
shifting their practices and games to evening and nighttime hours.
We
are very concerned this and have formed CANAL, Community Against Lights AND
Noise, to fight Oxy. We need your help!
Here
is the story. . .
Mt.
Figi is the hill at the northeast corner of the campus. It is currently
undeveloped. For decades, Occidental Students and Faculty, as well as the local
Community, have used this natural area as a de-facto park. On a typical day one
will see at least 15-20 people hiking through the area. It is also used by
Botany classes at Occidental and local LA High Schools and Middle Schools for
study of native flora and fauna. The riparian plant life they study requires
climatic conditions that are found only in this one location on Campus. Considerable wildlife live in the area which
is a part of an unbroken wildlife corridor extending from here to the Arroyo
Seco in Pasadena and from there north to the foothills.
All
of this activity will be severely curtailed if Occidental goes ahead with its
plan to build a softball field and hammer throw where the south slope of Mt.
Figi now stands. This construction will eliminate all of the accessible native
area of the hillside and replace it with manicured playing fields, parking,
restrooms, grandstands, and artificial lights.
The level of this area will be raised 14 feet on the southern end,
making the new construction and its fences and light poles visible for miles
around.
The
destruction of the native area on Mt. Figi is in direct opposition to the
Tallories Declaration of the Association of University Leaders for a
Sustainable Future. Occidental's
President Ted Mitchell signed this agreement last year.
Occidental
has said that the construction of their new Science Building requires the
construction of this softball field at the expense of Mt. Figi because the City
will require more parking for the campus. However the building will not add
faculty, staff, or students. And, therefore, no apparent need for additional
parking.
We
are well advised that the City would forgo additional parking to save Mt. Figi.
Curiously, Occidental has refused to ask the City for a waiver.
Occidental
maintains that the current softball field is too short and cannot be modified
and therefore provides lesser facilities to women then men. But we have used
Occidental's own maps to demonstrate to our local LA City Councilman and
Occidental staff that the existing Bell Field could be reoriented on the tract
at its current location, giving full compliance with NCAA requirements, without
loss of parking spaces in the adjoining lot.
And without destroying Mt. Figi.
We
are also concerned that Occidental plans to abandon its decades long policy of
practicing and playing games during daylight hours. Instead, they plan to use the fields primarily at the end of the
day, into the night. This will
require the installation of high intensity lighting on this new field as well
as three other existing fields.
Aa a
result, about 600,000+ watts of lighting will be in use on Occidental fields
most nights of the year.
Occidental's
power use will dramatically increase in a time when the Community is being encouraged
by Government to conserve power.
This
lighting will result in significantly brighter nighttime skies for the
Community. The noise from the hill side field will be projected across the
neighborhood by the well-known megaphone effect of the hill.
Occidental
has a very good reputation in the Community.
These new constructions projects will do much to erode this
reputation. They will produce a blight
that will be seen and heard by the entire Community.
What
could Oxy do on Mt. Figi, instead of tearing it up? Well, Occidental's own 1995 study, The Landscape Development
Plan, proposed a great use for the area:
' . .
. an arboretum of primarily drought tolerant plant materials accessed by a
series of meandering paths that will showcase a diverse assemblage of both
native and non-native species . . . Students will have an on-campus laboratory
to learn techniques of vegetation community analysis, plant identification,
gain hands on experience related to reclamation and reconstruction of a
vegetation community.'
This
is in line with what UCLA and other universities have done in similar areas of
their campuses.
Recently
we met with TERA's Mr. Michael Tharp, chair of TERA's Land Use Committee to
show him the site and to explain our concerns.
We appreciate the attention that TERA is giving to this matter on behalf
of the Community.
We
need your help! Please consider signing
CANAL's petition to prevent the destruction of Mt. Figi and the installation of
lights on Oxy fields. Signing our
petition is VERY important since Oxy must get a Conditional Use Permit from the
City to carry out its plans. If enough
people sign the petition, the City will get the message that the Community does
not want these projects and will not grant the CUP.
Your
signing will really help! You can sign
on-line at www.stopoxy.org.
If
you don't want to sign on-line, no problem ¥ we will get a paper petition to
sign.
Just
call us at CANAL on 323 340 8897.
Time
is of the essence as Occidental's CUP will go to hearings in just a few weeks.
If
you are a local business person and would like pamphlets to give out to spread
the word, we would be happy to get them to you.
One last thing: If this softball field is built on
Mt. Figi, it and its 60-70 foot light towers will be the most prominent
landmark south of the hill. Please help
prevent this!
Along
with the members of CANAL and those who have already signed our petition, we
ask for your help.
Thanks
for reading!
B.
Morgan Martin
President
of CANAL Community Against Noise AND
Lights
----------
4. ART EXHIBIT AT GALLERY FIGUEROA --
RECEPTION JANUARY 25
"Plaisirs
de l'imagination" Gallery Figueroa's next temptation
They
are emotive, subtle, feminine, fanciful, serious, subversive, silly and
sincere. The recent paintings and collages by three Los Angeles artists
featured in Gallery Figueroa's upcoming exhibit, "Plaisirs de
l'imagination," prove that there's more to life than war and recession.
Who: Miss Mindy, Candace Jeanette [both native Eagle Rockers], and
Katrina Alexy
Exhibition
dates: January 25 through February 24,
2002
Reception:
Friday, January 25, from 7 - 9
p.m.; live music from 9 - 11 p.m. featuring a funky mix of opera and
electronica performed by Ill:logical and The Mistress Nemesia
Where: Gallery Figueroa, 6122 N. Figueroa St., Highland Park (Click for
mapquest directions) http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?country=US&address=6122+N.+Figueroa+St.&city=Highland+Park&state=CA&zipcode=&homesubmit.x=30&homesubmit.y=10
Phone
number: (323) 258-5939
About
the artists:
Miss
Mindy's current works of painting and
assemblage present playful characters in bold and humorous poses. In her day
job as an illustrator and designer, Mindy creates characters and designs for clients ranging from the Hard
Rock Cafe to the House of Blues.
Candace
Jeanette's oil and acrylic paintings feature
figures in delicate narratives that have been described as charming, endearing,
and dreamlike. In addition to painting, Candace works as an illustrator and
designer for clients including Warner Bros., Nieman Marcus, and the Los Angeles
Times.
Katrina
Alexy creates her bitingly witty
collages with found images scavenged from garage sales and her travels abroad.
Katrina recently produced and performed in Manual Puig's "Under A Mantle
of Stars" at the Tsunami Cafe Basement Theater in Silver Lake.
Biographies,
photographs of the artists, and slides are available upon request.
Gallery
hours are noon to 6 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and by appointment.
For more information, contact Jennifer Rowland at Gallery Figueroa at (323)
258-5939.
Art@galleryfigueroa.com
http://www.galleryfigueroa.com
----------
5. ART EXHIBIT -- AVENUE 50 STUDIO --
RECEPTION JANUARY 26
ART
AND ACTIVISM
an
open dialogue supporting the exhibition:
From
Angel Island To The Underground Economy
Saturday,
January 26, 2002, from 7 pm to 9 pm
In
conjunction with Los Angeles based artist C. Suriyani's luminescent
installation exhibit, "(invisible)," a panel discussion will be
held which explores themes of immigration and the question of identity and
inclusion in American society for people of color. The real life situation of
immigrant garment workers and the conditions under which they live will also be
explored.
After
September 11, it is particularly important that we not forget that America is a
nation of immigrants, working together to create a home where rights and
liberties are protected. This open dialogue explores the role of art as a
positive and active force for examination and change.
Please
join artists Magu and C. Suriyani, along with the Garment Workers Center,
Chinese News Daily, Professor David Diaz, the Asian Pacific American Labor
Alliance, and other special guests for a salon discussion centering on positive
change for immigrant American communities and our own lives in the coming year.
"(invisible)"
runs through February 1, 2002 and is free to the public.
Studio
hours are Tuesday though Thursday 10-12 noon, Saturday and Sunday 10-4 P.M.
A
donation is requested for Sweatshop Watch in support of its continuing efforts
to monitor the conditions of the garment workers.
When: Saturday,
January 26, 2002, from 7 pm to 9 pm
Where: The Avenue 50 Studio, 131
No. Avenue 50, Los Angeles, CA 90042 Phone for reservations: (323) 258-1435
Reception
to follow.
----------
6. NEXT TERA MEETING -- MARCH 19
March
19 - TERA Member Appreciation Meeting
7:00
- Eagle Rock Community Cultural Center, 2225 Colorado Boulevard, Eagle Rock
The
invitations to this meeting are directed to members of the TERA
organization. The goals of this meeting
are to thank TERA's membership for their invaluable support and to foster a
dialogue between TERA members and the TERA Board regarding the goals and
mission of the organization.
----------
7. YES, THERE ARE EVEN MORE COMMENTS FROM
WALGREENS PETITION SIGNERS
"You
are doing such an incredible service to this community. (Big hug!) I'm glad to be able to display your posters
and petitions at swork -- it's the least we can do."
--
Tricia Neal, Eagle Rock resident, TERA member, urban (business) pioneer, owner
of Swork Coffee [across the street from the rumored Starbucks to-be location],
and TERA business member
"I'm
in favor of restoring the building at 2222 Colorado Blvd."
--
Lawrence L. Brown, Eagle Rock resident and TERA member
"REUSE
is the new way!!!"
--
Chris Bale, Eagle Rock resident and TERA member
"Nick
Pacheco
Los
Angeles City Council
Dear
Sir,
I am
a homeowner in Eagle Rock and as a native of the Los Angeles area I have lived
in several neighborhoods over the years. I've watched communities grow,
revitalize and change, for better or for worse. If one looks at Pasadena, Los
Feliz, Silver Lake, Long Beach, Monrovia, Santa Ana etc., we see that these
communities are or have saved and restored their 'Old Town' centers and are
reaping the rewards. We only have one chance and then the opportunity won't be
available again. Of course Walgreen's would like to level our most prominent
corner of Colorado and Eagle Rock for a 14000 sq. ft. parking lot and building
[it's actually a total of more than 46,000 sq. ft.]. Im sure they would enjoy
a giant billboard in lights if building codes permitted. This corporation
doesn't live here, we do.
I
think it is important that if Walgreen's wants to be on that corner that they
conform to the cultural and historic resources that exist within the 1940s
structure at 2222 Colorado Blvd.
Sincerely
--"
-- Brad
Fierce, Eagle Rock resident
"There
are already 2 drug stores within 2 blocks of 2222 Colorado Boulevard. I think this location is a poor choice for
another drug store (no matter what it looks like)."
--
Peter Fullerton, Eagle Rock resident
"I
am a latecomer into this discussion, but I'd like to add my name to the list of
those opposed to the current Walgreens plan, which if implemented would be a
blight on the community -- and a redundant blight at that, given
the
overabundance of local pharmacies.
Please add my email address to your circulation list. Regards --"
--
Bill Crawford, Eagle Rock resident
----------
8. MTA OFFERING FREE MAPS DETAILING ALL LA
COUNTY PUBLIC TRANSIT LINES
It s
much more than just another public transit map and it s free at over 50 Nix
Check Cashing outlets throughout LA County.
MTA s 2002 Metro Bus and Rail-Complete System Map, sponsored by Nix
Check Cashing, details public transit services in an area encompassing 1,433
square miles.
Depicted
in color codes are the routes of close to 200 Metro Bus routes, Metro Rail, as
well as approximately 50 municipal operators and Metrolink. The colorful,
easy-to-follow maps also denote locations of transitway/busway stations,
transit centers, bus and rail stations, highways and freeways. Numerous Nix
Check Cashing locations also are referenced.
Both
novice and experienced public transit users in Los Angeles County, including
out-of-town visitors, will find this map very helpful, said MTA Board Chairman
John Fasana. Offering such a map goes a long way in de-mystifying the entire
process of getting around Los Angeles via bus or rail and will, hopefully, give
people the confidence to give it a try.
For
more information on the nearest Nix Check Cashing outlet, call (310) 539-2242,
ext. #301. For additional information regarding the Metro System, call
1-800-COMMUTE or visit the MTA s website at http://www.mta.net.
----------
9. LETTERS AND E.MAILS
"Suzanne! [Regarding Walgreens] I just read your
letter to that jerk -- is it ever impressive.
I also read the jerk's response to your letter -- is it ever lame. Sign Me, Proud on Hartwick --"
--
Pamela Lansden, Eagle Rock resident, TERA member, and co-chair, TERA's Historic
Preservation Committee
----------
10. QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"You
do something to me, something that simply mystifies me
Tell
me, why should it be, you have the power to hypnotize me?
Let
me live 'neath your spell, do do that voodoo that you do so well
For
you do something to me, that nobody else could do."
--
Cole Porter [sung to perfection by Ella Fitzgerald in 1956]
----------
11. COMING NEXT WEEK
Look
for more on Walgreens!
----------
We
welcome your comments. Please include
your name.
----------
Joanne
Turner <artburn@earthlink.net>
President,
The Eagle Rock Association (TERA)