"Eagle Rock: Where land use
planning is a contact sport"
THE EAGLE ROCK ASSOCIATION
November 28, 2002
"Thanks for the TERA weekly update. I am continually amazed
by the level of professionalism and technical detail
your group is able to provide to your ever-increasing constituency.
What an asset to a community buried in the LA bureaucratic shuffle.
I've only seen such vigor and intelligence in Larchmont and Brentwood in LA,
and even they don't compare. Keep up the fine work -- while frustrating
--
very rewarding for the betterment of the community."
-- Tom Eidem, noted economic development advisor, San Clemente
In this issue:
1. WALGREENS APPEAL HEARING -- DECEMBER 11
2. DISTRICT 5 SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE DEBATE -- DECEMBER 9
3. "PHILIPPINE VILLAGE" DISCUSSION
4. NORTHEAST LA HOLIDAY PARADE -- DECEMBER 1
5. BOOK SALE, ART EXHIBIT, AND SIGNING PARTY -- DECEMBER 4
6. GROW EAGLE ROCK'S COMMUNITY GARDEN -- DECEMBER 7
7. OXY GLEE CLUB SINGS CHRISTMAS CAROLS -- DECEMB ER 6
8. OCCIDENTAL ALUMNI WIN TWO UNPRECEDENTED MARSHALL SCHOLARSHIPS
9. WOMEN ORGANIZING RESOURCES, KNOWLEDGE AND SERVICES (WORKS)
10. LETTERS AND E.MAILS
11. QUOTE OF THE WEEK
1. WALGREENS APPEAL HEARING -- DECEMBER 11
As we previously reported, TERA has appealed the Planning Department's
misguided decision to approve the current Walgreens proposal, and so have at
least three other interested parties. The appeal hearing before the
East Area Planning Commission will take place Wednesday, December 11, at 4:30
p.m., at Ramona Hall, 4580 N. Figueroa Street in Highland Park. We
encourage you all to attend and be heard.
We cannot emphasize this enough. The proposal as it stands DOES NOT
COMPLY WITH THE LAW, and, if it were to be approved by the East Area
Planning Commission, it would bear lasting negative consequences on future
development in Eagle Rock AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES. We
cannot allow Eagle Rock's vastly improving commercial district to be thrown off
course, to be sacrificed for the errors of those who are ACCOUNTABLE TO THE
PUBLIC, and to be served up as guinea pig for the introduction of backward
land-use law.
Eagle Rock wants and needs to MOVE FORWARD, not regress. We have
fought long and hard to rise above and beyond bad development. Please
help us get there.
If you cannot appear at the hearing, please write and express your opposition
to this horrid proposal. Write to:
East Los Angeles Area Planning
Commission
200 North Spring Street
City Hall, Room 525
Los Angeles, CA 90012
You MUST include the case No. in your correspondence: Case No.
DIR-2002-3476-DRB-SPPM2-(A2, A3, and A4). You also must include 25 copies
(all can be mailed in the same envelope). They certainly don't make it
easy.
All correspondence must be received by the Area Planning Commission no later
than Monday, December 2, 2002.
2. DISTRICT 5 SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE DEBATE -- DECEMBER 9
The Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council will sponsor a debate among candidates
for LAUSD Board of Education member for District 5 on Monday, December 9, at
7p.m. at the Eagle Rock High School auditorium, 1750 Yosemite Drive. Please
arrive early to take a seat.
The candidate who wins the high-stakes race will be a powerful player in
policy-making for the school district. All four candidates will participate in
the debate: David Tokofsky, Maria Lou Calanche, Nellie Rios Parra, and Jose
Sigala.
The event will have two parts: A moderated debate between and
a"quick-question session," wherein each candidate will speak
face-to-face with members of the community, one at a time, for three minutes
each. Issues expected to be covered in the debate range from school performance
and policy-making, to bilingual education and education reform and more.
This may be your only opportunity to get to know the candidates and have your
questions answered. Please attend and spread the word!
Contact:
Jessica Wethington, 323-256-6221
Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council
http://www.eaglerockcouncil.org
e-mail: info@eaglerockcouncil.org
3. "PHILIPPINE VILLAGE" DISCUSSION
"I am a member of TERA and very much appreciate your e-mail reports.
My question is about the owner of the All Star Lanes. In all the
postings about how important it was to keep it as a bowling alley and the
celebration that the unneeded three-story self-storage plan was not approved,
no one said anything about the posted comment of the present owner of the place
saying that it is so unprofitable that he is losing thousands per month -- the
very reason he put the place up for sale. Do you have any news about him
and his predicament?
I am also opposed to the Filipino Village proposal, especially since another
named district already exists. Your response to the somewhat incoherent letter
from the high school student on this topic was very respectful and cogent.
Thank you --"
-- Richard Shive, Occidental College Library and TERA member
"Hope you're doing well. I'm still here at PHJ&W and, if you can
remember, this is our busy time of year so even though I'm so swamped here at
work, I thoroughly enjoy receiving the TERA newsletter via e-mail. I just
wanted to take a moment to thank you for all the information that is put out in
the TERA newsletter. It's so informative and keeps me updated on all the
issues within our community.
I'm very disturbed about the [Philippine Village] issue going around
with regards to renaming part of Eagle Rock. I'm totally against this and
have inquired about the petition and will make sure I sign it.
Unfortunately, I'm unable to attend any of the meetings because I'm
working late almost all the time. One short note about Eagle Rock: Our
job and responsibility as a community is to preserve the history of Eagle Rock,
and changing the name would go against everything that the community is working
and striving for.
Well, gotta go, but just wanted to say hi and thank you for all your dedication
and hard work."
-- Shawn Ferrara, Eagle Rock resident and wonderful Filipina-American I worked
with years ago who is married to an Italian-American, both graduates of Eagle
Rock High School
"November 22, 2002
At a community meeting held last night at the Los Angeles River Center and
Gardens, the Glassell Park Improvement Association (GPIA) membership voted
unanimously to oppose re-designating by name any portion of the established
communities of Eagle Rock or Glassell Park.
This position was taken after a thoughtful, deliberate discussion involving
over ninety community members representative of the diversity in Northeast Los
Angeles. Among the reasons given in testimony:
- Glassell Park is a diverse community with a rich
history embracing many cultures and traditions.
- Glassell Park should not re-name or dedicate any
portion of the neighborhood to any one ethnic, cultural or sociological group.
- An official recognition of one group over all others
will only result in dividing rather than uniting us.
- As one participant suggested, 'How about Glassell
Park, International Village?'
The GPIA is a non-profit improvement group open to renters, property owners and
businesses. The organization was formed in 1968 and has conducted
outreach to all portions of the community since its inception. The GPIA
embraces all cultures, races and nationalities,which is reflected in both the
group's leadership and membership. The GPIA actively encourages
participation and involvement from all sectors of the Glassell Park
community."
-- Tony Scudellari, on behalf of the GPIA, Glassell Park resident, and TERA
member
"You know I hate to 'join clubs,' always suspicious of those that want me
on their side, but in this case, where do I sign, where do I march, who's got
the picket signs?
Philippine Village indeed!!! Were I of Filipino descent, I would be insulted
and angry that someone thought this was a good idea. "Let's put all the
ethnic groups in one area, lest they actually assimilate into the country.
Yeh that's it, we'll let them think that it's a good thing---their
own special designation. That will keep them in their place"
Hmm, where have I heard that before?
Here's how I see this: labeling an area does not allow for a fluid exchange of
ideas and diverse thought. Areas of New York and Chicago and yes, even
LA, that get their 'labels' eventually turn into Little Disneyland---certainly
they are not a celebration of any true cultural identity. Any time one
ethnic group keeps to it self, territorializes its neighborhood, it begins to
suffocate, and then self-destruction is close behind.
Shouldn't we, as members of this thoroughly unique anomaly in LA areas, be
looking at things that are a real concern? Like too many drug stores per
capita, storage companies wanting to multiply like flies, a resurgence of petty
crime, people sleeping in doorways, and on and on?
Let's not let the small-minded, and small of spirit distract us from the issues
that can really impact the quality of our neighborhood's life. I say,
SHHHHHHHHHHH....let's not draw any arrows or special designations on our lovely
neighborhood. I vote for keeping to ourselves! And to those that
read this newsletter, and think that such things matter, I live south of
Colorado."
Sharon Miro, Eagle Rock resident and TERA member
4. NORTHEAST LA HOLIDAY PARADE -- DECEMBER 1
Don't miss the fun of this year's
58th Annual Northeast Holiday Parade as 14th District Councilmember Nick
Pacheco and KNBC 4 Weather Guy Fritz Coleman serve as fellow grand marshals.
Well, of course, there's marching bands, drill teams, some big tall puppets,
more music, more dancers and drill teams, more local politicians,
representatives of Neighborhood Councils (!), and tons of stuff. It all begins
at 1 p.m. on Figueroa Street, Sunday, December 1.
Someone named Santa Claus will be there as well, so you might want to bring the
children and their fevered seasonal correspondence.
As if that ain't enough, LatinJazzGrammyDudeLegend Poncho Sanchez is supposed
to play at Mr. T's again that night. The usual local musical suspects (ahem)
will allegedly also be on the bill.
See you on Fig.
-- Eddie Rivera
5. BOOK SALE, ART EXHIBIT, AND SIGNING PARTY -- DECEMBER 4
Book Sale Art Exhibit and
Signing Party
For
"Contemporary Chicana and Chicano Art: Artists, Works, Culture, and
Education"
Wednesday, December 4, 2002, 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 7, 2002, 2:00
5:00 pm
Los Angeles, CA The Avenue 50 Studio, Mundo Gallery and 18th Art Complex
present a book sale, art exhibit and signing party for the newly released art
book, Contemporary Chicana and Chicano Art: Artists, Works, Culture, and
Education by Gary D. Keller, Mary Erickson, Kaytie Johnson and Joaquin
Alvarado from Bilingual Review/Press.
The art exhibit and book signing will feature many of the artists and their
work from the full-color, coffee-table quality book. This two-volume set
will be available for purchase with many of the artists featured in the book
present to sign copies.
"Chicana and Chicano art merits considerable attention because of its
growing role and presence in America. Aside from its rich, colorful boldness,
this art 'speaks' visually of history, conditions, feelings, and the life
experiences of a wonderful population and culture." Refugio RochÌn,
Smithsonian Center for Latino Initiatives, The Smithsonian Institution.
This comprehensive collection of Chicana/o artists brings into sharp focus the
rich diversity of an art movement now achieving full recognition in the larger
art community. The two-volume set features the lives and careers of
nearly 200 artists, from established masters to emerging new talents, and
presents representative samples of their work, faithfully reproduced in full
color. Additional thematic sections with foldouts are included, illustrating
explorations of subjects from the barrio to the border, from lowriders to Dia
de Los Muertos. The books feature: more than 600 artworks organized by
theme and artist; wide coverage of works including paintings, sculptures,
installations and works on paper; photographs, artist statements, and
exhibition history for each artist; and each artist¼s signature, showing the
way his/her works are signed.
Artists who are scheduled to attend include: Jose Antonio Aguirre, Linda
Arreola, Sam Baray, Mita Cuaron, Raul De la Sota, Roberto Delgado, Richard
Duardo, Ricardo Duffy, Margaret Garcia, Pat Gomez, CiCi Gonzalez, Yolanda
Gonzalez, Wayne Healy, Leo Limon, Jose Lozano, Magu, Daniel P. Marquez, Isabel
Martinez, Jose Orozco, and John Valadez. Books may be purchased at the
three gallery sites.
Where: The Avenue 50 Studio, 131 No. Avenue 50, Los Angeles, CA
90042 and Mundo Gallery, Avenue 42 and Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA
(323) 258-1435
When: Saturday, December 7, 2:00-5:00 p.m.
Where: 18th Street Art Complex, 1629 Lobby, Santa Monica, CA 90404
When: Wednesday, December 4, 7:30 p.m.
6. GROW EAGLE ROCK'S COMMUNITY GARDEN -- DECEMBER 7
The Rockdale Community Garden and Art Park, a site near Figueroa and Yosemite,
is underway. But more folks are needed to make it grow.
All interested Eagle Rockers and surrounding neighbors in Highland/Glassell
Park are invited to the next organizational meeting, to be held at 11:00 a.m.,
Saturday, December 7, at a very special location: Solano Canyon Community
Garden/Urban Farm & Orchard (UFO), located just north of Dodger Stadium off
the 110 Freeway. (For directions, see below.)
Solanoºs director Al Renner (president of the LA Community Garden Council and
all-around gardening guru) is hosting the Eagle Rock gathering and will provide
a tour of its many-acred splendor, including several sculptural installations,
dozens of garden plots for local residents and the local elementary school, and
special acreage dedicated to serving Dodger Stadiumºs kitchens.
For additional information, please contact Pamela Thackery at 323/257 5617 or
Mary Tokita at 323/257-5886.
Directions to Solano Canyon Community Garden/UFO: From Eagle Rock, take the
Glendale Fwy. South to the 5-Freeway South. Go about 1 mile to the 110 Freeway
South (towards downtown). Get off at Stadium Way (exit #24C), turn right, and
look for the northbound 110 entrance ramp. Get back on the 110, this time going
towards Pasadena. Stay in the right lane and take the Solano Canyon exit,
just past the tunnel (be careful, it's a sharp turn). The garden will be right
in front of you on the hill as you exit; parking is available on the immediate
right, in the dirt lot next to the apartment building.
7. OXY GLEE CLUB SINGS CHRISTMAS CAROLS -- DECEMBER 6
The Occidental Glee Club and the Women's Glee Club will sing seasonal
masterpieces and traditional Christmas carols during a pair of holiday concerts
scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6 at Occidental College's Herrick Chapel,
and at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, also at the chapel.
For more information, contact Andy Faught at (323) 259-2534 or afaught@oxy.edu.
8. OCCIDENTAL ALUMNI WIN UNPRECEDENTED TWO MARSHALL SCHOLARSHIPS
In a first for Occidental College, two alumni - Justin Anderson '00 of
Tigard, Ore., and Jessica Kirkpatrick '02 of Albany, Calif. - have won
prestigious Marshall Scholarships in the same year to pursue postgraduate
studies in England. The pair becomes the sixth and seventh Oxy graduates to win
the prize since 1972. The twin feat is all the more impressive in that Marshall
winners typically are from large research universities. The scholarship pays up
to $60,000 over two years. Anderson and Kirkpatrick both plan to start their
postgraduate work in October 2003.
Anderson, who earned a diplomacy and world affairs degree at Oxy, hopes
to pursue a master's degree in philosophy from the Department of War Studies at
King's College London. Kirkpatrick, who graduated with a physics degree from
Occidental, plans to pursue a doctoral degree in particle astrophysics at the
University of Sheffield. Both recipients are awaiting final word on their
placement.
Anderson says he will research the relationship between policy-making and
the science and technology of detecting nuclear weapons. "Many leaders pay
lip service to promoting non-proliferation efforts, but it is questionable
whether the policies they craft to deal with the threat fully leverage the
tools at their disposal," he says.
"In my studies I am particularly interested in looking at what
systems other than satellites exist to identify nuclear weapons programs,"
Anderson adds. "With satellite imagery increasingly intrusive, some states
conceal their nuclear weapons programs by disguising facilities or placing them
underground."
Anderson, of Arlington, Va., is now a policy analyst for a large
government contractor. He researches, writes and edits analyses of issues
related to American commitments and obligations under arms control treaties,
confidence and security building measures, and arms export agreements. He
ultimately wants to work in foreign policy in Washington, D.C.
"Justin was a star in Oxy's diplomacy and world affairs
department," said Larry Caldwell, the Cecil H. and Louise Gamble Professor
in Political Science. "He served at the U.S. Mission at the United Nations
in Occidental's U.N. program, won a Carnegie Junior Fellowship to work on
issues of nuclear proliferation after he graduated, and has tutored children in
Portland, Los Angeles, New York and Washington."
In winning a Marshall, Anderson follows in the tradition of Richard
Falkenrath, a 1991 Occidental graduate and assistant professor of public policy
at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. In December 2001,
Falkenrath was named special assistant to the president and senior director for
policy and plans with the Office of Homeland Security. He holds a doctorate in
war studies from King's College London.
Kirkpatrick says she will continue her research into dark matter, a
substance that dominates the universe, yet hasn't been seen or detected. With
the aid of a National Science Foundation research grant, Kirkpatrick in 2001
spent six months at the University of Sheffield building a dark matter detector
that will be installed in a northern England salt mine. She has been working in
collaboration with Daniel Snowden-Ifft, an associate professor of physics at
Occidental.
Kirkpatrick plans to take part in the University of Sheffield's Directional
Recoil Identification From Tracks (DRIFT) Project, which concentrates on the
discovery of weakly interacting massive particles, a leading dark matter
candidate. Several research groups have unsuccessfully attempted dark matter
detection over the past two decades.
Also in 2001, Kirkpatrick won a $7,500 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship
given to college seniors interested in pursuing careers in math, science and
engineering fields. She ultimately hopes to become a research professor and
head a large research group with international ties.
"I am fascinated by the translation of the enormously complex
workings of the universe into equations, models, and theory," Kirkpatrick
said. "It is my professional goal to contribute to this body of language
and inspire others to share in this sense of wonder and enthusiasm. Working on
the DRIFT project has fueled a desire in me to push the boundaries of
science."
Kirkpatrick is now a post-baccalaureate research associate and an adjunct
laboratory instructor at Occidental. Her research duties include authoring data
analysis computer programs and serving as the primary data analyst for the
DRIFT collaboration. She also teaches three sections of mechanics laboratory
classes.
"Jessica is a marvelous example of what brains and hard work
can achieve," Caldwell said. "She is a physicist who has already
worked near the cutting edge in research on dark matter. She was a student
leader at Oxy and developed a great mentoring program working with students who
have trouble learning in the sciences."
Up to 40 Marshall Scholarships are awarded each year to American citizens
who have graduated from a four-year college or university. The scholarships
were founded by an act of Parliament in 1953 to commemorate the humane ideals
of the Marshall Plan - the American program to rebuild a ravaged Western Europe
following World War II.
9. WOMEN ORGANIZING RESOURCES, KNOWLEDGE AND SERVICES (WORKS)
Women Organizing Resources, Knowledge and Services (W.O.R.K.S.) is a nonprofit
social service agency that operates two housing developments for low-income
families and children in Pomona and the Highland Park area of Los Angeles, CA.
The developments serve 150 families. W.O.R.K.S. seeks gifts and cash donations
to support the operating budget.
Please contact Nancy Gomez at chemujer@yahoo.com
for more information about how you can help. http://www.worksusa.org
10. LETTERS AND E.MAILS
"Thank you to ART SNYDER, MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL, 14TH DISTRICT, for
his on-point comment(s) about the apparent lack of elected officials'
leadership in our community."
-- Joan Early, Eagle Rock resident and TERA member
"For those concerned about graffiti removal at specific locations (within
the city of Los Angeles), call Operation Clean Sweep: 800-611-2489. I
have used this program before and the graffiti was cleaned in four days.
Another useful number is the city resource center: 311. Despite the
complaints of others, I have had good luck getting a quick and pleasant
response from the city on a range of issues.
-- Maretta Pitts, Mt. Washington resident and lover of all things Eagle Rock!
"Thank you for all your help."
-- Sohil Karimy, Glassell Park resident
"Thanks for being so interested, concerned and active in/about Eagle Rock.
I was raised in Eagle Rock [from 7th grade on] and I have recently
purchased the house in which I grew up. I adore this little town and am
delighted there is TERA and others who feel as I do about her. Thanks,
again."
-- Diane Drummond, Eagle Rock resident and TERA member
"Dear Editor,
District Attorney Cooley's report regarding the Mayor's race completely
exhonerated me and contained the detailed confessions of Becerra campaign staffers
taking complete responsibility for those phone calls against Mr. Villaraigosa.
As an elected official I can tell you that dirty campaigning brings everyone
down and I do not condone it. Please make sure your readers know the
facts contained in the District Attorney's report and hopefully Mr. Markis will
see it in your e-letter."
-- Nick Pacheco, Council member, 14th District, and Eagle Rock resident [related
article below]
"Copyright 2001 / Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times, May 24, 2001 Thursday Home Edition
SECTION: California; Part 2; Page 1; Metro Desk
LENGTH: 1306 words
HEADLINE:
Phone Ad Blamed on Staff of Becerra;
Report: D.A. says the campaign produced the bogus Molina call then erased it.
Congressman says he was not involved.
BYLINE: GREG KRIKORIAN, NICHOLAS RICCARDI, TIMES STAFF WRITERS
BODY: U.S. Rep. Xavier Becerra's mayoral campaign not only produced a
scandalous telephone ad in the Los Angeles mayoral race but later erased the
message after it had prompted an investigation, Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley said
Wednesday.
Although the actions did not constitute a crime, the district attorney's report
could spell political trouble for both Becerra and Los Angeles Councilman Nick
Pacheco, a Becerra supporter connected to the telephone bank that issued the
calls.
In the prerecorded telephone calls made days before the April 10 election, a
woman posing as county Supervisor Gloria Molina attacked former Assembly
Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa and his record on crime.
Although Becerra said he had no involvement in the calls, Molina said Wednesday
that she felt "personally abused and personally hurt by Xavier Becerra and
his campaign." Molina told reporters that the congressman could not hide
behind his aides and that, even if he did not personally authorize them, had to
accept responsibility for the calls.
Molina's strong statements could hurt Becerra, who has benefited from her
support and enjoyed a squeaky-clean image.
"There's no way to see this in a positive light," said Arturo Vargas,
executive director of the National Assn. of Latino Elected and Appointed
Officials and a longtime friend of Becerra.
"I can't imagine him knowing. On the other hand, he is the candidate and
he is ultimately responsible for the actions of his campaign."
Late Wednesday, Becerra said he had offered an apology to Molina and
Villaraigosa. In a two-page statement issued from his attorney's office, the
congressman said his campaign staff had long denied involvement in the calls.
Becerra said he had told his staff not to engage in negative campaigning.
"I can't express how disappointing and frustrating it is to now learn that
those instructions and responsibilities may have been ignored in this
case," he said.
Pacheco, a rising force at City Hall, also found himself entangled in the
scandal. The nonprofit organization that he co-founded, Cal Inc., leased its
telephone bank to La Colectiva, which made the controversial calls. And one of
his top aides was a pivotal figure in the inquiry.
The calls targeted rival mayoral candidate Villaraigosa just days before the
April election, in which he finished first out of six major candidates. He is
now in a runoff with City Atty. James K. Hahn; Becerra finished fifth
with 6% of the vote.
In the calls, made to 80,000 voters, a woman identifying herself as
"Gloria Marina" declared: "Please don't hang up. This is an
emergency call." She then made allegations about Villaraigosa's record on
crime.
One day after the calls began, Molina asked Cooley to investigate them. Seven
weeks later, the district attorney said that even though his office found no
crime committed, it was important for the public to know what happened.
"Although those responsible for this reprehensible conduct will not face
criminal prosecution, this office remains hopeful that the court of popular
opinion will rule that this type of underhand political 'dirty tricksterism'
will not be tolerated," Cooley wrote in a letter to Molina.
A detailed report on the investigation combined with other information obtained
by The Times shows that investigators first interviewed people at La Colectiva
on April 2, two days after the calls were made.
"After . . . it became clear that investigators from this office were
focusing on La Colectiva," the report says, Floyd Monserratt, a top aide
to Pacheco who was working as a volunteer for La Colectiva, became concerned
and spoke with Becerra campaign manager Paige Richardson. At that point, the
report adds, Richardson told Monserratt to change the recorded call. During the
switch, the "Marina" recording was erased.
Over the course of the probe, investigators found themselves stymied by some of
the Becerra campaign's top officials, prosecutors said.
Monserratt initially denied any knowledge of the controversial calls.
Several days later, Cooley said, investigators tried to reach Monserratt but
were unsuccessful until an attorney representing him contacted the district
attorney's office. But on May1, under oath, Monserratt explained La Colectiva's
role in making the controversial calls.
Richardson also failed to cooperate with authorities' efforts to get to the
source of the phone calls, the report says. As early as April 5, a district
attorney's investigator spoke to Richardson at the campaign's headquarters,
where she denied any knowledge of the calls, according to Cooley's office. Last
weekend, Richardson refused to speak to an investigator who flew to her New
Mexico home.
By then, prosecutors had interviewed two other members of the Becerra campaign
who said Richardson had given them a script for the call. One, press deputy
Allyson Laughlin, said she believed it was "inappropriate" to record
the call because as press deputy "her voice was so recognizable," the
district attorney's report says.
Richardson then asked Veronica Del Rico, a scheduling aide, to record the
announcement, prosecutors said. Stephen Mansfield, an attorney for Del Rico,
said his client was a low-level employee who was presented a script by her superiors.
She asked whether the call would be ethical, legal and accurate before
recording it, he said.
The prosecutors' report also says Richardson and deputy campaign manager Scott
Nunnery made the decision to have the caller identify herself as "Gloria Marina."
"Ms. Richardson and Mr. Nunnery laughed at the idea, and Ms. Richardson
said something like, 'It would be a slap in her face since she just endorsed
Villaraigosa,' " the report states.
Richardson's attorney has denied that she originated the recorded call. Nunnery
did not return calls for comment.
"The D.A.'s report is inaccurate in many respects," Richardson's
attorney, Fred Woocher, said in a statement Wednesday. "At this point,
however, she sees no value in pointing her finger elsewhere or in spreading the
blame."
On Tuesday, Becerra said in a statement that he had just learned the district
attorney's investigation was focusing on La Colectiva. On Wednesday, in a more
detailed statement, he said he had heard "rumors" of the connection
weeks ago and asked his campaign attorney to look into it.
Becerra said his attorney reported back that all staffers denied involvement.
Cooley took issue with the notion that the congressman only recently become
aware of the focus on La Colectiva. Indeed, Cooley said that, although his
office only recently contacted Becerra, there was no doubt the congressman's
campaign was under scrutiny.
"After all, we had been interviewing his campaign staffers for several
weeks," Cooley said. He also disputed Pacheco's claim that the councilman
was instrumental in finding out who was behind the calls.
"That is not an accurate representation," Cooley told reporters.
"He surfaced only because we contacted him last Friday."
In a letter dated Tuesday to the district attorney, Pacheco said he encouraged
Monserratt to share what he knew of the calls with prosecutors.
"That assertion would be inconsistent with our investigation and the
statements of Mr. Monserratt," Cooley said. Adding that Pacheco could have
done more to let investigators know about the calls, the district attorney
said: "One would think that Nick would have known his information would be
helpful."
Pacheco said he was "stunned" that Cooley told reporters he failed to
quickly disclose his knowledge of the calls. "All I can tell you is I was
hearing secondhand stories," Pacheco said. "I'm stunned a prosecutor
would want an investigation started with secondhand rumors."
Times staff writers Tina Daunt and Matea Gold contributed to this story.
"TRANSCRIPT OF SPEECH OF FORMER CITY COUNCILMAN ARTHUR K. SNYDER AT THE
THIRD ANNUAL VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION AND SCHOLARSHIP DINNER OF DISTRICT 9, LEAGUE
OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS, NOVEMBER 21, 2002
Oh, my. Thank you. Thank you. So good to see you all.
So many friends from so many years. So much friendship and
love.
Handshakes and embrazos. Like golden coins being poured over my head.
Seeing you all. Like tasting a really fine wine and remembering the rays
of the setting sun shining on the vines during the days when the grapes that
produced that wine were on the vine.
I turned 70 just over a week ago. I still can't believe it. My dear
love Delia and I voted that my 60th birthday was such a nice one that we would
celebrate it again. That was a little more believable. But yes, it
was just 70 years ago that my mother thrust me from her womb in the sparkling
new surroundings of the maternity ward of the recently opened General Hospital
up on the hill in Lincoln Heights, that little community around which so much
of my life revolved over the years that have followed.
Well, enough of that. That sort of thing is what I had planned to talk
about tonight. Memories, good and bad.
As most of you know, or will realize when I say it, since my retirement in 1985
I have operated under the belief that there can only be one City Councilman at
a time in any Council District, and that the people of any District, even my
beloved Fourteenth, compliment or condemn themselves by their votes, and must
live with who they select until they, not I, select someone new. (As I
often said while I held that office, the 14th District seat in the City Council
belongs to the people of that District, not to the person who sits in it, and
when they want to give their seat to be occupied by someone else, its occupant
should surrender it with grace.)
And so, over these seventeen years I have declined most speaking engagements to
which I have been invited, and when I have accepted have declined to comment on
the service of those who have occupied my former seat, except to compliment
some particularly worthwhile accomplishments.
Tonight I will ignore that self-imposed rule and for the first time take a new
direction relative to the forthcoming City Council election of 2003, and take
it here at your meeting tonight. Prior to changing topic in this manner,
I informed your chairperson that I would discuss the topic on my heart tonight
and gave her the opportunity to cancel my appearance, not wishing to embarrass
this organization, of which I was a founding member. But as you know,
Rosemarie got huevos. So here we go.
Recently there have been reported in the newspapers certain political incidents
in our community, and specifically in the 14th District that should shock every
one of us. Political mailings have been sent and received that should
make us so angry that we should cry out in our anger ya basta! An effort
has been made to rape the minds, assault the very souls of the people of our
community, and take away from its people their ability to make reasoned
decisions about their own futures and those of their children.
Some of you will remember, with me, the Sleepy Lagoon murders, and what
happened to the boys that were unjustly accused and railroaded. Others
will remember the Zoot Suit Riots, and how young men from this community were
beaten and shamed and dishonored in the streets by Anglo servicemen in 1942.
"Spicks" "Greasers" "Mexes"
But when these Spicks went away to war, those that came back, came
back heros. Look at the monument at Cesar Chavez and Indiana. My
God! Black blots on the face of America. Hatred.
Hatred. We cannot tolerate hatred. We cannot tolerate hatred.
A few of you will remember also what happened to some of our Anglo neighbors
then--those who lived in our vecindades during that time. I was 9 and 10
years old then, and my neighbor kids, the de la Vacas, had to escort me to
school and back, and remind the bigger kids that needed somebody to kick around
to show their machismo, that I was one of the neighborhood, and they would have
to beat them up first. Nevertheless, "Pinchi Gabacho"
"Gringo" Hatred. Hatred. I can
still hear it. And I hate it. I hate Hatred. I hate it so
much that I nearly came to blows with Councilman Nate Holden when one day he
referred to "Snyder's Mexes" on the floor of the City Council while I
was demanding equal treatment in the Model Cities program for the East Side.
We cannot tolerate hatred as a political driving force.
We cannot tolerate hatred.
So now approaches the 2003 election in the 14th Council District. To the
surprise of many, a truly qualified candidate filed to oppose the incumbent,
Nick Pacheco. He is Antonio Villaraigosa, former Assemblyman and Former
Speaker of the California State Assembly, one of the most able of State
political figures, who made an unsuccessful run for Mayor of Los Angeles two
years ago. I have known him since he first ran for public office.
In fact, I had a coffee hour at my home for him for his first Assembly
campaign.
Really capable. Really competent. Wow! Pretty
impressive! Ought to be a pretty impressive campaign, No?
But now once again, "Gringo." And now, once again,
"Pocho." Only now used in a mailer to benefit the sitting City
Councilman of the 14th District-in a mailer with no return address or
attribution to try to smear Villaraigosa to prevent or disable his candidacy
against Pacheco in his campaign for re-election. Councilman Pacheco
begins his campaign for re-election with words of Hate.
I was stunned. I honestly thought, and perhaps in spite of my age and
experience I am still childlike in this. . . I honestly thought, we
had grown out of the use of hatred as a weapon in grown-up politics, at least
in large metropolitan areas in the United States of America. At
least by well-educated, sophisticated Americans. At least since I was
gone, there would be no need to call anyone a "pinchi gabacho" or a
"gringo," and I hadn't thought of the use of "pocho."
I always thought that "pocho" was a word that Mexicans in
Mexico used to denigrate Mexican-Americans.
Now Mr. Pacheco knows this is wrong, and not only wrong but evil. Yes,
evil to use Hatred as a weapon in a democracy. To attempt to turn ethnic
groups or sub-groups within ethnic groups against one another, to divide with
hatred in order to destroy. It is evil. It is not ignorance
on his part. Then why does he do it?
I believe that he does it because he has no respect for the people to whom he
addresses the argument, the voters of the 14th District. I believe that
while he has lived in the 14th District, he has never had respect for the
people among whom he has lived. While he has represented the people
of the 14th District for 3 years and 5 months, he still does not have respect
for the people who he represents.
"El respecto por los derechos ajenos, entre individuos, como entre
naciones, es la paz." And by destroying respect, Pacheco is
destroying peace in our community.
What will he gain from this? I am sure that in his desperation as he
fears a capable opponent he feels that he will help his chances to survive.
But did he not study the elections of 1973, 1975, 1983 and
1984, when the messages of racial hate were spread over the 14th District and
rejected and the messengers ground into the earth by the Hispanic voters.
As I have explained to thousands of Anglos over many, many years,
the Mexican people in our society are not racist. They are proud of their
heritage, but that does not make them hate anyone. And anyone who thinks
otherwise should take a good look at the Snyder years in the 14th District when
I was available to be knocked off whenever the people wished to do so.
But the use of such derogatory and hate-filled terms to attack his opponent was
only the beginning for Pacheco. There followed the most despicable,
contemptible, mean, filthy, mailing piece that I have ever seen-and I've seen a
lot of them.
This piece says that Villaraigosa's father left his family while Antonio was a
child. Now what does that have to do with Antonio's ability to serve as
our Councilman?
It also tells us that one of his daughters was a teenage mother. Does
this tell us something that we should know in order to choose whether he would
make a good Councilman?
It informs us that Gloria Molina supports him and she was investigated for
building code violations. What has this to do with Antonio's competence
to serve?
It reminds us that Mike Hernandez was arrested for drug use, but makes no
connection with Antonio. How does this tell us anything about
Villaraigosa at all?
It says that he has fathered children out of wedlock, something that he
admitted long ago. But it does not mention that it was while he was a
teenager and that he at the time did the responsible thing, acknowledged and
supported each of them.
It says that he has had troubles with wives and girlfriends. But
never mentions his leadership abilities as a legislator.
It says that he used to live on Mount Washington (in an area that used to be in
the 14th District until it was redistricted out), but has moved out and is
selling it and has bought a home on the Highland Park/El Sereno border that is
now in the 14th District.
What does all of this accomplish except to create disrespect for his mother,
his father, his children and him AND US? And destroy
their peace and the peace of our community?
And to divert our attention away from what we should be talking about-the
competency and capability of those who want to serve us, and the job that has
been done for us by the man who has served for the last four years-and to this
kind of filthy nonsense.
In other words, Pacheco has dumped a political garbage can over the people of
the 14th District as the opening gun of his campaign to try to blind us to the
real issues. And he promises Antonio that this is just the beginning.
When I saw what has been done to this point, I decided that this may be the
beginning for Pacheco's campaign, but as far as I am concerned it is the end
for him. For you see, once this kind of campaign is shown to be
successful in an area, it will be repeated again and again until it is
defeated. In 1924 the 15-member City Council was created, and from then
until this Council campaign, no campaign based upon smear and hate tactics has
been successful. We cannot allow this one to be successful, even though
it is launched by an incumbent.
By the way, Nick Pacheco, with a straight face, says to the press that he knew
nothing about these two mailers. A close friend of his-a classmate at
Loyola Law School-has jumped up and said that it was all his idea. Well,
I have been involved in politics since I was 16 years old. I can't count
all of the campaigns in which I have been involved, and all the dirty tricks I
have witnessed. But you don't have to have that kind of experience to
smell a skunk like this. If anybody here buys what Pacheco is saying,
well, I've got a big green bridge down in San Pedro I'd like to sell him.
Finally, a question is naturally raised regarding balancing the quality of
performance against an ethically corrupt campaign. That is, is Pacheco
such a great Councilman that we should put up with a garbage campaign as he
attempts to protect his seat?
Of course, I don't live in every part of the 14th District, but I do talk with
people that I trust in each of the communities, and I find people pretty much
equally in discontent in each. In El Sereno there is unhappiness in the
failure to communicate with community institutions prior to carrying out plans
to demolish the old fire station and make plans for the library, in Boyle
Heights there seems to be general discontent with delivery of services, Eagle
Rock complains that a failure of leadership has left the community tied up in
controversy, leaders in Lincoln Heights have been watching their community
slowly disintegrate with no interest from the Council office, and overall there
is the feeling that there is an aloofness that some feel indicates a regal
attitude, causing the people to feel estranged from their municipal government
for the first time in a long time. Personally, I think that his
effort to pull some of Downtown into the 14th in order to become more
individually powerful was disgusting, and I told him so privately.
I do know, however, that many of those who have been willing to accept his
service at the present level have simply walked away from him since these two
mailings, and I do not know of a single person whose loyalty to him has been
strengthened by them.
So where do we go from here?
Tonight I am not speaking to 14th District residents only. I know that.
Because you are LULAC, and are representative of this entire District of
LULAC, the odds are that you come from communities that are in or nearby
or are affected by the communities of the 14th District of Los Angeles.
And if you are Hispanic, what happens is going to affect not only
campaigns in your district but the opinion of the whole City of Los Angeles and
surrounding Cities and Counties about how Hispanic voters react to ethnic and
personal smear campaigns.
The first thing that should be done is what Sheriff Baca did: He revoked
his endorsement of Pacheco publicly and stated that he would never support him
again for any public office. Ex-Mayor Riordan did the same thing,
just not so strongly. If you have endorsed Pacheco, you
should call or write him tomorrow and revoke your endorsement.
Second would be to call Antonio Villaraigosa's campaign and ask how you can
help. The message center for the campaign is 213-438-0805.
It's still early in the campaign, but this is going to be a
hard-fought campaign, and you should get into it as soon as possible.
Finally, and most important probably, you should start to talk about this.
To your friends and your neighbors. At your church and your clubs
and at the market. Make it the subject of conversation wherever you go.
There is going to be a lot of money spent in this election. Mail
will jam your mailbox and a lot of it will be so bad that the people will get
sick of it very quickly. But the word of mouth is the most powerful
campaign of all.
As we go from here tonight, let us remember these words from the official
prayer of the League: "Save us from violence, discord and confusion;
from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties
and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many
kindreds and tongues. Imbue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in
Thy name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and
peace at home."
We cannot let hate win. We must stop this now! And we can do it
together!
God Bless America. God Bless the Fourteenth District of the City of Los
Angeles in the difficult days ahead. Thank you and good night."
-- Art Snyder, former Council member, 14th District, Eagle Rock resident, and
TERA member
11. QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Now with cars and the need for spaces to park them, every major road was
strip-malled for two miles out with gas stations, convenience stores, video
rental shops, fast food drive-throughs and grocery stores. Many of the stores
were already boarded up and derelict. It reminds me of the slash-and-burn
practices we so deplore in the Amazon rain forests; build a big ugly chain
store, suck out all the quick money you can, then abandon that store and go
build another where the action's hotter."
-- Margaret Maron, from her book Up Jumps the Devil
HAPPY
HOLIDAYS.
We welcome your comments. Please include your name, and let us know if
you are a TERA member.
Joanne Turner <artburn@earthlink.net>
President, The Eagle Rock Association (TERA)