My favorite columnist Betty Pleasant, who also frustrates me,
focuses on the effort to stop the revitalization of the Village, even as another
store says it's barely surviving.
Betty says the people behind Save Leimert, who now run the Community Advisory Committee, told her that Councilman Parks is set to destroy Leimert Park Village and that he wants to replace the current business with Jamba Juices, Quiznos and Trader Joes.
No one mentions there are plenty of empty store fronts, not to mention hair and nail salons, where a juicer or a deli could go without displacing one of our great local businesses. And I've never heard any residents say anything about NOT wanting a Trader Joe's to replace the crappy Ralph's we have now.
The article then plays the race card calling Parks' plan "Eurocentric" and saying no one wants to redevelop Chinatown or Little Tokyo. And again it's not mentioned that the city is doing exactly that right now - helping both of those ethnic enclaves better serve their local residents.
“We are not against development,” declared Robert Rubio. “We want the village to be sustained and expanded as the African-American center of culture and commerce.”
No one - and I mean NO ONE - would disagree with that sentiment.
Ben Caldwell, owner of the Chaos Network on the corner of 43rd Place and Leimert Boulevard, said: “I want to see an Afrocentric community with a strong look that reflects our history. The people who think it should have a Eurocentric environment should move or go to those environments and let us be.”
Again I don't think there's disagreement here. One of the major design philosophies of the plan is keeping an African look and feel to any buidlings, artwork or design features that are proposed. But nothing is planned - all that is happening is that the zoning would be tweaked to attract investors to build on one of the empty parking lots (one used to have a theater) or to move in - perhaps to a now empty office.
Betty says: "These people’s fear of the Eurocentric is not paranoia because throughout the August meeting, the CRA/Parks forces repeatedly compared a redeveloped Leimert Village to the amenities offered in Culver City, The Grove and Larchmont Village."
Why wouldn't you want a
Culver City or a
Larchmont feel - If you've been there you know they are filled with small, local business.
I don't mind her opinion, but she should know both sides of the story. Instead she takes a faux pas by one of of Parks' aides (he allegedly told a rude audience member to shut up - never called for and what kind of politician is so ham fisted anyway?) to rail against this plan instead of looking at its merits.
Rep. Diane Watson told Betty: “The area is the most important and largest stronghold of middle and upper class African-Americans in the nation. We must save the integrity of Leimert Park’s historical significance to our community and preserve the character of the neighborhood, including the homes, apartments, parks and small businesses."
Betty also noted that "L.A. Commons has been working with several Leimert Park organizations, such as Chaos Network, World Stage and Dave (sic) and Ricky’s, to tell the story of the village." hmmm that's probably
Babe and Ricky's Inn.