"Eagle
Rock: Where land use and planning is a contact sport"
THE EAGLE ROCK ASSOCIATION
May 30, 2002 (a day late)
In this issue:
1. "GANGS AND DRUGS:
UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES" -- JUNE 1
2. CPAC TO MEET WITH
NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL REPS -- JUNE 5
3. LOS ANGELES POLICE COMMISSION COMMUNITY MEETINGS
4. THE POSTSCRIPT AND AN EPILOGUE: REYES AND THE AVENUE 57
SPECIFIC PLAN TOD
5. TWO VIEWS OF VALLEY SECESSION
6. DISABLED RIDING PROGRAM TO HOLD THEIR ANNUAL FUND RAISING HORSE
SHOW
7. MAYOR HAHN ANNOUNCES MEET THE MAYOR DAYS ACROSS THE CITY
8. CALL FOR ARTISTS -- DEADLINES JUNE 14 AND JUNE 21
9. OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE CHILDREN'S THEATER TO LAUNCH SEVENTH SUMMER
SEASON JULY 11
10. LETTERS AND E.MAILS
11. QUOTES OF THE WEEK
1. "GANGS AND
DRUGS: UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES" -- JUNE 1
You
are cordially invited to attend:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Gangs and Drugs: understanding the issues"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Issues OF the community - Solutions BY the community
Saturday, June 1st
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
(8:00 am registration)
Bravo High School
1200 N. Cornwell Street
(at County / USC Medical Center)
~~ a free community event ... the first in a series of dialogues
~~
~~ morning refreshments and lunch will be provided ~~
In an effort to address the City's ongoing and serious gang and narcotic
trafficking problems a coalition of groups has come together to cosponsor
"Gangs and Drugs; understanding the issues," a community event
designed to educate and empower all who attend.
This is an exciting program, the first in a series, and is devised as an open
forum and conference. Input, ideas and dialogue from the local, effected
community is the key element.
The opening assembly will feature a keynote address and a panel that will kick
things off by briefly discussing:
"Gangs and Drugs; understanding the
issues"
A question and answer period will follow ...
Then, small breakout groups will hold simultaneous workshops facilitated by
professional personnel, who will engage the participants in dialogues where
community concerns can be heard and new ideas shared.
Finally, the attendees will reconvene to have lunch, and will learn what was
discussed in the other breakout groups.
Come!! Join us!!
Together we can create a spirit of partnership in the community that will
encourage and facilitate finding solutions to reduce crime and improve the
quality of life.
Combating gangs and narcotics activity will require a long-term effort ... but
we think this dialog, and others like it, will be a good start !!
For EVENT info call:
213 / 978-1667, or
323 / 224-3168 (9 am - 5 pm)
For PRESS info call:
Bill Murray --LA Community Policing http://www.lacp.org/index.html
323
/ 225-6393
Or visit the LACP.org http://www.lacp.org/index.html
website at: http://www.lacp.org
2. CPAC TO MEET WITH NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL REPS
-- JUNE 5
The meeting with CPAC co-chairs and Neighborhood Council Representatives is
scheduled for:
6/5/02, next Wednesday at 7:PM (note date change due to
scheduling needs) at the Atrium Room at The River Center
Please RSVP to senders' email address : auntbees@earthlink.net.
The tentative agenda:
1. Call to Order
2. Discussion of goals
3. Methods for Achievement of goals
4. Next steps
5. Reports and information
See you Wed.
Miki Jackson, member, CPAC, 323-855-0764
3. LOS ANGELES POLICE COMMISSION COMMUNITY
MEETINGS
Community Meetings for Criteria Development for the New Chief of Police
Angelenos are invited to share their desires for what they would like
to see in their new Chief ¾
June 6, 2002, Thursday Presbyterian Hospital
6:30pm 15107 Vanowen Avenue, Van Nuys
June 12, 2002, Wednesday Banning Landing Community Center
6:30pm 100 East Water Street, Wilmington
June 27, 2002, Thursday Occidental College
6:30pm (in conjunction with Town Hall )
1600 Campus Road, Eagle Rock
All meetings will be attended by at least one Police Commissioner and will be
facilitated by Police Commission Executive Director Joe Gunn. For more
information call the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners at (213)
485-3531.
4. THE POSTSCRIPT AND AN EPILOGUE: REYES
AND THE AVENUE 57 SPECIFIC PLAN TOD
by Andrew Garsten and friends, May 28th, 2002
It was brought to our attention that some of you may have
quickly scanned the expose and not read the Postscript. If you missed the
Postscript, please read this part below as it is very important.
"Postscript:
As a courtesy, I called Council Member Reyes on Wednesday [5/22/02]
morning to speak with him about this report. In the afternoon we spoke,
and as a result of this conversation he said he would "table" his
amended and edited Ave 57 Specific Plan TOD, and that we would run this report
and include this postscript.
We greatly appreciate that Ed has seen the light. Thank you Council
Member!"
Epilogue:
On Friday, May 24th 2002, Council Member Reyes did indeed "table" the
motion to approve the amended and edited Specific Plan. Thank you again
Council member for seeing the light and doing the right thing!
Call To Action:
Almost any way you look at it, the ball is now in the community's court.
Community members must come together and call for a passage of the original Ave
57 Specific Plan TOD "in its whole, and without modification or
amendment." The document may not be perfect, but it is one where
the community has contributed in a open and transparent fashion, and represents
a fair compromise between all parties involved.
Please contact Council member Reyes and let him know at
ereyes@council.lacity.org.
Thanks:
Andrew Garsten
Spokesperson
The Coalition to Save Van de Kamp's
savevandekamps@ixpres.com
5. TWO VIEWS OF
VALLEY SECESSION
Here are two points of view of the Valley secession issue:
JOINT STATEMENT OF
INDEPENDENCE COMMITTEES CALLS UPON MAYOR HAHN TO REVEAL TRUE HARBOR FACTS
Los Angeles -- The following joint statement was released today by the San
Fernando Valley Independence Committee and Hollywood Vote regarding LAFCO's
decision to defer a commission vote on whether to place Harbor independence on
the November ballot:
"We respect LAFCO's decision to continue deliberating whether to place
Harbor independence on a future ballot. The mere study of Harbor independence
has revealed some shocking facts about LA City Hall and serves as a perfect
example of Mayor Hahn's persistent and desperate grasp for power. Currently Los
Angeles spends $155 million to provide services to the Harbor community. LAFCO
has confirmed that as an independent City the new Harbor City could provide the
services for $101 million. The LAFCO study found that if the Harbor area was to
become an independent city, it would be able to deliver all the current
services it receives for $54 million dollars less then what it currently
costs the city of Los Angeles to provide those same services. This $54 million
hit to taxpayers is the cost of a bloated bureaucracy and run-away arrogance at
City Hall. It is money that can and should be better spent providing Los
Angeles residents with police and fire protection, parks and other community
programs that are in dire need of improvement. But rather than working on
making City Hall more efficient and responsive to taxpayers in the Harbor area
and throughout the city, Mayor Hahn would rather mislead voters into thinking
the sky will fall if voters take control of their own communities. Los Angeles
residents are currently subsidizing the Harbor community by over $50 million
each year. This would end if they became their own City. This would mean more
money for services in a smaller City of Los Angeles. Only a politician would
espouse the view that bigger government is better government. In cities
like Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and San Diego, for example, it costs
taxpayers on average $250 dollars less per person to operate than it does in
the city of Los Angeles. Does anyone really believe we're getting our money's
worth?"
For information about upcoming events or meetings check out the Event
Calendar on our website: http://www.valleyvote.org.
On May 22nd, the Local Agency Formation Commission on
Special reorganization (LAFCO) adopted a resolution to place the San Fernando
Valley Secession proposal on the November 2002 ballot.
Mayor Hahn testified before the commission asking commissioners to hold off on
making a determination on the Valley proposal until the City of Los Angeles
could review the commissions new findings the report was released by
LAFCO on May 21st.
Mayor Hahn told the commission that the newly revised proposal still failed to
follow the State statute on secession. The Valley proposal fails to take
into account the fiscal affects to the remaining City of Los Angeles. The
proposal remains silent on the anticipated $185 million dollars in stranded
costs. Mayor Hahn has said that this proposal does not show how services
would be improved to the seceding areas. Rather, it is Mayor Hahn's belief
that secession will result in a reduction of services and an increase in taxes
for all residents both in the Valley and remaining City.
LAFCO's determination will now go before the Board of Supervisors in the early
Fall. The Board of Supervisors are the conducting authority of the
November 2002 election and will decide whether to place the LAFCO proposal on
the ballot this November.
(This information is distributed as a service from the Office of Mayor James K.
Hahn to the constituents of the City of Los Angeles, and to those who have
expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information. If you
would like to be removed from this email list, please reply to mailto:kmorton@mayor.lacity.org with the Header
REMOVE in the subject line. If you have any questions or comments about
the above information or any other issues concerning the City of Los Angeles,
please direct them to mailto:MayorHahn@mayor.lacity.org.)
6. DISABLED RIDING PROGRAM TO HOLD THEIR ANNUAL
FUND RAISING HORSE SHOW
SUPPORTING North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA)
AGENCIES: Pasadena City Recreation Programs
WHAT: Move a Child Higher (MACH 1) is a therapeutic horseback riding
program for mentally and physically disabled children based at Flintridge
Riding Club in La Canada-Flintridge, California. Founded five years ago
by Joy Rittenhouse, it is part of a nationwide network of 500 NARHA programs
and is run in cooperation with Pasadena City's recreation programs.
MACH 1 holds two fund raising events each year: the spring musical student
horse show and benefit dinner and the fall trail-a-thon ride, which is
structured much like a walk-a-thon on horseback. All proceeds go to MACH
1's operating costs.
This year's spring horse show, entitled "Don't Fence Me In!,"
features MACH 1 students participating in equitation, vaulting, obstacle, and
game classes. Demonstration rides by MACH 1 supporters fill out the
program. Additionally, there will be live music by Nick Krall, special
entertainment, and a silent auction, followed by a benefit dinner.
Stephanie Edwards of TV fame will be the guest host this year.
The horse show is free with refreshments available for purchase. Tickets
for the benefit dinner are $27.50 for adults and $12.00 for children. Class
sponsorships are available for a $100.00 contribution, and silent auction
donations are welcome. Last year the horse show raised over $20,000 and
had approximately 165 people in attendance.
Therapeutic riding has been widely recognized as beneficial since World War II.
Students are evaluated by physical and occupational therapists and then
put on a tailored program of riding and games designed to promote cognitive,
social, and physical development. Children who have shown little progress
in traditional therapy often make significant gains when paired with a horse.
WHEN: Saturday, June 15, 2002
Horse show starts at 3:00 p.m.
Benefit dinner starts approximately at 5:15 p.m.
WHERE: Flintridge Riding Club at the Jimmy Williams Oval and patio
4625 Oak Grove Drive
La Canada-Flintridge, CA
TICKETS & DONATIONS: Mach I: 626/798-1222
EVENT CONTACT: Joy Rittenhouse: 626/798-1222
MEDIA INFO: Ellen Narver: 323/259-9903 or elneln@aol.com
7. MAYOR HAHN ANNOUNCES MEET THE MAYOR DAYS
ACROSS THE CITY
LOS ANGELES - On Thursday May 30th, Mayor Jim Hahn announced that he would hold
"Meet the Mayor" days throughout the city to allow citizens to meet
with him and ask questions regarding government and public services. The
newly scheduled "Meet the Mayor" days will also allow constituents to
voice their opinions during a 10-minute session with Mayor Hahn.
"I have always been an advocate of bringing city government to the
people," said Mayor Hahn. "I'm glad that I will have the opportunity
to meet with Los Angeles residents and hear their concerns and suggestions
about how the city is run."
Mayor Hahn will hold a series of meetings throughout the city once a month
starting June 13. The first one will be held at Van Nuys City Hall.
Each "Meet the Mayor" session will be from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Angelenos interested in speaking to Mayor Hahn must sign up via the
Internet at www.lacity.org/mayor <http://www.lacity.org/mayor>
or by placing a request form into the "Meet the Mayor: Neighborhoods
are L.A." boxes located in the Mayor's Office in City Hall and each field
office. There are currently field offices located in Van Nuys, Sylmar,
South Los Angeles, San Pedro, and Hollywood.
Each person who wants to meet with Mayor Hahn will be required to submit a
completed form briefly stating the issue they would like to discuss. The
deadline for requests to participate in the first "Meet the Mayor"
day will be Friday, June 7, at 5:00 p.m. Twenty participants for each
meeting will be selected randomly. Mayor Hahn will have representatives
from his office available at each meeting to answer additional questions or
concerns that may arise.
In addition to June 13, Mayor has scheduled the following "Meet the
Mayor" days: July 11, August 14, September 12, September 26, October 9,
and October 29. These dates are subject to change. For additional
information regarding "Meet the Mayor" days, guidelines for entry
forms, or updated scheduling information, please call 213-978-0721 or visit the
Mayor's website at www.lacity.org/mayor <http://www.lacity.org/mayor>
.
A list of Mayor Hahn's field offices is attached below.
MAYOR HAHN'S FIELD OFFICES
Harbor Office
638 S. Beacon Street #301
San Pedro, CA 90731
(310) 732 - 4630
Hollywood Office
6501 Fountain Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 957 - 6332
South Los Angeles Office
5651 W. Pico Blvd. #102
Los Angeles, CA 90019
(323) 934 - 3527
Sylmar Office
13517 Hubbard Street
Sylmar, CA 91342
(818) 362 - 3121
Van Nuys Office
14410 Sylvan Street 1st Floor
Van Nuys, CA 91401
(818) 756 - 8505
This information is distributed as a service from the Office of Mayor James K.
Hahn to the constituents of the City of Los Angeles, and to those who have
expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information. If you
would like to be removed from this email list, please reply to kmorton@mayor.lacity.org with the Header REMOVE
in the subject line. If you have any questions or comments about the
above information or any other issues concerning the City of Los Angeles, please
direct them to MayorHahn@mayor.lacity.org.
8. CALL FOR ARTISTS -- DEADLINES JUNE 14 AND
JUNE 21
Announcing the release of:
Bureau of Engineering Request for Qualifications (RFQ)
Valley Boulevard Grade Separation Project
This pool is limited to professional artists residing in the Los Angeles
area which extends from Ventura to San Diego.
Submission Deadline: June 14, 2002
AND
Community Development Department Request for Qualifications (RFQ)
Boyle Heights Youth Technology Center
This pool is limited to professional artists residing in the Los Angeles
area which extends from Ventura to San Diego.
Submission Deadline: June 21, 2002
To obtain a copy of the RFQs, please visit our website: http://www.culturela.org.
Thank you.
Public Arts Division
City of Los Angeles
Cultural Affairs Department
213/473-8570
9. OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE CHILDREN'S THEATER TO
LAUNCH SEVENTH SUMMER SEASON JULY 11
"Regrettably only a once-a-year event ... the physically demanding,
creatively amusing shows have become something to look forward to on sunny
summer mornings." Los Angeles Times
The critically acclaimed Occidental College Children's Theater will present
"The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Duckling," an original tale, plus
three unique adaptions of traditional folktales for a seven-week outdoor run
starting July 11. Performances will be in the Remsen Bird Hillside Theater on
the Occidental campus.
In about an hour, a cast of six Occidental students, alumni and professional
actors will perform a series of original, thought-provoking and funny stories
without props, sets, or special costumes, relying only on their acting and
physical skills.
As is the case every year, the script for the featured play, "The Good,
The Bad and The Ugly Duckling," will be entirely the result of weeks of
improvisation by the cast, who draw their inspiration from folk tales from
around the world, said Jamie Angell, the theater's artistic director since its
inception.
"We work in the round, so the audience is right on top of the action,"
Angell said. "The unconventional material and the absence of props or
costumes force both the actors and the audience to rely on their imaginations.
It's remarkably different from most anything else you see in children's theater
today."
In addition to "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Duckling," the
Children's Theater troupe will present three improvised adaptions of
international folktales. Those productions are still to be determined.
Beginning July 11, "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Duckling" will be
performed outdoors in the Hillside Theater every Thursday, Friday and Saturday
at 10 a.m. through Aug. 24. All seats are shaded from the sun. Tickets are $8
for adults and $5 for children ages 12 and under. Group rates are available.
For ticket information, call the Occidental Box Office at (323) 259-2922.
10. LETTERS AND E.MAILS
"Another great issue! Thanks for keeping us all so informed
on the happenings in Eagle Rock. I was wondering if you might want to
include a notice in your next e.letter about the biweekly toddler program our
own Eagle Rock library? It's a great way to get kids introduced to the
library and interested in reading. My 1-year-old and 2-1/2 year old both
enjoy it! It's every other Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. I wanted to let
everyone know, not only because it's a great program, but also because they are
thinking about canceling it since so few kids show up for it. Please help
spread the word! The next session is on Tuesday, June 4. Thanks.
P.S. Kudos, too, on another terrific home tour. I am always so
impressed by how well the tours are organized and managed. The volunteers
at each home really help visitors learn something about the house."
-- Cheryl Leutjen, Eagle Rock resident and TERA member
"In your memo of 5/21, you wrote:
"'A proposal to . . . construct a Walgreens drug store . . . was shoved
through the Planning Department twice without the knowledge of the wider Eagle
Rock community . . . No one within a 500-foot radius was notified, as required
by law. . . It's clear our City officials were hoping to get
this project locked down before any opposition action could be taken . . .'
That is exactly the scenario we encountered with the million dollar pork
project to cover the small remaining scenically open family area in Yosemite
Park with a predictably dysfunctional special interest athletic building.
Perhaps if we in TERA had gone to bat more vigorously on that one, the
bureaucratic insult wouldn't have been repeated in the Walgreens fiasco.
With best personal regards, and we still love TERA."
-- Pearl and Pat Wells, Eagle Rock residents and TERA members
"Dear City Council Member Pacheco,
I am a homeowner and one of your constituents in the Eagle Rock district. I am
also a new member of TERA. I have just read the TERA newsletter of May 23,
2002, of which I am sure you are aware, regarding the Ave 57 Specific Plan TOD
(Transportation Oriented District), and Ed Reyes's amendment (secret plan?). I
am glad that amended and edited Ave 57 Specific Plan TOD has been tabled. I
hope that you will ensure that this revised plan is not reintroduced at a later
time. It is extremely important for both elected officials and government staff
to respect the intent of plans worked out with members of the community that
they serve. This is especially true when such plans are the result of a lengthy
public process.
To have such plans subverted by last minute secretive amendments is the kind of
activity that promotes movements like Valley, Hollywood and Harbor
Secession. While my inclination is to support a unified City of Los Angeles,
incidents such as this are the sort of thing that could change my opinion.
Another example of this is the planned Walgreens development on Colorado Blvd
here in Eagle Rock and the attempt to evade the provisions of the Colorado
Boulevard Specific Plan. While I respect the fact that a city must continue to
grow and to develop to meet the needs of a growing population and that sales
tax from retail businesses are unfortunately the primary source of local
revenues, there is no reason that such development cannot conform to reasonable
restrictions. One only needs to look at the success of nearby Old Town Pasadena
to see the value and profit to be realized from development that respects
historic preservation. While every old building need not be preserved there is
no reason to foster new development that is out of character with the
surrounding community and contrary to the wishes of the local residents.
A ride down Colorado Blvd. in Eagle Rock reveals both aesthetic redevelopment
of store fronts and some ugly mini-mall strips that the Colorado Boulevard
Specific Plan was intended to prohibit.
The current Walgreens' proposal is a design disaster. The facade canopy that is
offered in a clumsy attempt to comply with the Colorado Boulevard Specific Plan
is an eyesore that is perhaps worse than an open view of a parking lot and will
only serve to make the development look trashy. From my observations overtime
such a superfluous canopy will only become more of an eyesore with age. If the
Colorado Boulevard Specific Plan is indeed the law it should be enforced with
an eye to both the letter and spirit of the law. If local government refuses to
enforce the law I am confidant the courts will. I ask you to use the power of
your office to let Walgreens know that they must conform to the law and the
wishes of the community where they wish to do business.
Thank you for your consideration. With kind regards --"
-- Frank Lupo, Eagle Rock resident and new TERA member
"We really appreciate TERA's covering, as usual, the investigations of
Andrew Garsten and friends, and also for publishing Garcetti's Indemnification
Plan (which we led, with the story about the Silverlake Community Groups
Wrongful Death Lawsuit last year).
Through e-mail distributions like TERA's, activists like us can efficiently
reach the community, and enable the voice of the community to be heard by our
political leaders.
Thanks again, and Thank You Eagle Rock!"
-- Andrew Garsten, Echo Park resident and spokesperson for Save Van de Kamp's
Coalition
11. QUOTES OF THE
WEEK
"If you want to get something done, put the artists
in charge."
-- Phil Barbaro, life-long Eagle Rocker, attorney, former East Area
Planning Commissioner, TERA member, and community activist
"Never dismiss the artists. They are the
ones that make things happen."
-- Anonymous
We welcome your comments. Please include your name.
Please encourage interested friends to send their e.mail addresses to us at artburn@earthlink.net so we can keep them
informed, too.
If you have changed your e.mail address or would like to be removed from
this list, please contact artburn@earthlink.net.
TERA -- The Eagle Rock Association -- YOUR COMMUNITY IN ACTION -- http://www.TERA90041.org --
P. O. Box 41453, Eagle Rock, CA 90041 -- (323) 259-TERA -- a 501(c)(3)
nonprofit public benefit corporation
Joanne Turner <artburn@earthlink.net>
President, The Eagle Rock Association (TERA)