Monday, October 24: After 90+ minutes of open discussion,
City Council's Budget and Finance Committee unanimously approved Councilwoman
Jan Perry's proposal, though the announcement was rather low-key. Perry was not present herself but filled the room with residents of the low-income housing project Pueblo Del Rio (who were bused in and treated to a free lunch) and employees of PIMA, the company which hopes to develop the entire property. They wore shirts custom-made for this occasion. The measure will now be reintroduced to the full City Council, probably in mid-November. The South Central Farm is calling on Angelinos to contact their City Council members (contact info. at the bottom of this article).
Perry's proposal was the source of several unflattering remarks about City Council. "[W]e'll have to look into how some council members may be part of the increasingly unpopular 1%," said Bruce Campbell, whose involvement in that land goes back to 1986, when he opposed the Lancer trash incinerator.
"Releasing the owner [of an obligation for] a community soccer field so that he can increase his profit margin in a proposed sale is exactly why there are people occupying cities across the country and right here in front of City Hall," stated Linda Pierre-Avilla, another long-time South Central Farm supporter.
Report and photos: Jan Perry's Attempt to Remove Green Space Requirement Gains Steam by RP | Video: Urban Farming: LA City Council votes on Fate of South Central Farm by wsrcreative
Jan Perry's Attempt to Remove Green Space Requirement Gains Steam