Concept drawing of new apartments courtesy of wyvernwood.com
The lastest update from the proposed redevelopment project of the Wyvernwood Apartment Complex comes from the City of Los Angeles releasing the final environmental impact report. The entire report, which can be read here, and is available in Spanish and English, can be read at one of these four libraries.
Central Library
630 West Fifth Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Benjamin Franklin Library
2200 East First Street
Los Angeles, CA 90033
Malabar Library
2801 Wabash Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90033
Robert Louis Stevenson Library
803 Spence Street
Los Angeles, CA 90023
The report will be reviewed by Council Member Jose Huizar, but also by Wyvernwood residents who are eager to read what the report says and whether the proposed redevelopment will continue forward or come to a halt. In a community forum held in September of 2012, I reported on how Huizar heard public comment from residents against and for the project. From that meeting, Huizar and his staff explained to residents that once the final environmental impact report was released, he would host another community meeting to hear folks out and to gauge if the project should continue forward.
You can also attend the public hearing scheduled for Jan. 9, 2013 at 10:00 am.
Los Angeles City Hall
200 North Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Cesar Chavez and Breed St was the first José José print I saw in Boyle Heights. I didn’t know what to make of it. I knew the man’s music, mostly from watching Siempre en Domingo as a kid with my parents, but I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a fan of the Mexican crooner.
Once I started spotting more pieces around the hood, it was intriguing. I realized I had seen other stencils and wheat-pastings in other parts of town as well. I asked myself, “What kind of person has an obsession with José José?”
His name is “Fever… Jose Fever” he says. Tonight, Jose Fever will be showing a few prints at the grand opening of Espacio 1839, a collective providing books, radio, vinyl and tapes, and clothing.
Although he plans to attend, he will remain anonymous. So if you’re on the hunt for Jose Fever this is the hint he gave on Facebook: “Ladies don’t be fooled by guys saying they’re Jose Fever at the show. Say no to Pirateria! One way to be sure its really me, check the abs, if they’re rock solid and have a tattoo on them that say “wash clothes here” that’s me!”
We managed to squeeze out a bit from the self-proclaimed romantic… Check it out!
MN: Where did the name Jose Fever come from? JF: From an emotion I felt after rediscovering Jose Jose’s music and not being able to detach from it. When things escalate to an uncontrollable fire that continues to spread I call it a fever. It could be anything from a current type of food you’re into at the moment that you must keep having, to a crush on someone that you can’t remove from your mind- it’s called running a fever.
In my case it’s the daily celebration of listening, enjoying and dissecting Jose Jose’s music. I am a romantic and passionate person and so are his songs and that combination is Jose Fever.
MN: What’s your obsession with José José? JF: I admire his vocal skills. His technical abilities at his prime were unmatched. I personally connect with pretty much all of his songs. They describe situations in my life. He is a man that has been through the toughest times hitting rock bottom with drugs and alcohol but turned his life around during the darkest time of his life to stay clean and live a humble, spiritual life. The level of kindness, compassion and humility he practices are an inspiration to me.
MN: Where was your first Jose Fever piece posted? JF: Crenshaw and LaBrea
MN: So you like to remain anonymous, why? Will that change at Espacio 1839’s opening tonight or ever? JF: I do not want to interfere with the original goal, which is to bring awareness of this living legend through my artistic abilities in the streets and to contribute some of my cultural upbringing into the mix. Things always change and considering the love I am experiencing from Boyle Heights/East LA and the tight family community it is, well it seems natural to contribute in person and every day I grow eager to reveal myself and join in on the fun.
MN: Will Friday be your first-ever showing? JF: This event is more about Espacio 1839’s grand opening, a collective of brilliant and talented people that bring quality products and events to the community. I was invited to show a selection of the posters that I am putting up in the streets at the moment. It was a last minute invitation and I said yes because I am currently experiencing a romantic love affair with Boyle Heights and I want to help Espacio 1839 and the community anyway I can. This is not a Jose Fever solo show but we have hinted at one possibly next year were I can have ample time to produce originals as opposed to just street posters and prints. I am actually happy to say that along with the street posters and prints I was able to finish an original canvas that I just delivered to Espacio 1839.
MN: You like to use quotes from Jose Jose songs in your work, what’s your favorite song? Quote? JF: I have 5 top favorite songs. “Lo Dudo” El triste” “Voy a Llenarte Toda” “Almohada” and “Amar y Qeurer.” My favorite quotes that I seem to keep writing are “quisiera gritarte que vuelvas conmigo que si aun estoy vivo solo es para amarte” “Tu no debes quererme yo soy pecado” “El que ama no puede pensar todo lo da, todo lo da” “Esa noche entre tus brazos cai en la trampa” and so many more I cant think of right now!??
MN: Tell us a little about yourself– where did you grow up, what do you call home (specific LA area), when did you begin street art? JF: I was born in Los Angeles near Pico Union. When I was a kid I would look forward to our weekend trips to Boyle Heights were my pops would take us to a park known as “El Hoyo” and we watched soccer games and he bought me ice cream and we loaded up on Pan Dulce from la Mascota for the week- the chorizo from there was bomb too!
I’ve been doing art for a while. Under Jose Fever, the idea started towards the end of 2008 but I went forward in 2009.
MN: What’s your favorite spot to eat in Boyle Heights? JF: There are a few but I’m still looking. Please have your readers recommended some spots to me!
MN: Can you list other artists you admire? JF: I try to have an open mind when it comes to art. I listen to a wide variety of genres when it comes to music so I approach art in the same manner. I can go from Diego and Siquieros to Kofie and Basquiat. Currently it’s Jaybo Monk and Paul Botello.
Take advantage—10 miles of streets will once again close to car traffic for CicLAvia on Sunday! This time, enjoy a slightly different route with new extensions and five new hubs, including Mariachi Plaza and Soto Station. That’s right, this time it’s for real, no misprints like April.
So if you haven’t already taken note: the route will no longer travel to Hollenbeck Park–it’s 1st Street getting most of the action in Boyle Heights.
I haven’t missed a CicLAvia yet, but I may just have to this time. At 39 weeks pregnant, there’s a possibility I’ll pop this baby out before Sunday. For safety reasons, I will leave my two wheels at home, trek my way down Soto and 1st to Mariachi Plaza, and see how far I can go. Although there’s a group organizing WalkLAvia, a two-hour walk ending at Exposition Park, I plan to stay mostly on the Eastside. So join me if you wish, and let’s see if CicLAvia is as cool (and safe) as they say it can be on two feet.
I’m hoping the little one stays in the oven through this, otherwise headlines might read: “Mother gives birth at CicLAvia”
For three months, Nancy Meza and I, along with one other young lady, filmed our everyday lives for a film project titled ‘Limbo.’ Partnering up with director Eliot Rausch and producer Mark Schwartz, we wanted to share and lay bare our reality of being undocumented in the United States. Both Nancy and I shared our stories because we know that only by putting a face behind the multifaceted issue of immigration in the US, we can change the dialogue of what it means to be an immigrant. Immigration is nothing new for Boyle Heights or East LA, both communities have thrived and changed over the years as a result of all of the families that have come from Latin America.
Both Nancy and myself still continue to work in our communities to fight for the rights of undocumented immigrants. Whether it is a high school presentation of how student can continue on to college or organizing protests and rallies fighting for the Federal Dream Act, we know what it’s like to grow up undocumented in this country and know that there are more students coming behind us. While this film only shows a brief window of what we do in our everyday lives, at the end of the day, we’re just like everyone else, trying to make a dollar outta 15 cent.
Boyle Heights artivist Nico of Los Poets del Norte and Merkado Negro, designed a special “Z is for Zapata” cut out mask for this Sunday’s Marcha por Zapata. The annual march will start from Ross Valencia Park, on 1st and Chicago, at 9 am.Folks will then march out at 10 am to El Parque de Mexico, an area in Lincoln Park, where a cultural program will be held from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
Last year’s Marcha por Zapata was held the same day as CicLAvia, which made many choose one event or rush back to catch both. The streets of Boyle Heights were filled with bikers, marcha supporters and danza azteca! But that won’t be the case this year…so if you’re going to the march, I highly encourage you to print out the mask and wear it.
If you made your way down 1st Street in Boyle Heights this weekend, it was hard to miss the bright green bike lanes that were installed early Saturday morning.
The 1.6 miles of bike lanes recently painted on 1st Street from Boyle Avenue to Lorena St —along with a section of Spring Street in downtown— were the first in Los Angeles to go green.
But the dashes and solid sections of green left some wondering if the project was incomplete. Although the majority of the Spring Street lane got a solid green thermoplastic coating, 1st Street was only colored at merging areas such as intersections or driveways.
Like L.A. Eco-Village blog and LADOT Bike Blog have been reporting, the green coloring is meant to draw attention to conflict areas and increase safety for motorists and bicyclists.
On 1st Street, sections of solid green patches can be seen at driveways, alleys, and after crossing intersections to make motorists aware of the presence of cyclists. The green is dashed where bicycles, cars, and buses share space, for example, when approaching an intersection.
One of the goals listed in the city’s bike plan is for the green lanes to produce more consistent yielding behavior by motorists, something that has been successful in Portland. Colored bike lanes have also been seen in New York and Long Beach.
A rainy Sunday cancelled my plans to try out the spankin new lanes, which transportation officials say are skid- and slip-resistant. But a friend of mine got to try them out and had one complaint: the green made it harder to see cracks on the road, so be careful.
UPDATE: Watch this nice little raw video from LADOT’s Bike Blog Flickr that shows one of our neighbors riding through green zones on 1st Street.
I don’t consider chickens and roosters an unusual sight in Boyle Heights. Here, they roam around in backyards-sometimes alleys-and wake us up at wee hours of the morning.
But I have seen my share of unusual wildlife in Boyle Heights: camels, zebras, even elephants– all part of the circus shows that stop by here every now and then.
Last week, a deer visited the hood. Like many on a quest to discover “THE EASTSIDE,” looks like it might have gotten lost looking for the hipster hang out on First Street.
Well, not really. The deer was part of the cast in the new movie written and directed by Richard Montoya of Culture Clash. A film version of the theatre group’s play, Water and Power is being shot in parts of Boyle Heights. Besides the deer, I hear there will be several other cameos to look out for, the human kind.
Tonight, on the the eve of Mexican Independence Day, my father will stand in front of his 60-inch television, chest high, with his right hand erected across his heart, singing El Himno Nacional de Mexico along with thousands of other Mexican patriots that stand before him on the tv screen.
That’s one way to ring in “El Grito.” Here are a few other local celebrations that run through the weekend:
El Grito Celebration at El Pueblo de Los Angeles (commonly referred to as Placita Olvera)
Festivities begin Thursday and run through the weekend with live music, dancing, and entertainment, as well as games, art exhibits and much more.
Thursday Sept. 15– 5:00 pm through Sunday, Sept. 18
125 Paseo de la Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012 Visit their website here
El Grito 2011 at Mariachi Plaza
The Boyle Heights Farmers Market will host this year’s celebrations with vendors, musical performances, contests, food, and fun for the whole family (a second farmers market occurs every Sunday, same place 12-6pm)
Friday, Sept.16– 2:00pm-10pm
1831 E 1st St
Los Angeles, CA 90033 More on Facebook event page
Grito in the Garden at Proyecto Jardin
This Boyle Heights community garden hosts a camp out for all members of the food growers collective as well as community friends and family. Bring a tent or sleep under the stars for a night of music, dance and movement, and cosecha del jardin.
Friday, Sept. 16–5:00pm to Saturday, Sept 17- 8:00 am
1718 Bridge St, Los Angeles, CA 90033 More on Facebook event page
El GritOke at Eastside Luv Wine Bar y Queso
To celebrate El Grito and the recent Grammy nomination of local band La Santa Cecilia, ESL will host a free karaoke night- featuring the band’s music. Who knows, maybe they’ll have mariachi or even a visit from the band.
Thursday, Sept. 15– 8:00 pm
1835 East 1st Street
Los Angeles, California 90033 More on Facebook event page
Also check out some local restaurants and ask for holiday specials this weekend.
By Jasmin López, special to Newsdesk.orgPhoto: Zackary Canepari
As summer temperatures rise, so do fears of asthma and other illnesses caused by all the air pollution converging on the east Los Angeles community of Boyle Heights.
With its proximity to freeways, industrial sites and shipping corridors, activists say the geography of Boyle Heights brings a disproportionate health burden to residents.
Determined to reduce the adverse health effects caused by air pollution, residents and activists of this historically immigrant community are taking proactive and innovative measures to improve their environment.
“It’s a low-income, mostly transit-dependent community, there’s a lot of walking that happens, there are a lot of people that are out, being mobile through that pollution,” said Vanessa Rodriguez, associate director at the Alliance for a Better Community.
Rodriguez said Boyle Heights wasn’t designed for a mix of residential and industrial uses, nor the density of traffic it bears today.
“A lot of their central arteries are being used as thoroughfares,” she said. “The freeways that dissect the community, their entrances and exits cut up children’s routes to and from schools.”
One community group is installing air filters and monitoring devices in schools, hoping to draw attention to the issue.
“It’s an opportunity to get us on the radar regarding the injustice that is happening. We’ll be able to really validate what we’ve been claiming,” says Diana del Pozo-Mora, MELA’s executive director.
Health advocates are particularly concerned about ozone and particle pollution from traffic, which recent studies link to childhood asthma, hypersensitive allergies, infant mortality, and a variety of respiratory illnesses. Diabetics, people with heart or lung diseases, older adults, children and low income communities are at greater risk, especially when they are physically active.
Los Angeles was recently ranked by the American Lung Association as one of the most polluted cities in the nation, with several vulnerable and disadvantaged communities at greater risk for exposure to ozone and particles [PDF].
With plans underway to expand the nearby Port of Long Beach (the largest source of air pollution in California, combined with the Port of Los Angeles) and the 710 freeway, residents face an even greater density of cargo ships, loading docks, diesel trucks and trains.
Activists say that so far, little has been done to address the health impacts on neighboring communities.
“There is a huge body of information to support that living in close proximity to polluting sources, puts one at great risk. The current level of standards doesn’t protect people,” said Bonnie Holmes-Gen of the group’s California office.
Bill Gallegos, executive director of Communities for a Better Environment, claimed that official statistics “don’t even begin to capture” the high rates and impacts of asthma, cancer, heart disease, pregnancy and childbirth complications, and respiratory problems.
“The county health system is struggling to survive, just to meet people’s basic needs,” he said. “With all these budget cuts it looks like what we’re facing is going to get worse.”
Mis Neighbors 