HACLA to open new Library in Ramona Gardens Housing Project

 How does a much-maligned public agency such as the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles work to change its tarnished image? You start with projects that truly benefit the tenants of its city-wide properties. Thus, HACLA is getting into the library business.

 Responding to community member's desires to have a neighborhood facility where children can access books and other forms of literature, HACLA broke ground on March 13, 2012 in building its first library onits property in the City of Los Angeles.

Students from UCLA and community members turned out to catalog books, paint walls, build bookshelves and help in whatever way they could bring this new source of learning to the Ramona Gardens Community.

HACLA C.O.O. Ken Simmons (standing under the UCLA sign) greets UCLA students. Working with HACLA's Joel Lopez, community collaborators such as the Ramona Gardens Resident Advisory Council, City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks, Soledad Enrichment Action (SEA), Barrio Action Youth and Family Center, LAPD, along with students from UCLA, may this historic day a success.

Ramona Gardens RAC President Maggie Ortiz (in blue with daughter Kristy on right) was the brainchild for the library proposal. Maggie had campaigned to have a library place near the Ramona Gardens Community. Her hard woirk and building a coalition of the above mentioned groups, help achieve her dream. A formal opening is set for near the end of the month.

Your thoughts ..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14