Court Denies Appeal of Illegal Industrial Use Site

See the release below regarding illegal industrial use and the fight against a massive City of Vernon power plant:

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Rick Coca
(213) 473-7014 or rick.coca@lacity.org

Councilmember José Huizar led environmental justice fight against concrete-recycling facility operating for years in Boyle Heights without proper permits, City one step closer to environmental justice victory

LOS ANGELES (LOS ANGELES (Dec. 28, 2010) — A California Court has denied the appeal of a concrete and asphalt crushing recycling plant, which for decades has generated tons of dust and other pollutants while operating in Boyle Heights without proper permits.

The appeal court’s recent decision means that the City of Los Angeles is one step closer to shutting down Shamrock Base Corporation, located on Mission Road, and scoring a victory for Boyle Heights’ residents. The City of Los Angeles took action against Shamrock after Councilmember Huizar called on the City to close the company down for illegally doing business in an area that is not zoned for recycling.

“The people of Boyle Heights deserve to live in a community that is free from illegal polluters,” said Councilmember José Huizar. “This court ruling means that another well-earned environmental justice victory for this community is close at hand.”

This latest ruling from the Division One, Second Appellate District Court of Appeal against Shamrock comes after an earlier trial court ruled in favor of the City when that court said that Shamrock Base Corporation did not have a vested right to expand its operations past its originally approved boundaries.

The Shamrock Base Corporation, which regularly stores large mounds of rubble reaching heights of 40 feet or more, was utilizing an illegal permit to operate in a non-industrial land use zone.

It is not certain whether Shamrock will appeal this latest ruling.

Boyle Heights’ residents also joined with surrounding communities to block an effort to build a massive power plant in the City of Vernon. Councilmember Huizar supported that effort and successfully introduced legislation that officially laid out the City of Los Angeles’ opposition to that power plant, which research showed would lead to three to 11 additional deaths per year in the surrounding communities of the proposed site.

A judge eventually ruled against the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s plan to sell pollution credits to the proposed Vernon Power Plant, as well as other hazardous waste facilities. Subsequently, plans for the proposed plant were withdrawn by Vernon officials in 2009.

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Happy Holidays 2010

Here’s wishing you a very Happy and Blessed Holiday. As we celebrate, let’s keep in our thoughts and prayers those serving in the Armed Forces and their families, as well those still struggling in this tough economy. I am doing all I can to help those in need, most recently through a new City policy on Surplus Food donations.

I am also pleased to report that this holiday season, with help from local organizations and businesses, I sponsored several toy giveaways and tree lighting ceremonies throughout Council District 14, giving away about 10,000 toys to local children to help make the holidays a little brighter. Below are some pictures for you to enjoy.

Councilmember Huizar Helps Bring Measure R Funds and Boyle Hotel Renovation to Boyle Heights

I joined with artists and Metro CEO Art Leahy at the Corazon Del Pueblo Art Space in the burgeoning Boyle Heights Arts District last week to announce the kick off the $12 million component of the Eastside Access Project. This voter-approved Measure R plan will bring sidewalk, streetscape, lighting, signage and art improvements along First Street in Boyle Heights.

Part of the larger $30 million Eastside Access Project will focus on multi-modal transit-related improvements at or near the Metro Eastside Gold Line Extension.The Boyle Heights component is expected to enhance the grassroots driven Boyle Heights Arts District along First Street, which I actively support and am working on steering other façade improvement and artist-uses funds to the area.

Today, I joined The East Los Angeles Community Corporation at a groundbreaking for a $24.6 million facelift to the historic Boyle Hotel-Cummings Block, which was built in 1889. The hotel is located on First Street, across the street from the Metro Gold Line Mariachi Plaza station and along the Arts District route. The historic building fell into disrepair and eventually became home to mariachis and other residents. The renovated building includes a completely new building west of the hotel and a total of 51 quality affordable housing units. There will be 4,100 square feet of commercial space, rehearsal and recording space for Mariachis and a Mariachi center.

Boyle Heights is undergoing unprecedented public investment. By 2009, Boyle Heights saw $1.4 billion in public improvements, including the Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension, four new schools, a new police station, as well as several park and pool upgrades.

Enjoy the slideshow, podcast and footage (Arts Corridor, Boyle Hotel) from the events

ABC Channel 7 Holds Community Town Hall in CD 14

The leadership at ABC Channel 7 held a Community Town Hall at the Boyle Heights Technology Youth yesterday to talk about issues in the area. It is part of a series of similar meetings held throughout Los Angeles County where news representatives speak to community members in a Q & A forum about news coverage and story choices.

I thanked ABC for taking the time to do something in-depth versus the quick deadline environment of the newsroom. I also commended them for their commitment to positive portrayal in their news coverage and reminded them of the many great things happening in CD 14.

Enjoy the slideshow, podcast and footage from the event.

Supporting the Dream Act

Yesterday’s vote to support the Dream Act by the U.S. House of Representatives was a major step in the right direction for our children and our country. Through no fault of their own, these young people are being punished when all they want to do is excel in school and join our Armed Forces to protect our country. We all need to let the U.S. Senate know that they must now deliver this landmark legislation home. As an immigrant myself, I can tell you without a doubt my education and my U.S. citizenship did more to help me escape poverty and contribute to our great country than al other factors combined.

City Adopts New Surplus Food Policy – Could be Model for Nation

I am pleased that the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to enact a new groundbreaking surplus food policy for all City departments and elected offices. We are taking a historic step in eradicating hunger in the City of Los Angeles. By establishing a Surplus Food program, we will increase food donations to needy Angelenos, including a growing number of families and children. Furthermore, today’s action will establish a policy that can be expanded to the private sector. Our goal is quite simply to make donating surplus food in the City of Los Angeles as common as recycling.

Special thanks to City department leaders and food advocates who joined me at a press conference before Council session to outline details of the City final report. You might note that as part of the legislation, a website, www.HelpFeedLA.org, has been established and City of Los Angeles' 311 operators can now refer callers to local food banks to donate or receive food services.

Councilmember Huizar Promoting Auto Safety with Hollenbeck Community Police Station

With car thefts down 14 percent in Hollenbeck Division, I joined with Hollenbeck LAPD Capt. Anita Ortega and her team today to keep that trend going by giving away free steering-wheel auto-theft devices to people living in the Hollenbeck Division (Boyle Heights, El Sereno aand Lincoln Heights). Specifically, we are giving them away to registered owners of 1989-2000 Honda Accords, Civics and Toyota Camrys, as well as 1990s Acura Integras, which are sought-after vehicles by thieves. During the holidays we want to encourage people to take the 30 seconds that it takes to put the anti-theft locks on and avoid a lot of heartache. Special thanks to the LAPD and the Boyle Heights Chamber of Commerce. If Hollenbeck runs out of the 100 clubs over the next couple of days and there are more eligible car owners seeking locks, my office will provide additional funding to purchase more auto-theft devices. If you are eligible for a device, go to Hollenbeck by tomorrow or call (323) 342-8400 or (323) 342-4140 for more information.