Eric Garcetti Allows Destruction of 40 Protected Trees (tags)
Over the strong objection of constituents, Eric Garcetti (district 13) approved a rezoning of land, part of a wildlife corridor in Echo Park-Elysian Park, from three to 15 houses and gave developers special permission to cut down 40 protected trees. Garcetti's environmental legacy also includes siding with developer Ralph Horowitz and Councilwoman Jan Perry regarding the South Central Farm. Twenty years ago, another pro-development Councilmember, Michael Woo, ran for Mayor--as Garcetti is now doing--but was opposed by a formidable group called Citizens for Anyone but Woo. Hopefully 2012/2013 will see Anyone but Garcetti.
Public Forum on the Southwest Museum (article and transcript) (tags)
On July 1st, The Southwest Museum closed. The Autry National Center, which owns it, claims the future of the museum is secure, while Friends of the Southwest Museum is concerned about the lack of a concrete plan and whether or not relocating parts of the museum to Griffith Park is necessarily the best scenario. The lack of a tangible plan as well as a claimed scarcity of public input has fueled suspicion by the Coalition as to the owner’s true motive.