LOS ANGELES, May 23, 2006 – Faced with possible eviction this week and the destruction of their farm, the farmers and their supporters are converging on the farm to defend it by any means necessary. Famous tree sitters, Julia Butterfly & John Quigley are currently sitting in the oldest tree on the farm, a large walnut tree. They have been joined by the world famous folk singer, Joan Baez.
Farmers are camped out at the farm around the clock to defend it. The farmers have exhausted all legal challenges to the eviction in the courts and a contract option deal with the Trust for Public Land to buy the property as expired. The mayor’s office which had promised 5 million in funds has failed to keep that promise. The judge at court hearing this comming Wednesday is expected to release the order for evictions. If so farmers could face eviction as early as midnight Wednesday (12:01 AM, Thursday)
Isn't this a lot of money for small gardens, which are private. For example, you want to pay over one million dollars per acre so some people can have private gardens. Can I have a plot in the garden?
Wouldn't that money buy a lot of text books or medical care? Think how much real farm land that money could buy.
There is currently a proposal at MoveOn.org for the organization to take action on raising $$ for the farm. If enough people vote favorably on it, MoveOn would take this issue on as a local campaign.
http://www.actionforum.com/forum/index.html? offset=0&forum_id=266&count=5&order=time&parent_id=&comment_number=
You may have to search through a few pages to get to the post re: the farm.
Also, to access the above-link, you may have to cut-and-paste it into your address box.
That's why the original demand was to take it back for the $5 mil the developer paid, via a shady backroom deal.