Professional Documents
Culture Documents
by Andrew Garsten, Echo Park resident and Spokesperson for the Coalition to Save Van de Kamp’s Bakery
On December 18th, the Save Van de
Kamp's Bakery Coalition had a public
protest at the Van de Kamp’s Bakery
Building. We had lots of great, colorful
signs and a great turnout, with
politicians, former employees of the Van
de Kamp Bakery, and many residents of
Echo Park. The protest resulted in
extensive television news coverage. Thank
you, Echo Park!
January 11th was the deadline for
public commentary to the initial Draft
Environmental Impact Report (DEIR). I
am pleased to report that the Coalition
brought over 500 form letters to the Planning LAUSD–Magnet School
Department, plus over a dozen very effective The Lycee French American School — for
letters from Coalition member groups — language studies High School.
including a great letter from the EPIA and Development and Disabled Center.
several political representatives. We brought the Christian Assembly Church — for community
same package to Councilmember Mike programs center.
Hernandez and the Conservancy, who said that Entertainment Industry — for use as
this response was one of the biggest, if not the production/post production facilities.
biggest they have ever seen! So far the response has been very enthusiastic.
While we are waiting for the next phase in the All are specifically interested in the Van de
approval process to manifest itself, the Coalition Kamp's Bakery Building, or are actively looking
is switching gears to proactively impact the for locations. If you know of any other
historic property. The Conservancy is organizations that are seeking space appropriate
investigating pressing city ordinances against for the location, please let us know. We also
the current building owner to protect the need contacts of people responsible for the
building from further surface deterioration. location and development of new facilities in the
Meanwhile, the Coalition is meeting with several entertainment industry, so if you know anyone,
groups who are interested in adaptive reuse of interested or not, please pass their information
the property. The Coalition's strategy is to find to us so we can network to find the right people.
two or three tenants to partner with our The Save Van de Kamp's Bakery Coalition is
community resources and fund-raising an umbrella organization, consisting of over 20
capabilities, purchase the building, and develop neighborhood organizations surrounding the
it to fit mutually agreed-upon objectives. We are Bakery Building location. Our primary objective
in discussions with the following groups.
Children's Museum (Continued on page 9)
Echo Park Improvement Association Meets at 7pm the 1st Thursday each Month
in Williams Hall at Barlow Hospital 2000 Stadium Way in Elysian Park
January 2000
(323) 634-0830
MEMORANDUMS
INVOICES
WARRANTIES
DIAMOND FOLD COLOR
CARDS
PRICE CATALOGS
APPRAISAL CERTIFICATES
COIN ENVELOPES
NEWSLETTER CREDITS
Domino’s Pizza EDITORS:
Echo Park LYNN BARBÉ
STEVEN M. ARTHUR
ADVERTISING
213-413-8444 FLORA KERP
DESKTOP PUBLISHING:
S.M.ART SYSTEMS
10:30 - 12 Sunday - Thursday PRINTING:
10:30 - 1 Friday & Saturday LYMAN PRINTING
Become More Active, Participate in EPIA
By Lynn Barbé, President EPIA
The EPIA was established 10 years ago to form of ―sweat equity‖, which mean that
improve the quality of life here in Echo Park. neighborhood residents must volunteer to work
Crime and graffiti were the primary problem on the projects. Typically sweat equity is valued
areas that EPIA targeted. We’ve come a long way at $10 per hour. So, the larger the grant, the
since then and we all should celebrate our more volunteers hours are needs.
successes. Thanks to the hard work of many In short, we could use your help. If you want
EPIA volunteers, Echo Park is clearly a better Echo Park to continue to improve, get involved.
place to live. How? Join us for our improvement projects, such
But there is still work to be done. Trash and as tree plantings and maintenance and
litter continue to be a problem. While we’ve Operation Face Lift events. Or better yet,
planted many trees, more could still be planted volunteer to lead one. Join an EPIA committee.
and those planted need to be maintained. Help us write a grant proposal or agree to
Landscaping of our public areas could make participate in one.
Echo Park a garden spot of the city. Attend the EPIA Steering Committee
We can get grants to help with these meetings. Run for an EPIA office. March in the
improvements. But most grants require Echo Park Holiday Parade. Organize the EPIA
matching funds. Matching funds can be in the booth at the Lotus Festival. Come up with a fund
(323)
REDUCE STRESS
DEVELOP FLEXIBILITY,
STRENGTH & TONE
If you live in the Northeast Community, and assigned to the appropriate officers or
need help to resolve an ongoing problem, specialized unit. When all resources have been
contact the LAPD's newly-developed Northeast exhausted to resolve a problem, the assigned
Area Problem Solving Detail. With one phone officers will complete a detailed report and
call, you can: submit it to their supervisor for approval and
Get referrals, specific telephone numbers signature. Once approved, the Problem Solving
and other brief information Request will be reviewed and signed by the
Leave messages for Senior Lead Officers Community Relations Office supervisor, and
Request services for long-term, ongoing finally by the Northeast Area Commanding
community problems, including those that Officer.
may need the attention of an outside entity The Problem Solving Detail will then send
such as Building and Safety, Department of you a letter, describing the actions taken to
Sanitation, Street Maintenance, etc. resolve the problem. You can then advise the
The Problem Solving Detail will make every Detail of the need for further attention to the
effort to address your request during that first problem, or any other community concerns
phone call. If the request needs the attention you may have.
of an outside entity, a special form will be sent The LAPD believes that you, its community
to that entity. The Problem Solving Detail will members, are the most valuable asset they
follow up with you to see if the problem has have in learning the needs of the community,
been addressed or resolved. If not, the Detail and want you to share what you think they can
will make a follow-up communication to check do to meet those needs. They sincerely hope
the problem's status. that you will give this process a chance. By
In the case of a request for service that working together, we can resolve long-term
requires police attention, a Problem Solving problems and build a lasting partnership.
Request will be forwarded to a supervisor, then
DOMESTIC PARTNERS
I am available to notarize
registration forms to be filed
with the Secretary of State
EPIAn ways
January 2000
EPIA Steering Committee 2nd Monday, 7:00 p.m. Taix French Resaurant Take an active part in EPIA
Meetings Feb. 13, Mar.10 Join the Steering Committee
Chamber of Commerce General Friday, 1:00 p.m. Taix French Restauant EPCC information/message
Meeting Feb. 18, Mar. 17 213-630-3032
NODS Meeting 3rd Thursday, 7:30 p.m. 1949 Cerro Gordo St. Call 323-663-6356 or FAX
Neighbors of Dodger Stadium
Citizens Committee to Save 1st Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. Call 213-666-9651 for
Elysian Park Mtg. Mar 1, Apr. 5 meeting location
Echo Park Community Garden Garden membership Echo Park Community In case of rain call 213-882-
meeting 1st Sunday of the Garden, 2223 Sunset Blvd. 4835 for meeting location
month 10:00 am, all other (Sunset at Rosemont)
Introduction to Raja Yoga Sundays, 5:00 p.m. 1300 Glendale Blvd. Free
Deadline for December EPIAn Saturday, March 25 Send submissions to EPIA,
Ways Newsletter Attn: EPIAn Ways Editor
SPECIAL EVENTS
Neighborhood Convention Saturday, February 5, 9-2 Natural History Museum at Reserve seats/ information
Expostition Park 213-346-0033
Department Building & Safety 213-485-7091
213-485-4193
January 2000
On behalf of the staff, parents and youth, CCAC would like to express its sincere appreciation to
the members and friends of EPIA for their support that we received during our funding crisis. The
letters, phone calls and words of encouragement everyone shared with us will continue to be felt
during the upcoming year.
We would also like to thank everyone for the great gifts we received for our older youth. They
worked hard on planning the Christmas party for the younger children. After all the gifts we
passed out to the younger ones, we presented the older youth with the gifts you helped to provide.
What a delight to see the expressions on their faces when they saw what was given to them from
members of the EPIA. All we could hear were "Ou's, and WOW's" as they saw Mickey Mouse T-
shirts, cosmetics, gift certificates for Rock-a-way Records and much more. It was great to give
these teens presents as they are always helping with tree-planting, clean-ups and other community
events.
DATE OF DISTRIBUTION--March 1
RESERVATIONS--call EPIA at 323-882-4835: leave your name and phone number to reserve
your trees. When requesting trees please indicate the type of tree you would like if it is available. All
trees not reserved will be distributed to local neighbors.
(213) 250-5768
Talkin’ Trash
Echo Park residents and businesses have must literally wade through trash on the way to
made great strides in cleaning up trash and the work, school or stores.
neighborhood. But the two block stretch of Echo The steering committee of the Echo Park
Park Avenue north of Sunset Boulevard--one of Improvement Association is exploring a
our most prominent gateways into the comprehensive and long-term clean up of the
community--remains on most days a trash and two blocks. Proposed solutions include
litter-filled eyesore. sponsoring meetings with residents and property
Despite some sporadic attempts by EPIA and owners to focus on the problem;
ongoing efforts by a few residents and property establish a weekly "bulky item"
owners, the pedestrians who travel this section pick up of sofas and other
of Echo Park Avenue often must maneuver large items; inform
around abandoned sofas, mattresses, water property owners and
heaters and car parts. Residents waiting at bus apartment managers of
stops must stand next to mounds of trash on the their obligation to
sidewalk or garbage flowing out of the few keep public area
trashcans that are available. clean; distribute
These conditions on Echo Park Avenue information about
obviously create health and safety problems. the FREE city services to keep the sidewalks and
They also help breed crime and undermine streets clean; officially adopt the bus stop and
revitalization efforts along Sunset Boulevard by trash can at Echo Park Avenue and Fairbanks
deterring neighborhood residents from visiting Place.
the area. We want to hear what members think of this
Perhaps most proposal. We also welcome encourage your ideas
importantly it is and, of course, participation. Members can bring
degrading to the their ideas to the next steering committee
adults and meeting. Please call the EPIA message center at
children who (323) 882-4835 for more information.
JEB’S VIEW
I’ve never seen anything like some flyers and spread the The January 20 meeting was
it. In 25 years of careful word. They are our heroes. to establish a ―working group‖
observation of L.A. City Otherwise, we would not have to work out the details in
government in action, the found out that Recreation and cooperation with Stigile and
meeting on January 20 was the Parks was trying to put Rec and Parks. He set up four
most bizarre. The Department something over on us. They different ―interest groups‖ that
of Recreation and Parks held a tried to keep it a secret from were supposed to meet
meeting at Grace Simons the people of Echo Park. Rec separately and elect five
Lodge in Elysian Park about representatives each. These
letting mountain bikes on the twenty people wold become
hiking trails. Perhaps Stigile’s ―Working Group.‖ The
controversial, but not the stuff four groups were (1) Hikers and
popular rebellions are made Environmentalists, (2)
of. But the way George Equestrians, (3) Mountain
Stigile of the Recreation and Bikers, and (4) Local
Parks Department handled residents.
it was so outrageous that You can tell by now that this
the good people of Echo can’t be acceptable. Stigile
Park and others went into made a horrible mistake in
rebellion mode. They absolutely setting this up. People started
rose to the occasion and took speaking out and raising
matters into their own hands objections, asking questions
on the spot. I was so proud of and Parks, a n d and generally grumbling. The
them all. They deserve our full especially George Stigile, are in ―bikers‖, who had been
cooperation and support. cahoots with the mountain bike rejected by the Equestrians of
Perhaps 2/3 or more than 100 organization. Griffith Park, were already
people present are now actively The ―bikers‖ want to be able prejudiced against the local
united to protect our hiking to ride their bikes on the dirt residents. A belligerent biker
trails from the threat of trails in our public parks. This shouted out that Elysian Park
mountain bikes. is now illegal. So, the ―bikers‖ doesn’t belong to the local
A very few local people heard are pushing Rec and Parks to people, and the bikers live in
about this meeting by accident. get this changed. Three L.A. too. (Not the brightest
They realized it would be an meetings were held in the past bunch of guys.) That clarified
important issue, so they did year, one in Griffith Park but their antagonism against us,
none here. The equestrians and we lost any willingness to
wouldn’t allow ―bikers‖ on the compromise. I heard, ―You’re
Opinions expressed in this horse trails in Griffith Park. trying to cram this down our
newsletter are those of the George Stigile decided that throats,‖ and ―You’re supposed
writers and do not necessarily
Elysian Park would be the to ask us if we want this at all,
reflect the position of the Echo
Park Improvement Association acceptable place for the first! You don’t go on to do
―bikers‖. (Continued on page 10)