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TERA's involvement in Take Back the Boulevard is our major current activity. In partnership with leaders from throughout the community, this initiative is now ready to engage the community in the critical dialog. Details regarding planned meetings are provided below. More information regarding this initiative can be found at http://www.takebacktheblvd.org. The importance of the community being involved in this initiative cannot be over-emphasized. Be sure to take notice of the first Public Meeting announcement as part of the Take Back the Boulevard update below. We need to hear your voice!
Carmen Castillo has taken on the leadership role for CERB (The Collaborative Eagle Rock Beautiful). It is wonderful that this group, that has made so many contributions to the Eagle Rock Community, is dedicated to carry on in the tradition of their last president, John Stillion. The Eagle Rock trail is one of CERB's crowning achievements. Father down in this eLetter you will read more about the trail and ways in which you can provide support to this very worthy organization. Congratulations to Carmen in her new role.
The Occidental College Campus is one of the most beautiful and welcoming areas in Eagle Rock. Incredibly, most people have never been on the campus. Once again Occidental College invites the community to an event. You will find an announcement below of a film screening that will be followed what promises to be a stimulating discussion. I urge the Eagle Rock community to respond to Occidental's invitation and participate in this event. Last year I attended a similar session that featured a round table discussion of various religious beliefs. The opportunity to have dialog with those who are much younger than I, and have a view of the world that is so different than mine, was exciting and enriching. Continuing the college's outreach, the community has been invited to attend the Transportation and Living Street Speaker Series. Several members of the Take Back the Boulevard Steering Committee attended the first very interesting meeting. As far as the mystery of how to find your way around the campus, simply go to the Occidental College website and download a campus map at http://www.oxy.edu/x5492.xml Parking is usually not a problem as long as you don't mind walking a short distance.
Responding to my last eLetter, where I wrote about taking care of our yards, a reader wrote to mention the proliferation of yard sale signs and that they are rarely removed by those who post them. She acknowledged that, given the weak economy, more yard sales are to be expected. In my neighborhood, in addition to yard sales, signs are posted for lost pets. Recently signs appeared on virtually every public pole in my neighborhood advertising the services of a music teacher. My reaction to this proliferation of signs on poles is to personally remove those that are close to my home and outdated. Taking a daily walk makes this almost effortless. I confess I did remove the music teacher signs close to my home as well. I never touch the lost pet signs, hoping that the pet and the owner will ultimately be reunited. Ideally, those who post signs would come back and remove them. The reality is that rarely happens.
Another writer shared her concerning experience as she walked a few blocks on Eagle Rock Boulevard, another major Eagle Rock thoroughfare. This writer was approached for money, saw inappropriate behavior in an alley, and was the object of verbal abuse. She considered the Panda Inn as her potential safe refuge. The point of her note was that something needs to be done, not just for Colorado Boulevard, but also for Eagle Rock Boulevard. I could not agree more. It is my hope that once the direction is firmly set for the improvements to Colorado Boulevard, we will turn our attention to Eagle Rock Boulevard. Developing a Specific Plan, similar to the plan created for Colorado Boulevard many years ago is a likely first step. What is indisputable is the potential for Eagle Rock Boulevard to better serve the communities of Eagle Rock and Glassell Park. Thank you to readers who share their thoughts. Your responses are appreciated.
If you are not a TERA member, and you value what TERA does for the Eagle Rock Community, go to our website (www.tera90041.org) and join. To prior members who have not renewed, we will be sending a second appeal very soon. Finally, have you thought about getting involved beyond membership, perhaps supporting one of the TERA administrative functions or by becoming a board member? Please email President@TERA90041.org for more information.
 Bob Gotham, President
Support TERA - Become a Member Join now at http://www.tera90041.org/join-paypal.htm . Memberships begin at only $15.
Membership Has Benefits! Discounts are available for TERA Members at the following participating merchants. Just show your active membership card. Click on http://www.tera90041.org/benefits.htm to see the member benefits offered by each merchant.
Please patronize these merchants, save a little money, and show them that you appreciate their support of the community.
Take Back the Boulevard - Business Meeting: From the beginning, the Steering Committee has understood that community input is a critical element of the planning process. To date, our work has largely focused on how the Committee would conduct community outreach. We also understand that, whatever boulevard changes are contemplated, the changes must work for all segments of our community.
We believe that business and property owners are likely to have questions and concerns that are somewhat different from other groups. For that reason, we invited over 300 Colorado Boulevard business and property owners to attend a Take Back the Boulevard meeting on September 14. The meeting focused on the unique needs, concerns, and aspirations of this important segment of our community.
Approximately 35 attendees participated in the meeting, which began with greetings from Bob Gotham, Chair of the Take Back the Boulevard initiative. Zenay Loera, representing Council District 14, spoke briefly about the partnership with the Council Office and the importance that José Huizar places on this initiative. Bob Arranaga provided a historical perspective, detailing the distinction between this and prior efforts, and why he is optimistic that this effort will succeed.
The remainder of the meeting was conducted by Civic Enterprise consultants, Mott Smith and Jeff Jacobberger. Setting the stage for the dialog, Jeff made a PowerPoint presentation that detailed many alternative changes to consider as we move forward. Some of the alternatives included more frequent crosswalks, additional signalized crossings, angled parking, bike lanes, wider sidewalks, bulb outs (sidewalk extensions at key points to improve pedestrian safety), sidewalk dining, and many other possibilities.
As expected, the Q&A session brought out concerns about the parking. Participants generally acknowledged that each section of Colorado Boulevard has distinct parking issues. It was suggested that the large municipal lot located at Merton and Casper Avenues is often not used because drivers don't know it's there. The Council Office will pursue adding signage on Eagle Rock and Colorado Boulevards, directing drivers to this lot. Concerns were raised about time limits for on-street parking spaces, including that some time limits are too short to meet customer needs, and inconsistent time limits cause customer confusion. According to CD14's Zenay Loera, changing the parking meters to two hours does not need to wait for this planning process to conclude. Businesses adjacent to the meters may petition for the change; contact Zenay at the council office (323.254.5295) for more assistance. The fact that parking meters are in force until 8:00PM and on Sundays was also cited as a concern by business owners.
The discussion also focused on the possibility of eliminating one lane of traffic to provide space for bike lanes, angled parking and/or wider sidewalks. There was general consensus that this idea should be further explored. Some participants felt that this would result in a calming effect on traffic, reducing the amount of speeding and improving safety. It might also cause some drivers who use Colorado Boulevard strictly as a way to quickly travel east or west to begin using the freeway as their primary route The business benefits of slowing traffic were acknowledged. Some participants expressed concern that traffic might migrate to Hill Drive or Yosemite. We explained that LADOT is currently examining potential traffic impacts of removing a traffic lane on Colorado, and assured participants that these concerns would be considered,
Funding was briefly discussed. We explained that the initiative will establish goals that can be phased and implemented over time as funding becomes available. Mott Smith also explained that when various potential changes to the boulevard are prioritized, potential funding sources for each goal will be considered in the prioritization process.
This was the first in a series of community meetings that will involve discussions about all the things that are possible on Colorado Boulevard, having important conversations with the broadest possible range of community members, and gathering the information that will allow the initiative to move forward in a way that is consistent with the voice of the Eagle Rock Community.
A public meeting, to which we invite the entire community, is scheduled for September 21, 7:00PM at the Twentieth Century Women's Club of Eagle Rock. Please plan on attending.
Take Back the Boulevard - Community Supporters: Continuing our outreach to community organizations, it is a pleasure to announce that the Eagle Rock Valley Historical Society the Twentieth Century Women's Club of Eagle Rock have endorsed the initiative. The total list of supporters follows
Carmen Castillo, Chair of Collaborative Eagle Rock Beautiful, writes:
Did you know that there is a one-mile hiking trail, adjacent to our own Eagle Rock, offering vistas to the sea for hikers, dog walkers, families, and plein-air painters? The Eagle Rock Canyon Trail is the last living legacy of our community's own visionary, John Stillion, the co-founder of The Collaborative Eagle Rock Beautiful. Recognizing the value of open space in our urban area, as well as the historical and cultural value of the Eagle Rock, John had the vision and diplomacy to negotiate the purchase of 4.5 acres, adjacent to the Eagle Rock, for an economical sum. Thanks to the many generous contributions of community members and donors, only $72,000 remains to be paid.
Ten years ago, this community came together when developers wanted to build condominiums around the Eagle Rock. Under the impassioned vision of Kaye Beckham and Shirley Minser, over $100,000 was raised in a very short time, and the Eagle Rock property was saved.
The Collaborative Eagle Rock Beautiful now asks for your support in funding the payoff of the Eagle Rock Canyon Trail property. YOU can make a difference. This trail belongs to the community and every contribution counts. With approximately 50,000 residents living in our area, even donations of as little as $5 per person are significant. Contributions can be mailed to, PO Box 411441, Eagle Rock, CA 90041 or donated via PayPal at http://www.cerb.us (click on the How to Help tab). Questions? Call 323-255-9400.
The Collaborative Eagle Rock Beautiful is a non-profit organization, founded in 2001, to bring local volunteers and agencies together to enrich and beautify Eagle Rock. The mission of the Collaborative is to create low- to no-cost, drought-tolerant landscaping for area medians and parkways which alleviates dependence on uncertain City funding. Tax-deductible contributions to support median landscaping and the purchase of the Eagle Rock Canyon Trail property are always appreciated. For further information, see http://www.cerb.us or call
323-255-9400 or 323-254-6540.
Occidental College - Screening and Discussion Parking is available in the surrounding neighborhood or at designated guest spots. Download a campus map to locate the venue: http://www.oxy.edu/x5492.xml
"Reel Bad Arabs" will be shown followed by a talkback with director Dr. Jack Shaheen. This event builds on an initiative begun last spring. Students and community members are all welcome.
This groundbreaking documentary dissects a slanderous aspect of cinematic history that has run virtually unchallenged from the earliest days of silent film to today's biggest Hollywood blockbusters. Featuring acclaimed author Dr. Jack Shaheen, the film explores a long line of degrading images of Arabs--from Bedouin bandits and submissive maidens to sinister sheikhs and gun-wielding "terrorists"--along the way offering devastating insights into the origin of these stereotypic images, their development at key points in US history, and why they matter so much today.
Internationally acclaimed author and media critic, Dr. Jack G. Shaheen, is a committed internationalist and a devoted humanist. A Pittsburgh native and former CBS news consultant on Middle East Affairs, Dr. Shaheen addresses stereotypical images of racial and ethnic groups. He is the author several award winning books: Reel Bad Arabs etc. and most recently, GUILTY Hollywood's Verdict on Arabs After 9/11, which was cited by Foreword magazine as "book of the year. Professor Shaheen has given over 1,000 lectures in nearly all the 50 states and four continents. He consults with the United Nations, the United States Information Agency, the Los Angeles Commission on Human Relations, and New York City's Commission on Civil Rights.
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