Los Angeles Indymedia : Activist News

LOS ANGELES, July 30, 2008 - Residents of the Wyvernwood Community in Boyle Heights, are organizing to stop plans to demolish 1,178 units of affordable housing in the historic district and replace them with 4,400, primarily luxury units. The project and others proposed in the Boyle Heights area threaten to displace an estimated 6,000 people if approved.

The tenants have vowed to fight against any development plans that will result in demolition of historic buildings, displacement of any tenants, loss of rent controlled units or rent increases, loss of green space or have adverse impacts on traffic and congestion.
From the Newswire: Boyle Heights Residents Come out to oppose move

On July 2, Angelinos overcame the City-planned divides between rich and poor, cultural differences, and even broke through language barriers in the fight to restore the South Central Farm. When the developer proposed a diesel-spewing warehouse distribution center for the site, Farmers and Farm supporters threw a wrench in the cogs of City Hall and won a round in the fight to force Horowitz to do an Environmental Impact Report: they forced a twenty-one day delay for more public comments, and gained a glimmer of hope to restore the Farm. The fight between the people and developers' grip on City Hall could be decided by this Wednesday, July 23, 2008, the new deadline for public comments and the second hearing, a week or two later on the tenth floor of City Hall, in front of a small advisory board.

From the Newswire: Save the Farm. Deadline: Wednesday, July 23, 2008 by Leslie Radford
GOOD NEWS FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL FARM by South Central Farmers
Saving the South Central Farm: Listening to the Land by Juan Santos and Leslie Radford

SANTA MONICA, July 16, 2008 – The run on Indymac Bank, continued into its third day this Wednesday. The branch on Wilshire Blvd in Santa Monica has started issuing numbers to customers wanting to withdraw money from their accounts. Today, the doors to the bank were guarded by two security agents. Customers were only allowed entry when their number was called. Over 500 people have been issued numbers at this one branch to meet with bank officers to try and secure their life savings.
From the Newswire: MP3 Audio: Interviews with Indymac Customers

July 2, 2008: Former Santa Monica Green Mayor Mike Feinstein spoke against approving a warehouse on the land of the South Central Farm, and the conflict such approval would have with the Los Angeles General Plan Framework, at the City of Los Angeles Hearing Agenda.

Also, Linda Piera-Avila (County Councilmember, Green Party of Los Angeles County) spoke against approving a warehouse on the land of the South Central Farm, and the negative air quality impacts it would have.

Videos: VIDEOS: South Central Farm - Feinstein, Piera-Avila oppose warehouse at Farm by Mike Feinstein

Related article: South Central Farm Shows Alternative to Industrial Ag Monocultura

There was a lot of consciousness about the event itself, and quite a bit of discussion about the meaning of the Fourth of July and the whole concept of “Independence” in light of how many people have historically lost their freedom so that some could call themselves “Free”. Another interesting discussion was the idea promulgated by the media, (at whose behest?) … that Black and Brown people are at war with each other. The lie to that supposed idea was obvious in the parking lot of Self-Help Graphics where people of all colors, (whites included), celebrated, if not their independence, their unity and solidarity in the face of common challenges…and enemies.
Full story: THE FARCE OF JULY AT SELF-HELP GRAPHICS by Anna Kunkin