Photo from Wendy Carillo/YouTube
Jose Gardea, Chief of Staff for Councilman Ed Reyes, raised about $105,ooo in contributions last year for his campaign to replace the termed-out Reyes as representative of the First Council District. Gardea, who last September became the first candidate to enter the First District race, took in significantly more than the approximately $57,000 raised by Assemblyman Gil Cedillo, who officially jumped into the race in November. When it comes to financial support, Gardea attracted cash from restaurant owners to real estate developers who are backing his bid to represent the district that includes Cypress Park and Lincoln Heights as well as portions of Echo Park and Highland Park
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Thursday, February 2, 2012
Councilman and mayoral candidate Eric Garcetti announced earlier this week that he had raised about $1 million in campaign contribution. The long list of contributors include celebrities – Jake Gyllenhaal and Jamie Lee Curtis- and power brokers, Eli Broad. Garcetti, whose 13th Council District includes Echo Park and Silver Lake as well as Atwater and Glassell Park, was also able to attract numerous contributions from the Eastside, including more than two dozen people and companies who plunked down the $1,000 maximum.
The $1,000 Eastside contributors included Silver Lake restaurant and bar owners, the head of an Echo Park social service agency, a documentary filmmaker, the wife of artist Shepard Fairey and the founder of the L.A. Derby Dolls. Of course, Garcetti and his wife were among the $1,000 contributors to his campaign. With the election more than a year away, expect more contributions – and campaign sales pitches – in the months ahead.
Click on the link below for a list of Garcetti’s $1,00o Eastside supporters.
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Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Mitch O'Farrell
Mitch O’Farrell, a senior advisor working for Councilman Eric Garcetti, will leave his job next month as he runs in next year’s election to succeed his boss as Council District 13 representative. “When Eric and I first discussed this in November, he made it clear that it wouldn’t be possible for me to remain on his staff during a campaign for the office,” said O’Farrell, who has worked for Garcetti for nearly 10 years. “I respect Eric’s decision because I respect Eric.” Garcetti, whose district includes Echo Park and Silver Lake as well as Atwater Village and Glassell Park, is termed out of office and is running for mayor.
The decision on whether City Council staffers must resign if they run for elected office apparently varies by council district. For example, Jose A. Gardea, Chief of Staff to Councilman Ed Reyes, also wants to replace his boss, who is also termed out of office, in next year’s Council District 1 election. But, at least for now, Gardea has no plans to leave his job. “My priority will continue to be how to best serve the residents of the First District,” Gardea said in a statement. “Once the campaign begins in earnest I will base my decision on what is in the best interest of our constituents and this council office.”
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Photo by C.J. Salgado
Caltrans crews have been working since last summer on landscaping the eastbound 60 Freeway on the border of East Los Angeles and Monterey Park near the Atlantic Boulevard entrance and exit ramps. It’s one of the busiest gateways into East Los Angeles, and resident C.J. Salgado, a weekend gardener, was interested in finding out what has been planted in what now resembles a dust bowl. Here is what he found out:
This landscaping project includes, in part, planting of 9 Tuskegee Crape Myrtle trees, which are “allergy free”; 9 New Zealand Flax plants, which can tolerate dry conditions; 20 California Sycamore trees, which can grow to 100 feet tall; 30 Boston Ivy vines, which are low maintenance ground cover; 218 Red Meidiland Rose shrubs, which have beautiful crimson blooms year round; and 1440 ice plants, which offer erosion protection.
No landscaping project is complete with out some “hardscaping,” and irrigation, too. Here, over 130 square yards of rock blanket are being installed as well. Oh, and if you’re wondering what that big, concrete structure is that has been built on the site, it is for storm water treatment. Maybe the Boston Ivy can work its wonder on this structure? To keep these new plants healthy, a new irrigation system is being installed, mostly shrub sprayers and bubblers.
The project, which was funded by Los Angeles County, should be completed early this year. “The plants need time to establish themselves in their new home,” said Salgado. “With luck, we can enjoy the sight of a little, forest-like oasis in the concrete jungle.”
While Occupy movement protestors gather in Washington, D.C. today for an Occupy Congress protest, an Occupy Congress Solidarity March is scheduled to pass through Echo Park on Sunset Boulevard this afternoon as protestors head to the local office of Congressman Xavier Becerra district office Citibank building. It’s not clear how many demonstrators will show up for the march, which scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. at Union Station, or whether the protestors intend to remain on the sidewalk or march on the street. The Eastsider is checking with the city’s Department of Transportation to find out if any street closures are planned.
A city planning commission on Wednesday let stand a decision that would allow Fix Coffee in Elysian Heights to serve beer and wine and host live entertainment, according to residents. The East Los Angeles Area Planning Commission voted 4-0 against an appeal filed by Susan Borden, one of the residents who has opposed an effort by Fix Coffee to obtain the necessary city and state permits.
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Photo by y6y6y6/Flickr
Two more candidates – a real estate agent and community activist from Atwater Village and an attorney and activist from Echo Park – have filed paperwork indicating their intention to run in the Council District 13 election in 2013. Rueben Martinez of Atwater and Josh Post of Echo Park are now among the four candidates seeking to replace Councilman Eric Garcetti, the Silver lake resident whose is termed out of office and is now running for mayor. The two other candidates for Council District 13 – which includes Echo Park and Silver Lake as well as Atwater Village and Glassell Park – are Silver Lake activist Scott Crawford and Mitch O’Farrell, a Glassell Park resident and senior adviser to Councilman Garcetti.
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Earlier this month a group of activist pitched tents in front of the former Rampart police station in Historic Filipinotown as part of “Reclaim Rampart,” an effort to turn the empty and boarded up facility into either a community center, affordable housing – even a community garden. Anne Hars with the L.A. Right to Housing Collective said the station serves as a symbol of police violence and corruption associated with the Rampart scandal. “We think it’s time to change the symbol of that time period – the old Rampart Police Station – into something that fights crime by giving opportunities to the people of the community,” said Hars, whose group is holding a community meeting Tuesday night.
But, as far as the LAPD is concerned, the old Rampart station at Temple Street and Benton Way is not up for grabs. In fact, beginning in January, preliminary work will begin on a $17.6 million project will to convert the approximately 45-year-old station into the headquarters for the department’s SWAT Team and other elements of the Metro Division.
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Highland Park Crafsman home. Photo courtesy Charly Kemp
As the owners of a 102-year-old Craftsman home, Charly and Janelle Kemp are well acquainted with the charms – and costs – of their Highland Park home. That’s why they and hundreds of other Los Angeles home and commercial building owners have taken advantage of a property tax credit to help offset the cost of fixing up and maintaining their historic properties. The Kemps estimate the Mills Act cut their annual property tax bill by 75%. “It allows to put money away to do all kinds maintenance,” said Janelle Kemp. But, unless the city takes action, not many other historic property owners in Highland Park or other Eastside neighborhoods will be able to take advantage of those Mills Act tax savings.
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