From Lot to Spot

Please note the letter attached and the amazing individuals who support our efforts and community-led environmental justice action. The list is comprised of lauded park experts, urban planners, community activists, landscape architects, academics, conusltants, lawyers, community leaders and neighbors. These individuals believe in the power of community-based planning and land-use equity. It is crucial to note their work in community planning and we are more than humbled to have their support. Thank you.

Please feel free to notify us via email if you would like to be included in this letter, which has been presented to Assemblymember Curren Price and Congresswoman Maxine Waters. Subsequent letters are being sent to our remaining elected officials.

We are calling on Senator Diane Feinstein, Senator Barbara Boxer, Senator Edward Vincent, Supervisor Yvonne Burke, Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Assemblymember Curren Price to request the involvement of the Santa Monica, Rivers and Mountains, Coastal and the Baldwin Hills Conservancies in the acquisition of this property as the first step in the creation of a vibrant space for children to play in this low-income, park poor community.

Time is running out. We are danger of losing this property, these resources and this opportunity to revitalize this community for our children forever if our elected officials do not act quickly.

We await the results of thier actions.

Tuesday July 22nd proved to be a sad night for social justice and for citizen-led change in the City of Hawthorne. The City voted not to support the community’s efforts by not agreeing to long-term maintenance of the proposed park at 118th and Doty Avenue in the City of Hawthorne, at this time. Despite having a renowned non profit, the Los Angeles Conservation Corps (LACC, http://www.lacorps.org/) willingly agree to maintain the proposed park until the City could afford to take over, two City council members sent a clear message to the community: your struggle and your efforts to revitalize your community are not important.

We would like to sincerely thank the efforts of Councilman Danny Juarez and Gary Parsons who voted in favor to maintain the property in the future. Their efforts demonstrated a clear understanding of the issue and their support for parkspace equity and citizen-led change. Thank you for your voice.

The City made it clear that if we have a commitment from agencies to purchase the properties, then they would maintain long-term. This said, we are continueing tirelessly to work with public agencies who can acquire this property for the benefit of the public.

This said, this fight is not over but time is running out.

This community needs the help of our local elected representatives - this is the only road that will lead to a victory for this community. It is not a matter of wanting help; it is a matter of necessity. We need their help. .

We are calling on Senator Edward Vincent, Supervisor Yvonne Burke, Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Assemblymember Curren Price to request the involvement of the Santa Monica, Rivers and Mountains, Coastal and the Baldwin Hills Conservancies in the acquisition of this property as the first step in the creation of a vibrant space for children to play in this low-income, park poor community.

Time is running out. We are danger of losing this property, these resources and this opportunity to revitalize this community for our children forever if our elected officials do not act quickly..

We implore our representatives to take a closer look at the facts and unique circumstances of this situation in order to advocate on behalf of this community before time runs out and this opportunity is lost forever:

- The deadline is quickly approaching, August 8th.
- This community was granted an unprecedented 90 day stay by the California Transportation Commission because, as stated by Commissioner Chair John Chalk “What we saw was that it was an item that would have benefited the community.” (Daily Breeze, June 2nd, 2008)
- The Los Angeles Conservation Corps has committed in writing to maintain the property and provide job skill opportunities for local youth.
- Maintenance is quoted by park experts to be between $6,000 and $10,000, a sliver of what the City currently pays to maintain its parks.
- The property was left vacant, neglected and was a direct contributor to the blight that is currently consuming the community. The community rose up, came together and fought for this social and environmental injustice. This is a unique opportunity; a citizen-initiated movement to create direct and positive change in their community - please do not crush their efforts.

We await the result of their actions.

Thank you all. We stand strong because of your support and encouragement, thank you. Si se puede!

Since winning a stay from the California Transportation Commission in May, From Lot to Spot (FLTS) has been working hard with community and environmental groups to garner funds to purchase the property on 118th and Doty to create a much needed park. And now a huge achievement: the Los Angeles Conservation Corps (LACC) has agreed to provide maintenance of the park, free of charge, until a long-term maintenance agreement is reached with the City. In addition, the LACC has agreed to provide job skill opportunities using this project as a platform for local youth.

However, before our elected state representatives act on our behalf to request local conservancies to acquire the property, they need the City to agree to long term maintenance in the future. The City has taken no such action and will vote to maintain or not maintain this property tomorrow.

Maintenance of this property is estimated to be between $6,000 - $12,000 – a sliver of what the City spends on maintenance for its other parks. Not to mention, the last park the City built in 2003 was directly across the street from another park - Glasgow Place Park on 135th Street across the street from Holly Glen Park, on 135th Street. This project is very much needed in this park-poor, low-income community. The time has come for the City to weigh in.

We know it is last minute, but your attendance will impact this decision:
In the past, the Council has voted favorably only when people show up in numbers.
We need your support! Attend the City Council meeting this Tuesday, July 22 and show your support. Only with your support can we make this dream come true. Only with your voice can we create change. Si se puede!

What: City Council Meeting to show support in favor of the Park
When: Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Where: 4455 126th , Hawthorne, 90250
Time: 6:00pm

Bottom of the ninth. Based loaded. Everyone on their feet.

There are only two teams in this game:
Those who want to make the dream of a community-driven, neighborhood revitalizing park in a low-income, park-poor community a reality.
And those who don’t.

Those who believe there are a number of low-income neighborhoods who suffer the same land-use inequities this community has faced.
And those who don’t.

Those who believe that a park is a catalyst for economic, cultural and social transformation.
And those who don’t.

Those who believe that change begins in the hands of the people.
And those who don’t.

What team are you on?

We have respectfully asked our state and local legislators to help in securing the involvement of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (SMMC) in the acquisition effort as the first step in the creation of a vibrant space for children to play in this low-income, park poor community.

We await the results of their actions.

As we move forward exploring funding opportunities to acquire the property, we continue to monitor the condition of the lot. Since it was known as a dumping ground for over 20 years, individuals are not discouraged from bringing by their refuge because of the recent fencing. They just leave it outside the fence - see pictures below.

We thank you again for your support and we will continue until this dream is made a reality.