| Judge orders Eagle Rock dispensary to stop selling medical marijuana | ||
Judge orders Eagle Rock dispensary to stop selling medical marijuanaL.A. prosecutors believe it is the first legal ruling to conclude that state law does not allow collectives to sell pot. If upheld, it would have a dramatic impact on how the drug is distributed.more » |
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| Auto culture in Northeast L.A. hit with a change | ||
Auto culture in Northeast L.A. hit with a changeThe community's identity is threatened by the City Council's decision to ban new shops in Cypress Park and Glassell Park and to force existing ones to come up to code.more » |
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| From LATimes.com: "Mapping L.A. project is revised in nearly 100 ways" | ||
Mapping L.A. project is revised in nearly 100 waysThe Times updates its online compilation of the city's communities after more than 1,500 reader comments on the first draft and a closer examination of its nearly 30,000 city blocks. There are nearly 30,000 city blocks in Los Angeles, and over the last several weeks, my colleague Maloy Moore and I have examined them all. FOR THE RECORD: Mapping L.A.: An article in Wednesday's Section A about The Times' new map of Los Angeles neighborhoods misspelled the last name of lepidopterist Julian P. Donahue as Donohue. — more »We've considered each one's size and population density, its racial and ethnic makeup, its proximity to landmarks, its topography and history. Then we listened to what readers told us about the deeply rooted perceptions that make them see a block as belonging in one community instead of another. |
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| FROM LA Times: Pico-Union tour traces historical immigration patterns | ||
Pico-Union tour traces historical immigration patterns Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times A group walks through the diverse Pico-Union neighborhood of Los Angeles, passing ornate houses and a Gothic Revival-style church. The area was originally developed between 1880 and 1930 as a chic suburb for oil barons and others, including European and Mexican immigrants. A new L.A. Conservancy walking tour highlights Pico-Union's classic architecture and colorful murals, weaving together the stories of successive waves of European and Central American immigrants. Within the walls of Angelica Lutheran Church, a rich medley of stories traces the layers of history and ever-shifting demographics of the Pico-Union district of Los Angeles. more » |
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| Eagle Rock in the NY Times Feb. 2009 | ||
When the Next Wave Wipes Out Stephanie Diani for The New York Times THE SLOW LIFE There is little foot traffic in the retro design shop owned by Kelly Witmer. |
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| From LA Times: | ||
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-knittery25-2008dec25,0,4712847.story
Music-filled knitting shop in Los Angeles is a real pearl Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times Orpheo McCord, 29, right, is among the musicians drawn to The Little Knittery, the Atwater Village shop of Julie Edwards, left, who is also Heisenflei in the rock band Pity Party. Knitting is “meditative," McCord says. “Bands can do it when they’re waiting, instead of smoking cigarettes.” Rocker Julie Edwards, a.k.a. Heisenflei of Pity Party, stitches together the worlds of music and needle craft at her Atwater Village store. She finds comfort and joy in both pursuits. The Christmas Sweater Festival at the Echoplex music club was holiday programming for the tongue-in-cheek generation. The Echo Park venue was awash in appliqued snowmen, flashing pompoms and teal-colored squirrels.One of the bands on the bill, Pity Party, showed up the other revelers. Chunky red-and-green striped with chubby "Ps" -- the band's initials -- on the front, their sweaters were hand-knit by lead singer Julie Edwards and guitarist Marc Smollin. more » |
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| From NY Times 12/2/08: Forget Citigroup, Puppet Show Needs a Bailout | ||
Forget Citigroup, Puppet Show Needs a Bailout J. Emilio Flores for The New York Times Bob Baker, whose marionette theater has entertained children for almost 50 years, has fallen $30,000 behind on his mortgage. More Photos > LOS ANGELES — There are many ways to measure California’s tanking economy: an 8.2 percent unemployment rate; a multibillion-dollar state budget gap; threatened endowments of the city’s museums, causing some cultural institutions to nearly default on mortgages; and the continued weakening of the Hollywood studio system. But the meltdown of the marionettes may say it all. more » |
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| Echo Park Named One of Top 10 Great Neighborhoods | ||
October 8, 2008from: http://laist.com/2008/10/08/echo_park_named_one_of_top_10_great.phpEcho Park Named One of Top 10 Great Neighborhoods
And when you hear that, you might find yourself asking which Realtor came up with that ranking. Luckily, this time there is some creditability behind the designation: the American Planning Association. They "singled out Echo Park because of its breathtaking topography set in the hills above downtown, historic architecture, pedestrian-oriented streets and stairways, and engaged residents who, over the years, have gone to great lengths to protect and preserve their community," according to an APA release (add: their website has more info and history on why EP was chosen) . APA Executive Director Paul Farmer said "the neighborhood has a long history of citizen activism that has inspired not only spirited public debate, but also committed and motivated residents who are helping to keep Echo Park a great place to live." But activism and engagement isn't the only theme here. Festivals, classy dining alongside "spectacular burrito stands," a diversity of ethnic groups and income levels and great architecture such as craftsman-style and modern homes all add to Echo Park's great neighborhoodieness. Below are the two press releases sent out, one for Echo Park, the other announcing the other cities. more » |
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| Abandoned project doesn't fit in with Eagle Rock's progress | ||
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-outthere3-2008oct03,0,6327289,full.storyAbandoned project doesn't fit in with Eagle Rock's progress  Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times An awkward sliver of land in Eagle Rock was left empty for decades, until last year when developers started building 40,000 square feet of live-work lofts. But earlier this year the project started to crumble, leaving behind remnants of the ambitious plan. An unfinished loft project at the end of the main drag stands in marked contrast to the vibrant, artsy community that has emerged in the last decade. more » |
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| From Pasadena Weekly 8/20/08: Life in a Tipi | ||
Life in a tipiAn Eagle Rock woman’s search for meaning in her own backyardBy Christopher Nyerges 08/20/2008 Amy Woodruff has found that she can experience “being close to the land” right in her Eagle Rock yard in her tipi. Woodruff, who is of Choctaw and Cherokee descent, grew up on a family farm in Norco, where they raised their own food. “We had a year-round garden and orchard where we raised oranges, peaches and other fruit. We also raised and butchered our own chickens, rabbits, goat, sheep and cows,” she says. But it was hard, she explains, to kill animals that had names, and she more recently chose to adopt a vegan diet. |
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| From LA Times 6/27/08: Gentrification divides Echo Park community in Los Angeles | ||
Gentrification divides Echo Park community in Los Angeles Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times “People here seem to believe that because they are angry they don’t have to be civil," said Christine Peters, who runs an animal rescue group at her home. “... From my perspective, we’ve lost a sense of community.” In the battle for the historic area's future, the neighborhood council is ground zero. » Discuss Article (34 Comments) In the span of three hours Tuesday night, the 21 men and women who form the Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council found the time to accuse one another, loudly and publicly, of "whining" and "bullying," of racism and reverse racism, of violating the separation of church and state, and of cultural insensitivity. Council President Jose Sigala was in dire need of a gavel, banging his pen on the table with increasing urgency while trying to shout down his out-of-order colleagues: "Mr. Cebada! Stick to the agenda!" "Mrs. Mendoza! There are children in the audience -- including your own!" more » |
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| From LA Weekly 6/26/08: "Echo Park's Gentrification Woes" | ||
Echo Park's Gentrification WoesA nasty Neighborhood Council election marks a divide emerging citywide By DAVID FUTCHWednesday, June 25, 2008 - 6:44 pmTO HEAR BARBARA RAUSCH TALK, it’s a wonder she even wants this job. She doesn’t get paid for it. The hours are long. Nobody ever says “thank you.” And the location? Not so safe, according to Rausch. For proof, the 83-year-old Los Angeles native says she’ll show you the front door of one of the 54 Echo Park apartments she owns and point out the bullet holes left by a street gang. And when she reminisces about the old days in the neighborhood, she talks about how thieves would rappel the sides of her apartment buildings to steal. She doesn’t seem to like many of her neighbors either. “If you don’t have gentrification, you have slums,” Rausch says. “Do they want to make sacrifices? No. A lot of people in Echo Park just want food stamps and to live off welfare.” She must love her job, you’re thinking. That must be why she’s fighting to keep it. And you’d be wrong. |
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| From http://franklinavenue.blogspot.com - L.A.'s Most Family-Friendly Farmers Market: South Pasadena | ||
L.A.'s Most Family-Friendly Farmers Market
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| HOAs Settle with Builder for $2.25 million | ||||
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A group of Westside Homeowner Associations … the same folks who led the recall effort against Councilman Jack Weiss … reached a settlement this week with a Century City developer. The unprecedented deal calls for the builder to pay $2.25 million to a mitigation fund that will be overseen by the four HOAs.| From http://LATimes.com 1/11/08: "Towering Ambitions for Boyle Heights" | ||
1/12/08: Boyle Heights redevelopment: An article in Friday's Section A about plans to redevelop the Wyvernwood Garden Apartments first said the complex was in East Los Angeles, then said it was in Boyle Heights. The complex is in the community of Boyle Heights in the city of Los Angeles. East Los Angeles is an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-boyle11jan11,1,6169494.story Towering ambitions for Boyle Heights  Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times Developer Steven Fink stands by one of the 153 buildings of the Wyvernwood Garden Apartments in Boyle Heights. He is executive vice president of the complex's owner, Miami-based Fifteen Group, which plans a complete overhaul. “No one will be asked to move for any reason associated with this plan until absolutely necessary,” he said. “... We are years away from beginning construction.” Condos, rentals and retail, with some high-rises, are planned for the sprawling site of the 1930s Wyvernwood apartments. In the Depression-era Wyvernwood Garden Apartments in the heart of East Los Angeles, the electricity often goes off if you try to run a toaster and a coffeepot at the same time. No cable TV, no high-speed Internet, no air conditioning.The orange stucco buildings in Boyle Heights, home to about 6,000 residents, are showing their age. The neighborhood has been troubled by crime and gang activity for more than a decade. And what was once "America's largest privately owned community of rental homes" is ready for another giant step. more » |
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