Upon my return to City Council chambers two weeks ago, my first public comment was on Las Villas and how Reyes was approving the project against community wishes and the law. (Allowing developers to open a "Liquor Game Arcade" less than the required legal distance from a school (500 feet). Plus it was too close to the local church, as well.
Looks like all you have to do to make a Councilmember do something is show up for one public comment. Because within a week, word was out on the street that Reyes was going to announce the plug was pulled on the Las Villas project that Zuma Dogg was screaming about in Chambers.
Thanks CM Reyes. And what a victory for public activism. Just give one two minute public comment, condemning a shady and corrupt project...and they pull the plug within a week. JUST KIDDING!!!
BUT WHAT A COMMUNITY VICTORY IT WAS, INDEED...AND IT DOES PROVE THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN ORGANIZE AND RALLY TO HAVE A SAY IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD.
And Zuma Dogg spoke with someone from City Hall who said that Reyes didn't want to pull the plug on the project, but it was actually due to community pressure.
What really helped get this project pulled, was the evening there was that meeting (about a month or so ago) where they dragged out to 1AM in hopes of clearing the room.
When all those people stayed until the very end, that was the beginning of the end for Las Villas. And I am told it was due to one thing and one thing only...public pressure that had the developers pulling the plug on Reyes' Liquor Arcade too close to LAUSD for legal comfort, all in the name of economic development.
Now Zuma Times has heard that the developers of the Las Villas project were given a big sweetheart development deal, elsewhere...and will probably end up being even more profitable for them, from what I have heard. BUT, the community DID NOT WANT THIS PROJECT...so if that's what it takes...I guess ZD has to live with that trade off. The pueblos prevailed! And the Las Villas project is now going to be office space.
HERE'S A MEMO FROM WWW.NOLASVILLAS.COM
The Struggle Continues...
The owners of Las Villas have announced that they no longer will pursue alcohol and arcade sales variances for their property at 3319-3325 N. Broadway in Lincoln Heights. See the following: Click here for "No Las Villas" Letter
But for those who have been fighting the issue for the last 6 years, this does not conclude the struggle...
Is it another delay tactic on the part of the politicians? Does this letter from the project backers have any legal standing? What will it take to completely nullify the alcohol and gaming variances?
You are invited to attend a Press Conference this Wednesday (April 23) at 4:00pm at Sacred Heart Church - corner of Sichel and Baldwin Street in Lincoln Heights. Tacos will be served afterwards. For further information, please call (323) 221-3129
NoLasVillas.com thanks the following for their support in this struggle:
Lincoln Heights Action Coalition
Fr. Mario Torres and Sacred Heart Parish
Little Flower Missionary House and Parents
The Voice Newspaper
Highland Park Neighborhood Council
Channels 34/62/22/11/5
Korean Times
Chinese Times
Church of the Epiphany
Zuma Dogg
Red Spot
The Coyote Studio
Local Merchants
J & L Market
Hoy Newspaper
Mexican-American Sun
MayorSam.Blogspot.com
LaDailyBlog.com
Catequil31 & his Yahoo Groups
Sierra Club - Central Group
Starland7
YouTube.com
Jose AguilarW
Michael Carreon (WHO ROCKED REYES REPEATEDLY AT PUBLIC COMMENT! I WAS WAITING FOR BIG JOHN TO STEP IN!)
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