Comment

Comment by Monica on September 18, 2012 at 10:40am

I am so against the cutting down of so many beautful, historic trees.  Yes, some are overgrown and are buckling the sidewalks but if the City was on it's job, there would be routine maintenance to ensure the trees dont' cause so much damage.  Instead, they use a 'historic event" such as the shuttle to initiate a damaging course of action.  The trees they cut on Exposition for the light rail still have the stumps and sidewalks all torn up with orange cones sitting on the stumps.  Really, and that's ok?  Unless they are going to plant trees that are at least 10 years old, the baby trees won't even be noticed and may not even survive if they are not cared for.  There's always an underlying motive to what our officials do.  Do they honestly think giving us 2/3 trees for every 1 cut down will make a difference?  Why not take the shuttle down century blvd to figueroa, make a left and head straight down to the museum?  These are large streets, covers so many communities, plenty of sidewalk for all to come out and view the transport.  It just never stops!  What was the end result of yesterday's meeting?  Can someone provide an update?  Thank you!

Comment by Yvonne Ellett on September 16, 2012 at 6:03pm

Cool about the tree count.  The Task Force worked hard on this.   If residents can't make it to City Hall because they're working, the Shuttle topic can be added with a vote and will also be spoken about at the evening Board meeting.

Comment by enhager on September 16, 2012 at 4:22pm

I also got a notice that there was a city meeting tomorrow -

http://boe.lacity.org/docs/dpw/agendas/2012/201209/20120917/20120917_ag.pdf.htm

City of Los Angeles

 

                                         BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS

 

 

                                        Monday, September 17, 2012

 

 

                             9:30 a.m.  -  Edward R. Roybal BPW Session Room

    Room 350 City Hall

    200 North Spring Street

    Los Angeles, California  90012

 

 

PRESENTATION       The California Science Center

                                    re: the Space Shuttle Endeavor Transport

 

 

 

Lark Galloway-Gilliam, president of the area neighborhood council, also sent this as the latest tree report.

ValleyCrest Landscape Development
Space Shuttle Endevour Move Project
City of L.A. Tree Disposition Summary
SUMMARY BY TREE TYPE / TREATMENT
DESCRIPTION	QUANTITY
Large Intrusive Tree / Removal	19
Large Tree / Removal	22
Small Tree / Removal	78
Small Tree / Transplant	3
Total Trees	122
SUMMARY BY SPECIES
DESCRIPTION	QUANTITY
Callistemon citrinus	4
Ceratonia siliqua	3
Cercis occidentalis	1
Cupaniopsis anacardioides	4
Eucalyptus	12
Ficus microcarpa nitida	8
Hibiscus	1
Liquidambar styraciflua	1
Magnolia grandiflora	41
Pinus canariensis	4
Platanus acerifolia	11
Podocarpus gracilior	5
Pyrus kawakamii	4
Washingtonia robusta	23
Total Trees	122
Trees Over 15' Height and 10" Caliper	43
Other Trees	79

Comment by Yvonne Ellett on September 16, 2012 at 1:47pm

There will be a meeting tomorrow night at the DWP community room.  One of the topics will cover the latest results of several ongoing conversations with the Science Center: 

http://www.leimertparkbeat.com/events/empowerment-congress-west-are...

I know everyone's eyes roll into the back of their heads with the mention of the words "community meetings".  As a community, we turn out in force all riled up to meetings then slip out silently because, in a word, these meetings bore most of us.  The reality is that everything in this City is done through a series of meetings -- some big, some small, some very private, some very open but poorly attended.  Our elected officials -- or their representatives -- attend almost every single one of these meetings.  You could have a full-time job going to every meeting that has something to do with Baldwin/Crenshaw/Leimert and still do O.T.

The entire Neighborhood Council system in Los Angeles was set up to prevent or alleviate issues like what the Science Center is doing.  So, when everyone complains how The Westside or The Valley always get their way, it's simply because the residents of those areas put a little effort into knowing and helping make the decisions for their communities before it's too late.  It's an effort that takes practice with a willingness to learn.  Our elected officials didn't hear the stakeholders prior to the Science Center's plans, whether that was because they were too busy battling one another over Redistricting or that we never speak up so they never considered we'd mind.

The few community leaders we have are burning out because they're always the ones who are participating, the ones leading the charge, the ones attending all these meetings and fretting over the ones they can't attend.  Our community leaders need to know every Stakeholder really does care beyond what's a minor annoyance now.  Our apathy is our community's greatest undoing

@Bob Thomas -- did you direct your outrage to any of your elected officials: Mark Ridley-Thomas, Bernard Parks/or Herb Wesson, Karen Bass, Curren Price?  @Noah Rappaport -- did you contact any of those important people you know?  We all have it within our own grasp to start effecting change around us.  Little by little we become magnets and begin to connect with other people who feel the same way -- whether that's helpless or empowered.  Yes, let's keep asking these important questions, then let's try to personally come up with solutions and support our neighborhood volunteers.

Comment by noah rappaport on September 15, 2012 at 12:07pm

So.  Where do we stand?  What needs to be done please?

Comment by noah rappaport on September 9, 2012 at 7:21pm

I know some important people.  Who needs to hear our complaint in order for a change to take place?

Comment by Bob Thomas on September 9, 2012 at 6:39pm

I wish I could post photos of the really MAGNIFICENT TREES they will cut down. I TOTALLY OPPOSE THIS RAPE OF OUR COMMUNITY'S MEAGER RESOURCES!!!! Now then, when the shuttle was taken to its lift-off location, it was positioned in a VERTICAL MANNER. That way, the wings are NOT HORIZONTAL and should NOT require the destruction of OUR TREES on its path to the museum. THEY(?) had originally proposed going down LEIMERT BL. where the stately pines form a natural green tunnel. At least SOMEONE saw how stupid that would be....WHERE THE HELL ARE OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AT ALL LEVELS WHEN WE NEED THEM........FIGHT BACK EVERYONE!!!

Comment by noah rappaport on September 6, 2012 at 11:20pm

I agree completely with Heather Lee Presha.  Why don't they dismantle the Space Shuttle & bring it down the street at night?  Leave the trees intact ...

Comment by Heather Lee Presha on September 6, 2012 at 9:45pm

I just think it's very interesting that we have been begging to have our neighborhood block trees trimmed  for safety issues and to allow for better access to our garbage and delivery trucks---all to no avail due to budget cuts.  But now folks are willing to come and chop down whole trees for the space shuttle.  UNBELIEVABLE!

Comment by Yvonne Ellett on September 5, 2012 at 11:19pm

Hi, Eddie -- actually, the ECWANDC Task Force has met several times.  The first meeting was at Councilman Herb Wesson's offices.  Pictures and captions here:  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.512652765428298.130905.51...