Serving The Communities Of Serving The Communitiesof Northeast Los Angeles

The Arroyo Seco

www.asjournal.net

Journal

Summer in Surf City!

Serving the the communities communities of Serving ofNortheast Los Angeles

Skirmishes and Standoffs:

The Battle for the Southwest Museum 2003-2009

Also: • Labor Disputes at Fresh & Easy • Luther Burbank gets a face lift!

Celebrating Lummis Day! Full Photo Spread

inside!

Volume 1 | Issue 4 | July/August 2009 | $6.50

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JULY 16

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JULY 30

Concerts at the Square Bringing together history, architecture and entertainment with free evenings of great live performances on four consecutive Thursday evenings in July Heritage Square Museum 3800 Homer Street Los Angeles, California 90031 For more information, please contact Heritage Square at(323)225-2700 or [email protected]

Susie Hansen Latin Band The Susie Hansen Latin Band returns to Heritage Square for what promises to be yet another unforgettable live performance. Electric violinist Susie Hansen plays fiery Latin Jazz and Salsa, creating music that brings audiences to their feet, dancing in the aisles!

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Serving the communities Nor oftheast LosAngeles

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The Arroyo Seco

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Journal Serving the communities ofNortheast Los Angeles is published by The Verdugo Group PO Box 50236 Los Angeles, CA 90050 USA Editorial: 323.230.8355 Advertising: 213.308.5337 • Serving the communities of Northeast Los Angeles and beyond • Publisher/Editorial Director Edward Rivera News Editor Margaret Arnold Sales Manager Deborah Ray Art & Design John Bowers Music Desiree Garcia Contributing Writers David Auslender, Mark Barawitz, Ronald Bello, Karen Daly, Candace Merrill, Jessica O’Byrne, Linda Overly, Ashley Sifer

Photography Joel Monroy Art Villanueva Caryn Gilbert The Arroyo Seco Journal magazine is a proud member/supporter of The Highland Park Chamber of Commerce, The Eagle Rock Chamber of Commerce, The NELA Rotary Club, TERA, The Highland Park Heritage Trust, The Lummis Day Community Foundation, NELA Art, The Arroyo Arts Collective, the Eagle Rock Center for the Arts, and the Rock Rose Gallery. 4

July/August ‘09 Local News

7

Labor troubles at Fresh and Easy?, Luther Burbank Middle School Gets Face Lift. News Editor Margaret Arnold reports.

On the Cover

a

10

“Skirmishes and Standoffs: The Battle over the Southwest Museum” For nearly six years, the Northeast LA community has fought over the future of the

Highland Park. Now

Local Angles

perhaps, the end of the

Southwest Museum in war is near. Or is it?

18

Celebrating Lummis Day” Another Lummis Day is celebrated on a day of perfect weather, perfect food, perfect music and the perfect audience.

Travel It

What

to do next year?

20 First place you think of when you go to the original Surf City” has much to offer, even if you’re

might not be the

beach, but the

a total hodad.

Foodielicious 25 David Auslender takes us Grande orange is serving PLUS: Wheel Lifem

and

a few metro stops to

Pasadena,

breakfast and everything else.

Summer Concerts

at heritage

where

La

Square!

Southwest

museum photo by martha benedict

5

DEADLINE Sometimes Late, Always Great Sorry we’re a little late. We’ve been traveling and seeing the world a long way from Figueroa Street. So, given the vagaries of the Internet, Italian train schedules, and the time-space continuum, our theory that “we can do this from anywhere” has been severely tested. But here we are. And nowhere else will you find our coverage of local news, such as News Editor Margaret Arnold’s expansive look at the long struggle over the fate and future of the Southwest Museum. A last-minute and long-overdue move by Councilmember Jose Huizar may bring some closure to the battle. Or it may not. The story begins on page 10. Also in local news, Fresh and Easy Markets are the target of a new international campaign on the part of organized labor with support from notable politicians such as Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, President Barack Obama, and Fresh and Easy employees in 12 countries. The first Fresh and Easy in the United States opened in 2007 on Eagle Rock Boulevard in Glassell Park. The chain is being accused of failure to pay its employees livable wages and of blocking attempts by employees to join unions. Right now this is about the only place you’ll see this developing story in print. Luther Burbank Middle School is also getting a facelift this fall. After too many years of bad news and discontent within the school, it’s nice to report good news from the campus. Margaret Arnold has the story. We didn’t forget about Lummis Day, of course. We’ve seen that summer is music festival season all over the world, and it’s nice to see that Northeast LA is no exception. You’ll see a couple pages of terrific photos by Art Villanueva to bring some great memories back. And, next summer’s event will be here in a blink. While we’re on the subject, we’ve also got some photos of Heritage Square Museum’s summer concert series. It’s continuing through August. Get there. Speaking of summer and going places, we visited the original Surf City back in June. and while Orange County may not be the first place you think of visiting, there is a lot to see in Huntington Beach, and it isn’t all just surfing. We also took the Metro a few stops north a while back, and came back with a story about one cool dining spot in nearby Pasadena. Dave Auslender is all over it. Speaking of dining, we’ve recently merged with our friends at Pasadenanow.com, for a series of special issues to be released this summer and fall. The first is The Arroyo Seco Dining Guide, which will be available August 15. Upcoming special issues will feature real estate, travel and a holiday shopping guide, since every day is almost Christmas, it seems. Candace Merrill is driving cars for us while I’m away. You can check out her take on the Toyota Highlander Hybrid on page 22. We’ve seen a lot of cities in our travels this summer, and you can catch up with where we are when, at www.justaguyintheworld.blogspot.com. You can also find additional news and updated listings at our news blog, www.arroyosecojournal.blogspot.com. Until next month, do everything. Edward Rivera Editorial Director, The Arroyo Seco Journal Madrid, Spain Summer 2009

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Not so Fresh or Easy

Labor Organizes against Tesco Chain Margaret Arnold Exclusive to the Arroyo Seco Journal “We’re dealing with a company that is acting like an imperial power,” says Los Angeles City Councilmember Richard Alarcon regarding the Fresh and Easy Neighborhood Market chain and its parent company, British retail giant Tesco. Fresh and Easy Markets are the target of a new international campaign on the part of organized labor with support from notable politicians such as Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and even President Barack Obama, and with the involvement of Fresh and Easy employees in 12 countries. Tesco is being accused of failure to pay its employees livable wages and of blocking attempts by employees to join unions. The first Fresh and Easy in the United States opened in 2007 on Eagle Rock Boulevard in Glassell Park. Tesco is the world’s third largest retailer with 2,282 stores in the United Kingdom and 4,308 worldwide. These store range in size from convenience “Express” stores to mega “Superstores.” In addition to food, Tesco sells electronics, furniture and doit-yourself products in the UK. Other Tesco operations include “Tesco Mobile,” a telecommunications business, and a corporate unit selling motor and household insurance. The company is even in the process of opening “Tesco Banks” offering by

accounts and mortgages. Its retail operations are rapidly expanding; a recent financial report indicates that Tesco plans to open over 11.5 million square feet of new space this year, 80% of it outside the UK. Campaign organizers say that, while Tesco workers

according to Deputy Mayor Larry Frank, has been rebuffed. On an international level, the union campaign is coordinated as the “Tesco Global Alliance” under the auspices of the UNI Global Union, which is based in Switzerland and includes

UNI Deputy General Secretary, UNI began the international Tesco campaign 18 month ago as an outgrowth of its belief that fundamental workers’ rights do not stop at borders. 140,000 United Kingdom Tesco workers are union members, but once it moves out of the U.K, Tesco, according to Bowyer, “takes on the worst of industrial relations in other countries.” have good union benefits in the United Kingdom, in other countries, notably the United States, Thailand and South Korea, Tesco won’t talk with unions. President Obama, while the Democratic Party presidential nominee, urged Tesco CEO Sir Terry Leahy to meet with union organizers, writing, “I am aware of Tesco’s reputation in Britain as a partner to unions. I would hope that you would bring those values to your work in America,” and “I again urge you to consider your policy on non-engagement in the United States and advise your executives at Fresh and Easy to meet with the UFCW [the United Food and Commercial Workers Union].” Locally, Mayor Villaraigosa has attempted to reach out to Leahy and,

under its umbrella 900 trade unions, which collectively represent more than 20 million workers. According to Phil Bowyer, UNI Deputy General Secretary, UNI began the international Tesco campaign 18 month ago as an outgrowth of its belief that fundamental workers’ rights do not stop at borders. 140,000 United Kingdom Tesco workers are union members, but once it moves out of the U.K, Tesco, according to Bowyer, “takes on the worst of industrial relations in other countries.” Professor John Logan of UC Berkeley, who compiled a recently-released report for UNI on Tesco’s practices in the United States, says that Fresh and Easy employees are mostly part time and salaried at $10 per hour. He says when employees do get enough

LOCAL NEWS hours work to qualify for the company’s health benefits, the cost to an employee is high for the low benefits received. If a typical part time employee were to manage to put 10% of his or her earnings into the company’s highly touted pension plan, Logan says that the cap on Fresh and Easy’s matching contribution would be $300 annually. Further, in what UNI believes is a deliberate attempt to discourage employees from unionizing, Fresh and Easy’s printed pension plan materials overtly state that union members are barred from participation in the 401(k) plan. Logan contends that what Fresh and Easy offers in hours, salary and benefits stops short of being a livable wage package. The UNI report states that, “In response to challenges from the floor at Tesco’s Annual General Meeting in 2008, the CEO, Sir Terry Leahy, told shareholders that employees in the USA were free to join a union if they wished to, but that the evidence was that employees did not want to.” UNI campaign organizers used the Huntington Beach Fresh and Easy as a test case. According to Logan, when a majority of store employees asked to organize, Tesco rejected the request outright and has consistently refused to meet with UFCW representatives. (The UFCW is the United State’s largest private sector 7

trades union.) Michael McBride of the UFCW contends that Tesco has workers believing they could lose their jobs if they attempt to organize. The UNI report states that pro-

Nevada, but are postmarked El Segundo, California, home of Fresh and Easy’s corporate offices. Four Fresh and Easy employees, wearing their bright green company t-shirts,

In May, Fresh and Easy enacted a “non-solicitation” policy, which has the effect of preventing employees from talking to fellow employees about union membership on company premises. Union organizers conducting home visits in Las Vegas initially found workers to be receptive, but they now meet with what seems to be a standard, scripted threat to call the police if they don’t leave immediately. union employees have been isolated from co-workers, that anti-union printed material has been distributed and that management has used the “daily huddle” at the start of each shift to convey the same anti-collective bargaining message at all stores, suggesting that the message originates from the company’s executive level. The name of one fired pro-union employee in Huntington Beach has reportedly been invoked as an indirect warning regarding what can happen. In May, Fresh and Easy enacted a “nonsolicitation” policy, which has the effect of preventing employees from talking to fellow employees about union membership on company premises. Union organizers conducting home visits in Las Vegas initially found workers to be receptive, but they now meet with what seems to be a standard, scripted threat to call the police if they don’t leave immediately. The union reports having received a number of letters from Fresh and Easy employees asking that they not be visited at home. The letters are from workers in Las Vegas, 8

joined labor and city officials at a recent City Hall press conference announcing the release of the UNI report. One of them spoke of seeing attempts to go union met by intimidation of workers. “They are so scared

relations, maintaining nonunion status and union avoidance activities.” After publishing the ad twice, Tesco said that it was a mistake. However, the company also recruited, as its chief legal advisor, the general counsel who led Ralphs into a 53-count federal indictment for locking out 19,000 union employees and illegally rehiring 1,000 under false identities with fake social security numbers. Fresh and Easy has also come under fire for its use of scanning equipment in lieu of human checkers in its stores. “I don’t want a robot to figure out if a teen can buy beer or not,” says Alarcon. A study by the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE) has found that many teens are quite proficient at by-passing

gala, politicians, labor advocates, union members, clergy and Occidental College students were among a crowd of about 100 outside calling on Tesco to sign a community benefits agreement, putting in writing promises made in conjunction with the corporation’s entry into the U.S. marketplace to create good jobs, to locate stores in underserved areas and to operate in a manner respectful of the environment. A community benefits agreement would be a legally binding contract designed to ensure that local residents share in benefits of major development. Tesco has refused to negotiate such a document. Local City Councilmember Jose Huizar and local State Assemblymember Anthony Portantino both sent representatives to the 2007

(LA City Councilmember Richard) Alarcon, who is serving as the local chair for the Tesco Global Alliance, is mincing no words in describing his attitude toward the corporate giant. “This company is trying to take over the world,” said the Councilmember at the City Hall press conference. “Do not be ripped off by these imperialist thinkers.” Frank referred to Tesco as “a huge international conglomerate that moves capital across national boundaries.” they are going to lose their jobs,” said Dana (who gave only her first name), “and they can’t in this economy.” Deputy Mayor Frank added that, when Fresh and Easy opened its distribution warehouse in the Inland Empire, it specifically sought out supervisors with union avoidance experience. The UNI report quotes a 2006 Tesco advertisement for an employee relations director as reading, “The incumbent has primary responsibility for management of employee

controls when self-checking out liquor. A pending measure by State Assemblymember Hector De La Torre will, if enacted, mandate ID verification via a face-to-face transaction when alcohol is purchased. De La Torre’s bill has passed the Assembly and is currently pending before the State Senate. The Eagle Rock Boulevard Fresh and Easy has been no stranger to controversy. On November 7, 2007, as dignitaries gathered inside for a grand opening

event, during which a delegation, including Huizar’s then-Chief of Staff Joe Avila, walked to the store to deliver a letter to company executives urging them to negotiate a community benefits agreement. They were blocked at the parking lot entrance by the VIP party’s contracted head of security. The security chief did agree to go inside and see if an executive would come out to receive the letter. However, he returned quickly with the report that everyone was too busy.

“That they can’t send one representative, only security, sent the wrong message,” said Avila after the event. At the press conference marking the release of the UNI report, Alarcon and others spoke of the changing role of retail as an employer in American life. Alarcon said that his mother’s employment in the retail sector enabled his family to live a middle class life style and provided his family with health care benefits. He grew up with a sense that union membership equated with quality of life. At one time, a worker in the United States could reasonably hope to take an entry level job while young and move up through the same company until retirement. That aspiration has changed. “They make you not want to grow with the company,” said Dana of Fresh and Easy. Alarcon, who is serving as the local chair for the Tesco Global Alliance, is mincing no words in describing his attitude toward the corporate giant. “This company is trying to take over the world,” said the Councilmember at the City Hall press conference. “Do not be ripped off by these imperialist thinkers.” Frank referred to Tesco as “a huge international conglomerate that moves capital across national boundaries.” “Labor is building those same international relations,” the Deputy Mayor said of the Tesco campaign. UNI is releasing its Tesco report in Britain, in an attempt to create public awareness and bring pressure to bear on the corporation on its home turf. The United States

has apparently not been the market place that Tesco hoped for. According to Logan, when Tesco opened its first U.S. store in Glassell Park, its plan was to quickly build a chain of 1,000 Fresh and Easy Neighborhood Markets with 200 stores open by the end of 2008. It has opened only 121 with four more coming this summer. Glassell Park customers have noticed some rethinking of retail offerings lately, reflecting more of a discount bent. For the fiscal year that ended in February, Fresh and Easy reported year-on-year losses of $208.5 million— reportedly wildly higher than Tesco budgeted for as it established a foothold in the United States. “Tesco is losing money hand over fist in the United States,” says Logan.

New Look Planned for Burbank Middle School

Luther Burbank Middle School is about to get a new look. The Los Angeles Unified School District has unveiled plans for a campus makeover that will include a new multi-purpose building, a gymnasium, classrooms and considerable outdoor space. A new entrance to the school will be built on North Figueroa where Tyler Hall, the school’s auditorium, is now. The entrance will feature a gate and a social space flanked by parking for teachers and staff. The decision to set buildings back from the street and put parking to the front will have the effect of moving structures occupied by students off of the Raymond

Earthquake Fault. School District officials stress that no building on the Luther Burbank campus has been declared unsafe. However, experts do believe that a quake of magnitude 6 or larger on the Raymond Fault could break ground, and the district is taking the prudent step of rearranging the campus design—while adding a considerable number of new amenities. Beyond the entrance area, a new Tyler Hall multi-purpose building with an auditorium, a practice stage and drama, music and choral classrooms will be constructed. A new gym will feature event seating, practice courts and weight and fitness and dance and aerobic rooms. The new classroom building, comprised of 12 classrooms in two stories, and a garden will be located to the rear of the campus, where banks of portable classrooms are now. As befits a school named for a botanist, the new Luther Burbank campus will feature a lot of plant life. Senior Project Designer Devan Mitchell of the architectural firm gkkworks is making ready access to an outdoor environment an integral part of the learning community. The classrooms will open onto a large outdoor area, with classes able to move outdoors readily. A teaching garden will include native plant specimens, planting beds, an outdoor classroom, a rose specimen garden and natural habitat. There will be lots of shade on campus, a feature that Mitchell points out is lacking in the current campus design. The botanical elements of the design will even carry over into graphic motifs on the new buildings. The trees of the current outdoor quad on the

campus will be kept, but a raised platform will be added, providing a place for graduations and other events. Concerns have been raised by some parents and by Board of Education Member Yolie Flores Aguilar as to how the new campus design will be integrated with the planned conversion of Luther Burbank Middle School into a campus of small schools. Pursuant to a plan crafted by Flores Aguilar and passed by the board a year ago, by 2020 any district campus with 1,000 or more students that does not specifically opt out is to be divided into several smaller school campuses. Small campuses promote better, more personalized relationships between faculty and students, and according to Flores Aguilar, have been shown to produce a host of benefits ranging from better academic performance and higher teacher satisfaction to increased parental involvement and better campus safety. At a parents’ meeting, where design plans were presented, Flores Aguilar’s Director of Community Partnerships, Ron Palacios, told parents that the board member is indeed committed to seeing Luther Burbank become a “school of small schools.” Palacios praised the current principal, John Samaniego, for turning the school around, and he readily acknowledged the need for amelioration of earthquakerelated issues. But he also passed around The total building project is expected to take about 2 ½ years to complete. Work will begin in August, and completion of all plan aspects is hoped for by February, 2012. 9

Standoffs and Skirmishes: The Battle over the Southwest Museum: 2003-2009 With perhaps a treaty in hand, is the war over? Who won? More importantly, it seems, who lost? By margaret Arnold

10

The Southweest under wraps-2008

For years now, a struggle over the merger of The Southwest Museum in Mount Washington and The Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage in Griffith Park has resembled a circling of wagon trains. But June 30, in a surprise development, a committee of the Los Angeles City Council announced a zerotolerance policy for the Western movie model and sought to usher in a new way of doing business— one that does not rely on Winchester Rifles versus bows and arrows so much as diplomacy. “I don’t think this project can move forward unless both museums are on a sure footing,” said Councilmember Bernard Parks. At issue is the Autry National Center’s desire to dramatically enlarge its Griffith Park facility--mainly to create gallery space to house a world class collection of American Indian artifacts relocated from Mount Washington. The Autry National Center was formed through the 2003 merger of The Museum of Western Heritage and The Southwest Museum. There are basically three camps in the conflict: The Autry National Center, under the leadership of Executive Director John Gray, wants to see the Autry’s Griffith Park campus expanded and the Southwest

collection largely relocated. The Autry has prominent supporters including family members of Charles Lummis, who founded the Southwest Museum over a century ago; a number of American leaders including Anthony Morales, Tribal Chairperson of the Gabrieleno/Tongva of San Gabriel; Rudy Ortega, Jr., Tribal Administrator of the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians and Paula Starr, Executive Director of the Southern California Indian Center, plus members of the Southwest Society, a Blue Ribbon Committee of local political, arts, American Indian and community leaders announced by Mayor Antonia Villaraigosa, Mount Washington’s City Councilmember Jose Huizar and Gray in 2007. (The Southwest Society was originally charged with raising funds to restore and revitalize the Southwest, but is now described by Huizar as “formed to monitor the Autry’s progress with the Southwest Museum.) Across the aisle is The Friends of the Southwest Museum Coalition, with its membership of about 80 organizations including 10 neighborhood councils, preservation groups, homeowner organizations, arts collectives and venues. The coalition wants to see Mount Washington’s Southwest

Museum campus retained as a full-scale museum (as they were led to believe it would be when the original merger agreement was signed)

of struggle, the matter was placed in the hands of City Councilmembers Hahn, Cardenas, Parks, Reyes and Rosendahl. Hundreds of

As the Autry is located on public land in Griffith Park, which it leases from the City for $1/year, approval of the Environmental Impact Report (a hefty state-required document necessary before any new construction begins) would normally be the responsibility of the City’s Recreation and Parks Board. However, when the City Attorney found a conflict of interest in the board chair’s status as a retired partner in the Autry’s law firm, the matter was punted to the City Council’s Board of Referred Powers, which convenes when a board or commission is unable to act. and has gathered over 7,000 signatures from supporters. The list of stakeholders impacted by the Autry expansion also includes a third group—members of community groups from neighborhoods near Griffith Park, most of whom want to see the park kept as undeveloped as possible and fear traffic and commercial uses associated with a larger Autry facility. As the Autry is located on public land in Griffith Park, which it leases from the City for $1/year, approval of the Environmental Impact Report (a hefty state-required document necessary before any new construction begins) normally would be the responsibility of the City’s Recreation and Parks Board. However, when the City Attorney found a conflict of interest in the board chair’s status as a retired partner in the Autry’s law firm, the matter was punted to the City Council’s Board of Referred Powers, which convenes when a board or commission is unable to act. Hence, after years

people showed up at City Hall for the Board of Referred Powers hearing, and they arrived in wagon train-circling mode. Long before the meeting’s scheduled start time, the large Board of Public Works Session Room was filled to capacity. Members of the Friends of the Southwest Museum Coalition’s organizations milled in the hallway, watching with mounting annoyance as a City Hall security guard blocked their way at the hearing room door while admitting supporters of the Autry expansion. Fortunately, coalition members inside were able to negotiate a move of the meeting to the even larger City Council Chamber. Even there, the situation quickly became standing room only, and, with but a few exceptions, it was Autry camp on the left, Southwest camp on the right. There are, however, certain things all parties agree on. One is that the Southwest Museum collection of more than 240,000 American Indian artifacts is a major

treasure of international note. A second is that much of the collection was, before the merger, in grave danger at the Southwest Museum, where there are not proper climate controls and where rain and silverfish have already taken a heavy toll on popular dioramas and the basket collection. The galleries of the Southwest campus are currently closed to the public. The store is open weekends, and there are special events such as artist exhibits the second Saturday evening of each month, but the galleries are being used for cataloging and preservation work. The closure is a sore point, but the fact that the Southwest collection needed professional intervention was never in dispute. A third point of nearly unanimous

Levin’s design for the expansion of the Autry National Center in Griffith Park would double the current amount of exhibition, storage and gallery space without any expansion beyond the center’s current land parcel. It features open collections and visible storage that reveal the inner workings of the museum. Levin refers to the design as not rooted in a particular culture or period of time, but as “finding its form from the land,” with a fluid relationship between outdoor park and indoor museum spaces. The expansion is to be built in accordance with highly sustainable principles out of local and recycled materials. But agreement stops cold when it comes to two very fundamental issues—the continued use of the Southwest site on Mount Washington and

There are, in fact, certain things all parties agree on.. One is that the Southwest Museum collection of more than 240,000 American Indian artifacts is a major treasure of international note. A second is that much of the collection was, before the merger, in grave danger at the Southwest Museum, where there are not proper climate controls and where rain and silverfish have already taken a heavy toll on popular dioramas and the basket collection.

agreement is the worthiness of Autry architect Brenda Levin’s credentials. Levin has guided the historic preservation and adaptive re-use work on some of the City’s most significant architecture, including The Griffith Observatory, Myron Hunt-designed buildings at Occidental College and even City Hall itself.

the appropriate scope of development in Griffith Park. What was and is at issue is where the collection will be displayed after the preservation and restoration are completed. The Autry National Center intends to move most of it to Griffith Park. At the City Hall hearing, Grey 11

Got Issues with L.A. City Hall? GET INVOLVED! P.O. BOX 50791, HIGHLAND PARK, CA 90050 On the Web: WWW.HISTORICHIGHLANDPARK.ORG

addressed the insufficient space at the Mount Washington site and spoke of the need for “space for interactive exhibits, not dusty storage bins.” On the other

Phone: (323) 256-8921 Fax: (323) 315-9358

MEETINGS HELD EVERY FIRST AND THIRD THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH, 6:30 P.M.

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COMMITTEE CHAIRS: Yvonne Sarceda Arts and Culture [email protected] Chris Smith City Svcs./Transp. [email protected] Gemma Marquez Eco. Development [email protected] Gloria Demeter Housing/Com. Dev. [email protected] • President – Dr. Richard W. Dyke Maggie Godoy HumRel/Edu/Youth [email protected] [email protected] David Lee Baird Land Use [email protected] • First Vice President - Dr. Stanley W. Moore Christina Amezquita Outreach c_b_amezquita2yahoo.com [email protected] Dr. Nicole Gatto PublicHealth/Safety [email protected] • Second Vice President – Dr. William E. Schenewerk AT-LARGE DIRECTORS: [email protected] Mauro Garcia [email protected] • Secretary – Jessica D. Godoy Ofelia Zuniga [email protected] [email protected] Linda Phelps [email protected] • Treasurer - Jesus “Jesse” Rosas Vanessa Ruiz [email protected] [email protected] Enma Espinoza [email protected] Steve Crouch Call (323) 256-8921 Miriam Escobar Call (323) 256-8921 Humberto Escobar Call (323) 256-8921

2008-2010 Officers

HISTORIC HIGHLAND PARK NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL

GREATER CYPRESS PARK NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL Meets the Third Tuesday of Every Month WHEN: WHERE:

6:30 pm Dinner - 7:00 pm Meeting begins Aragon Elementary School, 1118 Aragon Ave.

SOME OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS: * The Cypress Park Walkabout * Jobs for Cypress Park youth * Land Use issues affecting Cypress Park * Cypress Park Community Design Overlay Plan * New Books for the Cypress Park Library

We have helped support: * Cypress Park Community Center * Cypress Park Recreation Center * Lummis Day Celebration * Elyria Canyon “Clean & Green” Cleanup

Cinco de Mayo Celebration organizing meetingsheld 2nd and 4th Thursdays at the Cypress Park Community Center - 929 Cypress Avenue

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! WE INVITE YOU TO COME AND BRING YOUR COMMUNITY ISSUES AND CONCERNS! Free child care is available: first-come, first-served.

For more information:

Call (323) 221-4740 or Visit www.gcpnc.info

12

Activist Nicole Possert of the Friends of the Southwest Museum Coalition hand, the Friends of the Southwest Museum Coalition finds the two rooms that will be maintained at the current site (with the rest of the building devoted to a not yet clearly defined educational purpose) to be entirely insufficient. It contends that the merits of the collection are inseparable from its site overlooking the Arroyo Seco, and that the building, the oldest museum in Los Angeles, should itself be considered among the artifacts. The coalition, therefore, insists that the Mount Washington building must be reopened as a fully functioning museum that will meet all standards for accreditation and for school field trips. The Southwest building has been undergoing over $7 million worth of repairs

since the merger, including the just completed stabilization of its tower. “The Autry has saved the Southwest Museum,” Gray told the Board of Referred Powers members. A number of the Autry supporters who spoke at the hearing were originally among some of the merger’s harshest critics, but they reported having been won over by the Autry’s support for American Indian cultural expression and by the Autry’s excellent treatment of the Southwest artifacts. David Goldberg, a partner in the Autry’s law firm, Latham and Watkins, presented what was before the Board of Referred Powers as limited in scope, involving a proposed amendment to the Autry’s 1987 lease agreement with the City of Los Angeles and acceptance of the Environmental Impact Report. “Nothing in the lease mentions the Southwest,” said Goldberg. “The Southwest Museum is not before you today.” Not so, countered Nicole Possert, representing what Board of Referred Powers Chair Janice Hahn referred to as “the organized opposition.” With the 2003 merger, “the Autry became an entirely new institution,” said Possert, who chairs the Friends of the Southwest Museum Coalition and represents the Highland Park Heritage Trust. According to Possert, the Autry had no stated plans for

expansion before it acquired the Southwest Museum collection. Clearly the expansion and acquisition are tied together, and therefore, the coalition feels, the effects on the Mount Washington campus must be included in any discussion of environmental impacts. And the effects, according to the coalition presentation, would be enormous. According to coalition members, the structure and the

there would be impacts in two CEQA categories, land use and cultural resources, that the Autry is failing to examine. The Autry’s analysis of the situation is based on a contention that the Northeast Community Plan--a cityadopted document with the weight of law, which specifically states that city decision makers may take no action that would result in the removal of the Southwest Museum from its present location in Mt. Washington—does

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Native American dancers at the 2007 “funeral” of the Southwest Museum. collection are interlinked. Possert asked the City Council members to imagine the Watts Towers without artwork on them, or the Gamble House without its furnishings, or the restored Los Angeles Public Library building with only the children’s books left. “CEQA (the California Environmental Quality Act) requires analysis of direct and indirect impacts,” said attorney and Mount Washington Homeowner Alliance representative Daniel Wright. Wright contended that, if the collection were to be removed from Mount Washington,

not apply. The Board of Referred Powers received, however, a 20-page analysis from three Northeast Plan experts: 25-year City Planner Terry Speth, who oversaw the revision and implementation of the plan and Miki Jackson and Diana Barnwell, Northeast Los Angeles residents who participated in the Community Plan Advisory Committee for 13 years. “The EIR goes to extraordinary, indeed preposterous lengths, to deny that the Project in Griffith Park has any relationship to the Southwest Museum’s

We are now doing orthodontics.

13

Arroyo Seco campus,” the analysis says. “The reason for the forceful denials of any link between the Project and the Southwest Museum campus is palpably transparent. If the City and Autry conceded that there is a significant negative land use impact from implementation of the Project as proposed, either of the options contained in the Autry’s 2004 Rehabilitation Report for the Southwest Museum [a report overseen by Levin, which concluded that the Southwest is sound for rehabilitation to meet museum standards and could generate at least 38% of its operating costs, which is within the norm for museums] would mitigate such a significant land use impact. CEQA would require the City to select the 2004 Rehabilitation Report plan if the EIR ‘finds’ a potential significant land use impact, and as we understand the politics of this issue, Autry, particularly its most significant donor, Mrs. Autry, does not want a continuing obligation to preserve the Southwest Museum site on Mount Washington as a part of the Autry National Center. We are of the opinion that the elephant in the room is that the Autry and the City both KNOW there will be a potential negative impact if the Autry is allowed to remove the Southwest’s collection and therefore the museum land use from Mount Washington” “Accordingly,” the analysis concludes, “Autry’s legal advisors, Latham & Watkins, and 14

Autry’s EIR consultant, PCR Corporation, have conducted an intellectually dishonest effort to draft false and misleading EIR documents and correspondence with the City claiming that there is no land use impact on the Northeast Community Plan.” Residents near the Griffith Park Project have land use concerns as well. “The Autry is a welcome part of our community,” Greater Griffith Park Neighborhood Council President Philip Gasteier told the councilmembers. “That does not give the Autry or anyone else a blank check to do

security plus information on how any additional costs to the City would be handled. They have concerns about building height and bulk and the use of supergraphic signs—not only as regards the Autry expansion, but as precedent setting for Griffith Park as a whole. There is a concern on the part of many in the area that facility expansion would end up being financed by increased rental of the center to outside entities (such as a July 25 Brew Haw Haw Beer Tasting Festival). They therefore want restrictions placed on use of the facility for commercial events. The Autry

“The Autry is a welcome part of our community,. That does not give the Autry or anyone else a blank check to do whatever they want in Griffith Park.” -Greater Griffith Park Neighborhood Council President Philip Gasteier whatever they want in Griffith Park.” Gasteier presented a number conditions neighborhood residents would have to see met before they could support Autry expansion. They would want to see proof of the availability of full financing for the completion of the expansion. (A year ago the Southwest Coalition commissioned a study by an outside expert in nonprofit administration who determined that the Autry does not seem to have the assets it claimed at the time of the merger.) They would need to see an accounting of impacts on Park Rangers and

National Center is located in City Council District 4, represented by Councilmember Tom LaBonge. The Southwest Museum site is in Council District 14, represented by Huizar, (with the Casa de Adobe, a 1918 model of a traditional Spanish Rancho house run by the Southwest, located in Ed Reyes’ CD 1.) LaBonge wholeheartedly supports the Autry expansion. His Chief of Staff, Renee Weitzer, attended the hearing, where she called the proposed design beautiful and said that it represents an expansion of green space in the park. Huizar’s participation in the

struggle has been far more complicated. The third councilmember to represent the district since the merger agreement, Huizar, in 2006, told the Arroyo Seco Journal that he supported keeping the Southwest Museum open “for a museum use” and “keeping the substantial part [of the collection] here [CD 14].” In 2007, however, he joined his predecessor, Mayor Villaraigosa, in accepting a “commitment memo” from the Autry National Center laying out the Autry’s plan for rehabilitating the Southwest building, but maintaining only 10% of the available space for exhibitions. At the Board of Referred Powers hearing, Huizar appeared in person and sat through the long process among the community stakeholders. When his turn to speak came, the councilmember cited the 2007 memo as providing for keeping the current Southwest campus open as a museum with regular hours and accreditation. Huizar took many present by surprise when he asked that the memo be made into a legal document and included in the revised lease agreement. He asked for a master plan for the Southwest building and for further discussion as to how much of the Southwest collection will be displayed in CD 14. “The Southwest Museum is undeniably part of the Northeast community,” said Huizar. A page seemed to be turning in a long saga. However, George

Mihlsten, a partner in Latham and Watkins, speaking on behalf of the Autry National Center, responded to Huizar’s comments by saying, “We can’t agree to the lease amendment.”

a Southwest Museum Gold Line Station alone. Parks worried that 19 deficiencies found in the Autry’s traffic circulation plan by an outside consulting group were being glossed over.

Huizar has since sought public support for his negotiations with the Autry National Center. He has requested that community members write to the Autry, asking the center “to stand by its word and put its commitments to Los Angeles’ first museum in writing, in a legally binding document.” “I was looking to move forward with this,” said Board Chair Hahn. Hahn commended Huizar for looking to find a way forward, and concurred that the agreement needed to be codified. “The pre-nups have not been completely sealed, I don’t feel this marriage is ready to take place,” said the Councilmember, adding that the 2007 memo was a beautiful statement of vision, but that steps needed to be taken to ensure that it did not become just a piece of paper. “You got it for a bargain, actually,” Councilmember Bill Rosendahl said of the Autry’s acquisition of the Southwest Museum collection. “I don’t want to be here one day and find objects were moved out of one facility and used to raise money for another,” said Parks. Board members also had concerns about traffic and transit-related development issues. Reyes spoke of the “millions and millions of dollars” the City has invested in the corridor through Northeast L.A., including $25 million in

“Every treaty in this country has been broken,” said Councilmember Tony Cardenas, making it unanimous on the part of the Board of Referred Powers members that this meeting was going to signal a new and enforceable means of cooperation, replacing any winners versus losers model. Hahn closed the 31⁄2 hour hearing by pointing out one more point all present could agree on. “You are all here because of your love of museums,” Hahn said.

the promises it made in the merger agreement,” said Wright the day after the hearing. “That would be a compromise, including an enforceable commitment to maintain the Southwest Museum as the primary site to exhibit its fabulous collection in Mount Washington.” Huizar has since sought public support for his negotiations with the Autry National Center. He has requested that

“The pre-nups have not been completely sealed, I don’t feel this marriage is ready to take place,” said Councilmember Hahn, adding that the 2007 memo was a beautiful statement of vision, but that steps needed to be taken to ensure that it did not become just a piece of paper. community members write to the Autry, asking the center “to stand by its word and put its commitments to Los Angeles’ first museum in writing, in a legally binding document.” “I have been acting in good faith to bring agreement and/ or compromise to the

Board members also had concerns about traffic and transit-related development issues. Councilmember Ed Reyes spoke of the “millions and millions of dollars” the City has invested in the corridor through Northeast L.A., including $25 million in a Southwest Museum Gold Line Station alone. Huizar and the Autry were given four weeks to attempt to work out an agreement. However, it has since become apparent that it’s going to take a little longer than that. “It has become clear that the Los Angeles City Council is prepared to require Autry’s compliance with

project at Griffith Park altogether if I continue to pursue with them any document which legally binds them to its commitments made to me and to the City of Los Angeles.” Representatives of CD 14-based community organizations have met with Huizar, and the Friends of the Southwest Museum Coalition has issued a statement saying, “We agreed with the Councilmember that

issue at hand,” Huizar has written to the Board of Referred Powers. “However, I do not believe that the Autry has taken seriously the Board of Referred Powers instructions to work out with me options for a legally binding document. The Autry Center has essentially threatened to abandon its expansion

the three key items needed were: 1) legally binding commitment that could be accomplished in various forms; 2) 12,500 sq ft. of exhibition space for the Southwest Collection at the historic museum facility; 3) a timeline for re-opening.” On its part the Autry National Center Board has adopted a resolution that reads, “The Autry shall not agree to any condition or requirement imposed by the City of Los Angeles or any other third party on the Griffith Park Improvement Project or the amendment to the Lease, which requires the Autry to make any commitments, financial or otherwise, with respect to the Southwest facilities and collection in Mount Washington.” The matter will be returning to the Board of Referred Powers in September at the soonest. 15

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Lummis Day 2009: It’s Not Just Music! Five

You certainly dont need us to tell you how great Lummis Day 2009 was. No one from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year, but plenty of rock and roll. And not just rock and roll. There was salsa, blues, some LA Country music and plenty of dancing. And plenty of hope that a community beleaguered by violence can find a place and a day to celebrate. See you next year. Photos by Art Villanueva (left) and Al Strange (right).

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thousand of you were there.

19

Travel

SURF CITY! Huntington Beach has a lot to offer, even if you’re a total hodad The waves at Huntington Beach are long-celebrated. But you don’t have to get your feet wet if you don’t want to.

Edward Rivera If only there was an easier way to get there. Huntington Beach, one of the best, and one of the most noted surfing beaches in Southern California, sits along Pacific Coast Highway, if you want to head straight south on 1 until finally reaching its beckoning sands. Take the 405 to Harbor or Warner and it seems like all you’re doing is driving. But if you’ve committed to weekend of sun and surf, you do what you have to do. We visited the beautiful Hilton Waterfront Resort in June, and couldn’t have asked for by

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either better weather, nicer accomodations, or a better weekend overall. The recently renovated resort overlooks the Pacific Ocean and from our balcony, we could see coastline, sea and sand from this end of the horizon to that one. This AAA fourdiamond-rated Hilton hotel and resort features 209 rooms larger than my whole apartment,with a variety of amenities included. All include private, furnished balconies, most with postcard views of the coastline. We dined at the award-winning Shades

Restaurant and Bar, which featured a speactular buffet on our first evening, and except for a meal of smores on the beach, every other evening as well, with equally delicious results. The evening buffet is wide-ranging and almost evil in its attractiveness. Executive chef Jeff Littlefield presided over a gold mine of grilled meats and vegatables along with a small fortress of desserts, including the inevitable red velvet cupcakes. Entertainment is furnished by a first-rate guitarist and singer who accompanied himself tastefully to pre-recorded tracks. The combination of the poolside location,

the food, the welcome company and sunset over the Pacific was deliriously seductive. The Hilton’s rooms were huge, with luxurious drapes and furnishings, a small bar, a couch (!) and a large plasma screen TV. Any hotel is only as good as it details, and it’s in these details that the Hilton Waterfront Resort revels and triumphs. We were greeted with a small plastic sand bucket and shovel, should we decide to venture in to beach castle construction and development over the weekend.Also in the bucket were skewers, chocolate, graham crackers, and all of the

necessary ingredients for smores, a beach imperative. Our first morning found us cruising the strand on beach cruisers (of course) with Hilton manager JD Shafer and chef Littlefield, and reveling in the sun, especially since it was raining in LA that afternoon. The executive chef helped with the smores, it was that kind of swank weekend.

After a bountiful breakfast at Shades, the hotel restaurant, we boarded a crazily decorated bus for a ride to the Bolsa Chica Wetlands preserve, one of the largest such bird sanctuaries in the country. Along the way, we listened to the traditional historic native music of the locals, as performed by the Beach Boys and Jan and Dean. (Dean Torrance, he of the famous 60s surf duo, still resides in HB, and is an unofficial ambassador of the community.

Thousands of migrating and native birds filled the skies over the Bolsa Chica wetlands, as we strolled across a wooden walkway to watch the aviary display. From there it was on to our beach cruiser ride where we joined members of the Hilton staff for lunch and our memorable smores feast. The Huntington Beach Surfing museum was a particular treat for me Saturday afternoon, the native music being one of my personal favorites. There we saw displays of famous surfboards, watch surfing videos.There was surf rock god Dick Dale’s guitar, along with a host of other surf notables. Kowabunga indeed. Saturday evening was another world-class dinner chosen from a menu of glorious grilled meats and seafoods. I think I had one of everything. Okay, maybe I didn’t. It only felt like it. You might choose the Hilton Waterfront Resort as your only mini-vacation this summer, as frankly, it’s not cheap. But econonics being what they are, you can still get a reasonable rate online, and the hotel provides a host of promotions to make it a little easier. The surf is up.

 The 411 Huntington Beach is rated the “most heavily surfed beach on the West Coast” by Surfer’s Almanac. Huntington Beach Surfing Museum 411 Olive Avenue Huntington Beach, California 92648 714 - 960 - 3483 12 to 5 pm, monday through friday 11 am to 6 pm, saturday and sunday Bolsa Chica Wetlands Preserve [email protected] Entrance at Warner Ave. and PCH (opposite Bolsa Chica State Beach) Huntington Beach, CA Tel: 714 846 1114 Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort 21100 Pacific Coast Hwy,  Huntington Beach, California, United States 92648-5307 Tel: 1-714-845-8000    Fax: 1-714-845-8424

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The Highlander Hybrid Toyota’s Full Size SUV Reveals a Few Surprises Candace Merrill We recently had the opportunity to test drive the new Toyota Highlander Hybrid, a full -size family-style SUV. Having never driven a hybrid before, I was curious about how exactly it worked and how it would perform. Our test model was fully loaded with most of the cool options the model offers, like a back-up camera, rear dvd player and a GPS navigation system. It has two rows of rear seats that can be folded down for carrying cargo. This is one big automobile. Most US car 22 by

buyers probably know that the term “hybrid” doesn’t always mean the same thing. THer are full hybrids that can

improved 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is a full hybrid. The 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is virtually

It’s a powerful car, but it’s not quick. It seemed to lack some serious pick-up, and you could really feel and hear it when the gas engine engaged. It was all a bit disquieting. And because the car is so big and heavy, even with the hybrid engine, I was only getting about 24 to 26 miles to the gallon around town. actually be propelled from a stop on electric power alone, and there are “mild” hybrids that just shut off the gas engine when the vehicle isn’t moving. The much-

identical to the Lexus RX 400h: a 3.3-liter V-6 paired with two electric motors where the transmission would go, plus an electric motor to drive the rear wheels.

I was pleasantly surprised at how maneuverable it was. The car practically turned itself. At times I forgot I was driving an SUV. The model I drove had a keyless remote and the first time I pushed the starter button, I didn’t think it was on. There was no sound, just some lights and a friendly reminder to drive carefully. The most entertaining part of the interior was the diagram that showed which power was being used. At very low speeds, the car ran on full electric power, at higher speeds the gas engine engaged

and at times the electric engine was assisting the gas engine. It was all very interesting. It’s a powerful car, but it’s not quick. It seemed to lack some seri-

ous pick-up, and you could really feel and hear it, when the gas engine engaged. It was all a bit disquieting. And because the car is so big and heavy, even with the hybrid engine, I was only getting about 24 to 26 miles to the gallon around town (I know this because it tells you your gas mileage on the dash). The Highlander Hybrid uses a 208-horsepower 3.3-liter V6 engine along with three electric motors. One motor starts the gas engine and recharges the SUV’s nickel-metal hydride battery pack. The others provide the driving power and work as generators during braking. There are a total of 270 horses and the

all-wheel drive and s continuously variable transmission (CVT) are both on the standard menu. EPA fuel economy estimates are 27 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway; good but not great for the field, but below those of popular car-based hybrids like the Prius, which are of course, much smaller. There are three energy-conserving modes. Normal and Acceleration modes are indicated on the power meter (the tachometer) showing where peak fuel economy resides in the power band. The EV mode lets you run electric if you’re just running to the store and back, and dont plan on racing anyone to get there. If you really feel the need to drive

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Foodielicious

Le Grande Orange: Tradition and Surprises Just a Few Stops Away

David Auslender From one train stop to another. Board the Metro Goldline at the Southwest Museum or Avenue 57 stops, and head north to Pasadena. There you’ll find yourself at one of the coolest little restaurants in the area—Le Grand Orange, re-eastablished at the original Del Mar Southern Pacific railroad station, now of course, a Metro stop. We sat down the other day with Chef Jorge Gomez, executive chef, and Allison Shashock, restaurant spokesperson. It was early afternoon, between the meal shifts. We took a table and began to chat. Chef Gomez looked so amazingly young, I just had to enquire. “I’m 27”, said Gomez, “I started cooking professionally at 17. I’ve been in the kitchen, since I was like 10 or 12. My Grandma and Grandpa…my family is in the restaurant business all around. It’s a part of me.” He likes to say “Food is memories.” It’s easy to see why. LGO Hospitalities has been holding on to Gomez for over four years, and he’s become a part of their family as well. He’s cooked in Arizona, at “Radio Milano” and worked as a Sous 24 Chef at “Chelsea’s Kitchby

en,” both LGO establishments owned by Now Chef Gomez finds himself contentedly working in a beautiful kitchen built inside of the historic Del Mar train station in a recently renovated section near Old Town Pasadena. He walks to work, loves his wife, and just became a daddy. This is most definitely a man you want cooking your food. So what are the Chefs favorite dishes? “I like the Reuben,” he admits.Plain and simple, he says. Just the way he likes it. He also admits a taste for the restaurant’s new Roasted Chicken dish. “It takes 16 to 17 minutes to cook, but it’s worth it. It’s tender juicy meat held together by a crispy skin.” Allison likes the fried chicken because it’s white meat, and it’s healthy and light, unlike the common conception

of greasy fried chicken. The bonus is that you eat it with a cinnamon roll instead of bread, which apparently means that you still also get to order desert.

One dish that only used to be served in the winter -The Brussels Sprouts Salad – became so popular that it is now made year round. But the customers favorite, is undoubtedly the French Dip. Each prime rib sandwich is sliced to order. None are ever assembled ahead of time. Chef Gomez makes absolutely sure of this. He sincerely cares about the community he serves a philosophy reflected in the company itself. LGO has always been about connecting

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to the community, says Shashock, and Le Grande Orange Café is intentionally structured for just that purpose. Monday and Tuesday nights are what they call “Neighborhood Night,” which means buy one entrée and the second one is only $5! Everyday until 6pm kids eat free from a special menu consisting of Mac and Cheese, Grilled Cheese, and other fun foods that are so much healthier than the fast food kids eat so much of these days. On the weekend evenings, you’ll find Pasadenans as well as Angeleno twentysomethings crowded around the bar sipping White Sangria and grooving to the music. In the morning,

find commuters drowsily and hungirly eat from the new breakfast menu before hopping on the train to work.Le Grande Orange Café is a com-

Coming August 15: The Arroyo Seco Dining Guide: Restaurants of Pasadena and Northeast lA munity restaurant smack dab in the middle of a major commuting hub. Call it American food in a small town setting complete with a friendly well-trained staff. It’s a customized dining experience, with an eye to tradition. And speaking of tradition, don’t forget to try the great English muffins. Oh hey, there’s my train. Gotta run!!

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Neighborhoods

Summer nights at Heritage Square Museum There is something about summer. Of course, it’s the weather, but maybe there’s something about the air that makes it the perfect time for music outdoors. As we’ve been traveling a lot this summer, we’ve been fortunate enough to see music in so many forms in so many places. But it’s never the same as home, as the people at the Heritage Square Museum know so well. Their free summer concert series, sponsored by a host of community organizations, including the Arroyo Seco Journal, has been a big success this year. If you’ve been there, here are some memories. If you have not, here are some reasons to go in August. All photos provided by Heritage Square Museum, 4500 Homer St. LA 90032.

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