Time to Demand Proper EIR for Van de Kamps

How You Can Get On The Official Notice List

By Miki Jackson and Laura Gutierrez

For the last three years, the LACCD has used threadbare excuses to avoid opening the Van de Kamps Satellite Campus to offer a meaningful and coherent slate of community service and academic classes to serve the communities of Silverlake, Echo Park, Atwater Village, Glassell Park, Cypress Park, Highland Park, Mount Washington and Eagle Rock.  Without environmental review in 2009, LACCD started leasing the campus to political cronies of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.  Audits by the State Controller’s Office and review by the LA Superior Court found misconduct by LACCD officials at Van de Kamps.

The environmental lawsuit won by the Van de Kamps Coalition requires the District to prepare a Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to examine future use of the $91 million Van de Kamps campus. NOW is the time for residents in these affected communities to use the public input process to participate in the LACCD’s court-ordered reconsideration of its rash and illogical decision to try to abandon the community college mission of this campus.

This coming Friday, October 12, 2012, is the deadline for YOU to ask to be put on LACCD’s official list for all notices related to the Van de Kamps environmental review process.  The Van de Kamps Coalition is asking residents of the City to demand that the EIR include analysis of the original programming plans developed with extensive community input – something LACCD is currently not proposing to do.

NOW is the time for persons who have been reading about the appalling misdirection of taxpayer monies at Van de Kamps to DO SOMETHING TO DEMAND LACCD conform its behavior with community demands and the law.  Silence is your permission to continue to take your tax monies (about $120 per year on the average tax bill) and offer no ladder of opportunity to our young adults who desperately need these services and no meaningful services to our community.

LACCD has made no effort to outreach to you and our communities to let you know it is preparing a new environmental document in which you have a legal right to participate.  The Van de Kamps Coalition is distributing this information to you because the LACCD staff has continued its effort to only notify the existing tenants of the Van de Kamps campus.

Are you going to sit by idly and let LACCD do this or will you speak out to demand the satellite campus LACCD promised our communities for more than a decade before it was snatched away by the Mayor?  PLEASE forward this ACTION ALERT to your e-mail address book or post to your Facebook page in order to help the Van de Kamps Coalition get out the word of how people have an opportunity to change LACCD’s course through our collective voices!

Here are the instructions for how to send an email to LACCD:

Please take a moment to send an email to Vice Chancellor Adriana Berrera and the Trustees to make sure LACCD does not exclude you further from the environmental process.  Of course, this email is a template.  Feel free to add to it to express your feelings about the loss of the Van de Kamps campus.

[send to these addresses: BarreraD@email.laccd.edu, JustinCL@email.laccd.edu, thayes@webtaha.com, vdkcoalition@gmail.com]:

Dr. Adriana Berrera and Trustees

Los Angeles Community College District

770 Wilshire Blvd.

Los Angeles, California 90017

 October __, 2012

RE: Van de Kamps Campus Subsequent EIR – Interested Person List and Scoping

Dear Dr. Berrera and LACCD Trustees:  

Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, I request that my name, address and email be added to the list of interested persons to receive all notices, a copy or notice of online access to the Draft and Final Subsequent EIR for the Van de Kamps campus project, and fair notice to myself and all community organizations of any public meeting to consider future changes to the use of the Community College Campus you built at Van de Kamps with my taxpayer monies.  

In fact, I demand that the Board of LACCD schedule a meeting at a public location in Northeast Los Angeles adequate to hold persons interested in this matter to consider any further leasing or other changes in use to our community college campus and that neighborhood councils, homeowner groups, and other community electronic bulletin boards be given at least 10 days advance notice of any meeting where you will consider changes to the Van de Kamps campus.

The EIR must analyze the original plan to open the Van de Kamps Satellite Campus (validated by the Kosmont Associates Report), including the District’s plan for development of the adjoining land where Denny’s Restaurant is located.

Most sincerely,

[Provide Your Name 

Your Mailing Address

Your E-Mail Address] 

The Van de Kamps Coalition is an all-volunteer coalition that advocates for a return of the Van de Kamps campus to the adult community college programming promised to voters and taxpayers. Please go to our website to see final judgment of the lawsuit and look for future postings and web updates.   www.vandekamps.org email: vdkcoalition@gmail.com

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FORMER GLASSELL PARK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DEBUTS NEW WEBSITE

The Northeast L.A. Gateway Chamber of Commerce, formerly the Glassell Park Chamber of Commerce, has launched their new website (www.lagatewaychamber.org).

The recently renamed Chamber has also expanded their service area well beyond Glassell Park . They now boldly claim to serve over “10,000 members” in Atwater Village, Cypress Park, Eagle Rock, Echo Park, Elysian Valley, Highland Park, Lincoln Heights, Los Feliz, Washington, Silver Lake, and the City of Glendale. They explain on their website:

“We decided to expand our horizons to include all of our neighboring communities located in the vicinity of the Los Angeles River and the transportation corridors that form a gateway to the greater Northeast Los Angeles area, both in the City of Los Angeles and the City of Glendale. As a result we are now an organization that uniquely combines both a regional and local chamber of commerce. We are bringing together in one place information on more than 10,000 local businesses as well as on our local service and community groups.”

However, despite Glassell Park’s inclusion in the expanded service area some community members have expressed misgivings about the recent changes. Some are concerned that the NELA Gateway Chamber has turned its back on the same community it was originally created to promote. In effect, leaving Glassell Park without a chamber of commerce exclusively dedicated to promoting the businesses and the general economic wellbeing of that community. 

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L.A. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SEEKING CALTRANS GRANT TO FUND RIVER ACCESS IN ATWATER VILLAGE AND GLASSELL PARK

The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) got City Council approval (Council File: 11-0494) to submit a project entitled "Glassel Park and Atwater Village Context-Sensitive LA River Access Master Plan and Implementation Strategy" for a Caltrans environmental justice grant.

The proposed project seeks to engage Atwater Village and Glassel Park Residents in a collaborative planning process to develop a comprehensive conceptual planning document that facilitates improvements to the pedestrian, bicycle, and transportation environment. These enhancements will address an area that is typically under-represented in planning and project development and identify concepts to improve pedestrian, bicycle and transit use to promote safer access to present and future river park infrastructure currently impeded by rail, and a revitalized human environment.

LADOT anticipates partnering with the River Revitalization Corporation, a 501(c) 3 organization. The project application seeks funding in the amount of $250,000. LADOT expects to provide the necessary local matching funds through Measure R Local Return bicycle and pedestrian program funds and/or the City's Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 funds.

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Community College Board - Candidate Forum - Thursday March 3 at 7pm

The Education Committee Chair (interim) of the Glassell Park Neighborhood Council invites you to attend "Greet and Meet" candidates running for the Los Angeles Community College District this coming Thursday, March 3rd from 7 to 9 PM at the 3750 N. Verdugo Road Community Center.

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Northeast Community Police Station Community Update Meeting

When:   Wednesday, March 2^nd, 2011 at 6:00pm

Where:  Glassell Park Community Senior Center

              3750 Verdugo Road

              Los Angeles, CA 90065

Meet with Captain Murphy and other Northeast officers

·      Crime Statistics

·      Gang Unit Update

·      Community Issues

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MARCH 8TH LACCD ELECTIONS: ANYBODY BUT MONA FIELD...

By the Van de Kamps Coalition

After a 20 month investigation that started about the same time as the Van de Kamps Coalition began alerting the public to potential corrupt abuse of bond funds in the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD), the Los Angeles Times is releasing an in-depth series of articles focused upon serious problems in the $5.7 billion bond construction program.  The Van de Kamps Coalition expects the series of articles (six or more leading up to the March 8 elections for Board of Trustees) to provide compelling evidence of why voters should reject and/or remove the candidates for the Board of Trustees of LACCD whose campaigns are substantially funded by public unions.  

The candidates in the upcoming election who are endorsed by and receive substantial financial assistance from public unions include:  Mona Field (Seat No. 1), Steven Veres (Seat No. 3), Scott Svonkin (Seat 5), and Miguel Santiago (Seat 7).  In contrast, there are other candidates running, many of whom have pledged to provide better oversight of the District, enact term limits, and support a clean sweep of problem administrators from the community college district.  Here are the names of the candidates who are not tied into public union money and endorsements:

Seat 1 - Gwen Walker, Oswald Lopez, Jozef "Joe" Thomas Essavi  (Any of these but NOT Mona Field or Derrick Mims)

Seat 3 - Joyce Burrell Garcia (Not Steven Veres)

Seat 5 - Manuel "Manny" Aldana, Jr., Mark Lee, Lydia Gutierrez, Nicole Michelle Chase, Octavio Pescador, Pamela Bolin (Any of these but not Scott Svonkin)

Seat 7 - Erick Aguirre (Not Miguel Santiago)

Our young adult students deserve more than a board filled with those who take their marching orders from the public unions they are SUPPOSED to govern.

The Van de Kamps Coalition expects the LA Times articles to focus on incompetent oversight of the $5.7 billion bond program by a number of long-time LACCD Board members, especially Mona Field (who is running for re-election), Sylvia Scott-Hayes (not running for re-election), Georgia Mercer (not running for re-election), Nancy Pearlman (not up for election), and Kelly Candaele (not up for election).  For the past nine years during the life of the bond program, LACCD Board members have used bond funds to pay for public relations services that in effect reinforced their re-election.  For instance, the Van de Kamps Coalition has seen a Request for Proposal issued by LACCD that called for the public relations firm to target "green sustainability" awards for the LACCD to win across the country and then to feature Board members or Director of Facilities Larry Eisenberg in acceptance of those awards.  Thus, our tax dollars may have been spent on elaborate efforts to promote the Board and Director of Facilities using restricted bond funds.

NELA [and Atwater Village] readers are encouraged to open their email address books up and send this message across the City because each seat for the LACCD Board of Trustees is at-large.  The District encompasses a voting area larger than that of the City of Los Angeles. Your friends across the City need to be aware of how our tax dollars have been wasted by public union supported candidates.  Only through passing this information on to voters do we have a chance of defeating some of the union candidates who will give us more of the incompetent management that the LA Times is about to reveal to the world.

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Update Public School Choice Plans now on website

Plans submitted by teams to lead Central Region High School #13 (CRHS#13) located on San Fernando Road are posted on the Public School Choice website. Below you will find a link to website, the Evaluation Rubric, and to each plan.



Public School Choice Website (PSC 2.0)
http://publicschoolchoice.lausd.net/psc_2.0_proposal_submissions

PSC 2.0 Evaluation Rubric
http://publicschoolchoice.lausd.net/sites/default/files/PSC%202.0%20RFP%20Application%20Rubric%20-%20FINAL%20Revised.pdf


The following teams and charter organizations have submitted a plan:

-Alliance College Ready Public Schools (Technology and Math and Science High School)
http://publicschoolchoice.lausd.net/sites/default/files/PCS_2.0_Proposals/CRHS13_Alliance%28TAMS%29_Proposal%26Supplemental_1of2_redacted.pdf


-Paul Payne/Kristin Szilagyi(The Los Angeles River School)
http://publicschoolchoice.lausd.net/sites/default/files/PCS_2.0_Proposals/CRHS13_PayneSzilagyi%28LA%20River%20School%29_Proposal%26Appendix_1of1_redacted.pdf

-Tara Alton (School of Technology Business and Education)
http://publicschoolchoice.lausd.net/sites/default/files/PCS_2.0_Proposals/CRHS13_TaraAlton%28TechnologyBusinessEducation%29_Proposal_1of2_redacted.pdf

-Partnerships to Uplift Communities LA
http://publicschoolchoice.lausd.net/sites/default/files/PCS_2.0_Proposals/CRHS%2013_PUC_Proposal%26Appendices_1of1_redacted.pdf

-Meredith Ryley (School of History & Dramatic Arts)
http://publicschoolchoice.lausd.net/sites/default/files/PCS_2.0_Proposals/CRHS%20%2313_Meredith%20Ryley_School%20of%20History%20%26%20Dramatic%20Arts_Proposal%20%26%20Appendices_1of1_redacted_v2.pdf

-Teri Klass (ARTLAB - Arts and Community Empowerment)
http://publicschoolchoice.lausd.net/sites/default/files/PCS_2.0_Proposals/CRHS%2013_Teri%20Klass%20%28Marshall%20HS%29_Proposal%26Appendices_1of1_redacted.pdf
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MONDAY NOVEMBER 22, 2010 NOE CPAB MEETING AT THE NORTHEAST LAPD STATION

The Monthly Northeast Community Police Advisory Board (CPAB) Meeting will be held on Monday November 22, 2010 from 6:00pm - 7:30pm at the NOE LAPD Station located at 3353 San Fernando Road (Roll Call Room) in the Community of Glassell Park. Updates on Crime Stats, Crime Activity, and potential problem areas in the Northeast will be provided by the Captain with additional commentary from the Northeast LAPD Senior Lead Officers, the LA City Attorney's Office, Guest Speakers, and Community Members.

CPAB Members, please note that nominations for the Co-Chair, Asst. Co-Chair and the Treasurer will be entertained. Ideas for a Holiday Celebration will be discussed with assignments requested from Board Members and interested parties alike. Updates on the Northeast Cadet Carnival in Glassell Park and other community policing issues will be discussed. Also, please keep sending in your pictures of graffiti and tagging with the locations clearly indicated to NOE Graffiti Nuisance Abatement Pilot Program, Officer Marco Briones at 31635@lapd.lacity.org or drop off your hard copies to Los Angeles Police Department Northeast Division Community Relations Office 3353 San Fernando Road Los Angeles, CA 90065 Attn: Marco Briones or to an upcoming LAPD venue.

We hope to see you at the Northeast Community Police Advisory Board (CPAB) Meeting to be held on Monday November 22, 2010 from 6:00pm - 7:30pm at the NOE LAPD Station located at 3353 San Fernando Road (Roll Call Room) in the Community of Glassell Park. . ALL MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. See you soon.

Edie Reuveni

NOE CPAB Co-Chair

Bradley,

NOE CPAB Asst. Co-Chair

Everett Littlefield

NOE CPAB Secretary

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NELA TOWN HALL MEETING ON CENTRAL REGION HIGH SCHOOL #13

Attention: Parents of Atwater Village High School Students

The Northeast Los Angeles Neighbors invite you to become informed about the school plan choices for the Central Region High School #13 Civic, parent and community leaders from the Eagle Rock High, Marshall High and Franklin High neighborhoods are invited to learn about the Public School Choice Process and meet the school teams who are writing school plans for the new high school.

Once the school boundaries are finalized, high schools included in this flyer will be sending some of their students to the new high school when it opens next fall 2011.

Invited PSC Writing Teams: Alliance College Ready Public Schools, Tara Alton, Teri Klas, LEMA 2.0, Paul Payne, Partnership to Uplift Communities, Meredith Ryley, Kristin Szilagyi

The meeting will take place on:

November 22, 2010

At the Irving Middle School Cafeteria

3010 ESTARA AVE

LOS ANGELES, CA 90065

Beginning at 6:00 PM

For more information, please call: 213-241-5519 Or visit our website: http://www.publicschoolchoice.lausd.net/

Community Co-sponsors:

Greater Cypress Park Neighborhood Council

Glassell Park Neighborhood Council

Glassell Park Improvement Association

Churches of the Northeast

Highlands Council PTSA

United Way of Greater Los Angeles

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Northeast Carnival, November 12-14

The First Annual Northeast Carnival is coming to the Northeast Community on Friday November 12 from 5pm – 11:00pm, Saturday November 13 from 1pm – 11:00pm, and Sunday November 14 from 1pm – 11:00pm. The First Annual Northeast Carnival is a collaboration of the NOE LAPD, LAPD Cadets (formerly the NOE Explorers), and local groups and organizations and is to take place along Eagle Rock Boulevard (between Avenue 33 and Verdugo Road) in the Community of Glassell Park.

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CRA/LA PUTS POSITIVE SPIN ON EFFORTS TO DECLARE ATWATER VILLAGE / NELA NEIGHBORHOODS BLIGHTED FOR REDEVELOPMENT AND EMINENT DOMAIN GOALS

Eric Garcetti and Allison Becker

In a recent Daily News article the Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles (CRA/LA) put a “positive spin” on their ongoing efforts to declare areas of Atwater Village blighted for redevelopment and eminent domain goals. In the news article CRA/LA focuses on less controversial elements of the proposed Northeast Los Angeles (NELA) River Redevelopment Project Area; such as the creation of “river-oriented parks and trails” along the banks of the L.A. River.

Allison Becker, an associate planner at the CRA/LA, goes on to state that “the plan” would also include the creation of residential projects, transportation centers and “green” businesses. However, notably omited is any mention that these redevelopment projects would require Atwater Village / NELA be declared officially “blighted”. This in turn would allow for property to be eminent domained for redevelopment to benefit private land developers.

Becker frequently mentions “the plan” or “our plan” in the news article. Her repeated emphasis on a “plan” seems to confirm suspensions by some that CRA/LA already has a finalized redevelopment plan for this area. This would run totally contrary to Becker’s repeated statements at numerous community meetings. Becker has repeatedly stated that CRA/LA has “absolutely no redevelopment plan” and that any potential plan would only be crafted after community input is provided and the NELA River Redevelopment Study is completed. Becker has refused to elaborate on her comments or disclose “the plan” she repeatedly cites in the news article.

Allison Becker is a long time public servant and NELA resident. Prior to working for CRA/LA Becker worked as Planning Deputy for Council President Eric Garcetti (CD13).  Becker’s NELA residence is not within the proposed redevelopment project area.

Two cities moving ahead with plans to transform Glendale Narrows into LA river walk [Daily News]

---

CRA/LA is having Open Houses on the proposed Redevelopment Project Area. The so-called NELA River Redevelopment Project Area would cover most NELA communities that lie along the Los Angeles River, including significant sections of Atwater Village, Cypress Park, Glassell Park and Elysian Valley. To be able to create a redevelopment project area neighborhoods within it must be declared officially “blighted”. Click here for a map of the proposed “blighted” area (pdf file).

Elysian Valley Open House

Wednesday, November 10th, 2010 - 6pm to 8pm

Dickerson Employee Benefits

1918 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles CA 90039

Community Open House: Atwater Village

Thurs. November 18, 2010 - 5:30 – 7:30 pm

Atwater Branch Library

3379 Glendale Boulevard, Los Angeles, 90039

Community Open House: Cypress Park

Sat. November 20, 2010 10 am - 12 pm

Cypress Park Recreation Center

2630 Pepper Ave, Los Angeles, 90065

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UPDATE: NELA REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA STUDY OPEN HOUSES

The Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles (CRA/LA) is having Open Houses on the proposed Redevelopment Project Area. The so-called NELA River Redevelopment Project Area would cover most communities that lie along the eastside of the Los Angeles River, including significant sections of Atwater Village, Cypress Park, Glassell Park and Elysian Valley. To be able to create a redevelopment project area neighborhoods within it must be declared officially “blighted”. Click here for a map of the proposed “blighted” area (pdf file).

Glassell Park Open House

Saturday, November 6th, 2010 - 10am to 12pm

Glassell Park Community Center

3750 Verdugo Road, Los Angeles CA 90065

Elysian Valley Open House

Wednesday, November 10th, 2010 - 6pm to 8pm

Dickerson Employee Benefits

1918 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles CA 90039

Community Open House: Atwater Village

Thurs. November 18, 2010  - 5:30 – 7:30 pm

Atwater Branch Library

3379 Glendale Boulevard, Los Angeles, 90039

Community Open House: Cypress Park

Sat. November 20, 2010 10 am - 12 pm

Cypress Park Recreation Center

2630 Pepper Ave, Los Angeles, 90065

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REMINDER: SATURDAY OCTOBER 30, 2010 NOE LAPD OPEN HOUSE AND RESOURCE FAIR

On Saturday October 30, 2010 from 10 AM - 3 PM,The Northeast LAPD Open House and Resource Fair will be held at the LAPD Station Back Lot. The day will allow LAPD officers the opportunity to showcase safety information tips, crime prevention techniques, and aspects improving overall quality of life issues. The Los Angeles Police Department's Bomb Squad, SWAT, Mounted Unit, K-9 Unit and Cadets will provide exhibits.

There will be free food, live music from local bands and activities for children

Please contact Northeast Community Relations Office at (213) 485-2548 for more information. We hope to see you there.

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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 12 – 14, THE CARNIVAL IS COMING! THE NORTHEAST CARNIVAL IS COMING!!

The First Annual Northeast Carnival is coming to the Northeast Community on Friday November 12 from 5pm – 11:00pm, Saturday November 13 from 1pm – 11:00pm, and Sunday November 14 from 1pm – 11:00pm. The First Annual Northeast Carnival is a collaboration of the NOE LAPD, LAPD Cadets (formerly the NOE Explorers), and local groups and organizations and is to take place along Eagle Rock Boulevard (between Avenue 33 and Verdugo Road) in the Community of Glassell Park.

PRE-SALE DISCOUNTED TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE ON A “FIRST-TO-CALL, FIRST-TO HAVE-FUN” basis with those not acting quickly enough paying full price of the ticket! For a measly $20 (PRE-SALE DISCOUNTED PRICE), you get (1) sheet of TEN (10) tickets. This special ticket price will allow the ticket holder to ONE RIDE PER TICKET. After the PRE-SALE DISCOUNTED TICKETS are gone, regular price tickets will be available at a ONE (1) DOLLAR PER TICKET, with tickets per ride going from TWO (2) PER RIDE up to SIX (6) PER RIDE, a substantial increase from the PRE-SALE DISCOUNTED TICKET PRICING!!

Act NOW!! All Pre-order Discounted Tickets will be sold from 2pm - 8pm Monday - Friday by stopping in to the NOE LAPD Station located at 3353 San Fernando Road (Front Desk) to purchase your tickets, send your request to purchase tickets to Officer Olga Lowe, send an e-mail to Officer Lowe at OMVLowe@vtext.com, or by calling the NOE CRO Office at 213.485.2548. If ordering by phone or e-mail, you must pay for and pick-up your tickets before Thursday November 11, 2010 – NO EXCEPTIONS.

PRE-SALE DISCOUNTED TICKET will not be available at the Carnival/ You may also buy your PRE-SALE DISCOUNTED TICKET at this weekend’s Annual LAPD Open House & Resource Fair from 10am – 3pm. We hope to see you there for a weekend of fun, festivities, and family frolicking with the Clowns, Games, Rides, and Entertainment! Buy your tickets now!!!

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CRA/LA NELA REDEVELOPMENT AMBITION TARGETS PREDOMINATELY LATINO NEIGHBORHOODS AND RAISES THE SPECTER OF “CHAVEZ RAVINE” STYLE FORCED RELOCATIONS



Aurora Vargas, who vowed that, "they'll have to carry me [out]." Here, L.A. County Sheriffs forcibly remove Vargas from her Chavez Ravine home. Bulldozers then knocked over the few remaining dwellings. Photograph dated May 8, 1959.

The Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles (CRA/LA) has targeted Northeast Los Angeles (NELA) neighborhoods for inclusion in a new redevelopment project area. CRA/LA is seeking to have these mostly Latino neighborhoods declared officially “blighted” for redevelopment and eminent domain purposes.

The proposed NELA River Redevelopment Project Area would include mostly Latino neighborhoods that lie along the Los Angeles River, including neighborhoods within the communities of Atwater Village, Cypress Park, Glassell Park and Elysian Valley. Neighborhoods need to be declared “blighted” prior to the creation of a new redevelopment project area or for the use of eminent domain. CRA/LA consultant, Tierra West Advisors, will start their “blight survey” this November. The survey is supposed to include a comprehensive technical study and mapping of “blighted” and underutilized parcels. Click here for a map of the NELA “blighted” study area (pdf)

Growing concerns about CRA/LA possible motives have left some area residents and small business owners wondering if they may have to confront “Chavez Ravine” style forced relocations. Many in Atwater Village / NELA still remember the forcible removal of an entire population, mainly Mexican-Americans, from the Chavez Ravine community (now home to the Dodgers Stadium) thru the use of eminent domain.

CRA/LA has not publicly acknowledged which parcels are slated to be eminent domained. However, City documents already reveal that discussion of eminent domain is “anticipated” in the not-yet-released Preliminary Report for the proposed project area.

For more information about CRA/LA NELA redevelopment efforts go to:

www.crala.org/nela

Or attend their Open House:

Glassell Park Open House

Saturday, November 6th, 2010 - 10am to 12pm

Glassell Park Community Center

3750 Verdugo Road, Los Angeles CA 90065

Elysian Valley Open House

Wednesday, November 10th, 2010 - 6pm to 8pm

Dickerson Employee Benefits

1918 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles CA 90039

Atwater Village Open House

Thursday, November 18th, 2010 - 6pm to 8pm

Location to be determined

Cypress Park Open House

Thursday, November 20th, 2010 - 10am to 12pm

Location to be determined

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MONDAY OCTOBER 25, 2010 NOE CPAB MEETING AT THE GLASSELL PARK CENTER

The Monthly Northeast Community Police Advisory Board (CPAB) Meeting will be held on Monday October 25, 2010 from 6:00pm - 7:30pm at the Glassell Park Community/Senior Center located at 3750 North Verdugo Road (Main Assembly Hall) in the Community of Glassell Park. Updates on Crime Stats, Crime Activity, and potential problem areas in the Northeast will be provided by the Captain with additional commentary from the Northeast LAPD Senior Lead Officers, the LA City Attorney's Office, Guest Speakers, and Community Members.

Please keep sending in your pictures of graffiti and tagging with the locations clearly indicated to NOE Graffiti Nuisance Abatement Pilot Program, Officer Marco Briones at 31635@lapd.lacity.org or drop off your hard copies to Los Angeles Police Department Northeast Division Community Relations Office 3353 San Fernando Road Los Angeles, CA 90065 Attn: Marco Briones or to an upcoming LAPD venue.

OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS:

On Saturday October 30, 2010 from 10am – 3pm, The Northeast LAPD Open House and Resource Fair will be held at the LAPD Station Back Lot. The day will allow LAPD officers the opportunity to showcase safety information tips, crime prevention techniques, and aspects improving overall quality of life issues. The Los Angeles Police Department’s Bomb Squad, SWAT, Mounted Unit, K-9 Unit and Cadets will provide exhibits. The Los Angeles Fire Department and various City and County resource services will be available to address crime and safety concerns. Please contact Northeast Community Relations Office at (213) 485-2548 for more information.

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SAVE THE DATES: NELA REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA STUDY OPEN HOUSES

The Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles (CRA/LA) is having Open Houses on the proposed Redevelopment Project Area. The so-called NELA River Redevelopment Project Area would cover most communities that lie along the eastside of the Los Angeles River, including significant sections of Atwater Village, Cypress Park, Glassell Park and Elysian Valley. To be able to create a redevelopment project area neighborhoods within it must be declared “blighted”. Click here for a map of the proposed “blighted” area (pdf file).

Glassell Park Open House

Saturday, November 6th, 2010 - 10am to 12pm

Glassell Park Community Center

3750 Verdugo Road, Los Angeles CA 90065

Elysian Valley Open House

Wednesday, November 10th, 2010 - 6pm to 8pm

Dickerson Employee Benefits

1918 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles CA 90039

Atwater Village Open House

Thursday, November 18th, 2010 - 6pm to 8pm

Location to be determined

Cypress Park Open House

Thursday, November 20th, 2010 - 10am to 12pm

Location to be determined

Contact Michael Cortez for more information about the Open Houses: mcortez@cra.lacity.org

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More information and news about the CRA/LA…

COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AREA (CRA) INFO AND HELPFUL LINKS (pdf file)

KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER ABOUT KELO AND CRA (pdf file)

ARE ATWATER VILLAGE AND NORTHEAST LOS ANGELES “HOPELESSLY BLIGHTED”? WHAT DO YOU THINK?

CRA/LA USING TAX INCREMENT FUNDS FROM THE EAST HOLLYWOOD / BEVERLY - NORMANDIE REDEVELVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA TO SUBSIDIZE EFFORTS TO DECLARE SECTIONS OF ATWATER VILLAGE / NELA “BLIGHTED”

CRA/LA RELYING ON DECADE OLD CENSUS STATISTICS TO VALIDATE ONGOING EFFORTS TO DECLARE ATWATER VILLAGE / NELA “BLIGHTED”

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SAVE THE LA CITY COLLEGE SATELLITE CAMPUS AT VAN DE KAMPS

Stop the Bond Abuse and Conversion of Our Promised Community College Campus to What the Community College District itself Describes as a "tenant based commercial shell and core" project.

Protest this at the "Grand Opening” of this stolen campus on October 13th at the Historic Van de Kamp’s Bakery –

2930 Fletcher Drive -South East corner of Fletcher and San Fernando Road

Date: October 13, 2010 • Time: • Meet and Greet Breakfast at 9:30am*

Program and Tour at 10:15am

*for free breakfast, RSVP at 213-486-6560 ext. 308

Go to Van de Kamps Coalition web site for more information on how LA Community College District abused taxpayer bonds, misled the community and hijacked a College from our Northeast Community and Taxpayers

website: http://www.vandekamps.org/ • email: vdkcoalition@gmail.com

Tell the Mayor how you feel about this - he will be there - his pet projects have taken a College Campus away from Northeast college aged students. There will barely be one for-credit college course offered each night at a campus built to have up to 100 college classes.

At the urging of the Mayor’s office, LACCD bureaucrats destroyed 8 planned classrooms and replaced them with executive office suites for the Mayor’s favored union-sponsored unemployment programs. This is not what voters approved Mr. Mayor!

Meet Chancellor Daniel La Vista. Ask him if he has read the plan and studies that show LA City College could have opened Van de Kamps with 80% profit oriented classes and 20% community college academic classes – all despite the financial problems at City College main campus? Why is Vice Chancellor Adriana Berrera telling the LA Times that the state budget problem prevented LA City College from opening Van de Kamps as planned when studies established overwhelming demand for classes in the underserved Northeast?

You can ask the questions. We’ve been asking these same questions and still have not gotten a straight answer. The Van de Kamps Coalition and taxpayers have filed two lawsuits to foreclose the illegal direction of the Board led by Trustees Mona Field and Sylvia Scott-Hayes. Now is the time for action to make them accountable.

When you get home, if you are as alarmed as we are, call:

State Controller John Chiang (213) 833-6010 to demand an audit of the Bond Program.

State Attorney General Jerry Brown (800) 952-5225 to demand an investigation and prosecution.

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ARE ATWATER VILLAGE AND NORTHEAST LOS ANGELES “HOPELESSLY BLIGHTED”? WHAT DO YOU THINK?

The Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles (CRA/LA) is currently seeking to create a redevelopment project area in Northeast Los Angeles (NELA). The so-called NELA River Redevelopment Project Area would cover most communities that lie along the eastside of the Los Angeles River, including significant sections of Atwater Village, Cypress Park, Glassell Park and Elysian Valley. To be able to create a redevelopment project area neighborhoods within it must be declared “blighted”. Click here for a map of the proposed “blighted” area (pdf file).

When it comes to creating a new redevelopment project area what does “blighted” actually mean?

According to California Redevelopment Law for an area to be considered "blighted” it must be predominantly urbanized and have a combination of conditions “so prevalent and so substantial that it causes a reduction of, or lack of, proper utilization of the area to such an extent that it constitutes a serious physical and economic burden on the community that cannot reasonably be expected to be reversed or alleviated by private enterprise or governmental action, or both, without redevelopment”.

California Redevelopment Law goes on to list the “prevalent and so substantial” conditions that must exist in order for an area to be consider “blighted”. These conditions include 1) buildings in which it is unsafe or unhealthy for persons to live or work. Including buildings of substandard, defective, or obsolete design or construction given the present general plan, zoning, or other development standards. 2) Adjacent or nearby incompatible land uses that prevent the development of those parcels or other portions of the project area. 3) The existence of small sized lots that are in multiple ownership and whose physical development has been impaired by their irregular shapes and small sizes. 4) Depreciated or stagnant property values. 5) Impaired property values due in significant part hazardous wastes on property. 6) Abnormally high business vacancies, abnormally low lease rates, or an abnormally high number of abandoned buildings. 7) A serious lack of necessary commercial facilities that are normally found in neighborhoods, including grocery stores, drug stores, and banks and other lending institutions. 8) Serious residential overcrowding that has resulted in significant public health or safety problems. 9) An excess of bars, liquor stores, or adult-oriented businesses that has resulted in significant public health, safety, or welfare problems. 10) A high crime rate that constitutes a serious threat to the public safety and welfare.

Click here for California Redevelopment Law, Health & Safety Code Section 33030-33039

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For more information about the proposed NELA River Redevelopment Project area visit CRA/LA website at: www.crala.org/nela or the LA City Clerks website at:
http://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm?fa=ccfi.viewrecord&cfnumber=08-3459

or contact:

Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles
Alison Becker, AICP - Associate Planner
6255 Sunset Blvd., Suite 2206
Los Angeles, CA 90028
323.960.2660
abecker@cra.lacity.org

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Other news on the CRA/LA…

CRA/LA USING TAX INCREMENT FUNDS FROM THE EAST HOLLYWOOD / BEVERLY - NORMANDIE REDEVELVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA TO SUBSIDIZE EFFORTS TO DECLARE SECTIONS OF ATWATER VILLAGE / NELA “BLIGHTED”

CRA/LA RELYING ON DECADE OLD CENSUS STATISTICS TO VALIDATE ONGOING EFFORTS TO DECLARE ATWATER VILLAGE / NELA “BLIGHTED”

CRA/LA SEEKS 3 MILLION DOLLARS TO “UPDATE THE NELA COMMUNITY PLAN” PRIOR TO ESTABLISHING THE NELA L.A. RIVER REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA

ATWATER VILLAGE’S COMMUNITY BOUNDARIES AND DEVELOPMENT MAYBE THREATENED BY ITS INCLUSION IN A CRA/LA PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA

COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF LOS ANGELES SEEKS TO CREATE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA IN ATWATER VILLAGE

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RUMOR MILL: WILL NELA SHOPPERS BE SEEING A WAL-MART IN THEIR FUTURE SOON?

Wal-Mart representatives approached the owner of the old Kmart site (3150 San Fernando Rd) and expressed an interest in leasing the vacant site. Wal-Mart is currently seeking to expand its operations in urban markets; such as Los Angeles. No further details are currently available.

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The site has sat vacant since December 2004 when Kmart closed its doors. Subsequent efforts to open a Home Depot store were unsuccessful and in December 2007 the effort was abandoned. Home Depot's decision to abandon their efforts to open a store was welcomed news to the No Home Depot Coalition (NHDC); and many community activists in both the Atwater Village and Glassell Park communities. Both communities had vigorously protested against Home Depot installing a 3rd store on a four mile stretch of San Fernando Road.

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