To the Editor:
The sooner we all understand that each and every individual possesses his own unique version of "reality" the better off we'll all be.
Nowhere has this been more evident than when I read Michael Larsen's letter "Dear Mr. Topping" (September Issue) where he so authoritatively asserts his reality that has been shaped for him by the same forces who create real social problems like poverty, war, disease and more. His focus: Hemp. Or as William Randolph Hearst would say: Marijuana.
Curiously Mr. Larsen believes that he, and others like him who have been programmed against marijuana by the evening news, should be the ones who decide whether my need for the plant medicine is "true medical need." He insists that I should be extremely or terminally ill to use a plant, an herb that is completely safe and medicinal. Apparently "backache, joint pain, trouble sleeping and anxiety" isn't enough. But watch Mr. Larsen fall ill and he's going to demand what he feels is his right to use his "medicine". Fortunate for him, users of the plant medicine are spending their time healing themselves rather than protesting his right to use his medicines. I want to cry for the people who share his reality for becoming such strangers to compassion.
I've been using the plant medicine for 15 years. It has healed more than my physical health. It has helped heal my emotional health, too.
What is curious, too, is that he is outraged about a few for-profit "pot stores" but doesn't seem to care a smidgeon that Eagle Rock is dotted with stores that sell liquor, a manufactured drug whose abuse potential is responsible for killing more people in a single day than marijuana would or ever could in a lifetime. If the liquor stores are making a profit and paying taxes, why is the medicine dispensary singled out? Why begrudge them profit?
Mr. Larsen bemoans that a person seeking a prescription for marijuana "can show up to an office of a physician who specializes in writing pot recommendations, paying on average $100 and complaining of 'backache' and 'trouble sleeping'" and obtaining the prescription. Boy, that sounds to me like what is happening in every doctor's office. The only difference is the drug being prescribed and the fact that the medical doctors who are prescribing pills, not to mention the pharmaceutical companies who produce them, are earning exponentially more money. Again, why are the marijuana doctors being singled out?
Does Mr. Larsen actually believe that because the American Medical Association doesn't recognize marijuana as medicine that we who know otherwise are going to care and stop our lives and change our deeply held beliefs which are based on the facts we know from actually using the plant medicine? I sure don't. Do I care that it's illegal because a bunch of crusty dinosaur legislators think its bad for me? Nope. I'm going to keep using the herb. In Mr. Larsen's reality, the plant is a drug. In my reality, it's my medicine. The main difference can be explained like this: Mr. Larsen wants laws enacted to curtail my life, liberty and the pursuit of my happiness. I only want him to please leave me alone.
See the difference?
The alleged "fact" that 85% of the owners of the dispensaries have criminal records – in my reality – tells me that it's much too easy to be a criminal these days because there are too many laws enacted against people like me by people like Mr. Larsen. Has he researched the same statistics on the owners of liquor stores who are, in my reality, drug dealers.
Chief Bratton's statement is absurd beyond belief. Why do Chief Bratton and Mr. Larsen believe they should decide what is "recreational use" versus "medical use" for me? Again, it's a question of clashing realities. As one who suffers from hypertension, I can't wait to use the plant medicine to alleviate my condition and put me into a space where I can enjoy my life, my family and exercise some creative effort in the evening before sleeping soundly so I can be productive the next morning. Maybe I'll even switch on the Beatles and sing along. Recreational use? No way. Not in my reality. Yet, to Chief Bratton and Mr. Larsen, I would be a criminal even though there is no victim in the entire scenario.
Bratton and Mr. Larsen warn against increased crime as a result of these dispensaries but let's be rational here. The fact that these harmless plants are illegal is solely responsible for ever-growing networks of violent gangs that do more harm to society than the plants themselves. If someone like me is unfortunate enough to be arrested and put in jail or prison, the punishment again does more harm to a person than the plant ever could. Just like in the days of prohibition, the outlawed plant becomes valuable on the black market. Decriminalize the plant, take the huge profit away from a weed people can grow in their backyard for free, and watch the associated crime go away. Of course, that would greatly harm the highly profitable, big business of prisons, but that's a different letter.
The City Council of LA has chosen to ignore Chief Bratton's warnings because, Mr. Larsen, they don't believe the warnings. They recognize that in millions of people's realities, this plant helps to heal people. They are looking out for my rights as an American and as a human being, just as they are for your rights to drink alcohol and wine, use aspirin, swallow a Prozac or smoke a cigarette, all in my reality dangerous drugs that are responsible for killing and harming thousands of people per year.
There is no doubt that the people who don't share my reality are reading my words but seeing "blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah" rather than understanding my position. That is because there are as many meanings of words to define as many different realities as there are people.
I invite anyone at all who feels as Mr. Larsen does to do something courageous; trade in your reality for my reality when it comes to marijuana. So people are getting high. Big deal. You can choose to believe what I tell you about the plant over what the likes of George Bush tells you and at the very least you can choose to stop caring about what other people do. In your reality, where the plant is a drug, violence happens, people spend too much money, nice people get arrested and put in cages and their families suffer. For what? For a plant? In my reality, there is no violence, no judgment of other people, no black market, no myths about the dangers of so-called "gateway drugs", no people in cages and no grieving families.
In my reality, people – if they must – evaluate not the plant but individuals' relationship to the plant, which can be seen as healthy or unhealthy, not good or bad.
Mr. Larsen asks if it is too much to ask someone like me to agree that the sale of pot should be stringently regulated. My answer: Yes. Of course it is too much to ask. It shouldn't be stringently regulated. Unless the plant causes one's appetite to increase – as it famously helps people who can't eat due to radiation and chemo – "the munchies" as we know it, and causes one to burst with vegan cookies, I stand by my reality that the plant is safe and beneficial.
Sincerely, Michael Garcia

That Yarn Store
Join That Yarn Store for an informal Open House on October 11th from 7-10. How can my children learn a new craft? Is it easier to learn to knit or crochet? What's with the sewing machine? Get your knitting, crochet, and sewing questions answered. The owners of That Yarn Store and their sewing teacher will be on hand to answer questions and give advice. You'll also hear an explanation of hyperbolic crochet geometry and see spinning demonstrations. And if you've ever wanted to crochet or knit in a group this is a great opportunity to try it out - we have comfy couches just for this purpose. As always, we'll have plenty of snacks to snack on.
That Yarn Store
5028 Eagle Rock Blvd.
(323) 256-9276
www.thatyarnstore.com

Colorado Medical Pharmacy to Offer Flu Shots; Immunizations
CDC Says Immunizations Reduce Deaths From Influenza and Pneumococcal Disease
Among Older Adults
Adults age 50 and older and anyone else who wants to be protected from influenza should get an annual flu vaccine. Vaccinations can reduce the risk for or the severity of illness, yet one-third of people age 65 and older do not get their influenza shots and more than one-third have never been vaccinated against pneumococcal disease, according to CDC data.
While anyone can get influenza, older adults are the group at highest risk of dying from influenza-related complications and have high rates of influenza-related hospitalization as well. Taken together, pneumonia and influenza are a leading cause of death among seniors.
Even if you are healthy, if you live with or care for people at high risk for severe complications from influenza, you should get vaccinated. Groups at high risk include infants, pregnant women, kids and adults with chronic medical conditions like asthma, diabetes, or heart disease, and adults aged 65 and older.
The best way to prevent influenza is to get an annual vaccination, but too many people don't.
One reason is the prevalence of a myth that people can get the flu from a vaccination, although the inactivated vaccine is made from killed viruses that cannot cause influenza.
Data shows that influenza activity peaks in January or February in most recent years. However, the timing of the influenza season is unpredictable, and influenza can circulate and occasionally peak as early as December, thus, ideally as many people as possible should be vaccinated in September, october and November so that they are protected against influenza. If takes 2 weeks after vaccination for a person to develop antibodies against influenza.
Colorado Medical pharmacy, located at 1680 Colorado Blvd will be offering immunizations of both influenza and pneumococcal vaccines starting from October 1.
Monday thru Friday between 9:30am to 6PM. Anyone who wants to be protected from influenza or peumonia can walk in during business hours.
Cost for Influenza Vaccine is $25.00 per Customer, $45.00 for Pneumococcal Vaccine. Anyone with Medical & Medicare Part B-no cost to customer (we will do the billing)
 

ERHS Alumnus
Unhappy with Lopez
To whom it may concern,
I'm disappointed upon hearing the news that Coach Chou had been replaced by a no-name Johnny Lopez, who was fired from his former coaching job, leaving his team without even a victory. Being an Eagle Rock High School alumnus, and a former student of Mr. Chou's bio science class, it bothers me not only that he was fired, but replaced by someone as incompetent as Mr. Lopez.
From what I remember, Mr. Chou was an assertive teacher, and from what I hear, a competitive football coach. Being that my freshmen basketball coach lead us to an undefeated season, it was absolutely clear to me that a good coach in any sport must be disciplined and competitive, to keep the players disciplined and competitive. That's just the way a good coach operates.
Aside from talented athletes, that's what makes a winning team, and a happy team I might add. With experience in competitive sports from elementary school all the way up to my senior year in high school, all the winning teams had the best coaches in the league. They were tough, confident, expected nothing less than one hundred percent, and did everything they could to produce a win. Sadly, this does not seem like the case for Mr. Lopez.
I might add that hiring him for the varsity football team is probably the most appalling thing to happen to Eagle Rock High School sports in years, while firing Coach Chou probably comes in close second. It would tear me to pieces to think that the administration of one of best public high schools in Los Angeles has no concern for the football program, however; unfortunately this seems to be the case. I'm not going to point any fingers or name any names, but I believe that something must be done to fix this awful burden the administration has placed on the Eagle Rock High School spirit.
If there is no action taken to fix the situation, I will keep writing letters until something is done. I'm sending a copy of this letter to both the Boulevard Sentinel and The Eagle Scream, in hopes that it will produce enough concern and maybe even help remedy the situation.
-Leif Hansen

Highland Park
Heritage Trust Picnic
The Highland Park Heritage Trust will present an Old Fashioned Picnic at the Heritage Square Museum on Sunday, October 12, 2008, from 1PM to 5PM. The lawn at the Museum, 3800 Homer Street, Los Angeles, CA 90031, is a fitting venue on which to celebrate the organization's 25 years of work in the fields of preservation, education and recognition through advocacy in the communities of Highland Park, Garvanza, Hermon, Montecito Heights, Mt. Washington, and Cypress Park.
Tickets for the celebration can be purchased online at www.hpht.org, from Galco's Old World Market, 5702 York Blvd, Highland Park, and Future Studio, 5558N. Figueroa St, Highland Park. Adult tickets are $10, children are $5 and children under 5 are free. Tickets include Hot Dog (yes we will have veggie dogs) and Lemonade, and the Heritage Square Museum Tour.
Bring a dozen cupcakes to share and enter one in the Cupcake Bake-Off! Family games such as three-legged races, sack races, and blind man's bluff, conversations with old and new friends, and video taping of Living Histories by the Franklin High School MEGA Academy Film and Video Department will compliment the elegant 25 Years of Highland Park Heritage Trust installation being curated by Trust Secretary, Tina Gulotta-Miller in the Mt. Pleasant House. The installation will be available to the public from October 3 through October 12.
The HPHT 25th Anniversary is being sponsored by Council District 1, Ed P. Reyes, with the cooperation of Heritage Square Museum. Donations have come from the office of Supervisor Gloria Molina, Whole Foods Market, Arroyo Parkway, and Orchestrada Audio, the poster and flyer designs of Amy Inouye of Future Studio, and the media sponsorship of Arroyo Seco Journal have made planning this picnic a special task.
Purchase your tickets, now. Come and enjoy the afternoon with old friends.
 

Becerra Votes Against Bailout- Will Protect Working Families
By a vote of 206 to 227 the United States House of Representatives voted against HR 3997, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, a controversial $700 billion financial rescue plan. Representative Xavier Becerra (CA-31), Assistant to the Speaker of the House and the only congressional member from Southern California on the Ways and Means Committee, voted against the bill.
"I voted against this measure because what I wanted to see was an economic recovery package and what I found looked more like a bailout plan for Wall Street. I wanted to see protections for taxpayers but what I found was a plan that came up short for working families. I wanted to see direct protections for responsible homeowners who are experiencing plunging home prices, and what I found in this measure was trickle-down relief managed chiefly by Wall Street.
"The greed and irresponsibility that we have witnessed by some on Wall Street, fueled by the deregulation mindset that prevailed in the previous Republican Congress, led us down this perilous path. We definitely need to act to address our economic crisis, but whatever we do the solution must put hard-working families first."
 

ASNC to Sposor 4th Lummis Day
The Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council will help sponsor the fourth annual Lummis Day: The Festival of Northeast Los Angeles, a free, public celebration of the history and multi-cultural heritage of the Northeast Los Angeles neighborhoods, on Sunday, June 7, 2009.
The event will feature musicians, artists, dance groups, restaurants and poets representing an array of Northeast L.A.'s ethnic and cultural groups. The third annual Festival, held June 1, drew approximately 9,000 persons to events at Sycamore Grove Park, Casa de Adobe and Lummis Home.
As in past years, the June 7 Festival will be preceded by educational workshops for teachers and poetry readings and workshops to be held in partnership with Northeast L.A. libraries.
Lummis Day takes its name from Charles Fletcher Lummis, who served as the L.A. Times' first city editor upon his arrival in L.A. in 1885. Lummis also founded the Southwest Museum and helped introduce the concept of multi-culturalism to Southern California.

Herbie's AutoHaus 35th Anniversary
On Saturday, October 11 local residents can enjoy a free BBQ bash as Herbie's AutoHaus celebrates its 35th anniversary. In honor of the occasion, the auto repair business and body shop located at 5701 York Blvd. in Highland Park is throwing a party with grilled hot dogs and drinks, a race car "jumper" and balloons for the little ones, games, prizes, and a raffle for a free oil change and car wash. All who attend will also receive a coupon good for $100 off any body work that they may need done as well as a free seven-point safety inspection on their car.
When original owner Herbie Knebel opened the business in 1973, Volkswagon Bugs were one of the most popular cars in Southern California, and servicing them became a mainstay of his business. As a German immigrant, he found a natural niche in working on European imports. By popular demand, he expanded the business to service Japanese cars in the mid-90's.
Until his retirement three years ago, the business was family owned and operated, with Herbie's wife and three daughters coming in regularly to help out in the office. These days, the shop is run by new owner Arman Grigoryan, who is working hard to provide the same friendly professional repair service and body work that customers have come to expect over the years.
Both Herbie and Arman both place a high value on building and maintaining relationships with customers. "Although I am enjoying my retirement immensely, I do miss the day-to-day contact with my customers" says Herbie. "Hopefully, this party will be a chance to reconnect with some of those customers I have lost track of" he says.
Above all, this is an opportunity for the AutoHaus to thank the community for its support over the past three and a half decades. "We want to celebrate with customers who return year after year and to establish contact with neighbors, new and old in the Highland Park community," says Arman. Both Herbie and Arman will be on hand to visit with those who attend, and they both look forward to seeing some old and new faces.
The celebration will be held from 11am to 3 pm. The whole family is welcome!

Cruisin’ with Mary

Fall greetings from the Eagle Rockin' Rodders Car Club. We had a moderately successful September cruise in and a successful raffle, thanks in part to our generous sponsors, Verdugo Hardware, Tritch Hardware, and Sir Michael's. Many club members also donated raffle items and lots of visitors bought raffle tickets. Our charity proceeds from the raffles this past year will be distributed at our November cruise in.
Sat. Oct. 4 is the 10th annual Eagle Rock Music Festival. Numerous stages are set up along Colorado Blvd. with a variety of music styles and something to please all tastes. Check out my personal favorites: Permanent Blue. They are a trio of young men who won the 2007 Eagle Rock High School Battle of the Bands. Check them out for a rockin' good time!
I want to dedicate this month's article to my dear friend, Mr. Al Gonzalez, who passed away on Sept. 25. Admittedly, I do not know a lot about Al's early life, as I became friends with him thru our mutual friend, Bob Stratford, and the Road Kings Car Club. Al was a "gentleman" in the truest old-school definition of the word. He was not a man to cuss in front of a female, always opened doors for ladies, and was polite and had fabulous manners. Not something to be taken lightly in this day of tacky language and four-letter words. Al was generous to a fault, and I feel sometimes got taken advantage of for his sweet and giving nature. He was the owner of Al's Wholesale Meats in Lincoln Heights and many, many times donated hundreds of pounds of burger to local Kiwanis and other charitable organizations for their car show fundraisers. I had many long conversations with Al about his business and learned a lot about meat packing and distribution. Al was always interesting, well-spoken, and informative.
I remember when Bob Stratford first introduced me to Al. He introduced me as "Heavy Metal Mary," the nick-name he had coined for me years ago, and Al responded back "Nice to meet you, MARIA." Now, I am not Hispanic, Latina, or whatever the politically correct word is this month…. And no one has ever called me Maria. I wondered what was up with that. I quickly realized it was said with the utmost respect and affection. So I let it be. And for the past 11 or so years, every time I called Al, or saw him anywhere, he always called me Maria. I've been called a lot of things in my life, but never Maria. Now my dear Al is gone. I will never allow anyone to use that name for me again, for the rest of my life.
Al was great friends with Bob McGibbon, as well as Tony Wade, and could be found many weekends when there was no car shows at the McGibbon shop on York Blvd, bench racing with any number of local hot rod guys. We had many great adventures at the drag strip in Palmdale, even when we were not racing. Aside from being in the Road Kings, Al was a generous patron of the Eagle Rockin' Rodders cruise ins and raffles. Once he won raffle prizes he always gave them away, saying he didn't "need" them.
Poignantly, Al was going to walk in a cancer walkathon a few years ago. He recruited me to help him raise pledges for walking. He said "A pretty girl like you can get lots of money." And that's exactly what I did, and Al was suitably impressed. (Guilt works really well!) Al walked to help others with the disease that would ultimately end his life. All I know is the world is a better place for having Mr. Al Gonzalez in it, the rest of us can only hope to be so well-loved, respected, and missed. Rest in Peace, my friend Al, I will never forget you.

WTS presents

3rd Annual HAUNTED HARVEST
STORYTELLING FESTIVAL
at the OLD L.A. FARMER'S MARKET

on October 28th!
On Tuesday, October 28,th 2008 We Tell Stories-LA's multi-ethnic children's storytelling theatre company-presents The 3rd Annual Haunted Harvest Storytelling Festival at the Old LA Farmer's Market in Highland Park. This outdoor festival is a great way for families to enjoy Halloween in a comfortable, lively setting with fun for the whole family. Hours from 3 - 8 pm. Admission is Free.
We Tell Stories will perform three 30-minute story-plays filled with the spirit of the season. Performances begin when three actors arrive with a trunk full of costumes and props. Audience participation is encouraged as kids are selected to wear costumes and play an integral role in every performance.
This year's guest artist, The Alley Cats, America's Premier Doo-Wop Group, will perform two 30-minute shows. The Alley Cats perform in schools and venues throughout the country, often opening for Jay Leno. (www.thealleycats.com) Famed stiltwalking team Gumplestiltskin, who have performed in festivals all over Southern California and the world, will also participating. (www.gumplestiltskin.com)
A Carved Pumpkin Contest is a new addition to this year's program. Participants are encouraged to enter their already-carved pumpkin for judging. The Festival features additional attractions including a costume contest, face painting courtesy of Rock Rose Gallery, and a free raffle.
The Festival marks a continuation of the partnership between We Tell Stories and the North Figueroa Association (NFA), who runs the Market. Both non-profits are long-time residents of Northeast L.A. , Executive Director of NFA says, "We hope to reach an even broader audience this year and make this festival a Halloween tradition for families, kids, and the entire community."
The 3rd Annual Haunted Harvest Storytelling Festival is located at the Old L.A. Farmer's Market at Avenue 58 and N. Figueroa Blvd, Highland Park, CA 90042. Metro provides transportation via Gold Line to Highland Park Station. (www.metro.net) Parking lot and street parking available. This festival is made possible by a grant from the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) and supported by Councilmembers Ed P. Reyes and Jose Huizar.
Since 1981, We Tell Stories has entertained and educated more than four million youngsters and families at schools and venues throughout Southern California. For more information, visit us at: www.wetellstories.org or call us at 323.256.2336.

"Trick or Trunk" at Eagle Rock Baptist Church
"Trick or Trunk," Eagle Rock Baptist Churches annual Halloween event will be held in the church parking lot on Friday, October 31 from 6:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.
Eagle Rock Baptist Church has had a ministry to families in the North east area of Los Angeles for more than 80 years. "Trick or Trunk" is open to the families of this community at no charge. All are invited to come and join in the fun. There will be food, Moon Bounce, games and, of course Trick or Treat goodies for the children.
Eagle Rock Baptist Church is located at 1499 East Colorado Blvd., in Los Angeles. For more information contact the church of 323-255-4611.

Voters Should Say "No Thanks" to LACCD's $3.5 Billion Bond-Doggle in Measure J

by Daniel Wright
As a voter I despair how initiatives and bond measures cast important policy issues in such black and white terms. I especially hate how school bond issues make you feel like a Scrooge if you vote against them and make you feel like something is slipping past you if you drink the school district's Kool-aid that things are really as "urgent" as portrayed.
This year, unlike past years, I am going to vote "no" on the Los Angeles Community College District's bond measure. I support the good work of our teachers and school administrators. I give the local PTA hundreds of dollars every year even though I have no kids in schools and I know LACCD provides important opportunities for our young workers. But this bond gives even a usual supporter of school bonds like me reason to pause. Voting "no" on Measure J will not make me feel like a Scrooge because of these problems: lack of accountability, bad timing, and special interest provisions.
Accountability: LACCD has worn out its credibility on getting the Master Plan for its colleges built. Measure A passed in 2001 upon District claims that it would meet the Master Plan needs of the District for a six-year construction program totaling $1.2 billion.
Then the District came back in 2003 and claimed the Master Plan was more expensive. Voters approved $980 million more bonds for a total of $2.2 billion to get the job done. LACCD's Chancellor Drummond was quoted at the time in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune saying this was all they needed for 10 years: "This will enable us to build out our master plans and will guarantee the citizens of Los Angeles County the finest set of colleges in the country in the next 10 years."
Now, the Master Plan program has stretched into its seventh year. $656 million dollars of bonds from the first measures remain un-issued. Yet the District rallied some business leaders to lend their names in support of authorizing $3.5 billion more to "complete" the Master Plan and provide some new facilities not requested previously.
In business, if you told your investors the Project will cost $1.2 billion, you might get an additional investment of $980 million based upon "unanticipated" costs. But would your investors give you another $3.5 billion for a somewhat enhanced version of the same Project? Probably not. Because the District has not made a compelling case why the Master Plan has gone from $1.2 billion to $5.7 billion, we need to hold the District accountable by saying "no" at this time.
Timing: The $3.5 billion bond proposal is gi-normous compared to two previous bond measures. Those bonds totalled $2.2 billion and now the District says it needs, in one election, 1 1/2 times those two original bonds COMBINED. With more than a half billion of bonds yet to be issued, there is no risk LACCD will have to shut down its construction program if its bond proposal does not pass this November. But if the new proposal passes, the LACCD will have so much bonding capacity in a single stroke, voters will not hear back from the District for many years. Saying "no" to this measure will send a message to the LACCD to come back at a better economic time, report on progress to the voters, and don't ask for bonding authority for so many years into the future.
Special Interests: This bond came to my attention because I volunteer for the Friends of the Southwest Museum, a coalition of about 70 organizations dedicated to maintaining Los Angeles' first and nationally significant museum as the primary site to exhibit its fabulous collection. As a result of lobbying by the Autry Museum, which was entrusted with the assets of the Southwest Museum in 2003, the LACCD, without a shred of public consultation, has included on the bond Project List "the Southwest Museum Campus" for $11,546,998. This caught our attention because the site is owned by the Autry, not the District. How could LACCD spend $11.5 million on the Southwest site unless Autry was about to donate, sell, or lease the site to the District? Recently, LACCD has backpedaled and claimed this is for one building on the site, but the language of the bond is not restricted to that single building. I do not think we have the whole story.
A little background on why this is alarming: In 2003, the Autry Museum in Griffith Park merged with the Southwest representing that it would dedicate some of its claimed $100 million endowment and fundraising ability from private donors to rehabilitate the Southwest Museum's campus. After an expert study told the Autry that the Southwest Museum could be physically renovated to meet museum exhibition standards and was financially viable within industry norms, the Autry Board rejected its own experts. In 2005, the Autry announced its intent to seek permits from the City of Los Angeles to move the ENTIRE Southwest Museum from private land owned by the Autry onto taxpayer-owned land in Griffith Park.
To get its way at City Hall, Autry hired the law firm of Latham & Watkins and public relations/lobbyist Steve Sugerman. Their job was to get the permits to expand in Griffith Park free and clear of any condition requiring the continued use of the nationally significant Southwest Museum campus. Now the plan is becoming clear: take the Southwest's collection to Autry's expanded building on taxpayer land and palm the Southwest's privately-owned buildings onto a gullible government agency. This is where the LACCD fits into Autry's plan. To assist the LACCD pass its bond, an attorney from Autry's lobbying firm, Latham & Watkins, has even signed the pro-bond argument. The self-dealing is appalling.
A vote "no" will tell the LACCD you do not support caving to special interest lobbying -especially when it would unnecessarily shoulder taxpayers with the wreckage of Autry's refusal to honor existing commitments to rehabilitate the Southwest Museum with its own funds or private fundraising.
The Bond-Doggle: For these reasons, lack of accountability, bad timing, and catering to a special interest, Los Angeles voters should send a message to LACCD by voting "no" this time and awaiting a better bond proposal not including offensive special interest provisions.
Daniel Wright is a land use/environmental attorney and community activist in Northeast Los Angeles. Learn more at www.FriendsOfTheSouthwestMuseum.com or www.blackhatblog.wordpress.com.