The LA City Council Comes to El Sereno
... but are they ready to discuss Open Space issues?

by Bill Murray

July 20, 2004

The LA City Council is scheduled to hold a meeting in El Sereno at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 21 ... but they might not be ready to hear a lot more about "Elephant Hill."

Yet the community may insist on this ...

For months the North East Los Angeles Open Space Coalition, a newly formed community group, has taken on the task of protecting the area's most precious resources, it's undeveloped open space.

Unusual for an urban environment, there's still a fair amount left. The neighborhoods north and east of downtown have come to appreciate their vistas and parkland and have banded together to protect it, in much the same way as those on the westside might seek to preserve the ocean front.

The "Save Elephant Hill" group brought its cause to the coalition, which has attempted to stop development of an open area at the far north end of El Sereno, just below the city of South Pasadena.

Of principal concern was the fact that the developer, William D. Foote of Newport Beach, was working off a ten year old Environmental Impact plan. The community feels a new one should be ordered.

In what was considered a defeat, South Pasadena's City Council recently refused to assert jurisdiction to take a look at the proposed development ... and now the LA City Council has too, just one day before it plans to hold a council meeting in El Sereno.

Councilmember Antonio Villaraigosa, CD14, will be host of the City Council meeting. He and Councilmember Ed Reyes, CD1, voted against proceeding with the development (and Councilmember Eric Garcetti, CD13, spoke about policy protections for existing open space, but was not available for the vote).

Below is an article written by a "Save Elephant Hill" activist, a member of the North East Los Angeles Open Space coalition:

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LA City Council Votes In Favor of Development on Elephant Hill
Villaraigosa and Reyes Remain True to Community

by Elva Yanez

On July 20, 2004, in a vote of 9 to 2, the Los Angeles City Council voted to approve final recordation of tract map 35022 despite the vigorous opposition of Councilmember Antonio Villaraigosa and the 30 Northeast residents who attended the meeting. Councilmember Ed Reyes supported his Northeast constituents who had rallied in defense of Elephant Hill. Eric Garcetti spoke about the importance of efforts by North East Los Angeles Open Space coalition to secure policy protections for existing open space.

Tract Map 35022 was Item 46 on the agenda as a consent calendar item. Councilmember Villaraigosa marked the item for discussion. Community members who spoke in opposition of the track map included: Genece Lundsford, Linda Frye, David Brunk, Clare Marter-Kenyon, Joyce Dillard and Elva Yanez. Their comments focused on negative environmental and economic impacts of the development, the need for a subsequent or new Environmental Impact Report, and the notorious track record of the developer. Councilmember Villaraigosa cited the many examples of required conditions of approval not being met or inadequately met.

Cindy Miscikowski argued -- incorrectly from our understanding of the Subdivision Act -- that the City had no choice but to approve the tract map.

In the end, similar to what happened in South Pasadena, City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo and the threat of Foote’s lawsuit pushed the majority of Councilmembers over the edge. Instead of supporting Councilmember Villaraigosa on a matter specific to his district, they voted against him and the entire Northeast LA community, and in favor of William D. Foote, the Newport Beach developer who gets his way using threats and intimidation.

Councilmembers Villaraigosa and Reyes voted to disapprove Tract Map 35022.

The Councilmembers who voted to approve the tract map included:

Cindy Miscikowski
Tony Cardenas
Wendy Greuhl
Janice Hahn
Tom LaBonge
Greig Smith
Jack Weiss
Dennis Zine
(Eric Garcetti was not available for the vote)

For those who have taken action to oppose Tract Map 35022 our message is clear: This effort is not over yet. Save Elephant Hill will be investigating and evaluating all of its options prior to deciding on its next steps.

TAKE ACTION NOW!!!

1. Thank Councilmembers Antonio Villaraigosa and Ed Reyes for their brave stand in opposition to Tract Map 35022. Call, write or email them at:

Antonio Villaraigosa
City Hall Office (213)-473-7014
200 N. Spring Street, Rm 425
Los Angeles, CA 90012
villaraigosa@council.lacity.org

Ed Reyes
City Hall Office (213)-473-7001
200 N. Spring Street, Rm 410 reyes@council.lacity.org
Los Angeles, CA 90012


2. Come to the full City Council meeting in El Sereno at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 21, 2004, and express your displeasure with the City Council members who voted in favor of Tract Map 35022 and development of Elephant Hill. The meeting will be held at the Los Angeles Christian Presbyterian Church, 2241 N. Eastern Ave. Submit a card to speak during Public Comment.

3. Call, write or email those Councilmembers identified above who voted to approve Tract Map 35022. Contact information for Councilmember is found at: http://www.lacity.org/council.htm

A heartfelt thanks to all who have made calls, wrote or emailed letters and have supported Save Elephant Hill in their efforts to oppose Tract Map 35022. As mentioned before, we will be deciding our next steps and notifying you as soon as possible.

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For more information, call Elva Yanez (323) 255-5843 or email ekyanez@yahoo.com

To visit the North East Los Angeles Open Space group on the web:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NELAopenspace/