|
HOLLYWOOD Sign to be
Covered in Campaign to Save Cahuenga Peak
|
From Carolyn Ramsay 2/9/2010
City Hall Room 480, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213)485-3337
fx: (213)624-7810
Media Contact:
Carolyn Ramsay (213)
359-3593
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HOLLYWOOD Sign to be
Covered in Campaign to Save Cahuenga Peak
Los Angeles
(February 9, 2010) - Councilmember
Tom LaBonge and
officials
from the Trust for Public
Land announced the launch of a $12.5
million fundraising
campaign to preserve the view of the HOLLYWOOD Sign,
expand Griffith
Park and save 138 pristine acres from residential
development.
Councilmember
LaBonge has been working to acquire the land, known as
Cahuenga
Peak, which was on the open market for $22 million. To
preserve the
land for hiking and recreational uses for future
generations of Angelenos, he
enlisted the help of the Trust for Public
Land (TPL), a national land
conservation organization, to raise money
for the acquisition.
"More
than one hundred acres of open land and the view of the one of
the
world's most famous landmarks, the HOLLYWOOD Sign, are threatened
with
development," Councilmember LaBonge said. "It is absolutely
critical
that we acquire this property."
The owners have agreed to sell
the land to TPL for $12.5 million, but
they must raise the funds by
mid-April or the deal is off. Through
public and private sources $6
million has been raised so far, including
$1 million from the Tiffany
& Co. Foundation. To promote this public
fundraising campaign
the sign will temporarily be covered with the
message, "SAVE THE
PEAK."
"To have the opportunity to protect 138 acres of
untouched land in
one of the most urban cities in the country is
nothing short of
miraculous," said Jay Dean, Chief Marketing Officer
for TPL. "We
are getting support from the Hollywood community, from
the Tiffany
Foundation but we need support from anyone who cares
about the Hollywood
and/or
parks and open space. We only have two months to go."
"The
Hollywood Sign is an American icon that holds a unique place in
the
nation's collective imagination and the cultural history of Los
Angeles,"
said Michael J. Kowalski, chairman and CEO of Tiffany & Co.
"As
an American institution, Tiffany has enjoyed its share of
memorable
movie moments and through our foundation, is committed to
protecting
our natural resources and pleased to assist The Trust for
Public Land in protecting
this historically significant site."
For more information, see http://www.savehollywoodland.org/
###
Carolyn Ramsay
Director of Communications
Councilmember
Tom LaBonge
City Hall Room 480
200 N. Spring St.,
Los
Angeles, CA 90012
office: (213)473-2342 cell: (213)359-3593
carolyn.ramsay@lacity.org
If you
would like to receive the CD4 weekly email newsletter, request
it at labonge.news@lacity.org
Sharon
Shapiro, Deputy
Councilmember Tom LaBonge, 4th District
Office: (213) 485-3337
BlackBerry: (323) 637-7629
Sharon.Shapiro@lacity.org
|
