by Anna for the IMC
Monday, Feb. 06, 2006 at 5:42 PM
On Friday February 3, Members of the community staged a protest in front of the Brentwood offices of Ralph Horowitz , demanding that he void the sale from the city of the 14 acre farm at 41st and Alameda. This is the statement that was read to the press.
2/3/06
SOUTH CENTRAL FARM
STATEMENT TO THE PRESS
We are here out of our civic responsibility and our obligation as citizens of Los Angeles to hold Ralph Horowitz and our elected city officials accountable for the illegal sale of the property at 41st and Alameda.
This is not about property rights, but about how he got property rights.
Horowitz has never had any legal rights to the land; Judge W. Crispo ruled against him 3 times and the city gave the land to him anyway along with 25% more land! Horowitz stands to [profit at the expense of the tax payers and we will have to foot the bill.
In 1986 the city obtained the land under eminent domain and paid Horowitz 4.7 million dollars. In 1994 the department of public works sold it to the LA Harbor for 13.3 million.
It’s very clear that the city council knew the true worth of this land and that Horowitz had no legal right to it. But the city council gave it away anyway, for only 5.1 million and gave him 25% more land.
There is a difference of 8 million that we, the taxpayers have paid for.
We, the community are outraged and will no longer tolerate this form of welfare.
Horowitz knows this sale is illegal and he has an obligation to void the sale. As citizens we have an obligation to ensure this happens. Horowitz and the city should nullify the sale and return the land back to the community use.
We are here to tell Horowitz to DO THE RIGHT THING!