Posted by Snow in 
If you think activism is dead, look at what the two women working together in Hollywood have achieved to bring attention to slumlord Hollywood building company CIM. If there is a health risk or toxic living risk in your area, approach the issue with this publicizing process as a model.
They made a Youtube addressing an adjacent lot that due to lack of use was turning into an urban slum that was full of trash and defecation and the site of crime. A focused effort to reclai the site and eradicate the land abuse resulted in the monolith company landowner razing the building.
Neighbors watched helpless as night after night of squatters and trespassers observed little decency and safe health hygiene and wrecked the property, gouging holes in it and covering it with grafitti. The waste was so far from sustainable the entire neighborhood was affected.
Unsafe alleged practices by vagrants, prostitutes, orphans and violent people had brought the situation to a boil. But it took two women to get the message out into the play of local politics. Community focus is on making things green and to change what they know again.
The fact that Los Angeles Councilman Garcetti’s office overlooks the slum property and another has been playing evasion games is bad enough, but these women stepped up and Youtubed a compelling video that exposes CIM as Hollywood slumlords. La Bonge has some questions to answer about his district and the handling of this matter.
What stuns Los Angeles residents is that CIM has received a $30 grant to retrofit the famous Kodak building in Hollywood so Cirque de Soleil can come to Hollywood and play that venue. Nearby residents have been eexperienced health risks, crime, and concern for tourists.
The Cirque de Soleil gig was in answer to challenges that CIM was in fact dealing less than well with the community. The $30 retrofit for the Kodak building is unnecessary since almost record office vacancy would make almost any venue available.
Shootings, knifings, prostitution and drug dealing have now been replaced as of August 26th 2009. Wrecking balls hired by CIM have been taking down the structure on the property.
The future of the land and whatever is built on it is yet unclear. A recycling center or activity center for kids and adults build using donated materials sure would fit the bill. Salvaging a real functional operating recycle center for lower income and homeless groups is what Los Angeles needs right now.
Then they can bring the circus to town.
RSS Feed