"Eagle
Rock: Where land use planning is a contact sport"
THE EAGLE ROCK ASSOCIATION
February 20, 2003
In this issue:
1. TERA TO SPONSOR COUNCIL
CANDIDATE FORUM -- FEBRUARY 25
2. FOURTEENTH DISTRICT CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE AND RESPONSES
3. THANKS TO OUR EAGLE ROCK BUSINESSES
4. GREAT NEW EASTSIDE PUBLICATION -- LA ALTERNATIVE PRESS
5. ANOTHER CHANCE TO QUESTION THE CD 14 CANDIDATES -- FEBRUARY 21
6. COLLABORATIVE EAGLE ROCK BEAUTIFUL MEETING -- FEBRUARY 22
7. ROCK ROSE ART GALLERY FEBRUARY CALENDAR
8. BOOK AND BAKE SALE AT FLOR Y CANTO -- FEBRUARY 22
9. GLASSELL PARK NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL MEETING -- FEBRUARY 24
10. LETTERS AND E.MAILS
11. QUOTE OF THE WEEK
1. TERA TO SPONSOR COUNCIL CANDIDATE FORUM -- FEBRUARY 25
TERA, The Eagle Rock Association, is sponsoring a 14th District City Council
candidate forum to be moderated by The League of Women Voters of Los Angeles.
Candidates are former Olympic champion Paul Gonzales, Councilman Nick
Pacheco, and former Speaker of the California Assembly, Antonio Villaraigosa.
Tuesday, February 25, 2003
7:00 p.m.
Eagle Rock Community Cultural Center
2225 Colorado Boulevard in Eagle Rock
Parking is available on the street and at Bank of America.
To help defray TERA's cost of the event, a contribution of $2.00 per attendee
is encouraged.
For more information call (323) 259-TERA (8372).
Please plan to join us -- we look forward to seeing you there!
2. FOURTEENTH DISTRICT CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE AND RESPONSES
TERA forwarded the following question to the three candidates vying for the
14th District City Council seat:
What are the three most important issues facing Eagle Rock, why do you think they are important, and what would you do to solve them?
We asked the candidate to keep each of their answers to 200 words or less.
The deadline was 5:00 p.m., Monday, February 17, 2003. The
responses we received, in the order we received them, are as follows:
Antonio Villaraigosa, candidate for City Council, CD 14
1. What are the three most important issues facing Eagle Rock?
a. Public Safety: While Eagle Rock is not a traditional hotbed of
gang violence and other crime concerns, recent gunplay at Yosemite Recreation
Center, a robbery at Trader Joe's and a proliferation of graffiti, burglaries
and minor vandalism remind us of the constant threats around us.
b. Land Use and Development: Recent City decisions regarding Walgreens and a
Cingular cell phone antenna are reminders that the City planning process isn't
always serving the community's needs and does a poor job of addressing local
concerns.
c. Public Process and Community Empowerment: Currently the community has become factionalized around
controversial issues because there is no one able to bring people together on a
consistent basis to search for common ground and solve problems. There
need to be more vehicles for involvement and empowerment.
2.
Why do you think they are important?
a. A safe community is a necessity if we
are to successfully address pressing economic development and quality of life
issues. Our children should be safe at school or playing at the
recreation center and everyone has the right to feel secure in their homes and
neighborhoods. Public safety needs to be the number one priority of local
government. Gang related crime in the Northeast Police Division rose more
than 120% from 1999 to 2002. This trend must be reversed.
b. The future of the community is at least partly dependent on how our business
district evolves over time and how we take care of our residential areas.
The planning process currently invokes disagreement and conflict, when it
could be a process that encourages people to work together to make new
development serve the community instead of invading it.
c. So much of the dissatisfaction with City Hall stems from poor public process
overseen by the bureaucracy and the elected officials. If we're going to
raise the public's confidence in government, people need to feel they can
participate meaningfully and that City officials are not making important
decisions behind closed doors.
3. What would you do to solve them?
a. I have proposed a 10-point plan to combat crime, violence and gangs that
combines tough, comprehensive enforcement with aggressive prevention programs
and community involvement. Increasing police patrols is just one part of
it. To fight graffiti I would step up current abatement efforts and
pursue a "zero tolerance" program like the one I introduced at the
MTA board.
b. I believe that existing land use plans should be enforced and be immune to
the kinds of distortions that led to the Walgreens controversy. Every
development proposal should undergo a thorough review by the Neighborhood
Council and other existing community organizations before it begins its formal
City approval process. Planning needs to be more logical, responsive and
community sensitive.
c. With the new Neighborhood Council emerging, we have a unique opportunity to
bring people together around civic engagement. That's a priority for me, not
using these institutions to divide and conquer. A genuine and credible
effort needs to be made to get people involved and make sure their voices are
heard, both inside and outside the Neighborhood Council. My staff will be
dedicated to that every day of the week, and I will be personally accessible to
underscore that dedication.
Candidate Paul Gonzales, CD14
I am pleased to be afforded this opportunity to respond to the list of
questions from The Eagle Rock Association.
My responses are as follows:
1. The three most important issues facing Eagle Rock in my opinion are,
ironically enough, all related to the concept of community planning. I
believe that the three issues are: (a) Protecting the integrity of local
community planning efforts; (b) Preservation of the historical buildings and
landmarks that give Eagle Rock much of its unique character and appeal; and (c)
Developing an economic development approach that will provide necessary growth
for an improved quality of life while working in harmony and without placing in
jeopardy the existing "Mom & Pop"enterprises that have been the
cornerstone of Eagle Rock's economic base.
2. The three issues that I have outlined are important because all three
are interrelated in developing the kind of community that I believe Eagle Rock
desires and deserves; one that has been developed through active grassroots
participation. I also believe they are important because I am committed
to the concept of local planning and I believe strongly that when those plans
have been generated by the people who know best what is right for their
community the residents who live, work and play in the community then it is
incumbent on me as the councilman to respect, protect and work to actualize
those local planning efforts.
Finally, I would say there is a great deal of planning that is going on in our
neighborhoods and
communities throughout the 14th district that does not take into account or
respect the unique historical flavor of those neighborhoods. I will
oppose moves to push through massive redevelopment projects in many areas of
the district that endanger one of the most significant economic aspects of this
district which is the historical and cultural richness that is contained in
many parts of this district. As I have walked and met with so many
residents of the 14th district, in Boyle Heights, Highland Park and Eagle Rock
I have learned that many residents are unaware of some of the more extreme
development schemes that threaten to level not only entire neighborhoods, but
some of the major cultural attractions that make this district unique. I
believe that all too often our plans for development in various areas of the
district rely on an emphasis strictly on physical form rather than fostering
plans that tell the communities' respective stories;where its been and what its
aspirations are as well as what it has and what it needs. We need to
respect the community's history, its people and places that help it to function
together with its unusual resources, its major problems and its neighborhood
symbols. That is the only way we are going to be able to reconcile the
need for protecting those small businesses that have made the community of
Eagle Rock so attractive while working to lure corporate investment that recognizes
that the community is also a stakeholder in what I am calling a new form of
civic enterprise that respects community plans that have evolved through the
involvement of everyone who has a stake, not just major civic or business
leaders that all too often have been willing to discount the value of a
community's character.
Candidate
Nick Pacheco, CD14
Eagle Rock has flourished tremendously in the last three and half years. We
have experienced a "renaissance" of culture, commerce and
neighborhood vitality. Today, our business corridors feature unique
dining establishments, galleries and popular coffee houses. This myriad
of successful businesses continues to act as a catalyst attracting more
investment to the area. Eagle Rock continues to gain recognition for our
good schools, clean parks and beautiful tree-lined neighborhoods filled with
residents who care about family and community.
As our community goes through a transition there are three important issues
facing us, they are land use/planning, economic development and public safety
and their solutions are inter-connected because they each affect our quality of
life.
LAND USE / PLANNING
Eagle Rock is going through a robust revitalization period. Who would
have thought 20 years ago we would see coffee houses, art galleries and trendy
boutiques lining Colorado Boulevard, with young families by the car load coming
to house hunt in the area every weekend? While encouraging a more
pedestrian-friendly environment, we must also work to attract businesses that
fulfill the everyday needs of our residents. Commercial lots sizes do not
afford the necessary parking requirements. Colorado Boulevard and Eagle Rock
Boulevard need additional parking slots for the public. Identifying
possible locations for multi-use or city owned parking is a high priority. Our
Colorado Specific Plan will continue to be our guide in assessing our future
land use strategies. We are now in the process of educating residents and
organizations on its value. As your Councilmember, I have worked hard to
ensure that developments have complied with the Colorado Specific Plan in order
to enhance a close-knit community, successfully maintain our small-town charm.
I am committed to requiring developers to meet with the community to allow them
direct contact to hear their concerns, suggestions and comments on any proposed
development projects.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
I have listened to our residents and we want to attract businesses that
fulfill our everyday needs while still maintaining small town appeal.
Businesses that bring good paying jobs to our community for young and older
residents would allow for more growth opportunities within Eagle Rock, thus
creating a stronger internal economic tax base. My implementation of the
Northeast Business Assistance Center has already helped provide assistance to
many local businesses such as Camilos, Ophelias Gallery to name a few.
We can only imagine the number of businesses that can benefit from such
an impressive resource.
My efforts to promote economic development in Eagle Rock include: funding a
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for the northeast area including
Eagle Rocks blueprint to add additional jobs and strategies for smart
development. I brought a first ever Business Assistance Center to provide
technical assistance to businesses and to help them gain access to capital to
expand and grow, Council Office helped to fast track permits through the Citys
Bureaucracy, and helped to reform the Citys Business Tax System providing rate
relief for small businesses.
PUBLIC SAFETY
One of my highest priorities has been to ensure the highest levels of community
safety for all our residents. I will continue to implement traffic and
pedestrian safety measures such as installing more traffic signals, stop signs,
crosswalks and street re-striping. I believe in the "broken windows"
theory of community safety and development. The presence of broken
windows, tagged buildings, and nuisance business creates the perception of lack
of government, lack of safety and lack of business growth. Chief Bratton
and I have been working closely and crime has dropped significantly. As Chair
of Budget and Finance committee, I made sure our City budget funded our department
to 10,000 strong.
A former Criminal Prosecutor I know we need to work with our children and
funded and expanded the LAs Best after school program
to ensure we give our youth every opportunity to succeed in life. I stood firm
as your City Councilmember to bring back our Senior Lead officers, expand our
community-policing, brought anti- gang loitering ordinance and gang injunctions
to crack down on gangs and graffiti, worked to stop illegal gun sales, funding
for Domestic Violence Shelter and through our Neighborhood Institute continue
to develop neighborhood leaders who expand our Neighborhood Watch. I will
continue to work keeping our neighborhoods crime free by making sure our city
apprehends and prosecutes to the fullest extent of the law.
3. THANKS TO OUR
EAGLE ROCK BUSINESSES
The TERA Board would like to thank the following businesses and others that
contributed to our community by posting our notices for the upcoming candidate
forum on February 25:
Aikido Institute of America
All Star Lanes
Angel Puss Rescue
Armon's Restaurant
Boyer Cleaners
Cafe Beaujolais
Camilo's California Bistro
Century 21 First
Chic's Liquor
Classic Thai
Colombo's
Colorado Donuts
Colorado Pharmacy
Dilbeck Realtors
Do It Better Hardware
Domino's Pizza
Donut Shop (ER and York)
The Dragon Restaurant
Eagle Rock Flowers
Eagle Rock Italian Bakery
Eagle Rock Pharmacy
Elvira's
Ernie Jr.'s Restaurant
Fatty's & Co.
Galco's Old World Grocery
Goodyear (Gemini) Tires
Italiano's Pizza (York Blvd.)
Jim's Burgers
Kindom & Associates
Le Petit Beaujolais
Lee's Kitchen
Magic Rose Flower Shop
New York Cuts
One's Liquor
Pacheco Campaign Headquarters
Pat & Lorraine's
Pete's Blue Chip Burg
Ralphs Country Store
Robins Beauty Studio
Ruby Bakery
Sicha Siam
Southland Homes
Stained Glass Supplies
Super A Foods (ER Blvd.)
Super A Foods (York Blvd.)
Swork Coffee
Thai Eagle Rox
Tritch Hardware
Townsend Three Gallery
Trader Joe's
Villaraigosa Campaign Headquarters
Yoga Essence
4. GREAT NEW EASTSIDE PUBLICATION -- LA ALTERNATIVE PRESS
What used to be Silver Lake Press is now LA Alternative Press, and its first
great issue is out now at all the usual spots around our town (we picked our
copy up at Fatty's).
There is a terrific article by Marc Haefele about the 14th District Council
race, and Eagle Rock's own David Tokofsky, LAUSD District 5 Board member, is
featured on the cover.
Editor Yvette Doss states in her Letter from the Editor:
"Now, as LA Alternative Press, we are reaffirming our original mission, which includes celebrating life in the eastern half of the city and covering real people rather than worshipping at the alter of celebrity. From the Fairfax district to Boyle Heights, from Hancock Park to Eagle Rock, we'll be bringing you profiles and features you won't see anywhere else. Our aim is to be a true alternative to the mainstream media."
Hallelujah. Congratulations, Yvette, on a wonderful publication!
info@laalternativepress.com (323) 660-8667
5. ANOTHER CHANCE TO QUESTION THE CD 14 CANDIDATES -- FEBRUARY 21
The Northeast Observer presents a CANDIDATE FORUM for the three candidates
running in the 14th District-Paul Gonzales, Antonio Villaraigosa and Nick
Pacheco. You can e-mail your questions beforehand to
northeastobsrvr@aol.com.
Friday 21st, 6 p.m. Sharp. Ramona Hall, 4850 North Figueroa St. The
candidates are on a tight schedule. Please arrive early. See you all
Friday!
Edward Rivera
Northeast Observer
P.O. Box 411046
Los Angeles, CA 90041
323-258-5973
fax: 734-633-6807
http://www.arroyosecojournal.com
Northeast Observer Online
6. COLLABORATIVE EAGLE ROCK BEAUTIFUL MEETING -- FEBRUARY 22
Don't forget to attend the meeting from 9:00 - 11:00 am, this Saturday Morning,
February 22, 2003 at the Eagle Rock Community Cultural Center, 2225 Colorado
Boulevard.
·
See a scale model of the
first Eagle Rock Monument to be placed at the entrance of town.
·
Get an update about the
status of the Caltrans Noise Abatement Project.
·
Nominations for Chair or
Co-Chair will take place.
·
Find out how you can work
hand in hand in the Neighborhood Council areas.
·
Help with the plans and
planting of the median near the Woman's 20th Century Club.
·
Dog Park update.
·
Continental Breakfast
served.
· Give aways!
If you have any questions call Esther Monk at 323 255-4052 or John Stillion 323
254-6540 or send an e-mail to Beautification@EstherMonk.com. Hope to see
you there!
7. ROCK ROSE ART GALLERY FEBRUARY CALENDAR
Rock Rose Art Gallery presents!
4108 N. Figueroa Street
Highland Park, CA 90065
323/ 222-4740
Dear Friends,
As you know, art outlets are thriving in our Northeast LA communities.
Thank you for supporting our efforts at Rock Rose. You are invited
to return for more inspiring activity associated with our current exhibit:
Visions of Peace. You can always help by telling friends.
I have only had one guest ask if all this peace effort was going to bring
tension to the community...you know, crowds, riots. The only crowds I have seen
are neighbors (communities) having a great time meeting one another. To be
continued...
Hope to see you soon. Rosamaria
Calendar:
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 8 P.M. - POETS FOR PEACE! Poets, please sign
up at 7:30 p.m., Public encouraged to attend!
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1-3 P.M. FREE ART CLASS , AGES 5 YRS & UP.
Mexican Tin Painting and exhibit of works from Intl Child Art Collection,
Barnsdall Arts.Patty Sue Jones, Tina Chiang, instructors.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 8 P.M. COMMUNITY/ARTIST RECEPTION. A Benefit Art
Auction with live music for Diamond Blackfan Anemia Foundation. Donation
at door. $5 Donation at door.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 3-5 P.M. LIVE JAZZ every Sunday at 5:30 p.m.
followed by weekly COMMUNITY DIALOGUES FOR PEACE....with guests Ron Rodriguez,
Latinos for Peace, Kathy Macaoka, Immigrant Rights Witness Prog., Don Newton,
Poet/Artist/Community Activist
FRIDAY, FEB. 28, 8 P.M. INSPIRATION HOUSE POETRY CHOIR WITH PETER J. HARRIS of
KPFK and guest poets and musicians. Begins at 8 p.m. with a Reception /
Performance starts at 9 p.m.
!! SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 8P.M.-11P.M. DANCE & SILENT AUCTION. BENEFIT FOR
ROCK ROSE ACTIVITIES !!
For Information:
Rock Rose Gallery & Arroyo Books
4108 N. Figueroa Street
Highland Park, CA 90065
(323) 222-4740 E-mail: rockroseart@yahoo.com
Rosamaria Marquez, Producer/Director
Gallery Hours: Wed-Sat. 5-9 pm/ and Sun. 2-6 pm
Rock Rose Art Gallery - Exhibit: Visions of Peace
8. BOOK AND BAKE SALE AT FLOR Y CANTO -- FEBRUARY 22
Hey NELA,
This coming Saturday Feb 22nd. we will be having a benefit Book Sale from
10am-3pm to help raise some funds for Flor y Canto. We've collected lots of
good books and they'll be going at very reasonable rates! So come on down, have
some hot coffee and fresh Pan Dulce, and find that literary treasure!
http://www.florycanto.org/booksale.htm
Just added:
The almost world famous Franklin students known as "Radical Teen
Cheer" will be having a bake sale around 3pm to raise funds for their ever
popular cheering activities. This Saturday, February 22 at Flor y Canto.
Flor y Canto Centro Comunitario
3706 N, Figueroa Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90065
http://www.florycanto.org
323.276.8350
Thanks again for your support of local endeavors!
9. GLASSELL PARK NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL MEETING -- FEBRUARY 24
Dear Friends and Neighbors:
Here is the information on the upcoming GPNC meeting,
along with a message from GPNC chair Helene Schpak:
Our next meeting of the Glassell Park Neighborhood
Council is
Monday, February 24, 2003
at Glassell Park Elementary
School
2211 West Avenue 30 at 7:00pm.
Since the city charter was voted in to establish
Neighborhood Councils, we've been certified, elected, and now we've got a
budget. But the most important thing we've acquired is a voice.
Our meetings are structured in such a way as to help
maximize that voice. After an opening introduction and explanation we
break off into committees. Committees are open to all stakeholders and we
encourage everybody to participate to whatever extent they feel comfortable.
In the last portion of our meeting, the committees come
back together and make reports on what transpired within their group. Any
proposal they make will be open for discussion and voted on by the board.
This meeting structure allows us to focus on issues, discuss them, and
act on them quickly and in an open forum.
Please join us and make your voice heard.
This week's agenda includes:
- Community Safety Issues
- Cinco de Mayo parade and
festival
- Outreach
As an area representative for our Neighborhood Council
I can also be reached every Sunday (except for Feb.23) at 1:00pm at Verdugo
Bagel located at 4169 Verdugo Road.
I want to make a special appeal to any bilingual
(Spanish/English) members of our community who can help translate during our
meetings and/or translate written material. The ability for people to
communicate with one another is critical for the exchange of concerns and ideas
that will make our community strong.
I hope to see you at our next meeting.
Helene Schpak, GPNC Chairperson
http://www.GParkNC.com
10. LETTERS AND E.MAILS
"Great newsletter, great service to all residents of Northeast Los
Angeles, can't think how you do it. Congrats on recent [ERNC]
election."
-- Laura Knowles, ASNC [Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council] Outreach
"Congratulations to the newly elected board of the Eagle Rock Neighborhood
Council. This is a great community. Don't hold back, continue
to move forward. We all have unfinished business. A community that
has color, is a community with future hopes and dreams."
-- Yolanda Gonzalez, Vice President of Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council
"Thank you for the reply to my letter. A $50 check is posted for
payment to TERA on Feb 3.
My sister and brother-in-law stayed at my home here in Eagle Rock last week.
They hadn't been down for eight years and were very impressed with all
the improvements in our community. I see all the little changes but my
visitors pointed out the transformation.
I'm proud to be a resident of Eagle Rock and appreciate all your hard work.
Sincerely --"
-- Dennis Soja, owner, Soja Technology Labs, Eagle Rock resident, and TERA
member
"I do not belong to TERA, however, I do receive your e mail newsletter
weekly and in between on special issues, and do enjoy it very much.
I am not a joiner of any clubs, and am an old lady, so not really interested.
I am however, interested in the events happening in my community of Eagle
Rock. I am a property owner; also have a small amount of income
property and have lived in Eage Rock since I came to California in l953.
Since there is going to be a debate among the candidates for election I would
like to put in a good word for Mr. Pacheco. The incident I am going to
relay to you just recently happened.
A year ago, I had occasion to call the department wihin the city that has
charge of our trash containers to request a new blue recycling one. I was
told to have that out on the street on Wednesday morning and the old one would
be picked up and a new one left in it's place. Since I am handicapped and
use a walker, my neighbor has been kind enough to take my trash barrels down to
the street for me. He is greatly appreciated by me,. Well, he put
that container down on the street every Wednesday for six weeks to no avail. I
finally gave up and told him to forget it. I never did get a new trash
container.
Just recently, my black container was cracked badly from top to bottom by the
trash truck that does the job weekly. I knew after looking at it, one
more time and it would fall to pieces, thus no trash can for me. Since I
know that this on is crucial to your daily needs to throw trash into, I thought
about what I had gone through. I got on the phone,called Mr. Pacheco's
office here in Eage Rock City Hall, talked to Andrea and she said she would see
what she could do. She calld me back and told me to have the trash can out on
the street again on the l2h,which I did. That was week away.
To my amazement that afternoon, I had a new trash barrel.
I would like to personally thank both Mr. Pacheco and his aides on running such
an efficient schedule. I do appreciae it, and I AM VOTINGFOR YOU,
SIR."
-- Helen Miceli, Eagle Rock Resident
"Dear Mr. Pacheco,
Your campaign office recently sent our family a pair of cloth potholders emblazoned
with a slogan that identifies you as a candidate who 'puts neighborhoods
first.' As Eagle Rock residents for most of your first term, we must
confess that we find this claim surprising. Over the past two and a half
years, my wife and I have watched as you consistently sought to diffuse,
subvert or overlook community input from this neighborhood on any number of
issues, most egregiously in your attempt to push the Walgreens development
through the approval process without any public scrutiny whatsoever. And,
when members of your constituency publicly questioned the wisdom and legality
of that retail development, we watched as you remained silent, refusing to
weigh in until re-election pressures forced you to mount your short-lived
opposition to the development at the very last possible moment.
We were also there in January when you did an about face and urged your City
Council colleagues to support the Walgreens plan, which you pronounced as in
compliance with local land use laws, despite the fact that Walgreens
development continues to ignore the Colorado Specific Plan's unambiguous
prohibition of planned parking between the Boulevard and the front of any new
building. Since you are a lawyer, we would have expected you to
address a discrepancy as glaring as that before you signed off on the
developer's plans--or, at the very least, to marshal a reasonable rationale for
your decision to ignore that little detail before you offered the project your
blessing. The fact that you did neither leads us to assume you are either a
less than able attorney or a negligent politician. Either way, we are
left with serious doubts about the depth of your commitment to this or any
other community in the district, the claims on your potholder notwithstanding.
Under the circumstances, you will no doubt understand why we've decided to cast
our vote for Antonio Villaraigosa this March. And you may not be
surprised to learn that we also plan to continue spending a few hours each
weekend knocking on doors in our area to let folks know that they have a choice
in local government. I guess that's our way of putting our
neighborhood first. Sincerely,"
-- Vince Waldron and Katy Hickman, Glen Aylsa Avenue, Eagle Rock, CA
11. QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
--The
Golden Rule
We welcome your comments.
Please include your name.
Joanne Turner
<artburn@earthlink.net>
President, The Eagle Rock Association (TERA)