THE EAGLE ROCK ASSOCIATION
July
24, 2003
In this issue:
News of tonight's Northeast LA Public Safety Forum
(item 1)
Take a free ride on the Gold Line! (item
6)
Requiem for a beloved building (letters,
item 19)
Eagle Rock celebrity sighting (see final
entry in letters, item 19)
Table of Contents:
1. NORTHEAST LOS ANGELES PUBLIC SAFETY FORUM -- JULY 24 -- TONIGHT!
2. THE NORTHEAST OBSERVERıS REPORT ON THE SHOPPING BAG
DEMOLITION
3. FIGURES THAT DRAW YOU TO HIGHLAND PARK
4. BARD UNDER THE STARS: PERSHING SQUARE SHAKESPEARE FEST --
CLOSES JULY 26
5. NE KIDS PERFORM AT LITTLE TOKYO OBON FESTIVAL -- JULY 26, 27
6. HIGHLAND PARK GLOWS GOLD THIS WEEKEND -- JULY 26, 27
7. TERA WELCOMES DR. MUSIC TO EAGLE ROCK! -- GRAND OPENING JULY
26, 27
8. CELEBRATE THE 70's AT THIS WEEKENDıS SUMMER CONCERT -- JULY 27
9. EAGLE ROCK NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL DISTRICTS 6 AND 7 OPEN HOUSE --
JULY 30
10. YODL-YOS: AT THE EAGLE ROCK CULTURAL CENTER -- THROUGH JULY 30
11. HOLIDAY TIME IS HERE AGAIN! -- JULY 30
12. SUMMER SALON AT GALLERY OPHELIA -- EXTENDED THROUGH AUGUST
13. CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: WOMEN IN BUSINESS AWARDS
14. ER CULTURAL CENTER RECEPTION: WM. NEIL ROBERTS AND CHRISTOPHER
ULRICH -- AUGUST 3
15. RECLAIM OUR STREETS AT THE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT -- AUGUST 5
16. "GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE TENORS" CONTINUE THEIR OXY
SERENADE -- THROUGH AUGUST 23
17. MARK YOUR CALENDAR! THIS YEAR'S EAGLE ROCK HOME TOUR --
OCTOBER 19
18. ZONING BOARD TURNS THUMBS DOWN ON GLASSELL PARK McDONALDıS
19. LETTERS AND E-MAILS
20. QUOTE OF THE WEEK: YIP HARBURG
1. NORTHEAST LOS
ANGELES PUBLIC SAFETY FORUM -- JULY 24 -- TONIGHT!
The Eagle Rock
Neighborhood Council
presents
Tonight, Thursday, July 24
6:30 PM
Occidental College
Eagle Rock
At 6:30 pm tonight, July 24th, the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council
(ERNC) will sponsor a forum on the state of public safety in Northeast Los
Angeles. The forum will be held on the Branca Patio of the Johnson
Student Center at Occidental College.
Scheduled panelists are: 14th District Councilmember Antonio Villaraigosa; LAPD
Deputy Chief Gary J. Brennan; LAPD Northeast Captain Kyle Jackson; LAFD Fire
Chief William R. Bamattre, local LAFD Battalion 2 Chief Daryl Arbuthnott; and
Prosecuting Deputy City Attorney Jeanne Kim.
TV/Radio personality Jon Beaupre will moderate, and questions will be submitted
by audience members on topics such as: crime statistics and trends in the city
and the Northeast; how our neighborhoods are affected by criminal laws; Police
and Fire Departments' budget and staffing challenges, the need for new
high-tech equipment; local emergency preparedness, and more.
The panel discussion will be followed by a reception for audience members,
panelists, and neighborhood council representatives. Information on public
safety of all kinds will also be available.
Access the Branca Patio in the Johnson Student Center from the Alumni Street,
Baer Road and Byrd Road parking lots. For more information, call (323)
257-6381, or e-mail info@EagleRockCouncil.org
2. THE NORTHEAST
OBSERVERıS REPORT ON THE SHOPPING BAG DEMOLITION
For those of you who may have missed it, hereıs the Northeast Observerıs
coverage of the Shopping Bag building demolition, from the paperıs July 14
issue:
End of the Battle, Start of the
War?
by Margaret Arnold
Monday, July 14, 2003
İ2003 The Northeast Observer
The long-dreaded demolition day arrived for the Eagle Rock Shopping Bag
building Monday, July 7. By the end of a chaotic day of starts and stops, the
front of the building still looked fairly intact. The back looked like a war
zone.
What remains now is the issue of replacement, will it be a box-style
Walgreen's store set behind a parking lot, or a pedestrian-friendly store with
perhaps a coffee shop?
Tension had escalated the preceding Thursday, July 3, when heavy equipment was
moved to the property, and preservation activists feared that the building
would go over the long holiday weekend. That didn't happen. But by early Monday
morning, community membersmost of them from TERA, the Eagle Rock Association,
which led the charge to save the building--could see they only had time for a
last ditch effort.
A banner reading, "We will NEVER shop here! City developer and Walgreen's
betrayed Eagle Rock citizens" was unfurled. Building and Safety was
called. The LAPD was called. At 7 a.m., the earliest time legally allowed, an
excavator machine rammed a side loading dock door. David Lara of the Government
and Community Relations Section of LA's Department of Building and Safety then
spoke with workers and reported back that only the inside was to be gutted that
day.
Then the excavator was moved to the back of the building where it began ripping
away at brick. An exterior wall and the roof were rapidly being reduced to a
pile of rubble. As TERA members looked on, clouds of dust rose, and the
building crumbled.
Mary Tokita and Pamela Lansden worked their way through the dilapidated
fencing, and, waving signs denouncing "Walgreed," climbed to the top
of the by now large pile of rubble and called to the workers to stop. The
machines were, in fact, turned off. TERA President Hilary Norton Orozco had
summoned a Building and Safety Inspector, who cited the crew for failure to
adhere to its demolition permit.
By day three, demolition began again. This time slowly and by hand. According
to the foreman on the site, the project will now take a couple of weeks instead
of a couple of days. According to TERA's Joanne Turner, "We're not saying
Walgreen's stay out. We want a better building. ... We have a right to help
determine our business district."
Former Councilmember Nick Pacheco, who many say lost his reelection over the
Walgreen's is issue, offers an optimistic outlook: "People will be
pleasantly surprised that the horror stories they feared are not true," he
told the Northeast Observer. "This is not a big box development. This will
be below grade; you will open up the skyline, and people will enjoy the new
view." Villaraigosa Chief Field Deputy Lisa Sarno told the
demonstrators, "We will do everything we can to make sure what they build
is aesthetically in line with what was here. We will engage the
community." Later, she told the Observer, "It might be too late to
save this building. But we're going to see that what is put in is to our
liking.... It won't be a box."
TERA's Kathleen Long, w, who helped spearhead the effort, has moved on to a
feeling that it is time to be creative. She would like seeing all parties come
to the table, saying, "My heart is openI do think we're on to the next
chapter with this building."
Meanwhile, TERA's Turner reflects on the situation's broader ramifications.
"This reverberates citywide because it affects every community plan
in every community."
To reference this article online, visit The Northeast Observer website at:
http://northeastobserver.com/news/templates/template2.asp?articleid=93&zoneid=5
3. FIGURES THAT
DRAW YOU INTO HIGHLAND PARK
Avenue 50 Gallery announces:
Figure Drawing Sessions
Tuesdays, from 7:00-10:00 pm
Avenue 50 Studio
131 No. Avenue 50
Los Angeles, CA 90042
Live model and art benches provided; short to long poses.
Bring your own materials.
Fee: $10 per session.
For more info, contact: Kathy Gallegos, (323) 258-1435
4. BARD UNDER THE STARS: PERSHING SQUARE
SHAKESPEARE FEST -- CLOSES JULY 26
William Shakespeareıs
July 2-26, 2003
8:00 pm (with a 7:30 pm curtain raiser)
Pershing Square
532 Olive Street
Downtown Los Angeles
The Pershing Square Shakespeare Festivalıs acclaimed production of The
Merry Wives of Windsor, performed against a situation comedy backdrop,
continues through July 26. Admission is free with a canned food donation.
For more info, visit:
http://www.shakespearefestivalla.org
5. NE KIDS PERFORM
AT LITTLE TOKYO OBON FESTIVAL--JULY 26, 27
Saturday
and Sunday, July 26, 27th
Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple
3rd Street
Little Tokyo
Eagle Rock youngsters Davis Momii and Christopher Tokita and
Highland Parker Saxon Matsuki are among the kids performing in an
all-youth Taiko group at this weekendıs Obon Festival in Little Tokyo.
The kids go on at 3:00 pm Saturday and 5:30 pm Sunday.
The colorful festival, which has been described as a kind of Japanese "Day
of the Dead," takes place at the Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple on 3rd
Street, right next to the Tokyo Towers, and a stone's throw from the Japanese
American Cultural Center. Activities take place all day Saturday and Sunday.
Come explore the oldest Buddhist Temple in Los Angeles!
For more information, go to http://www.hhbt-la.org/Higashi.html
6. HIGHLAND PARK
GLOWS GOLD THIS WEEKEND -- JULY 26, 27
The Highland Theatreıs historic 1924 rooftop sign will once again light
up Highland Parkıs skyline this weekend when the community celebrates the opening
of the long-awaited Gold Line light rail service. Locals will also
have ample opportunity to sample Gold Line soda, a limited edition
commemorative apple cider style soda bottled by John Nese of Galcoıs Soda Pop
Stop on York Boulevard. This uniquely packaged non-alcoholic apple cider
beverage will be available for sale on opening weekend at the following Gold
Line stations:
Avenue 57 (Historic Highland Park)
French Avenue (Heritage Square/Arroyo)
Proceeds from sales of the commemorative soda pop during the Gold Lineıs
opening weekend will benefit The Friends of the Southwest Museum.
With the financial assistance of the Highland Park Heritage Trust, the Highland
Theatreıs magnificent rooftop sign will burn brightly once again, after the replacement
of more than 750 incandescent light bulbs. Originally restored and lit in
the late 1990ıs through a collaboration of the Los Angeles Cultural Affairs
Neon Program and the Targeted Neighborhood Initiative Program, the sign is one
of only three incandescent bulb signs still in use in the city. Declared
a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1991, the Highland Theatre was
constructed in 1924, from a design by the noted theater architect L.A. Smith
(he also designed South Pasadena's Rialto.)
And don't forget, the Gold Line is free to the public this weekend:
Saturday, July 26, from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, and Sunday, July 27, from 10:00 am
to 5:00 pm.
For more information, contact:
Nicole Possert at (323) 255-5792
7. TERA WELCOMES
DR. MUSIC TO EAGLE ROCK! -- GRAND OPENING JULY 26, 27
Grand Opening Celebration
Saturday, July 26th and Sunday, July 27th
10:00 am-7:00 pm
The Pillers Building
on Colorado Boulevard
Please join Eagle Rock's newest business, Dr. Music, for their grand
opening and official ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday, July 26, from 10:00 a.m.
to 7:00 p.m.. Grand opening festivities will continue on Sunday, July 27,
from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Dr. Music specializes in all kinds of sheet music, and sales of both acoustic
and electric guitars, bass guitars, drums, violins, various music accessories,
and music lessons.
Brother-and-sister owners Derek and Pat Reymer were located in Pasadena for 30
years and needed more space. The wonderful Pillers building became available
just in time! The space is really magnificent, and the great old
high wood-trussed ceiling is exposed, including skylights. They have
enough space to build a stage for musical performances, which is now being
constructed, just like the infamous McCabe's in Santa Monica. There will soon
be even more nightlife in Eagle Rock!
Dr. Music, 1812 Colorado Boulevard (Pillers building), Eagle Rock, (323)
258-9010.
8. CELEBRATE THE
70's AT THIS WEEKENDıS SUMMER CONCERT--JULY 27
The Eagle Rock Summer
Concert Series rocks, rolls (and swings) on!
It's summertime in Eagle Rock, time to gather the family together and
head on down to the park for the one of the season's open air concerts, a
program of local businesses and the Eagle Rock Chamber of Commerce.
Concerts take place on selected Sunday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 pm in the
area behind the Eagle Rock Park Recreation Center, at 1100 Eagle Vista, just
this side of Figueroa Boulevard. All are invited. The music
is sizzlin', and the company couldn't be better. We'll see you there!
Here's the schedule of this year's upcoming summer concerts:
Music from the 70's to the Present
Sponsored by Dilbeck/GMAC Realtors
6 - 8 pm
Sponsored by The Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council Swing dancing
lessons, contests, prize drawings and free dinner to the first 200 attendees
6 - 8 pm
and closing ceremonies
6 - 8 pm
9. EAGLE ROCK
NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL DISTRICTS 6 AND 7 OPEN HOUSE -- JULY 30
Are you an Eagle Rock District
6 or 7 resident worried about city services, public safety, graffiti, trash, or
other aspects of the quality of life in our area? If so, drop by the ERNC
District 6 and 7 Open House on Wednesday, July 30. Sponsored by
ERNC District 6 Director, Cheryl Leutjen, and ERNC District 7 Director, Rich
Monk, the event is open to all District 6 and 7 stakeholders (including
residents, business owners, and members of civic groups and faith-based
organizations.) Come meet your District Directors and discuss ideas, ask
questions, and broach your concerns about our neighborhood. Letıs work
together to make Eagle Rock a better place in which to live, work, shop and
play.
District 6 is the area west of Eagle Rock Boulevard and north of
Yosemite/Wawona. District 7 is the area north of Colorado, east of Eagle Rock
Boulevard, and west of Townsend. For more information, contact:
Cheryl Leutjen, (323) 256-5733,
District6@EagleRockCouncil.org
or
Rich Monk, (323) 255-4052,
District7@EagleRockCouncil.org
10. YODL-YOS: AT
THE EAGLE ROCK CULTURAL CENTER -- THROUGH JULY 30
The Eagle Rock Community Cultural Association presents
Yodl-Yos
works on paper
by Alexandra and Daniel Wiesenfeld
Through July 30, 2003
2225 Colorado Boulevard
The Eagle Rock Cultural Center invites you to celebrate these
artists. The Center is located at 2225 Colorado Blvd, near the corner of
Eagle Rock Blvd. and Colorado.
For more information, call Jenny or Lui at (323) 226-1617.
11. HOLIDAY TIME IS
HERE AGAIN! -- JULY 30
July 30, 6:30-7:30 pm
Faith United Presbyterian Church
115 N. Ave. 53
Los Angeles, CA 90042
Everyone is welcome!
The date and time of the 58th Annual Northeast Los Angeles Holiday
Parade has been changed to 12 noon on December 7, 2003.
This yearıs theme is "Holiday Fantasies & Dreams."
Get your entries in early!
Space is available for the holiday program and Sponsorship. Act Today to
ensure your ad gets into the program.
And don't forget--you can help make this outstanding community event happen by
attending the planning meeting on July 30.
Questions? Call parade chair Misty Iwatsu at (323) 255-5030.
12. SUMMER SALON AT
GALLERY OPHELIA--EXTENDED THROUGH AUGUST
A salon-style
show featuring works by local artists
July 9th-August 29th, 2003
2114 Colorado Boulevard
Eagle Rock
Includes works by:
Katrina Alexy - collages
Miss Mindy -paintings
Linda Johnstone-Allen - paintings, handmade masks
Candace Jeanette - paintings & collages
Cynthia Paige Aaron -assemblages
Courtney Regli- collage
Kevin Hass -photography
Rebecca Johnson - photography
Jennifer Murphy - mixed media
Victor Moreno -photography
Kelly Reemsten - paintings
Clarissa Castillo - mixed media
Kimmy McCann - paintings
Wendy Lang - photographs
GALLERY HOURS:
Wed-Sat 12-6pm
For more information:
http://www.galleryophelia.com
or call (323) 982-9945
13. CALL FOR
NOMINATIONS: WOMEN IN BUSINESS AWARDS
From our friend Teresa Acosta at State senator John Scottıs office comes
this call for nominations of notable women in business:
Each year, organizations and individuals throughout the districts of
Senator Jack Scott, Assemblymember Carol Liu and Assemblymember Dario Frommer
submit hundreds of nominations of local women business leaders for the annual
Women in Business Awards luncheon. Honorees are selected from among these
nominations, and awards are presented at an elegant luncheon hosted by the
three legislators. Last year's honorees included Eagle Rock residents Patricia
Neal of Swork and Maria Cabildo of the East LA Community Corporation.
Anyone may submit a nomination (or more than one), from now until August 1.
A full list of nomination criteria and categories follows this text.
If you have any questions, you may call me directly at (626) 683-0282.
Thank you,
Teresa Acosta
WOMEN IN BUSINESS AWARDS LUNCHEON
NOMINATING CRITERIA:
Nominees must conduct business or live within the appropriate
Senate or Assembly District, which may include all or part of the following
communities: Altadena, Arcadia, Atwater Village, Burbank, Chinatown, Duarte,
Eagle Rock, East Hollywood, Echo Park, Encino, Glassell Park, Glendale,
Griffith Park, La Canada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Lake Balboa, Lake View
Terrace, Los Feliz, Monrovia, Montrose, North Hollywood, Pasadena, Reseda, San
Marino, San Gabriel, Shadow Hills, Sherman Oaks, Silver Lake, South Pasadena,
Sunland, Tarzana, Temple City, Toluca Lake, Tujunga, Valley Village or Van
Nuys.
Nominations must be received no later than August 1, 2003.
Nominations are currently being accepted for the following categories:
Small Businesswoman of the Year:
A woman who owns or operates a small business and has demonstrated
exemplary skills and leadership in her field. A small business is defined as a
business with annual receipts of $500,000 or less OR 500 employees or less.
Corporate Woman of the Year:
A female corporate employee, at any level, who has demonstrated exemplary
skills and leadership.
Non-Profit Executive Director of the Year:
A female executive director of a non-profit organization who has
demonstrated exemplary skills and leadership.
Tami Ginsburg* Employee of the Year:
A female employee, in any field and at any level, who has demonstrated
exemplary skills and leadership.
Non-Profit Employee of the Year:
A female employee of a non-profit organization who has demonstrated
exemplary skills and leadership.
Empowerment Award:
A non-profit organization or male or female-owned business that has done
exceptional outreach to women and has made a conscious effort to promote and
provide high level positions to women.
Community Service Award:
A woman in business who contributes significant time and/or money for the
benefit of the community.
Most Inspirational:
A woman who has overcome serious obstacles on her road to become a leader
in todayıs business community.
Woman in Science & Technology:
A businesswoman who has demonstrated exemplary skills and accomplishments
in the field of science or technology.
Woman in Entertainment:
A female employee, at any level, who has demonstrated exemplary skills and
leadership in the entertainment industry.
If you have any questions and/or would like a nomination form or invitation,
please contact:
Teresa Acosta, (626) 683-0282
Teresa.Acosta@sen.ca.gov
14. ER CULTURAL CENTER RECEPTION: WM. NEIL
ROBERTS AND CHRISTOPHER ULRICH -- AUGUST 3
Eagle Rock Center for the
Arts
presents
and
August 3rd August 29th
Reception August 3rd, 1:00-4:00 pm
Eagle Rock Cultural Center
Both artists specialize in creating narrative visual forms, and the
exhibition will include portraits, botanicals, landscapes, and abstract
landscapes. An accomplished harpsichordist and harpsichord teacher, Mr.
Roberts brings a sense of musicality to his work. Mr. Ulrichıs work plays
with symbols, both contemporary and mythic to illustrate both ancient and
modern conflict.
The reception will feature harpsichordist, Suzanne Shapiro, and flutist,
Anthony Brazier. Refreshments will be provided. Please come and
join us in celebrating these artists!
The ERCCA is a non-profit organization, supported solely by grants and
donations, providing low-cost art, music, dance and computer classes to
children and adults of surrounding areas and communities. The ERCCA also
hosts two free festivals yearly and numerous concerts and exhibitions.
For more information call Lui or Jenny at the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock,
323.226.1617. The Center is located near the corner of Eagle Rock
Boulevard and Colorado Boulevard at 2225 Colorado Blvd.
15. RECLAIM OUR
STREETS AT NATIONAL NIGHT OUT -- AUGUST 5
The Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council and Eagle Rock Neighborhood
Watch, with special assistance from Occidental College, will sponsor
Eagle Rockıs participation in
Tuesday, August 5
6:30pm
Eagle Rock City Hall
2035 Colorado Boulevard.
National Night Out is a national event which takes place on the
local level, encouraging citizens to reclaim their streets from crime. Bring
your family (and a flashlight) and join us to show support for a safe hometown!
Free fingerprinting for children; see LAPD equestrian and K-9 units at work;
take in public safety demonstrations and meet Councilmember Antonio
Villaraigosa along with your local police and fire fighters. Live
entertainment, music and food provided!
For more information, call (323) 257-6381, or e-mail:
PublicSafety@EagleRockCouncil.org
ERNC_outreach@earthlink.net
16. "GOLDILOCKS
AND THE THREE TENORS" CONTINUE THEIR OXY SERENADE -- THROUGH AUGUST 23
headline
the Seventh Season
of Occidental's Summer Children's Theater
The critically acclaimed Occidental College Children's Theater
continues this summer's "Goldilocks and the Three Tenors," an
original tale, plus three unique adaptations of traditional folk tales for a
seven-week outdoor run ending on August 23, 2003. Performances are
presented in the Remsen Bird Hillside Theater on the Occidental campus.
In just over an hour, a cast of six Occidental students, alumni and
professional actors perform the show without props, sets, or costumes, relying
only on their acting and physical skills. "This dynamic company of
talented actors ... is as fresh and entertaining as ever," the Los Angeles
Times says.
"Goldilocks and the Three Tenors" will be performed outdoors in the
Hillside Theater every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 10 a.m. through Aug.
23. All seats are shaded from the sun. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5
for children aged 12 and under. Group rates are available.
For ticket information, call the Occidental Box Office at (323) 259-2922.
Occidental College is located at 1600 Campus Road in the Eagle Rock section
of Los Angeles. For a campus map and directions to the college, please visit:
www.oxy.edu/oxy/welcome/directions
17. MARK YOUR CALENDAR! THIS YEAR'S EAGLE
ROCK HOME TOUR -- OCTOBER 19
TERA is pleased to announce:
The 4th Annual
Sunday, October 19, 2003
10:00 am4:00 pm
Tour some of the most lovely and interesting homes and gardens in this
historic community, starting with The Womenıs 20th Century Club
Craftsman building, constructed in 1913.
The club, now celebrating its 100 year anniversary, was formed by the
progressive women of Eagle Rock, which, at that time, was a small agricultural
village. Their purpose was ³self-improvement along social and
intellectual lines.²
TERA will also be hosting an exhibit of plein-air painting, an art form which
celebrates natural beauty and has historic roots in the community.
Tour goers will also have the opportunity to visit homes built over the course
of the last century in the variety of styles which make Eagle Rock, ³L.A.ıs
Hometown,² so unique.
Volunteers and docents are needed the day of the event. Your participation
earns you an invitation to the wrap party, a highlight of Eagle Rock social
life.
If you'd like to volunteer to help make this event a success, send an e-mail
reply to this e.letter with the subject heading, "Home tour
volunteer." Be sure your e-mail includes your name and phone number.
18. ZONING BOARD
TURNS THUMBS DOWN ON GLASSELL PARK McDONALDıS
Finally, hereıs the latest from Glassell Park activist Tony Scudellari on
his communityıs ongoing battle to keep a McDonaldıs from invading their
neighborhood. (Hint: this oneıs good news!):
On Friday, July 18th, Zoning Administrator Albert Landini mailed out his
determination on the proposed McDonald's for 3901 Eagle Rock Boulevard.
In a 57+ page report that was dispassionate and analytical, Mr.
Landini denied a Conditional Use Permit to McDonald's. The Zoning
Administrator even took the time to actually visit the site for himself before
making his decision. In his report, Mr. Landini cited the
"tortured" traffic
flow saying "...the site has one serious flaw, 'you can't get there from
here.'" Mr. Landini also described McDonald's proposed hours of
operation (Sunday through Thursday, 5am to 12am / Fridays & Saturdays, 5 am
to 1 am) as being "excessive."
We thank our friends at TERA who helped support us during this fight. We are
grateful that Mr. Landini has come to the determination to deny the Conditional
Use Permit, which has been opposed by the GPIA membership and Councilmember
Eric Garcetti.
However, judging from McDonald's past record on this project, we anticipate
that the corporation's Woodland Hills office will in all likelihood ignore the
wishes of the community, the Councilmember - and now the Zoning Administrator -
and challenge the ruling.
We will keep you posted and, if necessary, continue our fight for good
development at this location.
Tony Scudellari, President
Glassell Park Improvement Association
19. LETTERS AND
E-MAILS
"I always look forward to getting my
e-letter. I have lived in Eagle Rock now 47 years (all my life). It
is such a shame for me to see this town torn apart by groups of people
that work so hard, against each other. I was at the the park concert last
Sunday. It was a lot of fun, but several times that afternoon I was
approached by people asking me to sign their petitions to welcome Walgreen's to
the neighborhood, and to thank [the drug store chain] for tearing down the
'ugly' [Shopping Bag] building. I refused them all, giving as my reason
that I would not ever set foot in Walgreens. I argued that we need so
many other things in Eagle Rock, rather than another drug store. When I
read the [letter in last week's e.letter] from Dennis Heinz, in Florida, asking
if we had discouraged the Walgreens bullies, I could not help but feel sad for
my home town.
"I wonder if I am the only one here sick of the mean comments
that the different organizations in this community make publicly about one
another. By doing that, I feel we are playing a big part in destroying
that home town feeling we all claim to love. Most of us have taught
our children, 'if you can't say something nice, don't say anything.'
"Thanks again for keeping us all informed and for letting me
get that off my chest."
--Terrye Munday, Highland View
Avenue block captain and member of "Rockin' Rodders"
* * *
"Drove by the old Shopping Bag store and was really
disappointed with its destruction. It could have been beautifully
refurbished in a grand 50's style. Now we're going to get just another
run of the mill standard one-each drug store structure. No beauty, just
the facts ma'am."
--Kathy Gallegos, Avenue 50 Studio Gallery, Highland Park
* * *
"Re: Post-demolition accountability: Nick, this dud's for you
"As I drive the boulevard each day, watching the Shopping
Bag building crumbling under the wrecking ball, like many of you,
I remain furious at this sorry turn of events and still can't believe that
Walgreens beat us. Of course they couldn't have done it without the
aid and comfort of our now-departed elected council representative and
dim-witted and/or corrupt city planning officials. But I'm also
thinking, this is not over. Even as we contemplate the dismal
prospect of a massive Walgreens parking lot ruining the possibility of an
attractive and distinctive town center, we need to make public
the names of the people responsible. They should have to come
forward and defend their unfathomable, anti-democratic, anti-social decisions.
I regret that the TERA board in the end did not vote to file a lawsuit because,
if nothing else, it would have focused more scrutiny on who these people are
and how, and why, they circumvented the law and the will of the people. Without
a lawsuit, we need to find other ways.
"If the state Republicans can mount a campaign to recall Gray
Davis, why can't we mount a campaign to recall the members of the Los
Angeles City Planning Department -- particularly its director, Con Howe, and
staff member Luis Rodriguez, the person who first concluded somehow,
someway that the proposed Walgreen's development conformed to
the Colorado Specific Plan? Right. Who are these guys, what are their
records and agendas, and where did they learn their definitions of public
service? And let's not forget the East Area Planning
Commission, whose approval of this boondoggle would indicate that a
majority of its members, too, are ignorant of the meaning and spirit of
the Specific Plan and maybe the whole concept of historic preservation
that has revitalized sagging mercantile neighborhoods coast to coast for, oh,
the last 30 years? We need to hear this bunch of esteemed public
servants speak up as well, invoke the Fifth Amendment, or just admit
they got their jobs by mistake.
"The point here is that people in Los Angeles did this to us
-- not just some faceless corporation 2000 miles away. Pacheco has, in
effect, already been recalled for his role in backing Walgreens and
the developer against his own community. That, sadly, will be
his legacy. He was the point man. But who helped him? What's the
entire cast of characters? Even if they can't technically be recalled (since
they weren't elected), they still can be and should be asked to resign --
or at least say acts of contrition on cable access. The whole
obscure planning process needs to be dragged out in the open, and its key
players identitifed and held accountable -- if for no other reason than
to make sure these same clueless scoundrels don't commit a
similar crime down the street or around the corner.
"My kids, who are curious and engaged in the world around
them, have followed this controversy over the past two years, and I'm
having trouble explaining to them how it turned out: how something that is
both illegal and unpopular can prevail in a democracy. It is a
lesson, unfortunately, that has to do with money and its many uses, and is
probably not a lesson they are going to learn in school. But as
they watch the Shopping Bag building reduced to rubble, which do I tell
them is the real America? The one that's taught in their social
studies classes, or what is happening in front of their own eyes on
Colorado Boulevard?"
--Sean Mitchell, Eagle Rock
* * *
"I have come to rely on this e.letter for so much information
about Eagle Rock that I canıt imagine life without it. Thanks for all
your efforts to keep us all up to date."
--Cheryl Leutjen, Eagle Rock resident, TERA member and
District 6 Neighborhood Council director
* * *
"My name is Lynda D'Angelo, and I'm co-owner of the Curves
for Women fitness facility in Glendale. With so many of our current
members in Eagle Rock, my partner and I are very excited to announce that we're
bringing the 30-minute women's fitness center concept here on August 18,
when we open our newest Curves for Women at 4870 Eagle Rock Boulevard, right
next to the Eagle Theater. The old automotive building is going through
major renovations: the main structure is the same, but it will be like
new inside (you may have noticed the work crews!)"
--Lynda D'Angelo, Co-owner, Curves for Women
* * *
"Here's a link to the latest newsletter of the Logan Circle
Community Association (LCCA). http://www.logancircle.org/news/archive/news0503.pdf
Logan Circle is a historic neighborhood in Northwest Washington,
DC. Fifteen years ago, when my sister and her husband moved
there, the community was considered very marginal at best and a real
estate risk. At this point in time, the turnaround has been remarkable,
largely due to the efforts of the community association. These people are
powerhouses! They have had many victories and they know how to
effectively deal with public officials.
"Previously rundown 14th Street (similar in many ways to Colorado Bl.) has
emerged as a street of great international eateries, live theaters, clubs and a
very diverse collection of interesting small businesses. The other main
commercial blvd., U Street, is attracting furniture and design businesses along
with its collection of cafes, galleries and bookstores. U Street is
located in the heart of DC's historic African-American community, yet its
atmosphere is very international. A great diversity of Washingtonians go
there for that experience. Great place! What I like the most about
both streets is that there is vibrant (not wild) nightlife. I see TERA as
an organization containing the where-with-all to do something similar for Eagle
Rock. Another very interesting neighborhood in DC is Adams-Morgan.
It's home to the city's largest Latino population, and like U Street, the
commercial environment is very international. Here is a link to their
restaurant listings just to let you know what I mean: http://www.dcneighborhoods.com/adamsmorgan/restaur.htm
"I hope that this proves informative inspirational.
Perhaps TERA could maintain a line of communication with LCCA--sort of a
sister association thing. Their website is at: http://www.logancircle.org/
If you have a
few spare moments, read through their newsletter archives."
--Matt Marchand, Highland Park
* * *
"I am a professor at the School of Architecture of Pamplona
(Navarra, Spain), and I am making research in order to publish an essay.
I have recently found that Conrad Buff and Richard Neutra built a house
for Buff in 1927, and I am trying to find any plans or photographs of it.
"Would you be so kind as to let me know if you have some
information about that house?
"Thank you very much indeed. Waiting to hear from
you..."
--Rubén A. Alcolea, architect,
Escuela de Arquitectura de la Universidad de Navarra
Departamento de proyectos arquitectónicos
Campus Universitario, E 31080 Pamplona
EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks for writing, professor! As it so happens, Eagle
Rock's Buff House was a highlight of last year's TERA Eclectic Eagle Rock Home
Tour. TERA President Emeritus Joanne Turner has already put you in
touch with the house's present owner, who will no doubt be pleased to hear of
your interest in her home. And if, by some chance, you find
yourself stateside this October 19, we invite you to take in the architectural
marvels that await participants in this year's Eclectic Eagle Rock Home Tour.
(See item 17 above for more Home Tour information.)
Before we close the mailbag, we'd like to correct a couple
of items that slipped into last week's e.letter.
Reader Nicole Possert pointed out (ever so politely) that we got the
territories of the various 14th District field deputies wrong in our
Clip'n'Save city Hall contact guide. Suitably chastened, we
contacted Ulisses Sanchez, aide to Councilmember Antonio R. Villaraigosa, and
asked for an up-to-date Who's Who in the 14th District
offices. According to Uli, field deputy Michael Cathey is the field
deputy to call if you live in Eagle Rock or Glassell Park, while Monica Garcia
is your friend in City Hall if you reside in Highland Park, Hermon, Garvanza or
Mt. Washington.
Also in last week's e.letter, we identified the pylon of the old
Shopping Bag Building as a towering landmark that beckoned to Route 66 drivers
in bygone days. The only problem with that blatantly romantic
notion is that, according to e.letter reader and Route 66 aficianado Chris
Willman, the grand old road probably never passed anywhere near the Shopping
Bag building. Says Chris:
"It's my understanding that Route 66 used to turn down
Figueroa from Colorado--and that was only into the 1920s. After that, 66
was routed down Fair Oaks in Pasadena. I could be wrong, since I'm not a
hardcore Route 66 trivia buff, but I'm pretty confident the Mother Road never
extended that far into Eagle Rock."
We bow to Mr. Willman's superior expertise on the slippery
course of America's Mother Road.
By the way, Chris wrote us a few days later to report a wholly
different piece of historical trivia from Eagle Rock's storied past:
"Here's something a little off the beaten track:
Searching "Route 66" and "Eagle Rock" on the web, I
came across a tale from an old-timer who says he grew up going to school in
Eagle Rock, and that at night he played with the dog owned by his next-door
neighbor lady...the original Rin Tin Tin! Now he doesn't
explicitly state that he lived in Eagle Rock. But if he attended school here,
it seems a safe presumption that he also lived here, right? So, in other
words, it seems that Rin Tin Tin was an Eagle Rock resident--something
to keep in mind the next time we make a list of local celebrities."
--Chris Willman, Eagle Rock
EDITOR'S NOTE: The complete text of the Rin Tin Tin/Eagle Rock
citation that Chris unearthed may be found at http://www.wemweb.com/chr66a/roadsign/vol_2/v2num4.html.
20. QUOTE OF THE
WEEK
"Once I
built a railroad, made it run,
Made
it race against time...
Once I built a railroad, now
itıs done,
Buddy,
can you spare a dime?"
--Yip
Harburg (18981981)
We welcome your comments. Please include your first
and last name, along with your city, street or neighborhood.
The TERA e.letter
A publication of The Eagle Rock Association (TERA)
Edited by Vince Waldron
e.letter@TERA90041.org