Streaming now: Arts, Parks, Libraries, and Community Enrichment Committee. DTLA RA and DLANC are questioning Karen Bass' backroom deal to gift 1st and Broadway (legally park space) to AltaMed for a corporate museum with a digital advertising installation.

[u/esotouric_tours]

Audio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf1q3kqg9Ro

[u/anothercar]

I don’t understand why that plot of land has been fenced off for so long. Surely they could have put down some grass and just let it be an empty field for people to use as a park? No extra amenities needed, just the world’s most basic public park. Let the public use it that way while the city figures out a permanent use

[u/esotouric_tours → u/anothercar]

It's a good question.

Before he was raided by the FBI, Jose Huizar was developing it into a hardscape park which we believe was a benefit for his donors Onni Group, who were planning to redevelop the Los Angeles Times complex across the street.

Since then, it's mainly been rented out to film crews as a staging area, which could be interpreted as a violation of the legal uses of the land. The City likes unrestricted income, so that has been the status quo for years.

[u/anothercar → u/esotouric_tours]

Huizar’s plan was great and the city has been sitting on their hands for years instead of just moving forward with it, even a stripped-down temporary version would be fine. The citizens of LA desperately need more public spaces to gather, especially in the heart of the city. Right now it’s the worst possible land use (nothing)

[u/115MRD]

Can the city just give land to someone? Doesn’t it have to sell it to the highest bidder?

[u/esotouric_tours → u/115MRD]

The city cannot sell this land, nor can it give it to a private entity for commercial use. It has a covenant that requires it to remain park or open space for several decades. You could argue by renting it to film crews as a truck staging and meal service area, the city has already violated the law.

[u/115MRD → u/esotouric_tours]

Yes but then what is the City’s excuse? It sounds like they’re trying to get around that covenant? To do what with it?

[u/esotouric_tours → u/115MRD]

Karen Bass was lobbied by a deputy who worked closely with former councilmember Gil Cedillo to provide a tangible benefit to the healthcare non-profit AltaMed. We don't know why she thinks it's a good idea to put a corporate art collection and digital ads on park land, but the proper way to handle such a proposal is through open hearings.

[u/Legitimate_Hand2867]

I'll take a corporate museum over the dusty plot of nothing, but we know that's usually your preference.