South Central's Farmers
This can Happen in America? In my back yard?
A dear old friend from Sozadee has drawn my attention to this unbelievable ethnic cleansing, on-going, in South Central Los Angeles.
Here are the facts. What is this?
A dear old friend from Sozadee has drawn my attention to this unbelievable ethnic cleansing, on-going, in South Central Los Angeles.
Here are the facts. What is this?
posted by Vigilante at 6/13/2006 08:44:00 AM
6 Moderated Comments:
Vigilante, you've been hiding in the tall grass (of denial) so long from the class struggle, that when the huge, insatiable greedy, beastly and sneaky serpent of the wealthy oligarchy bites you in your ass, you're caught with loss for words.
All you can say is "Ouch"? Get a life, hombre!
Okay youre kidding right?
Im hoping youre kidding.
Well there is the pesky little matter of it not being their land and the man hwo owns it wants to use it for something else.
James is what some of us call - product of our times. Things tend to be black n' white and based on strict pecking order; those of whom have, have it all, and those of whom that don't, who cares.
I really dont know what that means Im just referring to our constitution and the very base right of land owners to do what they want with their land.
Losing the South Central Garden got me so angry, I decided to check out their position. After much research, I located and called Horowitz' office. I stated my ire to the planner. What started out as a heated conversation turned out to be a rather interesting story.
Here's the proposed plan:
Horowitz is using the 3 acres of the 14-acre plot to build a soccer field and park in the area. (I reminded him that for some people who live in poverty, this is the only way they can afford food.)
Horowitz' rep said there are already plans in place with the City of Los Angeles, thanks to Mayor Villaraigosa and the City Council, who have voted to set aside two parcels of land owned by the DWP: seven- and three-acre plots, respectively. The plots will be close to the original South Central Garden near Alameda Street/Long Beach Bl.
The spokesperson for Horowitz stated that they want to set aside the land for both public and business use, and that the organization hopes to create jobs in that area. (Granted, the usual excuse.)
The spokesperson noted that Annenburg had promised, but had not actually entered into, contracts for the financial backing. We ended the conversation amicably and I thanked him for educating me about their position.
From the 06/14/06 LA Times op-ed entitled, Lights, Camera, Eviction:
"The main argument of the protesters seems to be that because the farmers have been squatting for more than a decade on property they don't own, they have earned the right to stay there permanently. One wonders how the luminaries joining the protests would react if urban farmers camped out full time on their assorted Malibu or Hollywood Hills estates.
[Granted, that's a little nasty comment. But I remember how Malibu Colony residents raised hell when they wanted to turn that stretch into a public beach...]
"Some good may yet come from this embarrassing brouhaha. The farmers are being relocated to a 7.8-acre plot in South L.A., and the city has identified 100 other plots that could be used for community gardens. The funds raised ($10 million) to buy Horowitz's parcel should still become seed money elsewhere."
...
Hopefully, Horowitz' greed, with which I do not agree, may lead to little gardens all over the city. I personally hate the idea of losing that precious 14-acre South Central Farm in the midst of the industrial blight that characterizes Alameda Street.
It appears that the South Central garden will be replaced by a massive City undertaking to rebuild not only the 10 acres to replace to original site, but also 100 other urban gardens all over Los Angeles.
If we end up with more gardens all over the city, this may turn out to be a win-win situation, not only for the greedmonger, but the residents of Los Angeles.
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