LARABA

Community Meeting in January -- 6th Street Bridge Design

The City Council has voted to tear down the 6th Street Bridge and replace it.  It seems certain the old bridge cannot be salvaged -- essential structural elements are too eroded to save.  However, it is not too late to consider the design of the new span.

The Los Angeles River Artists and Business Association (LARABA) will host a public meeting at Mosaic, 826 E. Third St. (in the heart of the Arts District) on Monday, January 9th, 6:30 pm.  City engineers, representatives of Council District 14, members of the Los Angeles Conservancy and the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission will be there to aid in a discussion about the fate of the old bridge and the design of the structure that will replace it.  Please consider attending and adding your voice to the discussion.  The proposed span seems to many to be an underwhelming design driven entirely by the necessity to build as cheaply as possible.  "There are many freeway overpasses," one critic has said, "more elegant than this."  The surrounding bridges, all dating from the first decades of the 20th century, share qualities that many believe clash with the proposed design.  Whatever your views, it's important that Angelenos who care about their cultural heritage and the changes the future will bring participate in the dialog that will influence the selection of a final design.

Hope to see you there:
Mosaic. 826 E. Third St
Monday, January 9, 6:30 PM

LARABA Annual Meeting -- Join Us December 5!

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Los Angeles River Artists and Business Association (LARABA).  All Arts District stakeholders (residents, artists, business owners, property owners and anyone who works or does business in the community) are invited to LARABA's annual meeting this Monday, December 5th, 6:30 to 9 PM at Nola's (734 E. Third St., www.nolasla.com).  There will be complimentary hors d’oeuvres, drink specials (followed by a cash bar) -- and an opportunity to learn more about your community betterment association.  New board members will be added (if you want to join the board, just send a brief resume to LARABA President Joseph Pitruzzelli at joseph@wurstkuche.com) and we will hold our annual election of officers. Most of all, this is an opportunity to meet your neighbors, make new friends and learn about your neighborhood association (and sample Nola's New Orleans-style cuisine, courtesy of LARABA!)

Board Meeting Minutes for September

Los Angeles River Artists & Business Association (LARABA)

Board Meeting Minutes Monday, September 12, 2011, ArtShare L.A., 6:30 PM

I.    Roll Call and Call to Order:  6:35 PM

II.    Approval of July Minutes:  Tim Moves, Paul seconds, unanimously approved

III.    Public Announcements

a.    City is completing cross-downtown bike lane that will extend along 7th Street east across 7th Street Bridge between Boyle Heights and MacArthur Park.

b.    PRESENTATION:  California High Speed Rail Authority:  Route will pass through northern portion of Arts District.  Follow-up presentations to AD/LT community TBA.

c.    Tamar Fortgang described Medea Project.  She is planning to request funding support ($1,500) at next month’s meeting.  Project will include performances of Medea beneath the 7th St bridge to complement production staged in Greece.

IV.    Old Business

a.    Tyler Razor Wire initiative:  Jonathan to survey razor wire locations in Traction area.  Businesses that cooperate will be listed on our website.

V.    New Business

a.    Urban Design Charette:  Tim proposes LARABA contribute $1,000 to support the charette (with like amounts to be contributed from the HCNC, LADADSPace and the BID.  Vote postponed until target dates are finalized.

b.    Treasury Report:  Total cost of Bloomfest was $4,500.  Current balance is $20,526.00  
Green Neighborhood:  Guy Zimmerman requests LARABA support to develop green community initiatives.  He will follow up with specific proposals. No request for funding contemplated at this time.

VI.    Public Comments, announcements:  None

VII. Adjournment:  8:15

Next LARABA Board Meeting is September 12th

Because of the Labor Day holiday, the next LARABA Board Meeting will taking place on Monday, September 12 at 6:30 PM at ArtShare LA (801 E. 4th Place). Interested in hearing what's happening in the neighborhood?  Have an issue or concern to share?  Join us!

Board Meeting Minutes for August

Los Angeles River Artists and Business Association (LARABA)

Board Meeting Minutes Monday, August 1^st, 2011, ArtShare L.A., 6:30 p.m.

I.       Roll Call and Call to Order:  6:33

II.      Approval of July Minutes:  Tim moves to approve, Beth seconds:  approved with one abstention and a note from Marc:  amount approved in July meeting item 5e was $800.00.

III.     Public Announcements:

a.      LA Urban Ranger Program/River Walk:  Joseph was contacted by Urban Rangers – doing a collaboration with MOCA, Thursday, August 4^th.  River walk – Joseph has details for anyone interested:  All encouraged to get the word out.

b.     National Night Out in Pershing Square:  Tuesday, August 2^nd, 6 pm to 10 pm:  Activities will include community booths, food vendors, a K9 demonstration, a free bicycle ride and live music. All encouraged to get the word out.

IV.    Old Business:

a.      Additional funds for dog park sculpture project:: Joseph requests $1000:  Jonathan moves to approve, Tim seconds, approved with one abstention.

b.     Trademarks:  Report on the feasibility of trademarking the name Los Angeles Arts District or some variation thereof:  Joseph reports his research indicates this is not feasible.  Hollywood, for example, cannot trademark its name, only the image of the Hollywood sign.

c.      Homeless feeding program on Merrick and 4^th Pl.  Scot Ezzell reports the Catholic Day Worker group is not responsive to the idea of moving to a more appropriate location and suggests we send a letter to Jan Perry requesting support in persuading the group to move the program to its headquarters a few blocks away where there are sanitation facilities. 

V.     New Business

a.      Angel City Brewery artists work removed:  Jonathan reports artists removed their work, no further action required

b.     “Tyler” Razor Fence Removal Initiative:  Joseph proposes LARABA adopt an initiative to request property owners in the community remove unsightly and no longer necessary razor wire and requests a future agenda item specifying LARABA set aside $1,000 to pay the costs of razor wire removal where and when needed.  Jamie moves to approve, Norm seconds:  unanimously approved.

c.      Treasury Report:  Chris Fudurich reports a balance of $20,566.76.  BloomfestLA accounting continues and a final tally will be presented at the next meeting.

d.     Bloomfest Committee Report:  Edgar Varela basks in the glory of the enormously successful event, praised by all.  He reports anticipated total cost of event to LARABA is $1,500. 

e.      Filming/Parking Issues:  Jonathan reports CD9 is moving on parking restrictions reform – now moving through the city bureaucracy.

VI.    Public Comments/Announcements:  None

VII.   Adjournment:  7:33 (a new record for brevity)

Next LARABA Board Meeting is Monday, August 1st!

All are invited to attend the monthly LARABA Board meetings!  We meet on the first Monday of every month and our next meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 1 at 6:30 PM.  We will meet at ArtShare LA at 801 E. 4th Place. Hear about the wrap-up about BloomfestLA, share your own information during the public announcements and meet your neighbors!

LARABA is proud to sponsor BloomfestLA

The summer's best festival in downtown LA will be happening right here in the Arts District!

LARABA is very excited to present BloomfestLA, celebrating all things blooming in Downtown Los Angeles — art, music, community, great food and even the environment!  Named after community activist Joel Bloom (1948–2007) the festival honors Joel's commitment to the Arts District and his continuing legacy.  This is LARABA's fourth festival since conceiving and producing the event in 2007.

Joel Bloom Square (E. 3rd & Traction) is the place to be on July 23 -- don't miss this FREE event!!

LARABA Board Meeting Date Change

Please note that because of the upcoming 4th of July holiday, the next LARABA board meeting will be on Monday, July 11 at 6:30 PM.  The meeting will take place at ArtShare, 801 E. 4th Place.  We'd love to see you there!

LARABA Board Meeting Minutes for June

Board Meeting Minutes
ArtShare,
Monday June 6th, 2011

I.  Roll Call and Call to Order:  6:35 PM

Present:  Jonathan Jerald, Beth Topping, Paul Mackley, Mark Free, Joseph Pitruzelli, Jamie Bennett, Kathryn Hargreaves, Tim Keating, Edgar Varela,

II.  Approval of May Minutes:  Tim Moves, Paul seconds, approved with proviso added by Jamie Bennett that attendance be added to record

III.  Public Announcements

a.  Vivian Um is the proprietor of a new convenience store at the site of Bloom’s General Store.  The Board welcomes her and looks forward to the opening.  Ms. Um wishes to acknowledge the history of the site and honor Joel’s memory.

b.  Jamie Bennett announces that a Los Angeles County Mental Health Courthouse is proposed for the property adjacent to SCI-Arc.  Board agrees to send a letter of protest to appropriate city, county and state officials (see attached).

IV.  Old Business

a.  Tree Planting Success! Tim Keating reports that we planted 21 Briarwood Box trees with the Conservation Corps on 4th Place and 4th Street.

V.  New Business

a.  Farmers Market Report:  Susan Hutchinson reports that revenues are up compared to the same period last year but that city fees sanitation services are increasing due to budget cutbacks.  City can no longer afford to supply tables and chairs but vendors will pick up that tab.  Vendors will also pick up increased cost to state inspectors to insure farm-fresh produce is indeed farm fresh.  Susan presented board with $8,850.00, the quarterly profit.

b.  Arts District Mural Ordinance:  Daniel Lahoda reported on the murals project, LA Freewalls, that he curates.  He has facilitated the creation of 49 murals in the community.  Board agrees unanimously (Jonathan motions, Marc Free seconds) to provide Mr. Lahoda with a letter of endorsement and to work with city to support the ordinance proposed by Council Member Bill Rosendahl.  Input and community meetings may be organized thru tanner.blackman@lacity.org. Stephanie Magnien from Jan Perry’s office explains that new ordinance will include provisions that would permit projects such as LA Freewalls. A bonus:  because of Daniel’s efforts, the LA Murals conservancey has added the Arts District to its tour.

c.  Treasury Report:  Current balance is $17,345.00, not including the Farmers Market check ($8,850.00) and the check from LADADSpace  for filming income ($1,600).

d.  Supporting Jan Perry for Mayor: Tim Kearting moves and Jonathan seconds that we donate $1,000 to Jan Perry for Mayor campaign.  Passes with a single abstention.

e.  BloomfestLA Committee Report:  Edgar reports plans are on track and on budget.  Paul proposes and Jamie seconds a motion to discuss at next meeting increasing Bloomfest budget to increase fees for bands.  Passes unanimously.

f.  Dog Park:  artists Hope Pollonais and Joseph Brown, the winners of the Dog Park sculpture competition, offered detailes on their plans.  The challenge with working with environmentally-friendly materials (in this case, rattan) is the life span of the material in outdoor conditions.  It is anticipated that parts of the sculpture will begin to deteriorate in five years.  The project is also about $2,000 over the proposed budget.  Designers asked to come back with revised cost estimate for replacing worn parts.

VI.  Public Comments, announcements

Adjournment:  8:10 PM

Letter to Jan Perry, Re: Mental Health Court in the Arts District

June 8, 2011

The Honorable Jan Perry
Council Member, Council District 9
Los Angeles City Council

Dear Council Member Perry:

The Los Angeles River Artists and Business Association (LARABA) board members are unanimously opposed to the construction of the proposed Mental Health County Court on the lot adjacent to SCI-Arc between E. 3rd and E. 4th Streets.

For years, LARABA, the Arts District's 20-year old community betterment association of property owners, business owners, artists and other stakeholders, has been hoping that the property adjacent to SCI-Arc could be developed in a manner consistent with the community vision that city planners, your office and more than 200 Arts District stakeholders defined in "Uncommon Ground,"  the document produced by a community planning workshop in July of 2006.   At that time, planners and stakeholders agreed the area between SCI-Arc and Alameda should be encouraged to develop as a vital, 24-7 district featuring arts-oriented enterprises and retail businesses appropriate to a growing residential and arts community.  SCI-Arc's acquisition of its own property, making it a permanent community anchor institution, the proposed Santa Fe One Development, which would include an Arts District performing and plastic arts center, and the slow but steady growth of the Traction and Third area as a commercial zone with restaurants, design studios, boutiques and high-tech businesses, all contribute to a trend in the right direction that would be seriously threatened if not totally derailed by this proposal.

Our community understands the importance of sharing the burden of supporting institutions that serve the needs of victims of economic inequity.  The County Social Services Center on 4th Place has existed in harmony with its neighbors for years because its impact is manageable.  However, as you know, urban planning studies from around the country (indeed, from around the world) have confirmed that the best strategy for graduating individuals out of the cycle of homelessness, drug addiction and mental health problems is to create decentralized service provider areas that serve small populations.   Concentrating services in such a way as to encourage large populations of the victims of economic inequity only exacerbates the problem and encourages rotting urban cores.

The proposed Mental Health County Court is totally inconsistent with community hopes and plans; would seriously degrade the SCI-Arc student environment; could fatally derail the Santa Fe One development, ending our dream of a community art center.  It would be devastating to the community and put an end to the Arts District's efforts to preserve itself as an engine of creativity and innovation that has contributed greatly to the cultural and economic revitalization of downtown Los Angeles.

Around a decade ago the property in question was targeted by LAUSD as the future site of a vast food storage and preparation facility.  LARABA was one of the leading groups in the fight that eventually succeeded in defeating that proposal and today we have a broader, deeper and more committed constituency and we are prepared to help mobilize whatever resources are needed to defeat this inappropriate proposal.

Thank you for your leadership on this issue.

Joseph Pitruzzelli, President
Los Angeles River Artists and Business Association

Tim Keating, President
Los Angeles Downtown Arts District Space

Jonathan Jerald, Secretary
LARABA, LADADSpace