Photo by C.J. Salgado
By C.J. Salgado
Sadly, but not surprisingly, a “perfect storm” is making landfall on January 25 when the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) is set to make what will likely be the final decision on the proposed incorporation of East Los Angeles. LAFCO is the county agency charged to determine if a proposed new city can be created. To that end, LAFCO must determine if a proposed city is “financially viable.” At its upcoming special meeting, LAFCO’s Executive Officer will present its final report to the commissioners. An advanced copy, just released, concludes that “East Los Angeles does not generate enough revenue to sustain a healthy and financially sound city. The Executive Officer recommends that the Commission disapprove the incorporation request.”
The current incorporation effort has been ongoing for about four years, while the formal application for incorporation to LAFCO was made in April 2009 by the proponents, a group known as ELARA. As a lifelong resident of East L.A., I was deeply interested in this issue from the beginning, spent considerable time researching it and even volunteered in the effort for some time. However, as I analyzed the relevant issues in the context of the “rules” that applied, it became clear to me early on that there were fatal flaws that threatened the outcome and left no other conclusion than that which is now being borne out as this proposal sunsets. You see, the perfect storm that derailed this effort came in several fronts which were critical issues to the success of this effort:
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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.”
Lemon limo on Keenan Ave. and 6th Street. Photo by C.J. Salgado
By C.J Salgado
The streets of East Los Angeles rumbled as this colossal-sized, 30-passenger, yellow limousine on wedding duty maneuvered its way through the heavy traffic as a result of the nearby freeway closure and holiday shoppers. The traffic and rain were not enough to deter the happy couple from enjoying the ceremony and cool ride aboard the allegedly “world’s biggest and most luxurious limo.”
Photo by C.J. Salgado
A small fire broke out on Thursday afternoon on the site of a nearly 90-year-old East Los Angeles handball court that has been nominated as a state historic monument. The fire at Maravilla Handball Court – the oldest surviving handball court in East L.A. – caused relatively minor damage to a vacant store connected to the brick court and will not interfere with the landmark nomination, said Los Angeles Conservancy official Cindy Olnick who inspected the damage.
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City Terrace (left) and East L.A. (right) flips
Horizontal fencing. Stainless steel appliances. Dark wood cabinets. Pottery Barn-like decor. The two-bedroom home (pictured top left) that real estate investor Edward Solis recently put up for sales resembles many of the properties being flipped across Highland Park and Northeast L.A. But this house is no where near York Boulevard. Instead, this two bedroom home can be found a few miles away in City Terrace on Townsend Avenue. After renovating and flipping homes across Northeast L.A., Solis is now applying the same look and amenities – Carrera marble countertops and drought-tolerant landscaping – to homes in the less expensive and less gentrified hills of City Terrace and the flats of East L.A. In fact, Solis has a second East L.A. house flip (pictured top right) up for sale on Fraser Avenue near Whittier Boulevard. Both homes come with the same exterior color – a dark shade of peach – and asking price – $299,600.
“Our goal is to serve the first time buyer – whether if it’s a hipster, Asian, Hispanic,” said Solis, whose firm, VCH Acquisitions, is based in Highland Park. “We welcome any type of buyer.”
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Photo by C.J. Salgado
It’s the morning glory – not the poinsettia – that C.J. Salgado associates with this time of the year. The flowers began to bloom last week in his East Los Angeles garden:
I woke this morning to find my garden full of morning glory flowers in full bloom, blue and purple trumpets with white throats. Annually, they bloom around Thanksgiving, a beautiful reminder to me of the preciousness of each new day.
As the Garfield and Roosevelt high school football teams prepare for tonight’s annual East L.A. Classic at East Los Angeles College, there is talk about moving one of the region’s most popular high school football matches to the Rose Bowl. EGP News reports that officials from Roosevelt High, located in Boyle Heights, and Garfield High of East Los Angeles have grown increasingly unhappy over the fees charged to use the college’s 20,000-seat stadium as well as the lack of revenue from food concessions and parking. EGP said the principals of both schools hinted at a possible new home for the East L.A. Classic during Wednesday’s pre-game press conference:
“We’re having discussions with the Rose Bowl,” Garfield Principal Jose Huerta said. “They would love to have us and we want to see what they have to offer.”
“The game belongs here, but if there’s another stadium that is more viable for us, then we should consider it,” Roosevelt Principal Sofia Freire said.
It would not be the first move for The East L.A. Classic, which serves the homecoming game for both schools. After being played at East L.A. College for several decades, the game was moved to the Los Angeles Coliseum in 2000 before returning to the college, EGP said. While it might seem out of place to hold the East L.A. Classic in Pasadena, the current game is actually held in Monterey Park, which annexed East Los Angeles College in the early 1970s.
Shirley Ramirez and Omar Vargas East Los Angeles Renaissance Academy take down beer posters. Photos courtesy UCLA
Yash La Casa Market was one of the typical corner stores of East Los Angeles that caters primarily to a Latino clientele. It was stocked heavily with sweet and salty snacks and packaged foods that were crammed into a shop plastered with posters for Budwesier, Tecate and other beers. But, on Saturday, Yash La Casa Market at the corner of Hammel Street and Hazard Avenue will hold a celebration to show off a new look and strategy that plays up healthy food and drink options as part of a public health campaign to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
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By C. J. Salgado
Next month, the East L.A. Classic homecoming football game between Garfield and Roosevelt high schools will once again draw tens of thousands of fans. It’s one of the most popular and competitive high school games in the nation. Though most attention is focused on the football players, there is another equally inspiring story to tell off the field in the months and weeks leading up to the big game – and it’s not about the boys.
With over 100 girls in its membership, the Garfield High School drill dance and cheer teams put on a terrific display of teamwork and spirit not only on the field but also when it comes to raising funds, including a car wash benefit held this past Saturday in East Los Angeles. It’s just one more example of the members’ devotion to their team and school. “All these girls practice after school, sometimes until 6 P.M.,” said parent volunteer Lourdes Rojas.
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The Source, the blog published by the Metro transit agency, today reviewed crime statistics on the system’s rail lines in the wake of recent stabbings, including one on the Gold Line that runs through Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles and Northeast L.A. This year’s crime figures through August show that major crime on the Gold Line, however, remains relatively low, with 11 petty thefts and five aggravated assaults among the major crimes reported. However, the L.A. County Sheriff deputies that patrol the trains and stations were kept busy issuing 3,838 citations for small infractions ranging from failing to buy tickets to urination. Here’s the break down:
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