Los Angeles Unified School District vs. the Community of 52nd Place and 53rd Street

Law of Eminent Domain

Today, in South Central Los Angeles and throughout the poorest neighborhoods in the city the L.A.U.S.D, Los Angeles Unified School District is unnecessarily persecuting, rooting up and destroying the lives and homes of thousands of elderly, poor and disadvantaged people. These people are struggling to survive from day to day with what little they have, their homes. The L.A.U.S.D is taking the homes and small businesses away from citizens in the name of building schools. The homeowners do not have a choice. They are being told that they will have to move out of their homes and businesses or be forcibly evacuated. They have no rights that the L.A.U.S.D are bound to respect when it comes to the confiscation of their homes. The L.A.U.S.D is perpetrating this criminal act upon the South Central community in many places, most notably the locale within the Jefferson Elementary site No. 7 at 52nd Place and Central Avenue.

In the need of land to build schools the LAUSD has intimidated the community and threatened to exercise the law of eminent domain. Their intentions were very clear as they put it to the community at an open hearing. If you don't sell your property to us at the price we offer, we're going to take it from you.

This is a trend that has been escalating nationwide. Local governments and private developers, using the power of eminent domain, are increasingly joining together to force property owners from their land. Eminent domain is the power granted to local, state and federal government agencies to force property owners to sell their land to the government for public use.

The LAUSD’s incursion into the 52nd and Central-Jefferson Elementary School site is supported by insensitive, unconcerned and indifferent local politicians. The politicians have abandoned the community and are partnered with local CRA members who are interested in low-income apartment development. These parties are exploiting the law of eminent domain in their desire to acquire property.

What is most disturbing is that private entities have been implicated in the acquisition of these properties under the guise of the L.A.U.S.D. It was told, at one of the Open House meetings regarding the issue that there would be some lots that were not to be used for the building of schools but for the erection of income producing properties. So, the L.A.U.S.D. is going to purchase properties for the building of schools, use the threat of eminent domain against the current property owners, then allow private interests to use some of these purchased properties for private income. This is a case where the government colludes with private interests to take advantage of low wage property owners, to move them out.

Adrian Garcia has been at his business, Huero’s Tires and Wheels, as owner, for 11 years at 52nd place and Central Avenue. “ They (LAUSD) want to kill my business, they want to destroy my business.” When asked what was his initial contact with (LAUSD and their Community Outreach) Mr. Garcia said, “they… were going to acquire this property to build a school…” This was the approach that was made to Mr. Garcia. He was told that his property that he built into a small business was going to be acquired. He was not asked. He was told. There was no dialogue, but a proclamation on what was going to be done. Mr. Garcia was approached 2 years ago. He was told that a suitable site would be found for him to relocate his business. To date no suitable site has been found and that has increased stress for Mr. Garcia and his family.

The 52nd and Central Avenue location is populated by citizens who have been in their homes, some for 10 – 60 years. They are told they have to move. The compensation that has been offered to them will not amount to the kind that will afford them the same level of housing. There is also the fact of the personal connection to these homes. Some, in the community, were born and raised in these low to moderate-income homes. Now they are waiting in limbo for compensation that was told they were going to receive but after some 12-15 months there has been no offer. But they do know that they will be kicked off their property. They do not know when, where or how they will move.

Mr. Maurice Morgan, who has lived on 52nd Place for some 50 years is now being told that he will have to leave the home he was born in and the one that has been in his family for almost 60 years. His younger brother Kenneth told us that the L.A.U.S.D. would notify them and at that time they would have 90 days in which to move out. The Morgan family own the lots on which their homes stand. They have, as of this date, refused the offer of compensation. Their property means much more than what money can buy. It is their history.

These acts of extortion by LAUSD under the law of eminent domain are morally and economically wrong. They are destructive in principle and practice, by any governmental entity, such as the city’s department of education. Any law can be amended in a time of crises to prevent suffering and intimidation. This case needs such an amendment of law. The residences of this community are vulnerable, elderly and low-income citizens who have mainly their homes as the one thing that they can count on; the one thing in their lives that remains constant. Yet, local politicians turn a deaf ear.

Thugs and thieves have always been camouflaged in the high places of government. It is only the law that holds them in check. When that law breaks down or fails to hold them in check then these thugs and thieves become a part to the government, an entity that is allowed to do as it pleases.

Is there anyone in this city in a position of authority, that is willing to stand up for this community, to stand up and speak out against this civil wrong.

If anyone would like more information on what is taking place you can contact:

Reverend Mitchell 323-2331230

Dele Aileman 323-549-5372

Mandla Bolekaja 323-291-4315