We are not alone

Subject: Join People for Liveable Communities to SAVE LOS ANGELES

Dear Community Leader,  The City of Los Angeles is currently updating the Community Plans that control land use and zoning and set the vision for the future of Los Angeles. Although community planning can be a dry subject and is often ignored because it is so technical, it has an enormous effect on all of our lives for good or for ill. The type of development allowed under the Community Plans could reduce property values, increase noise and traffic congestion, or change the character of the City. The City Planning Department recently presented the draft Hollywood Community Plan to the public. Nearly every neighborhood association and neighborhood council in Hollywood became alarmed at the provisions in this Plan and immediately took official positions in opposition to the Plan. In only four weeks and with only minor changes the Zoning Administrator, the Central Area Planning Commission, and the City Planning Commission approved the Plan. How does this affect you? The Hollywood Community Plan is just the first of 35 Community Plans that cover every part of Los Angeles. It is the template for all the plans that follow. Whatever is included in the Hollywood Community Plan will also be in the community plan in your part of Los Angeles. This makes it your fight, too. The objectionable part of the Hollywood Community Plan is the proposed massive increase in development without any regard for the inadequate infrastructure (roads, utilities, schools, public services) to support that amount of development even though population has steadily decreased over the past 20 years and the building maximums under current zoning rules have not been reached. The Plan is a gift to land developers who have contributed to the campaigns of the Mayor and Council members. A city is a place where people live, and we, the residents, must have community plans that reflect our needs and desires. We are the ones who elect the Mayor and City Council, and they must be made to heed our voices. That is why community leaders in Hollywood have organized to form a group dedicated to creating a Community Plan that reflects the interests of the residents. However, since the community plans will be created for the entire city, residents all across the city will have to be part of this coalition if we are to succeed. Leaders of neighborhood associations and neighborhood councils in the Hollywood area have agreed to form a coalition; People For Liveable Communities. We have already begun holding meetings to chart our future course. We are asking you to join our coalition. The community plans cover the entire city, and there is no place to hide. No one can rely on a promise to leave your neighborhood alone if you support a community plan. This is just hoping that the planning alligator will eat you last. To succeed in preserving the quality of life and the character of Los Angeles, we must all stand as one. George Abrahams, Outreach Coordinator People for Liveable Communities (We are in the process of building our website and will send that URL when launches) In the meantime, please send your comments to BeachwoodCanyon@sbcglobal.net.