TO: Members of the Los Angeles Community
\r\nFROM: Members of the Gabrielino (Tongva) Community
\r\nDATE: January 5, 2010
\r\nRE: Removal of 90+ Historic Human Burials at the La Plaza de Arte and Cultura, 501 North Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012\r\n\r\n<\/p>
The Background<\/b>\r\n
“LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes at El Pueblo Historic Monument is a multi-million dollar museum dedicated to showcasing and preserving the history of Mexicans and Mexican-Americans in Los Angeles. The museum is housed within the historic Vickry-Brunswig and Plaza House Buildings next to Our Lady Queen of the Angels Church (commonly known as \"La Placita\")...(Molina\r\n2011)” LA Plaza is scheduled to open on April 15, 2011 (Painter 2010). This project is the pet project of Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina, First District.\r\n\r\n<\/p>
The LA Plaza (see http:\/\/www.lapca.org\/) is located at 501 North Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 and is within Los Angeles's first consecrated cemetery (LA Cultural Monument #26). The cemetery contains the remains of not only early Spanish and Mexican settlers but also the Native Americans to whom they were intermarried. The cemetery opened in 1822 and closed in 1844 when it was determined that the lot was too small. According to the Los Angeles Archdiocese and other documents, the remains were to have been removed and re-interred at Calvary Cemetery.\r\n\r\n<\/p>
In 2004, Los Angeles County approved LA Plaza's Final Environmental Impact Report prepared to comply with the California Environmental\r\nQuality Act (CEQA). Project refinements were proposed thus an Addendum\r\nto the Final Environmental Impact Report was prepared and approved by\r\nthe County on September 28, 2010 (Sapphos 2010).\r\n\r\n<\/p>
The Facts<\/b>\r\n
In late October of 2010 while beginning work for the Campo Santo\r\nMemorial Garden, human remains were uncovered (Painter 2010). Over 40\r\nsets of remains were initially removed and “bagged” while trenching\r\nwith a backhoe for a fountain, a fountain that is to celebrate the\r\nhistory of the Mexican-American people.\r\n\r\n<\/p>
As remains continued to be encountered, an archaeologist was brought\r\non-site to continue with the removal with contextual and archaeological information inadequately collected and\/or destroyed. Over 90+ remains have been removed to date.\r\n\r\n<\/p>
On Dec 29, 2010, an archaeologist employed by the Sanberg Group notified the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) of the discovery of possible Native American remains. The remains were interred with beads and a obsidian “biface” (Letter, Meyers to Hernandez, January 4, 2010). The NAHC has attempted to investigate the discovery but has yet to get a response from the responsible parties.\r\n\r\n<\/p>
An informant on site stated that the project is “being rushed”, and that the rest of the remains need to be removed within ten days. This is a directive that is being given by Daniel Mendoza the on-site foreman and ultimately coming from Gloria Molina's office and the Los Angeles Archdiocese. Mr. Mendoza is acting as community contact and incidentally, also happens to be the brother-in-Law of Gloria Molina.\r\n\r\n<\/p>
The Issue<\/b>\r\n
Once human remains were encountered, possible descendants should have contacted in order create a plan for appropriate removal and reburial.\r\nThe Los Angeles Archdiocese has a list of those that were interred at\r\nthe cemetery. This did not happen.\r\n\r\n<\/p>
Additionally with the discovery of possible Native American remains, the NAHC should have been contacted by the project proponent, as per the California Health and Safety Code § 7050.5, so that a Native American Most Likely Descendant could be designated. This did not happen.\r\n\r\n<\/p>
The Irony<\/b>\r\n
This museum is supposed to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of the Mexican and Mexican-American communities to the development of Los Angeles. However, the fact that these early settler burials, the very people the Museum is supposed to be honoring, are being removed in secret is ironic. The excavation of this cemetery in a rushed, haphazard and unscientific way, without community involvement, is a travesty.\r\n\r\n<\/p>
Additionally, the possibility that Native American remains are being removed without participation of the Gabrielino (Tongva) Nation is\r\nillegal under California law. Although the LA Plaza opening on April\r\n15, 2011 is imminent, this is no reason to desecrate burials or\r\ninadequately document this important part of history. Not only is the\r\nMexican and Native American pasts being destroyed, but also the past\r\nof all Los Angeles's citizens.\r\n\r\n<\/p>
Who You Can Do<\/b>\r\n
Please contact the following people, offices and public entities to\r\nask why these burials are being hurriedly removed, why the most likely\r\ndescendants have not been contacted regarding the removal, why the\r\narchaeological information is not being properly documented, why those\r\nwho are doing the work are not professionally trained archaeologists\r\nwith experience removing human burials. Tell them if they really want\r\nto celebrate the accomplishments of the Mexican and Mexican-American\r\npeople, they need to do right by the early settlers and Native\r\nAmerican ancestors interred in the cemetery.\r\n\r\n<\/p>
City of Los Angeles\r\n
Antonio Villaraigosa, Mayor\r\n
200 North Spring St.\r\n
Los Angeles, CA 90012\r\n
(213) 485-2121\r\n
Fax: (213) 978-0750\r\n
mayor@lacity.org\r\n\r\n<\/p>
County of Los Angeles\r\n
Dawn McDivitt, Chief Executive Office-Capital Projects\r\n
500 West Temple Street\r\n
Los Angeles, CA 90012\r\n\r\n<\/p>
Gloria Molina\r\n
Los Angeles County Supervisor, First District\r\n
Hall of Administration Office\r\n
856 Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration\r\n
500 West Temple Street\r\n
Los Angeles, CA 90012\r\n
Phone: (213) 974-4111\r\n
Fax: (213) 613-1739\r\n
gmolina@bos.lacounty.gov\r\n\r\n<\/p>
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes Foundation\r\n
Miguel Angel Corzo, President and CEO\r\n
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes Foundation\r\n
1055 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 800\r\n
Los Angeles, Ca 90017\r\n
(323) 260-3412\r\n\r\n<\/p>
Daniel Mendoza\r\n
1055 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 800\r\n
Los Angeles, Ca 90017\r\n
(323) 260-3412\r\n\r\n<\/p>
Archdiocese of Los Angeles\r\n
Bishop Edward W. Clark\r\n
Our Lady of the Angeles Pastoral Region\r\n
3424 Wilshire Blvd.\r\n
Los Angeles, CA 90010-2202\r\n
(213) 637-7000\r\n
info@la-archdiocese.org\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/p>
Bibliography<\/b>\r\n\r\n<\/p>
Associated Press\r\n
2010 Crews unearth bones at downtown LA historic site. Signon San\r\nDiego. November 9, 2010.\r\nhttp:\/\/www.signonsandiego.com\/news\/2010\/nov\/09\/crews-unearth-bones-at-downtown-la-historic-site\/,\r\nccessed January 5, 2011.\r\n\r\n<\/p>
Los Angeles Department of City Planning\r\n
2009 Historic-Cultural Monument (HCM) Report.\r\nhttp:\/\/cityplanning.lacity.org\/complan\/HCM\/dsp_hcm_result.cfm?community=Central+City,\r\naccessed January 5, 2011.\r\n\r\n<\/p>
Los Angeles Department of City Planning\r\n
2010 Historic-Cultural Monument (HCM) List\r\nhttp:\/\/www.preservation.lacity.org\/files\/HCMDatabase111510_0.pdf,\r\naccessed January 5, 2011.\r\n\r\n<\/p>
Molina, Gloria\r\n
2011 “About Gloria Molina: Biography”\r\nhttp:\/\/molina.lacounty.gov\/PDFs\/About%20GM-BIO.pdf, accessed January\r\n5, 2011.\r\n\r\n<\/p>
Painter, Alysia Gray\r\n
2010 Plaza de Cultura y Artes Opening Set. NBC Local Media.\r\nhttp:\/\/www.nbclosangeles.com\/around-town\/events\/La-Plaza-de-Cultura-y-Artes-Opening-Set-102966004.html,\r\naccessed January 5, 2011.\r\n\r\n<\/p>
Sapphos Environmental, Inc\r\n
2010 Addendum to the Environmental Impact Report for LA Plaza de\r\nCultura y Artes. http:\/\/file.lacounty.gov\/bos\/supdocs\/56770.pdf,\r\naccessed January 5, 2011.\r\n\r\n<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","contact":"","link":"","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/html","summary":""STOP THE DESECRATION! 90+ burials (at present) being disturbed in the development of the Mexican Cultural Center at LA Plaza\/Olvera St. They have attempted to not follow the law at the discovery of remains. Please support and help - call, write letters, emails. Voice your disgust...Tongva people tired and in pain." - - Tongva Elder\r\n","numcomment":0,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2011\/01\/243792.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[]}