Citizens Unite to Save Van de Kamp’s Bakery Site

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
Department, plus over a dozen very effective
letters from Coalition member groups —
including a great letter from the EPIA and
several political representatives. We brought the
same package to Councilmember Mike
Hernandez and the Conservancy, who said that
this response was one of the biggest, if not the
biggest they have ever seen!
While we are waiting for the next phase in the
approval process to manifest itself, the Coalition
is switching gears to proactively impact the
historic property. The Conservancy is
investigating pressing city ordinances against
the current building owner to protect the
building from further surface deterioration.
Meanwhile, the Coalition is meeting with several
groups who are interested in adaptive reuse of
the property. The Coalition's strategy is to find
two or three tenants to partner with our
community resources and fund-raising
capabilities, purchase the building, and develop
it to fit mutually agreed-upon objectives. We are
in discussions with the following groups.
Children's Museum
LAUSD–Magnet School
The Lycee French American School — for
language studies High School.
Development and Disabled Center.
Christian Assembly Church — for community
programs center.
Entertainment Industry — for use as
production/post production facilities.
So far the response has been very enthusiastic.
All are specifically interested in the Van de
Kamp's Bakery Building, or are actively looking
for locations. If you know of any other
organizations that are seeking space appropriate
for the location, please let us know. We also
need contacts of people responsible for the
location and development of new facilities in the
entertainment industry, so if you know anyone,
interested or not, please pass their information
to us so we can network to find the right people.
The Save Van de Kamp's Bakery Coalition is
an umbrella organization, consisting of over 20
neighborhood organizations surrounding the
Bakery Building location. Our primary objective
(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

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NEWSLETTER CREDITS
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 Become More Active, Participate in EPIA
By Lynn Barbé, President EPIA
The EPIA was established 10 years ago to
improve the quality of life here in Echo Park.
Crime and graffiti were the primary problem
areas that EPIA targeted. We’ve come a long way
since then and we all should celebrate our
successes. Thanks to the hard work of many
EPIA volunteers, Echo Park is clearly a better
place to live.
But there is still work to be done. Trash and
litter continue to be a problem. While we’ve
planted many trees, more could still be planted
and those planted need to be maintained.
Landscaping of our public areas could make
Echo Park a garden spot of the city.
We can get grants to help with these
improvements. But most grants require
matching funds. Matching funds can be in the
(323)
REDUCE STRESS
DEVELOP FLEXIBILITY,
STRENGTH & TONE
Call for class schedule
(323) 953-0496
2810 Glendale Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90039
form of ―sweat equity‖, which mean that
neighborhood residents must volunteer to work
on the projects. Typically sweat equity is valued
at $10 per hour. So, the larger the grant, the
more volunteers hours are needs.
In short, we could use your help. If you want
Echo Park to continue to improve, get involved.
How? Join us for our improvement projects, such
as tree plantings and maintenance and
Operation Face Lift events. Or better yet,
volunteer to lead one. Join an EPIA committee.
Help us write a grant proposal or agree to
participate in one.
Attend the EPIA Steering Committee
meetings. Run for an EPIA office. March in the
Echo Park Holiday Parade. Organize the EPIA
booth at the Lotus Festival. Come up with a fund
 January 2000
LAPD INTRODUCES NORTHEAST AREA PROBLEM SOLVING DETAIL
If you live in the Northeast Community, and
need help to resolve an ongoing problem,
contact the LAPD's newly-developed Northeast
Area Problem Solving Detail. With one phone
call, you can:
 Get referrals, specific telephone numbers
and other brief information
 Leave messages for Senior Lead Officers
 Request services for long-term, ongoing
community problems, including those that
may need the attention of an outside entity
such as Building and Safety, Department of
Sanitation, Street Maintenance, etc.
The Problem Solving Detail will make every
effort to address your request during that first
phone call. If the request needs the attention
of an outside entity, a special form will be sent
to that entity. The Problem Solving Detail will
follow up with you to see if the problem has
been addressed or resolved. If not, the Detail
will make a follow-up communication to check
the problem's status.
In the case of a request for service that
requires police attention, a Problem Solving
Request will be forwarded to a supervisor, then
assigned to the appropriate officers or
specialized unit. When all resources have been
exhausted to resolve a problem, the assigned
officers will complete a detailed report and
submit it to their supervisor for approval and
signature. Once approved, the Problem Solving
Request will be reviewed and signed by the
Community Relations Office supervisor, and
finally by the Northeast Area Commanding
Officer.
The Problem Solving Detail will then send
you a letter, describing the actions taken to
resolve the problem. You can then advise the
Detail of the need for further attention to the
problem, or any other community concerns
you may have.
The LAPD believes that you, its community
members, are the most valuable asset they
have in learning the needs of the community,
and want you to share what you think they can
do to meet those needs. They sincerely hope
that you will give this process a chance. By
working together, we can resolve long-term
problems and build a lasting partnership.
DOMESTIC PARTNERS
I am available to notarize
registration forms to be filed
with the Secretary of State
Mary Garrison, Notary
213.250.4622
 Echo Park gets a Face Lift
Let’s face it. Things are
looking up in Echo Park.
Thanks to Operation Face
Lift, sponsored by the Echo
Park Chamber of
Commerce, the building at
2225 Sunset Blvd. got a
new look.
On Saturday, January 22
volunteers gathered in
front of the building,
located on the north side
of Sunset, next to the Echo
Park Community Garden,
to apply the final coat of
paint.
Some volunteers arrived
as early as 7:00 to mask
off the area. Armed with
masking tape and sheets
of plastic, the volunteers
began covering sidewalks,
awnings and grillwork.
After the masking was
completed, David Bermudez cranked up the pleased with the result.
pump and began painting the building. The Operation Face Lift is the brainchild of
color, a pistachio green, was selected by Glen Bonnie Scanlan, President of the Echo Park
Dake, community activist, architect and Chamber of Commerce. Maryann Hyashi,
project designer. director of Central City Action Committee, is
Last December volunteers went through a co-sponsor of Operations Face Lift.
similar activity to apply the base coat to the Volunteers on January 22 included Glen Dake,
building. The base coat was a lighter shade of David Bermudez, Susan Borden, Chie Iseri,
green and the volunteers were concerned that Steven Arthur, Lynn Barbé, Conrado Terrazas,
the final color would be too pale. But after the Ron Emler, Jesus Sanchez as well as youth
pistacio final coat was applied, all were very from Central City Action Committee.

EPIAn ways

 January 2000

ECHO PARK CALENDAR

Event Date Location Comments
EPIA Meetings 1st Thursday, 7 p.m. William’s Hall at Barlow Call EPIA message phone for

EPIA Steering Committee
Meetings
Chamber of Commerce General
Meeting
NODS Meeting
Neighbors of Dodger Stadium
Citizens Committee to Save
Elysian Park Mtg.
Echo Park Community Garden
2nd Monday, 7:00 p.m. Taix French Resaurant Take an active part in EPIA
Feb. 13, Mar.10 Join the Steering Committee
Friday, 1:00 p.m. Taix French Restauant EPCC information/message
Feb. 18, Mar. 17 213-630-3032
3rd Thursday, 7:30 p.m. 1949 Cerro Gordo St. Call 323-663-6356 or FAX
1st Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. Call 213-666-9651 for
Mar 1, Apr. 5 meeting location
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)

Echo Park Arts Not regularly scheduled Information at 213- 250-4155

Echo Park Historical Society Meets quarterly Call for Information (323) 860-

Introduction to Raja Yoga
Deadline for December EPIAn
Ways Newsletter
Neighborhood Convention
Sundays, 5:00 p.m. 1300 Glendale Blvd. Free
Saturday, March 25 Send submissions to EPIA,
Attn: EPIAn Ways Editor
SPECIAL EVENTS
Saturday, February 5, 9-2 Natural History Museum at Reserve seats/ information
Expostition Park 213-346-0033

First-ever Los Angeles Neighborhood Convention

The first-ever Los Angeles Neighborhood Convention, slated for February 5, will give Los
Angeles residents a chance to exchange ideas about reinvigorating their communities. The
focus of the convention is two little-known programs that funnel state and federal funding to
neighborhoods to improve local transit and infrastructure. But participants of the convention
are expected to pay special attention to the implications those programs will have on the
neighborhood advisory councils and area planning commissions to be created under the new
city charter.
The neighborhood advisory councils, when established sometimes next year, are mandated
by the new charter to conduct a citywide convention, similar to the one scheduled on February
5, at least yearly.
Following the convention the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners will conduct a series of
regional workshops to get residents to share ideas on their needs and expectations of the new
councils.
The convention will be held at the Natural History Museum at Exposition Park from 9 a.m. to
 


Department Building & Safety 213-485-7091

213-485-4193


 January 2000

Central City Action

HAPPY NEW YEAR 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.

Talkin’ Action About Trash

by Ron Emler
Although we have great pride
in Echo Park many of us are
outraged by the continuing
trash yards, sidewalk, and
parkways on many of our
streets. Drive down Echo Park
Avenue and you will see that
only a small number of
properties allow the front of
their buildings to look like
pigsties. We would like for these
property owners to assume
responsibility for their property
and have some respect for their
neighbors and our community.
Members of EPIA have
attempted for many years to
develop strategies that would
change our dirty streets into never cleans up.
street we can be proud to walk. We intend to inform these
So far our efforts have not property owners of their
succeeded very well. Now we responsibility to change the
are going to try to develop a trashy condition of their
better plan and we are looking property or further action will
for volunteers in the
neighborhood who would like to
help. Call EPIA and let us know
if you want clean streets and
are willing to help us with this
project.
The picture below illustrates
what I mean. Any day of the
month you will find this yard
filled with trash. The owner
probably has never cleaned up
the trash. If there is a manager
of the building the manager
 FREE FRUIT TREES
The TreePeople organization has donated 50 fruit trees to the people of Echo Park. The Echo
Park Improvement Association will be responsible for distributing the trees. We have ordered fig,
peach, apricot, plum and nectarine trees.
You can call EPIA at 323-882-4835 and reserve up to two trees per household. The trees will be
available for pickup at the cul-de-sac of the 1600 block of Delta Street at Echo Park Avenue. Delta
is a little street across from Magic Gas Station.

DATE OF DISTRIBUTION--March 1

TIME OF DISTRIBUTION--1:00PM TO 3:00PM

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.

(Continued from page 1) ROOMS FOR RENT

Saving Van de Kamp’s Bakery
has been to oppose the pending demolition of
this historic building — Los Angeles Cultural
Historic Monument #569. Current plans have
developers knocking down the landmark to
make way for a HomeBase megastore and a
new Burger King restaurant (the developers
are the largest Burger King franchisee in the
country).
Several organizations in Echo Park have
joined the Coalition, including the Echo Park
Improvement Association, Echo Park
Historical Society, Neighbors of Dodger
Stadium and Citizen’s Committee to Save
Elysian Park. We also have political members,
including State Senator Pollanco and
Assembly Member Wildman, as well as active
support from Villaraigorosa and candidate
Cesar Portillo. All of our work is done in a
close partnership with the Los Angeles
Conservancy.
Thanks again, Echo Park, for your support!
1226 North Alvarado Street,
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(one block north of Sunset Boulevard)
has several rooms of various sizes for rent or lease.
These rooms are ideal for business offices,
meetings and storage. Some have outdoor access.
These rooms are newly painted and carpeted.
The Church also has available space that can be rented
for meetings, community events, wedding receptions,
memorial services, quincenieras, birthdays
and other celebrations.
These spaces can be shown by appointment.
For further information or an appointment
call Walter Elmer at (323) 661-2389.
 January 2000
(Continued from page 12)
MOUNTAIN BIKES SET TO INVADE
ELYSIAN PARK
something that wasn’t approved first!‖ and
―Seig Heil‖ and ―Let’s have two groups, for and
against the bikes!"
The situation was completely out of control,
but Stigile kept on ordering us to split into the
four groups. Suddenly a young woman got up on
a table and took effective control away from
Stigile. She became our rallying person and
gave us a sense of direction. The rebellion had
now taken place. Stigile was a mere witness on
the sidelines.
Since g ro u p i n g the H i ke r s an d
Environmentalists apart from the Local
Community was a bogus and phony ploy, the
people decided to merge these two groups. The
Equestrians don’t pertain to Elysian Park and
the Bikers were already against us.
There was considerable sentiment against
any cooperation with Stigile’s scheme because
we shouldn’t make it legitimate. Sallie
Newbauer of the Citizens Committee to Save
Elysian Park pointed out that the Recreation and
Parks Commission would just go ahead anyway.
The Commission has already made it their
GOAL to force bikers onto our hiking trails. It is
not just a policy question they might consider.
So, we went ahead to nominate and elect 10
members of the Working Group to be able to
(213) 250-5768
j o i n t h e i r p r o c e s s i n
order to defeat the Bikers. Our candidates
introduced themselves and gave their
qualifications. It became clear that the policy
position of NO mountain bikes was reasonable
and well justified. The elected group represents
the current actual users of Elysian Park and
pledged to fight on to victory. There are also
several other groups formed within the Sierra
Club, Los Feliz residents and Solano Valley
residents to fight the Bikers.
The Bikers group is well organized and has
their own Web Site. They, too, are finding out
that you can’t mess with Echo Park and get
away with it.
George Stigile saw his plot to squelch our
objections and force the Bikers onto our park
trails torn to shreds. It was a massive and
public repudiation of his professional judgment.
He didn’t seem to learn anything from the
experience. His kind of high-handed
bureaucratic dictatorship exceeded the
tolerance limits of these good people. Maybe
the Commissioners, including Riordan’s own
Steve Soboroff, will understand something
about American democracy. Like, legitimate
government rests on the prior consent of the
governed.
Talkin’ Trash
Echo Park residents and businesses have
made great strides in cleaning up trash and the
neighborhood. But the two block stretch of Echo
Park Avenue north of Sunset Boulevard--one of
our most prominent gateways into the
community--remains on most days a trash and
litter-filled eyesore.
Despite some sporadic attempts by EPIA and
ongoing efforts by a few residents and property
owners, the pedestrians who travel this section
of Echo Park Avenue often must maneuver
around abandoned sofas, mattresses, water
heaters and car parts. Residents waiting at bus
stops must stand next to mounds of trash on the
sidewalk or garbage flowing out of the few
trashcans that are available.
These conditions on Echo Park Avenue
obviously create health and safety problems.
They also help breed crime and undermine
revitalization efforts along Sunset Boulevard by
deterring neighborhood residents from visiting
the area.
Perhaps most
importantly it is
degrading to the
adults and
children who
must literally wade through trash on the way to
work, school or stores.
The steering committee of the Echo Park
Improvement Association is exploring a
comprehensive and long-term clean up of the
two blocks. Proposed solutions include
sponsoring meetings with residents and property
owners to focus on the problem;
establish a weekly "bulky item"
pick up of sofas and other
large items; inform
property owners and
apartment managers of
their obligation to
keep public area
clean; distribute
information about
the FREE city services to keep the sidewalks and
streets clean; officially adopt the bus stop and
trash can at Echo Park Avenue and Fairbanks
Place.
We want to hear what members think of this
proposal. We also welcome encourage your ideas
and, of course, participation. Members can bring
their ideas to the next steering committee
meeting. Please call the EPIA message center at
(323) 882-4835 for more information.

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JEB’S VIEW
ATTEMPT TO TEAR UP ELYSIAN PARK
I’ve never seen anything like
it. In 25 years of careful
observation of L.A. City
government in action, the
meeting on January 20 was the
most bizarre. The Department
of Recreation and Parks held a
meeting at Grace Simons
Lodge in Elysian Park about
letting mountain bikes on the
hiking trails. Perhaps
controversial, but not the stuff
popular rebellions are made
of. But the way George
Stigile of the Recreation and
Parks Department handled
it was so outrageous that
the good people of Echo
Park and others went into
rebellion mode. They absolutely
rose to the occasion and took
matters into their own hands
on the spot. I was so proud of
them all. They deserve our full
cooperation and support.
Perhaps 2/3 or more than 100
people present are now actively
united to protect our hiking
trails from the threat of
mountain bikes.
A very few local people heard
about this meeting by accident.
They realized it would be an
important issue, so they did
Opinions expressed in this
newsletter are those of the
writers and do not necessarily
reflect the position of the Echo
Park Improvement Association
January 2000
Opinion by Jeb Brighouse
some flyers and spread the
word. They are our heroes.
Otherwise, we would not have
found out that Recreation and
Parks was trying to put
something over on us. They
tried to keep it a secret from
the people of Echo Park. Rec
and Parks, a n d and generally grumbling. The
especially George Stigile, are in
cahoots with the mountain bike
organization.
The ―bikers‖ want to be able
to ride their bikes on the dirt
trails in our public parks. This
is now illegal. So, the ―bikers‖
are pushing Rec and Parks to
get this changed. Three
meetings were held in the past
year, one in Griffith Park but
none here. The equestrians
wouldn’t allow ―bikers‖ on the
horse trails in Griffith Park.
George Stigile decided that
Elysian Park would be the
acceptable place for the
―bikers‖.
The January 20 meeting was
to establish a ―working group‖
to work out the details in
cooperation with Stigile and
Rec and Parks. He set up four
different ―interest groups‖ that
were supposed to meet
separately and elect five
representatives each. These
twenty people wold become
Stigile’s ―Working Group.‖ The
four groups were (1) Hikers and
Environmentalists, (2)
Equestrians, (3) Mountain
Bikers, and (4) Local
residents.
You can tell by now that this
can’t be acceptable. Stigile
made a horrible mistake in
setting this up. People started
speaking out and raising
objections, asking questions
―bikers‖, who had been
rejected by the Equestrians of
Griffith Park, were already
prejudiced against the local
residents. A belligerent biker
shouted out that Elysian Park
doesn’t belong to the local
people, and the bikers live in
L.A. too. (Not the brightest
bunch of guys.) That clarified
their antagonism against us,
and we lost any willingness to
compromise. I heard, ―You’re
trying to cram this down our
throats,‖ and ―You’re supposed
to ask us if we want this at all,
first! You don’t go on to do
(Continued on page 10)