Its Getaway Friday 2015 while Emergency Homeless Shelters are Lacking as EL Nino Nears

Its a Public Sector Getaway Friday 2015 as entities exampled by the Los Angeles City Council Central Committee goes on its annual Christmas/New Year Hiatus ........., while a potential Killer El Nino takes aim on shelter-lacking Homeless Population.  

The meters are running for a Getaway Friday.

Hazard Park Armory.

** Blogger's Note: Its time again for the most anticipated Getaway Friday on the yearly Public Sector Calendar as bureaucrats and politicos switch into slumber/hiatus mode for the Christmas/New Year Holiday Season. For the next two weeks, with many workers, staffers and elected officials taking time away with families, the various offices will operate with skeleton staffs.

But with latest weather forecasts showing a potential, first major El Nino-influenced Storm targeting Southern California for Christmas, first-responders may be beginning an extended period of life-threatening work that is surely to included numerous responses to emergency calls dealing with LA's increased Homeless population.

Many longtime political observers will surely remember the 2004/2005 Record-breaking Rainy Season, where a then, yellow jacket-donning Mayor James Hahn, went from one storm damage location to the next, while being shadowed by challenger Antonio Villar, as they engaged in a form of "Storm Response Politics".

Now ten years later, Mayor Eric Garcetti and the City Council are heading into the Holiday Hiatus without a concrete plan that offers the needed shelter for a vulnerable Homeless Population, just when the much-anticipated El Nino Winter is set to commence.

CD 1 City Councilman Gil Cedillo is to be commended for securing support of his colleagues to reopen the shuttered Bridewell Armory in Highland Park as a emergency shelter, but with thousands of newly-created Homeless (thanks in part to the AB-109 and Prop 47 Legislated Debacles),, creating encampments placed in areas of danger (hillsides and water was), more space is needed.

One location worthy of immediate review is the Hazard Park Armory which currently houses Rec & Parks Staff and the Connected Non-Profit Legacy LA. Located in Councilman Jose Huizar's CD 14, the location, like the Bridewell location, is awaiting much-needed infrastructure rehabilitation (funded in part with a $925,000 allocation via former Supervisor Gloria Molina), but can provided needed space ........., if Councilman Huizar is willing to support a emergency shelter within his Council District----Scott Johnson. 

Crony Capitalism (or Welfare) at the Connected Non-Profit Legacy LA?

The former Mayor Antonio Villar created "Connected Non-Profit" Legacy LA wants your tax credits/ dollars, while turning its back on a neglected, historic Hazard Park, by collaborating with the "University of Scandalous Conduct". 

Mayor Eric Garcetti may want to steer clear of this dubious "501-C3 (supposedly non-political) Connected Non-Profit" Legacy LA.

** Blogger's note: The follow email was forward to us regarding the continuing dubious behavior of the former Mayor Antonio Villar created "Connected Non-Profit" Legacy LA. Its seems that Legacy LA's Executive Director Lou Calanche is collaborating (and always have) with the "University of Scandalous Conduct" (USC) while they sought to desecrate historic green space with a proposed street extension through Hazard Park (** since rescinded due to united community opposition, minus Calanche). Many community members and Hazard Park supporters wonder why Calanche was silent on the Hazard Park Controversy, sadly it should come as no surprise that the politically-connected Calanche put her self (and Legacy)-interest before the historic and environmental heritage of the park space it shares. Then there is the question of the questionable funding request for capital improvements to its Hazard Park Armory location. Again, Calanche (and her political supporters) places their self-interest before the needs of a neglected park, more thoughts below---Scott Johnson. 

From: Lou Calanche
To: santa@msjdominicans.org; Yamil Verde ; Mario.Ramirez@lacity.org; Ruben.lopez@lacity.org; Ramonagardensrac@att.net; "Gutierrez, Margarita" ; Daniel Zamora ; mario.ramsey@hacla.org; KENNETH EDWARDS <35476 lapd.lacity.org="">; MISHELL HARVEY-DIXON <37486 lapd.lacity.org="">; 315460@lapd.lacity.org; 31895@lapd.lacity.org; 36348@lapd.lacity.org; 36067@lapd.lacity.org; alma ; Jtorres@lausd.net; OSCAR CASINI <26110 lapd.lacity.org="">; Cindy Paz ; Jennifer Martinez ; Leticia Gonzalez ; William Alamo ; erika.cuevas@lausd.net; Rick.Ornelas ; George Sarabia (** sure its not Jorge Villapudua?) ; Victoria Ortega ; "Sarkis, Sevanne" ; Lakeya Johnson ; Tony Zepeda ; Rosemary Alamo USC ; Martin.baeza@lapd.lacity.org; "Vargas, Brenda" ; Jessica@boyleheightsbeat.com; Patricia Alexander ; "Breck Nichols (brn@usc.edu)" ; Leticia.urbina@health.usc.edu; Sevanne.sarkis@med.usc.edu; "Medrano, Frine" ; "yarias@lafla.org" ; 32100@lapd.lacity.org; Jeanne Nishimoto ; Egonzalez82203@yahoo.com; 36717@lapd.lacity.org; Sanford Riggs ; Joel Lopez ; Lou Calanche ; R O ; Youchen Wang ; Alan Sanchez
Sent: Monday, September 30, 2013 5:38 PM
Subject: Your participation in the Ramona Gardens Collaborative & Survey (** we should note that Lou Calanche has been told not to use the Ramona Gardens name by HACLA officials due to the established Ramona Gardens Resident Advisory Council Organization)

Hello All,

I hope you had a wonderful summer. The last few months the health subcommittee of the Ramona Gardens Collaborative has been meeting and one of the action items is to try to start documenting the services and programs that are available in our community. Please, please, please take 5 minutes to take the survey so that we can present the information at the next collaborative meeting schedule for the end of the month. Sevanne Sarkis from the USC Keck Hospital has sent you an email with the link to the very short survey. If you need a new email please do not hesitate to contact me or her so that you can get the link. (** wonder if Lu notice the proposed lost of park space? Not likely). 

 

Thanks again for all your support and work to benefit the Ramona Gardens Community (** correction, to benefit Legacy's grant request, allegedly).

 

Best,

Lou
Lou Calanche, Executive Director
Legacy LA
(323) 222-0544 office
(323) 222-0564 fax
(323) 819-4441 mobile
http://www.legacyla.org

 

By supporting State Senator Kevin De Leon efforts to save the City of Vernon (and violate tax laws governing 501-C3 non profits), Legacy LA was the recipient of dirty Vernon money. Now its cites questionable figures in its latest scheme to secure new market tax credits/ dollars for "business development"? More later ............... (** Link here for more background on the New Market Tax Credit Program). 

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14



Fact checking Councilman Jose Huizar on Hazard Park Armory and Legacy LA

No doubt about it, Councilman Jose Huizar can tell "tall tales" of policy initatives and community action.

Just from viewing the video above, one can gather that Recreation and Parks had no plan for the Hazard Park Armory and along came Legacy LA to the rescue, providing innovated programing at the site. 

But as the emails and photo below will show, their is an inconvenient truth to what transpired at Hazard Park.

Read more »

Was the Los Angeles Youth Athletic Club Cheated Out of its New Home by a "Connected Non- Profit"?

USC Lobbyist and former Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Council President David Galaviz, on the right.



"Legacy LA/ Hazard Park Armory email # 1



Legacy LA/ Hazard Park Armory email # 2

Former Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Council President and current chief USC Lobbyist David Galaviz, is no stranger to the regular visitors here at Mayor Sam.

Matter of fact, his dubious exploits, whether it is using students to get himself and his cronies elected to the LHNC, shilling for questionable community projects such as Las Villas, or taking public property for an "connected non-profit". David Galaviz and his self-interest (plus USC) actions has earn him the bestowment as an Mayor Sam "Ass Clown Award" recipient.

Now one of Galaviz's most glaring act of self-interest is in the spotlight again.

The last meeting of the current LHNC board on Thursday night, was packed with supporters of the Los Angeles Youth Athletic Club, who's decades long home within the Old Jail in Lincoln Heights, is being close due to numerous safety concerns. Simply the building with its "supposed spirits", is in need of major renovation.

Fire Department officials have given building tenants five days to vacate the premises. Community supporters of the LAYAC have been offered accommodations at another facility in Lincoln Heights, but they argue at Thursday's meeting that the new location does not have the space needed to continue the current programs at the Old Jail location.

But this growing controversy regarding the new location of the LAYAC, was an issue that Recreation and Parks was addressing in 2007, according to the emails, posted above, that were obtain as part of an Public Records Act request.

In "email # 1", a Recreation and Parks Official Mark Mariscol, is responding to the incisive requests of Legacy LA Founder Jenny Krusoe, who with the backing of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Councilman Jose Huizar, later gets an exclusive agreement to operate the facility. Mariscol states that Recreation and Parks had concrete plans to move the LAYAC boxing program and its other activities to the facility.

In "email # 2", one can see the connection between Krusoe, with former LHNC members Galaviz and Eillen Sanchez, who works for the USC's Violence Intervention Program. They had been openly lobbying for space in the armory and Legacy LA was the front to gain an exclusive agreement with Recreation and Parks. Thus, self-interest actions by Galaviz, Sanchez and other allies (Vera Padilla, Cheryl Riley, Frank Wada plus more) on the LHNC, prevented the LAYAC and its successful programs, from moving their operations to the Hazard Park Armory.

It should also be noted that Galaviz and his allies, also attempted to allocate $3,000 for an Cinco de Mayo/ community outreach event, but was tabled when other members of the LHNC questioned the monetary request.

The observation that one can make in this current controversy, is that the LAYAC is stuck in the middle of two councilman's visions for the respective properties in question, the Armory in CD 14, and the Old Jail in CD 1.

CD 14 Councilman Jose Huizar, has made many promises to his "connected non-profit friends" for space within the Armory. Further, one cannot ignore Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's wishes for the facility, that even supersedes Huizar.

CD 1 Councilman Ed Reyes, simply sees the Lincoln Heights Jail acreage as a key part of his Los Angeles River Beautification plans, that leaves the LAYAC with hardly any options on a future location.

The simple solution to this issue, is to move the LAYAC to the Hazard Park Armory. This would expose the LAYAC programs, which include its well-known boxing program ( former Championship Boxer Joey Olivo being a past member), adult fitness, and others to a wider audience. Further, educational, environmental, and arts programs could be integrated to offer the community an impressive array of programing within the spaceage confines of the armory complex.

But sadly, the likes of Mayor Villaraigosa, Councilman Huizar, David Galaviz and others, prioritize the self-interest of their cronies, over the collective interest of the communities they supposely serve

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

Scott Johnson in CD 14