IInterview

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013Issue 31

and so much more....

5th YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!!

Interview with Editor/PublisherDianne V. Lawrence

Interview with Mid-City Shopping DevelopersJames R. and Courtland Young

In Memory OfLeo Branton

Photo Essay:Good-Bye

Maria's, AMF,World on Wheels

WellingtonSquare

2 JUNE/JULY 2013 w w w.thene ighborhoodne wson l ine .ne t

Publisher/Editor/ReporterDianne V. Lawrence

Associate Editor/ReporterRenee Montgomery

Staff ReportersCarla Pineda,

Chelsee Lowe, Dawn KirkpatrickContributing Writers

Michael MacDonald, Amy Ellenberger, Gavin GlynnPhotographer/Proofreader

Dawn KirkpatrickLayout & Design/Executive Ad Sales

Dianne V. Lawrence

TO ADVERTISE OR SUBMIT IDEASContact us at: 323.871.8580

theneighborhoodnews@yahoo.com

CONTENT6 Interview: Mid-City Shopping Developers; James R. & Courtland Young 8 Interview: TNN Editor/Publisher Dianne V. Lawrence 10 Crime Watch

12 L.A. Bike Trains at Benny Potter Park 14 Annual WAHA LIving History Tour 15 Restaurant Review: Mondo Taco

17 Pet Pause: Keep Dog Paws Safe in the Summer

18-19 Photo Essay:

Good-bye Maria's, AMF, World on Wheels

Seen On the Scene: OPNC at Pips

20 Our Community: Wellington Square

21 Eye On Wesson

22 Art In The Corridor: Lady Windermere's Fan

at the Clark.

23 In Memory Of: Leo Branton Jr. 1922 - 2013

29 Darren's at Pinky's. Midtown Crossing Update and Job Opportunities

TNN Staff L - R Back RowDeborah Charles, Chelsee Lowe,Dawn Kirkpatrick,Carla PinedaL - R Front RowReneeMontgomery,Dianne V. Lawrence

We made it! When I began fi ve years ago, I thought by today I'd either be bust or boom. Well....KaBoom!!! I thought there might

be some interest in what it's been like because the community has watched us grow, seen some of our challenges and participated in our evolution. Chelsee Lowe, one of our writers, interviewed me. We also have a great interview with the Midtown Shopping Center Associates developers, the father and son team of James R. and Courtland Young. For our editors notes, I thought I'd print a wonderful short essay on Mid-City by our Associate Editor Renee Montgomery:

You used to ask Angelenos where “Mid-City” was and they’d sort of look at you blankly and gesture “over there,” vaguely pointing

toward the 10 Freeway. Some newbies might even gesture toward downtown. West Adams would sometimes come up in discussion but most folks identifi ed Adams only as some cool “old houses” t’wards 'SC. For many Westsiders,“Mid-City” might as well have been in a different country, being east of the Fairfax Continental Divide. Really, “Mid-City” seemed to have acquired its name only by default, defi ned best by what it isn’t: Not “Wilshire” nor “Koreatown.” Not “Pico-Union.” And certainly not “Crenshaw” with its own hard-won cultural pride..

But after fi ve years of focusing, celebrating, keeping an eye on and sharing info with our community, The Neighborhood News has contributed to an emerging identity for this rich patch work of neighborhoods known as Mid-City. We lo-o-o-ve it's history and diverse culture. Here at the axis of the polyglot world that is Mid-Los Angeles, we’re at command central in our cozy, little pocket neighborhoods, surrounded by all cultures; with the “The Latino-Byzantine Quarter” and the ornate St. Sophia’s, Papa Christo’s, and Little Central America and Koreatown, on the east; the world-class Leimert Park African drum circle and annual jazz festival and southern cuisine on the south, Historic West Adams on our S. E. border, Can you say, “I’d like Injera bread with my Ethiopian goat meat.” for our western border and the edge of Hollywood on our northern border. We are now becoming our own destination, with our emerging restaurants, theater, galleries, and shopping, Life is grand where we sit. Life is a cornucopia where we sit, here at the Tigris and Euphrates of L.A. culture. Renee Montgomery

So dear and faithful readers, put your feet up, grab a lemonade made with lemons picked from your tree in the yard and take a little tour of your community in this 5th Anniversary issue!

Cover Photo by Laura Meyers. L - R Back Row: Renee Montgomery, Deborah Charles, Carla Pineda. - L - R Middle Row: Chelsee Lowe, Dawn Kirkpatrick - Front Row: Dianne V. Lawrence

We are saying Good-Bye for now to our writer Deborah Charles. She will return for occasional articles. Thank you

Deborah for your ideas, time and effort. We will miss you!

6 w w w.thene ighborhoodne wson l ine .ne tAUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

Since the shocking and abrupt closing of the AMF Midtown Lanes, beloved Maria’s Café and World on Wheels; with the

approaching closing of Orchard Supply and Hardware (OSH) and the Broadway Federal Bank at the Midtown Shopping Center; along with the coincidental purchase of the land by developers; rumors, accusations, and misinformation have been tossed about like a ship in a storm. TNN decided to get the story straight and approached the developers, father, James R. Young, and son, Courtland Young, of Midtown Shopping Center Associates, for an interview. They were eager to communicate to the community, clear up concerns and share their vision of the Midtown Shopping Center moving forward.

TNN: Can you tell us a little of the history of your family’s relationship to the Midtown Shopping Center.CORT: When my dad got here in 1978, he bought the ground lease which was to continue until 2031. My personal history started in 2007. I began working with my father in redeveloping, retenanting and upgrading everything around the Shopping

Center, and in the past few months we were fi nally successful in something James Young had been trying to do since the late '70s, which is purchase the underlying land from the owner, Catellas.TNN: I remember James mentioning being committed to staying here after the riots even though the place was devastated. He saw the value of what the Center could become since it was central to an area of the city that was only going to grow and was being underserved. Can you talk a little bit about that?CORT: The area was decimated in general post the ’92 riots, and there was a push for rebuild L.A..JAMES: Actually, there was a redevelopment district that stopped on the eastside of San Vicente and went down Pico, and it was right after the riot. It was created to sort of restore and improve the area, but it stopped on the eastside of San Vicente.TNN: So you took it upon yourselves, without government aid, to help the Center get back on its feet?JAMES: Yes. The only building that wasn’t completely destroyed was the Swap Meet, which was the current Orchard building, and there were 64 families, Korean mostly, whose family businesses were destroyed and taken away from them because of the riots.

We tried to use that as a starting place. So it took us about three, four years to get the Swap Meet back open in a limited way. But it never got enough energy because by that time, all the people who used to shop at the Swap Meet were now going to what are called power centers to buy cheap goods or discount kind of things. And their shopping habits had changed, so we never got the energy back that we once had. And we fi nally had to close it because it never got critical mass as a business, and that’s when I started working with Orchard Supply.CORT: Which was in about ’97 because they moved in, in ’98.TNN: So you rebuilt all these buildings?

CORT: Correct.JAMES: We tore down all the buildings except Broadway Federal and the Bank of America because the confi guration of of the Shopping Center, or what’s called a site plan, was 1960s, so we started a whole new site plan to basically attract better tenants, better circulation, better safety. So all those things came into creating the new site plan. TNN: Some people in the community didn’t know you had been around this long. They thought you had just arrived with the purchase of the land.JAMES: Well now you know.TNN: Tell us about your vision for the Center.

Continued on Pg. 24

Osh Closing date might be in the fall.

Interview Midtown Shopping Center Developers James R. Young and Courtland Young

D.V. Lawrence

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8 Keep our Local Businesses in Business. Use local Services!AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

Continued on Pg. 26

CHELSEE: Tell us how you feel about surviving fi ve years in print and news because that’s no easy task.DIANNE It's been a struggle as any new business is, and I’m just blown away that we are where we are today. The majority of small businesses are started by women, and unfortunately the majority of these fail within the fi rst fi ve years. I think I was just in the right place at the right time with the right idea, the right skill set and the right attitude.CHELSEE: What inspired you to create TNN?DIANNE : About seven or eight years ago, I was an associate

editor at a magazine that Jay Levin, (who started the L.A. Weekly) created called Real Talk L.A. It was a pretty big project, but we were only able to produce one issue. As you said, print is diffi cult. Suddenly, I was without work and headed toward my '60s and didn’t want to be 65 looking for a job, so I needed to create my own source of income. About six years ago, I

was involved in a neighborhood dispute and I discovered that city agencies were violating their own regulations at the request of a councilperson. When I asked the agencies how they could go against state and city required procedures and regulations, they said, “Well, we do it all the time. If council people want us to do this, we do it.” I asked, “But how do you get away with that?” One city worker said, “Well, you know, people don’t have the money to sue us.” I was just, people call me naïve, but I was fl abbergasted that this was acceptable. The thing that disturbed me most was the power it gave to an elected offi cial. The power to circumvent the system and make decisions to help some and not others based on the councilpersons personal motives or inclinations. As I said, I'm naive...but they say all politics are local. How can you complain when it happens on the national stage but not complain when the same thing is blatantly happening in your own backyard? Then one morning, it was as if Jupiter threw a lightning bolt in my head. I thought, “This community needs a magazine, and we need to start talking to each other about what’s going on, what’s

5th Anniversary Interview withEditor/Publisher

Dianne V. Lawrence

Chelsee Lowe

On the 5th Anniversary of the inaugural publication of TheNeighborhood News we thought an interview with the publisher/ediitor might be in order. Dianne printed 1,500 copies her fi rst issue and today publishes 13,000 - 14,000 every two months. How did she get started and what does it take to keep it going?

Dianne V. Lawrenceand Goodwill Ambassador Foxie

happening in our community.” I also discovered that politicians often work under the premise of “Vote for me, go back to TV and let me be.” What about a publication that focuses on our community issues? Kept an eye on things? Shared info? I'm a bit of an activist. I got a law changed in L.A. making it illegal to tie dogs up in the backyard. I fought against "Operation Rescue" when they tried to shut down Los Angeles abortion clinics. So when I get a call to action...I go with it. I thought, okay... I have to sell ads. So I created a mock-up, went out and immediately began selling ads, and that’s when I knew this was a good idea. Business's were having a hard time connecting to the residents around them. I started with 1,500 copies and now fi ve years later, we’re up to 13,000 to 14,000 copies every two months, distributed on doorsteps and at community sites. This August issue went from 28 to 34 pages for the fi rst time. CHELSEE: What other kind of work were you doing prior? Were you doing a lot of journalism?DIANNE I'd done some work as a journalist but I didn't have any professional training, just a natural instinct and talent for it. As a teenager I wanted to perform and act, which I did for a long time. When I hit 30, I realized I didn’t want to grow old as an actress…not a good plan. I had begun painting and was a painter for about 25, 30 years. I had some shows, sold work. I was an art instructor and taught at Esalen and MOCA - the Museum of Contemporary Art, and at Art Center in Pasadena. I also taught incarcerated people. I did an album cover for Leonard Cohn's "Recent Songs." I have a website with my art on it, www.diannelawrence.com, but it was also very diffi cult to get ahead of the 8 ball and it always bothered me that a painting would end up in one persons house. I like communicating with an audience. I have done many things. I sing and have a band called Storm Taylor and Her Ex-husbands. We do early African-American music and I've sung around town. Even opened for a jazz act at the Troubador. I still sing at Pips on La Brea now and then.

9w w w.thene ighborhoodne wson l ine .ne t AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

About 25 community members attended a community meeting at the Wilshire Community Police Station July

1, regarding the latest developments in the ongoing investigation of the attempted murder of two LAPD offi cers, offi cer Bernard Romero and Detective Humberto Tovar, in front of the gates of the Wilshire station Monday, June 25 at about 4:34 a.m.

Dennis H. Kato, Commander of Operations-West Bureau and other LAPD offi cers thanked community members for their patience during the search for the gunman. Almost 250 offi cers and 10-K9 units searched a perimeter that extended from Pico to Washington and Redondo to Crenshaw the day of the shooting. Parts of the perimeter were “locked down to about 3:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon,” Kato said. “In the past week, we’ve probably had about fi ve offi cer-involved shootings [in the city]. It just seems this summer more suspects are willing to take on the police. When someone in the community attacks a police offi cer, it’s really an attack against the community. It’s really an attack against society and saying…'we don’t recognize that authority; we don’t want to be controlled by a community or go by the rules,'” he added to emphasize the

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Continued on Pg. 16

Offi cer Shootings at Wilshire Division.Florida Fugtive Found in Mid-City.

Dawn Kirkpatrick

10 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

What could be better than a great fusion taco eatery? How about a great fusion taco eatery that actually has

a bricks-and-mortar home right in the heart of Mid-City? No more chasing Asian-Tex-Mex-Indian-Hawaiian taco trucks, or standing in long lines with other twitter followers for a chance to taste the latest global mix of exotic toppings on a humble tortilla. Instead, just visit Mondo Taco, which serves up nearly three dozen different international tacos and wraps. Craving a Southern BBQ chicken taco? Check. Moroccan lamb with chimichurri sauce? Check. India-inspired coconut shrimp with a curry sauce? Check. Tempura fi sh, grilled shrimp, short ribs, pulled pork? Check, check, check, check. Soyrizo, tempeh and other vegetarian options? Of course. Tucked into an unpretentious corner shopping center where San Vicente intersects La Brea, Mondo Taco is the dream child of Sam Spector, a Philadelphia native who helped relaunch the vintage-chic Culver Hotel. “I looked around and saw a neighborhood that was underserved in terms of great restaurants,” says Spector, who opened Mondo Taco’s doors in July, 2012. The laid-back and unpretentious eatery is located in the former Little Kitchen space, next door to a donut shop. Spector was not trying to open a traditional tacqueria, and the setting he chose belies the

surprising menu choices, which include more than 30 original global fusion recipes, all of which can be served atop a homemade tortilla; inside a wrap; in a bowl with rice and/or cabbage, and now – for what Spector calls “Dino eating” – inside a cabbage leaf. On a recent Saturday evening, we stopped in for a taco sampling. The menu is divided into “Crawls” (meat-based recipes), “Grows” (veggie), and “Swims” (you know.) The counter gal advised us that three tacos each would likely be more than enough food. I started with a “Yo Adrian” -- basically a Philly cheesesteak taco, inspired by Spector’s hometown eats, with rib eye steak grilled with peppers, onions and mushrooms topped by provolone cheese. Next up was “Holy Mole,” shredded chicken marinated in the complex Mexican sauce made from chili peppers, tomatillos, roasted spices and chocolate. And can I just say Opa! about my third choice: an “El Greco” topped with Greek marinated roasted lamb, with

Tacos Without Borders at Mondo TacoLaura Meyers

Continued on Pg. 15

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Keep our Local Businesses in Business. Use local Services! 11AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

12 Keep our Local Businesses in Business. Use local Services!AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

L.A. BIKE TRAINS

Tuesday Morning Coffee and Community in Benny H. Potter Memorial Park

Michael MacDonald

Every Tuesday morning at 7:30, an ad-hoc coffee stand appears at the picnic area of Benny H. Potter Memorial

Park at 24th St and 2nd Ave. The coffee is free, as is the opportunity to connect with neighbors, fellow early risers, and those out for some morning exercise. The group setting up the coffee stand is L.A. Bike Trains (http://labiketrains.com/), a recently founded organization that meets in the park before commuting as a group by bike to Culver City. Wait a second…. Commuting by bike?! For many Angelenos with cars the thought of biking on city streets is, “You’d have to be crazy!” It’s not a completely unreasonable response; biking in Los Angeles can be very unforgiving, and Angelenos face a steep learning curve to fi gure out safe and comfortable routes, rules of the road and basic biking skills during rush-hour traffi c. That’s exactly the problem that saw the founding of, L.A. Bike Trains, a volunteer-run method of communal commuting (think carpooling, but with bikes). Run by experienced bicycle commuters called “Conductors,” L.A. Bike Trains offers a way to empower neighbors to consider biking as a fun and safe way of getting to work or school. Conductors ride on tried and true

routes, guide the rides at an easy and comfortable pace, and are on hand to help with any problems – such as a fl at tire – that could come up along the way. One of the group’s fi rst routes, Route 008, is operated out of West Adams Avenues. The group ride departs from Benny H. Potter Memorial Park at 8:00 a.m. and the last stop is the Media Arts Park in Downtown Culver City at about 8:30-8:40 a.m. Despite the easy pace, biking with the group is probably faster than taking the Freeway, and certainly offers a lot less stress. As a new organization, L.A. Bike Trains is constantly expanding and opening new routes. But unlike the ongoing construction of the Expo Line, new Bike Train routes are “constructed” relatively quickly based on feedback on the group’s website. If you are interested but not served by a current route, be sure to submit a

request online. (http://labiketrains.com/) For West Adams Avenues, a neighborhood that lacks walking-distance coffee shops, providing morning coffee to commuters and residents alike is a welcome addition. But the big payoff is to those that take the opportunity to leave behind their cars and frustration of morning traffi c in favor of a bit of exercise on a beautiful Los Angeles morning. Michael MacDonald is an architect and longtime resident of Kinney Heights, and is the conductor of L.A. Bike Trains Route 008 from West Adams Avenues to Downtown Culver City.

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Keep our Local Businesses in Business. Use local Services!AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 201314

At the Angelus Rosedale Cemetery, History Comes to Life on Saturday, September 28, as a Mack Sennett Bathing

Beauty, USC's fi rst female professor, a heroic -- or notorious -- Soldier of Fortune, and a jazz chanteuse who sang with Duke Ellington all perform on a unique outdoor "stage." At this year’s annual Living History Tour, visitors will “meet” some of Los Angeles’ most interesting early pioneers, war veterans and entertainment industry personages as costumed actors, at graveside, also portray the lives of a Civil War Union bugler and labor union activist; a Silent Film era starlet and early airline fl ight hostess whose life ended tragically; an African -American physician who risked his career for civil rights; and Los Angeles pioneer who helped author the city’s fi rst charter. Local West Adams/Mid-City neighborhoods played a prominent role in some of this year’s personages’ lives.

“Civil Wars, Civil Liberties”

West Adams Heritage Association's Annual Living History Tour

Laura Meyers

Dr. Oner Barker, African-American physician who was required to testify before the House UnAmerican Activities Committee during the McCarthy Era, was deeply disturbed about the segregation of black troops in World War II, and later prejudice he encountered

as a young doctor. He lived in Kinney Heights when he testifi ed about his participation in the Communist Party.

Merle Evans was a carefree 18-year-old youth enjoying a day at the beach with his sweetheart when they both became victims of a horrendous train crash – 100 years ago this summer – at Vineyard Station (now the site of the Lowe's shopping center.) The crash involved hundreds of people injured and dead, and ultimately resulted in the construction of the West Boulevard Bridge, one of the community’s newest designated landmarks.

And, Daniel DeVilliers, an Afrikaner of Huguenot descent who fought in the 2nd Boer War in South Africa (a confl ict more bloody

than the U.S. Civil War) and later in the Mexican Revolution, was killed by his ex-wife’s new husband in a house on 20th Street, in Western Heights, also 100 years ago this year. Angelus Rosedale Cemetery was founded in 1884, and is now home to many generations of Los Angeles' citizens, representing every race, faith, and creed. Each year, West Adams Heritage Association (WAHA) tells some of their life stories while touring the historic grounds and elaborately carved monuments of L.A.’s fi rst lawn cemetery. This year’s tour commemorates not only Los Angeles’ longtime role as the center of this country’s entertainment industry, but also the role the city has played in the larger history of civil liberties in America. In addition, the 2013 Living History Tour memorializes the 150th anniversary of the Civil War (1861-1865).

Some of this year’s additional portrayals include:• Ivie Anderson, jazz singer best known for performing with Duke Ellington’s Orchestra, originating the song, “It Don’t Mean A Thing” (If

It Ain’t Got That Swing)• Jennie Allen Bovard, USC’s “First Lady” – she was the university’s fi rst female professor and the wife of the institution’s president• Marjorie Zier Page, a Jazz Age starlet and Mack Sennett Bathing Beauty who then became an early infl ight hostess for TWA• Aurelius Hutton, a Confederate cadet whose family lost everything. Hutton moved to Los Angeles in 1869, becoming an early L.A. City Attorney before becoming a founder of Pasadena.WAHA Living History Tour 2410 Fourth Avenue 90018FOR MORE INFORMATION, please call the WAHA Reservations Hotline at 323-732-4223, write tours@westadamsheritage.org,

Merle Evans and his gal

15w w w.thene ighborhoodne wson l ine .ne t AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

diced tomatoes and tzatziki cucumber-yoghurt sauce. This taco really tasted like a gyro – but fresher. A big thumbs up. My dining companion is a pescetarian who eats fi sh, shellfi sh and vegetables, but no meat. She ordered a “Ya Mon,” grilled jerk fi sh with pineapple relish, soon pronounced “deeeeelicious,” and “Bayou Fish,” grilled Cajun-style fi sh and jambalaya with Cajon aioli, also “amazzzzing.” The fi sh was moist and seasoned perfectly. From the “Grows” section of Mondo Taco’s menu came “Tempeh Alexander the Great,” with tempeh, whole marinated chipotle peppers, goat cheese and a cilantro crème. This was more than enough for two gals to consume, but as we sat happily digesting (and sending our leftovers back over the counter to be wrapped “to go”), Spector said, “You must try the Blueberry Panna Cotta dessert.” Must we? I sighed, so stuffed already. Well, all right…we’re doing a review. And we were glad we squeezed those extra calories in; it was one of the best versions of the velvety smooth Italian cooked cream dessert I’ve tried, this

one topped with a sweetened blueberry sauce. Diners may accompany their meals with traditional chips, salsa and fresh, good as homemade, guacamole, and can choose from a wide variety of beverages, including handmade Frescas (we ordered blueberry-ginger, $3) and micro-brew boutique bottled sodas ($2.50), such as Reading Draft Blueberry Birch, Virgil’s Cream Soda, Reed’s Extra Ginger Brew, Americana Cherry Cola, Hank’s Root Beer, Death Valley Sour Green Apple, Johnnie Ryan’s Black Cherry, Jarritos Mango, Jones Zilch Pomegranate, Jackson Hole High Mountain Huckleberry, and Tommyknocker Almond Creme, among others.

Tacos range in price from $2.50 to $4.50 (most are $3-$4); bowls and wraps serve up twice the portion and cost $3.50 more than the taco price. Dine in or take out. Mondo Taco, 1292 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90019, (323) 939-0161, Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 12-8 p.m.; closed Sundays. www.MondoTaco.com

MONDO TACO Cont. from Pg. 10

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Join us on twitter@midcityla_tnn

Check out our new websitewww.theneighborhoodnewsonline.net

connection between the police and the community in fi ghting crime. LAPD Captain Lillian L. Carranza followed Commander Kato and explained that the LAPD was “following several leads” and tips from the community about the shooting, but to date there have been no arrests. The City Council, she said, is also helping in the investigation and is considering offering a $50,000 award for any information that helps in the “identifi cation and conviction” of the gunman. To date there is no word on this reward. Commander Kato warned community members that as a result of the shooting, there will be an increased police presence in the area, especially south of the Wilshire Community Police Station. Uniformed and plain-clothed offi cers will be patrolling the area in police cars as well as unmarked vehicles. People may be stopped for questioning, only for probable cause, and young kids and teenagers may be stopped if they are breaking the law or found on the streets early in the morning. People could be stopped for such things as a “broken tail light” or “a cracked windshield…. This is a typical response from the LAPD,” he added.“We're not going to violate people’s rights” in these investigative activities, Detective Samuel Oka, later stressed. The gunman’s motive for the shooting could be anything. For example, the previous night, the World on Wheels roller skating rink was closing, and a police skirmish line was set up outside of

the rolling rink. Some people threw rocks at the police, said Kato. The gunman may have been angry that the rink was closing. This or any number of reasons may have been the motive behind the shooting, he said. Offi cers handed out a community Alert Notifi cation fl yer at the meeting. For information about the fl yer contact, SLO Hector Marquez at 213-793-0790 or SLO Ruben Gonzales at 213-923-0715. At press time the gunman still remains at large. The LAPD website has more details about the shooting as well as a video of the gunman leaving the scene of the crime, www.lapdonline.org/newsroom/news_view/53864. If anyone has any information about the shooting, please use the reference number DR# 1307-11686 and contact Detectives Barry Telis and Chris Gable at the Homicide Special Section, Robbery-Homicide Division, at (213) 486-6890, during business hours (Monday-Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.). During non-business hours, weekends and holidays, contact LAPD RACR Division’s 24-hour, toll-free number at 877 LAPD 247 (877-527-3247). If you would like to remain anonymous, contact Crime

POLICE REPORT Cont. from Pg. 9

Continued next page

17Keep our Local Businesses in Business. Use local Services! AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

When was the last time you walked on a sidewalk or

asphalt road in the middle of a hot summer's day...in bare feet? Wouldn't think of venturing out without your sandals! Now think of your dog as he walks beside you across a searing hot parking lot or runs alongside your bike on an asphalt road or walks next to you along a hot sidewalk, or accompanies you on a metal boat dock, or is leashed in the back of an exposed truck...all with unprotected paws, often with a

Summer Hot Cement and AsphaltBurns Your Dog's Feet

D.V. Lawrence

tongue hanging out. If the dog stops and refuses to keep walking or you notice a limp in his stride, stop and check. Signs of burned pads are limping, licking or chewing his feet, pads darker in color than usual or part of his pad open and red. But don't let it come to this. Keep your dog off these surfaces in the heat of the day. Bring water with you to keep your dog hydrated (they can't sweat like us and can overheat easily) and to cool down his paws when necessary. If his tongue is hanging out (this is how they cool their body temperature down) he needs water and a chance to cool down. Let him walk beside you on the grass next to the sidewalk and seek out the shady side of the street when you go walking. A towel soaked in water and placed under the dog if he needs to wait on a hot surface is another smart way to save your dog from the summertime blues!

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Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS. To send text tips, text the word TIPLA, a space, and then your message to CRIMES (274637). For web tips, log onto www.lapdonline.org and click on “Anonymous Web Tips.”

Florida Fugitive Found in Mid-City

On July 18th, LAPD Olympic Community Police Station Senior Lead Offi cer Eric Mollinedo observed a 2004 Toyota Camry with no license plates, in front of Councilman Herb J. Wesson’s offi ce on Western Ave. above Washington Boulevard. During the routine traffi c stop he disovered cocaine and an outstanding local warrant for the suspects arrest. It was then discovered the suspect was wanted in Florida and had alluded capture from authorities for 10 years by hiding in the Mid-City community. The LAPD is currently withholding the suspect’s name and any other information pending further investigation.

18 Keep our Local Businesses in Business. Use local Services!AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

Thanks For the Memories

To See These and Other Pics in Color Go To Our Website, Click 'History' then 'Our History'

A Photo Essay by Dawn Kirkpatrick

19w w w.thene ighborhoodne wson l ine .ne t AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

Olympic Park NCAnnual "Pips"

Community GetTogether

OPNC President John Jake

Capt. Eric T.Davis

Photos by Dawn Kirkpatrick

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In 1913 a Los Angeles Times display ad claimed “Undoubtedly, considering location and openings per se, Wellington Square

is the choicest offering along Washington and West Adams today.” A little over 100 years later, Wellington Square is still considered one of Los Angeles’ prime neighborhoods.Bordered by West Blvd. on the west, Crenshaw Blvd. on the east,

Washington Blvd. on the north and the Santa Monica Freeway on the south it was originally developed just before the start of World War I through the efforts of developer George L. Crenshaw, the Union Escrow and Realty Company, a syndicate led by Michael J. Nolan, the W.I. Hollingsworth Co. and realtor John A. Vaughan.Today, Buckingham Road, Virginia Road, Wellington Road and Victoria Avenue

comprise the Square. These four streets are fi lled with 209 gracious homes of various architectural styles, Spanish Colonial, Tudor and French Norman. Some of the homes date back prior to World War I. Because Wellington Square was so popular back then “homeowners, and developers...literally picked up their graceful pre-War era homes

from their original West Adams and Wilshire District plots and moved them to new plots in Wellington Square,” writes Laura Meyers, a founding member of the West Adams Historical Association (WAHA). Wellington Square has gone through a number of changes since then, of course. With the help of the City Council in 1927, for example, the Wellington Square Improvement Association successfully arranged to keep heavy trucks out of the neighborhood. Later, “neighbors successfully petitioned to gate egress at West Boulevard and 23rd Street, slowing down traffi c and bringing a quiet ambiance back to Wellington Square,”

Meyers writes. In the early 1960s, the California Department of Transportation (Caltran) built the Santa Monica Freeway and ran part of it through Wellington Square. Today the Freeway makes up the neighborhood’s south border.

Wellington Square is an ethnically and culturally diverse neighborhood. Politicians, artists, actors and business people are and have been among its many residents. Once it was home to such notable residents as Dr. Vada Watson-Sommerville and her husband Dr. John A. Sommerville, for example. Among other notable accomplishments, Dr. Watson-Sommerville was the fi rst African-American woman as well as the fi rst woman in general to graduate from the USC School of Dentistry. Despite tremendous racial discrimination, Dr. John A. Sommerville

Continued on Pg.28

WELLINGTON SQUAREDawn Kirkpatrick

Keep our Local Businesses in Business. Use local Services! 21AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

Council President Wesson's redistricting woes continue to nip at his heels. Attorney Leo Terrell, who has fi led a lawsuit

against the city, claiming race unduly infl uenced the redistricting process, has attempted to convince Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate possible voting rights violations. Terrell specifi cally alleges that Councl President Wesson had undue infl uence on the redistricting process with the purpose of benefi ting "certain politicians" while disenfranchising the public, and that this decision was based on race. (To see TNN's report on this issue, go to our website, click Editorial, Eye on Wesson, Councilman Wesson and Redistricting.) A secretly taped video at a Los Angeles Baptist Ministers conference is not going to help Wesson's cause. Despite claims he had nothing to do with redistricting, when Councilman Wesson was asked to come and explain his rumored infl uence on the break up of their district to the conference, he admitted he had a hand in it. “I did the best I could to retain ‘assets’ for all of the districts. One person. Alone. Every member came to me to discuss what they wanted....” He went on to claim he had secured assurance that three of thedistricts would have African-American representation for the next 30 years.....hmmm going to be diffi cult explaining that one to the judge.

EYE ON WESSOND.V. Lawrence

Continued on Pg. 28

Last June, with little warning and no neighborhood council review, City Hall voted 10-0 to allow Woodland Hills shopping mall giant Westfi eld to keep up to $59 million of the expected $140 million in tax revenues over 25 years. Woodland hills residents, claiming the city sorely needed the money, showed up at City Council to weigh in before the vote and urged the council to hold off until it had been reviewed by the affected Neighborhood Councils. Council President Wesson, who likes

with permission

22 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013 Keep our Local Businesses in Business. Use local Services!

Mid-city Longwood/Highlands resident and theatre director Larissa Kokernot is helping bring her passion

for theatre a little closer to home. Kokernot is one of the founding members of Chalk Repertory Theatre, a Los Angeles based, site-specifi c theatre company that is redefi ning the idea of the traveling acting troupe. With a modern, fun, and diverse sensibility, this group of emerging artists sets up shop wherever the play may take them. The company’s next stop is landing right in the backyard of West Adams, literally.

Performed on the lush grounds of UCLA’s William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, located on the corner of Cimarron and West Adams Blvd., Chalk Rep will present Oscar Wilde’s classic tale, Lady Windermere’s Fan beginning this Saturday, July 27th.“We are always looking for creative and fun ways to immerse the audience into the world of the play. With this production, we are inviting the audience to be a part of Lady Windermere’s coming-of-age garden party. As we start the celebration, Wilde’s comedy of manners unfolds and takes the audience on a tour of the library’s lawns and courtyards.” said Kokernot.

Lady Windermere’s Fan is a part of the new Arts on the Grounds series at The Clark providing diverse and unique performing arts opportunities for the local community. The production was also inspired by the library’s world-renowned collection of Oscar Wilde materials. Audiences are encouraged to come early at 5 p.m. to picnic on the grounds and explore this unique space in the neighborhood.

Celebrating fi ve seasons of critically acclaimed work, Chalk Repertory Theatre was founded by Larissa Kokernot and fi ve of her peers, all graduates of the M.F.A. Theatre program at the University of California, San Diego. The company’s inaugural production took place at the iconic Hollywood Forever Cemetery with Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters of which Kokernot directed. Eleven productions later, Chalk Rep. has performed throughout Los Angeles County in such locations as a house, a bar, a loft, a museum, a church, and recently a children’s play space in Sherman Oaks. The group has even garnered two Ovation Awards for their production of Family Planning, including Best Director for Kokernot. Chalk Rep. continues its theatrical tour of Los Angeles in September at the L.A. Natural History Museum in conjunction with its 100th Anniversary celebration. For more information visit their web site at www.ChalkRep.com and stay tuned to see where Chalk Rep will land next in 2014. Lady Windermere’s Fan will run July 27-August 18, 2013 on Saturdays and Sundays at 6:00 p.m. at UCLA’s William Andrews Clark Memorial Library located at 2520 Cimarron St., Los Angeles, CA 90018. The running time is two hours. Gates will open at 5:00pm for pre-show picnicking. Please bring blankets or lawn chairs and food items in non-breakable containers. Tickets are $20 general admission, $10 Students/Seniors/Service, $15 Neighborhood discount and can be purchased online at www.chalkrep.com or by calling 323-379-9583.

Chalk Repertory TheatreBrings Lady Windermere to the Clark

Amy Ellenberger

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w w w.thene ighborhoodne wson l ine .ne t 23AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

Visiting with Lafayette Square resident Leo Branton feels like time travel through landmarks of 20th century

history. Branton, a famous civil rights attorney, served as defense counsel to Angela Davis, Hollywood blacklisted Dalton Trumbo, several Black Panthers, and innocent men arrested in the Watts Riots. Branton was also one of the fi rst African- American attorneys to provide legal representation to entertaiers, including Dorothy Dandridge, Nat King Cole, Miles Davis, and Jimi Hendrix, (until he fi red the last performer for lack of cooperation, that is.) Local residents may also know Branton as host to Rosa Parks each winter in his home for the decade

LEO BRANTON JR.1922 - 2013

Leo Branton Jr., a civil rights and entertainment lawyer who championed the underdog, died April 19 in Los Angeles. He was also father to Tony Nicholas who runs the Tom Bradley Youth and Family Center on Pico. Leo was 91 and a longtime resident of LaFayette Square. We reprint the article we wrote about him in our Feb. 2011 issue.

Renee Montgomery

preceding her death. Branton explains he had his fi rst experience with discrimination when arrested as a teenager after he fought back when a store clerk struck him in his native Arkansas – a case later dismissed by a judge. Yet it was the acting bug that inspired Branton to study law at Northwestern, after traveling with a repertory company and military service. The tireless attorney who has won numerous distinctions and is a sought-after speaker, was one of the fi rst to hire a consultant to psychologically profi le juries and to demand fairer diversity of juries. Other legal distinctions include winning cases upon appeal at the U.S. Supreme Court level. His persuasive closing argument in the case of People v. Angela Davis (where he served as Chief Counsel) is still used for instruction in law schools. Branton is most proud of his 40-year effort to free death row inmate Robert Wesley Wells. Although retired for ten years, Branton, continues to do pro bono work, graciously accepting cases for individuals arrested on bogus charges who cannot afford representation on their own. However, despite his 62-year career in civil rights (Branton was awarded the ACLU’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009), it is his late wife, Geraldine Branton, who he credits as his

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greatest inspiration: “When she saw a wrong, she tried to solve it.” He encourages young black people to take better advantage of the greater opportunities achieved through the civil rights movement. Branton has three sons and grandchildren.

24

JAMES: I’m infl uenced by Culver City. I’ve met with the mayor several times; he was a parishioner in my church. They have done as good of a job as anybody in creating a street-safe, fun, electric kind of atmosphere, and so I’m using them as a case study. But it has to be done in baby steps, in little, tiny steps. They did it block by block, store by store but I use the Helm’s Bakery Project as an example of what you can do with simple things, like just blocking off the street that used to go through, which was dangerous for our kids at church. They blocked it off and then they put in water features and other kinds of things that allowed several of the restaurants like the Offi ce to come in. This is one of the fi rst times the Offi ce had come into areas like this. The opportunity of having an ambiance outside where you hear water, you have a safe environment, and there are no cars involved.TNN: You’re thinking of water installations?JAMES: Oh, all kinds of things.TNN: One of the things that happened at the bowling center was that a lot of the seniors love to play dominos and they love to play chess.JAMES: Cort and I have talked about chess. CORT: A good example was one day I was going to LAX; I drove by Magic Johnson's, Ladera Heights Center, and outside of the Starbucks there, there’s a nice gathering daily of older folks drinking coffee, playing chess. That’s one of our inspirations.JAMES: We can take concrete tables so that you can have space for dominos … or chess and all that kind of things. That’s what I mean by the concept I call restive areas. It’s little, tiny steps. Unless we can get the kind of tenant that we’re currently talking to and maybe have a shot at, that will allow a new platform for us to go to the next step. I used to drive down Rimpau [Ave.] every day when I lived up in Hancock Park. I could see house by house, how somebody who hadn’t taken care of it, sold it to somebody who was going to invest money into it. Now over the twenty-some years, all the way from Wilshire Town to Pico, it’s basically the same houses only with a whole new look. Each one fi xed up one by one. TNN: That’s happened all over here. JAMES: I understand the frustration with communities who want it [the development] to have happened yesterday, but those things don’t happen until you set the platform. We went with the momentum of the Lowe’s Center, knowing that was going to create momentum for us. Part of getting the signature Ralph's store in here was because they knew that the Lowe’s Center was going here, but you can’t force it. You have to just wait for the momentum to do something that allows you to take it to the next step.TNN: So the development will be done in incremental steps.JAMES: Yes. Everything in life is incremental, and especially a development like this. Once you get a tenant that brings a certain customer in, that will attract other tenants who wanted that kind of customer, too.TNN: There’s been some attitude from bigger stores about this area. They perceive it as a primarily low-income area, which is completely untrue. This is a very mixed-income community with a lot of middle income and upper income neighborhoods. I’ve lived in the area for over 30 years. When I moved into

my current neighborhood 18 years ago, I would say 70% of these beautiful old houses were run down. Now they’ve been all bought up and restored beautifully. JAMES: This is also one of the highest density areas in the city of Los Angeles and the most underserved from retail zoning. It has always been high density but it’s just better now because people have invested in the homes, rehabbed the homes. TNN: People have been murmuring….. Orchard is closing. The Federal Bank is closing. The bowling alley has closed and all coincidentally happened with your purchase of the land, giving rise to rumors and confusion. You’ve even received angry letters. Can you respond?JAMES: We inherited, say the bowling alley lease, as a part of the acquisition but we were just a landlord, and they were just a tenant, and there was an agreement. We couldn’t do anything other than to allow the tenant to do whatever they needed to do in their own self-interest.CORT: With AMF [the bowling alley and their tenants the roller rink and Maria’s], we inherited an old, expiring sub-ground lease that began in the ‘60s. We inherited a company that had fi led back in November 2012 for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Protection and Reorganization. We gave the maximum amount of extension to the trustee in the bankruptcy court to allow AMF, who owns World on Wheels, as well to resolve their problems. It was the only under-one-roof bowling alley, roller skating rink owned and operated by AMF in the entire country. We gave them the maximum amount of time allowed to stay open for business, which included Maria’s Café, who was a subtenant of theirs, in hopes of them coming out of Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, maybe under new ownership and potentially trying to strike a deal thereafter. Their choice was to shut down the store. The lease initially was accepted, then it was rejected, which was all out of our control through the bankruptcy court. It’s just a term, accepting or rejecting leases, because this was a 50-plus-year sub-ground lease so it was always expiring in November of 2013. That’s what we inherited and that’s what happened and it was …TNN: Why did they shut down before November?CORT: We don’t know. JAMES: We don’t know.CORT: We never got a straight answer. They were paying 1960-type rents. Now Broadway Federal is a unique case, where they’ve shut down three of their branches in the past year. The regulators had placed them under Cease and Desist. They received a signifi cant amount of TARP money, which as we heard, they only repaid a portion of, and their loans, commercially, were to churches, 100% of those were underwater. JAMES: Or a high percentage of them were.CORT: Yeah, a very high percentage of those were underwater so they’ve struggled to make it through this time. Subsequently, I know they’ve brought in new management. I believe the Hudson family has stepped aside. They closed down their main branch on Wilshire in order to raise some capital. And they shut down another branch and come October, as they also had a 50-plus-year sub-ground lease, they’ll be shutting down this location, as well.CORT: The last one is Orchard Supply Hardware. Within the past few weeks Orchard Supply Hardware fi led through Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection, which everybody has read about in the

Mid-City Shopping Cont. from Pg. 6

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013 w w w.thene ighborhoodne wson l ine .ne t

25AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

LA Times. They are in the process of restructuring a relationship with Lowe’s upon approval from the courts. Lowe’s is looking at leaving the OSH brand as is, and being the parent company behind it, but only continuing to own and operate, I believe, say 75% of the stores and start shutting down the other ones. Unfortunately for us, as this OSH does perform well, they are in particular identifying this store, because it’s about 300 yards away from the newest Lowe’s 160,000 sq. foot mega store. I don’t think they want to cannibalize each other there, especially with the new OSH store that’s opening at the old Chrysler Dealership on La Brea. We were just notifi ed of this very recently. TNN: So the closing of Osh, the Federal Bank and AMF coinciding with your purchase of the land, is truly a bizarre set of coincidences. CORT: It is an unusually bizarre, never to be seen again set of circumstances.TNN: It seems as if the stars are aligning. It is unusual, but it’s also exciting. Would there be any efforts to put a bridge over to the Midtown Crossing mall? Or are you going to be on your side, they will be on their side and let the best plaza win?JAMES: We want them to be as successful as anybody else, due to the fact that we have now created, as Jim Lowe says, this continuous shopping district. Between our 14 and a half acres and their 11 acres, we’re 25, 26 acres of commercial property. From Lowe’s, Smart and Final Extra, Ross, and Chipotle over there, to Yogurt Land and Subways and Wing Stops, and Ralph’s, and CVS over here, it’s nice, because there’s a nice mix between the two properties. There’s a nice balance. If you don’t fi nd it over there, you’ll fi nd it over here. I don’t know if a real bridge would ever exist over San Vicente.TNN: So you’ve talked about a vision of the Plaza being a resource for people not just to come and shop, but to hang out, to meet with each other. You’ve talked about creating fountains and areas for people to sit and play chess and dominos and such. But what about the actual businesses that are coming in? Do you have a vision for the kind of businesses that you are going to focus on developing in here? Are they going to be family-owned, franchises, chains?JAMES: It’s baby steps. Our goal here is to incrementally improve the quality of the tenant and the services that they provide to a higher and higher and higher standard. The majority of our community surveys indicated a need for more sit-down restaurants, health clubs, things like that, which aren’t in the area for whatever reason, and so we are currently negotiating with both of those. We’re dealing with top-quality national tenants because in this economy, you need credit tenants if possible because they facilitate the fi nancing of the building, of new buildings. Ma and Pa businesses are not as interested in fi nancing buildings because it has too much risk. We’re dealing with one unit that would be a sit-down family restaurant, and could be as big as 7,000 square feet. They’re very interested because everybody wants to get into this area now. But, we’re paying total attention to what the community wants and needs.CORT: I just want to add that we still have about fi ve or six Ma and Pa shops that have been here for over 20 years, who we know are fi xtures of the community, and they will remain there.TNN: Where did you do the survey? JAMES: We did it at Ralph’s.

CORT: We created the survey ourselves. We passed them out at Ralph’s; we got approval from them. We passed them out at the coffee shop. We had some people take it out to Los Angeles High School. We collected several hundred. JAMES: We just wanted to know what the community thought. We’re not survey people, but we just put together questions and ...CORT: The through line was people wondering why they needed to go to the Grove if they could go to Midtown? JAMES: That’s what we’re doing here, and each time we get to a new platform we’re going to make improvements, like we were talking this morning about something that would help attract better restaurants here. CORT: And community activities…a few things that I know Jim did a long time ago, was a summer concert series.JAMES: I held it on parking lots. CORT: With some local musicians. We’re thinking about maybe trying to see if anybody would want to do a farmers' market here one day a week. Trying to add things to the shopping center that we’ve never seen before. TNN: So the feeling I get is that you’re thinking very much about creating a community resource not just for shopping but also as a destination to come, have coffee, sit around, meet your friends. JAMES: Absolutely, absolutely.TNN: Councilman Wesson has spent a lot of energy getting development money, loans, and CRA support for developing the Crenshaw district. Are you getting any government funding?JAMES: No. We have, over time, developed personal relationships with retailers all over the country and have the reputation of being a straight shooter and we have interest from many, many national tenants. And we just feel blessed that the community and the property are in a position to attract these key interests to come in and provide goods and services that the community doesn’t have and desperately wants.

Keep our Local Businesses in Business. Use local Services!

Keep our Local Businesses in Business. Use local Services! AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

person and have connected with some wonderful people in the community who supported and valued what I was doing and their support kept my spirits up. There are several people that I reach out to consistently for feedback. I have people, like my associate editor Renee Montgomery, who reads what I write before I send it out to make sure that it has the right tone and right attitude. Laura Meyers who edits the WAHA newsletter and is an experienced journalist, has been a valuable and helpful resource. Community activists like Gavin Glynn and Jo Schaeffer, Scott McNeely, Lora Davis, John Jake and others who have kept me informed and connected to community issues. So it is strengthening if you approach the obstacles with the right attitude, stay connected to the community in many different ways and stay willing to learn. Strangely, I also never felt like “I” was creating this as much as I was facilitating energy. I felt that I was given a responsibility and opportunity, and my job was to be of service to this good idea and be willing to continue learning. As long as I keep this idea front and center, the magazine seems to fi nd what it needs. CHELSEE: What about competitors? DIANNE: Another obstacle was the entry into the community of a competitor, which made me very nervous at fi rst because I perceived them as having more money and more experience. They had a successful paper in another community. But when their paper came out, I saw the content wasn’t competitive. They had just moved into the neighborhood and were shooting in the dark regarding content. They weren’t connected to the community the way I was, having lived in CD10 and within my borders for 30 years. So that didn’t disturb me, but what did disturb me was the possibility that they would go after my advertisers, which they tried to do. This is a small business community, so there wasn’t enough advertisers for two papers. But apparently, my advertisers were pretty loyal, and the competition went out of business within the year. That too was an important lesson. It’s important to have competitors. It strengthened my resolve and willingness to double down. “I’m going to put one foot in front of the other. I’m going to stop worrying about them and keep my eyes on the prize. Failure is not an option.” I also did learn from the way they did things. So all the obstacles are really opportunities to strengthen one’s spirit and one's game. It sounds like a cliche, but it's true. There will continue to be bumps along the road, ups and downs, that's the nature of business, but you know, this thing has a spirit of its own. If I face an obstacle, things seem to just show up to help me get through it. I stay open to the solutions. I needed a website, and Scott McNeely who was then president of Pico Neighborhood Council created one for me for free, sat me down and showed me how to work it. And suddenly, I had a website, which has been recently upgraded and looks amazing. People have stepped up and been extremely generous and helpful. CHELSEE: Those are obviously obstacles that have become triumphs. Are there any other triumphs that you feel are notable and memorable that you’d like to share?DIANNE: When we had the booth at CicLAvia, so many people came up and said, “Oh my God, I love this magazine. I read it cover to cover. I really like that you are writing about this and I really like your articles about that.” Every time I hear somebody say that, I realize that this has become part of the fabric of our community, and that is a total triumph.

I've trained dogs, worked as a salesperson. I put in three years as a salesperson selling an emergency button for seniors over the phone. If I had not done that job, The Neighborhood News wouldn’t exist today. It taught me how to make a sale. I've been fortunate in that I've been given opporutnities to explore my varied talents but as it is for most artists...generating income was always a challenge One day, in my 40s, a good friend asked me, “If you could make money doing anything you wanted to do, what would it be?” Something in my brain said, Write! They said, ”Then get a job as a writer.” So I went on Craig’s List and found an opportunity to write fi lm reviews. I wrote free fi lm reviews for three years. http://www.fi lmmonthly.com/writers/dianne_lawrence.html I once wrote a short story that I submitted to the L.A. Weekly, and they published it and paid me. http://www.laweekly.com/2000-07-20/la-life/let-s-get-lost/ They told me they rarely published unsolicited work so it became clear that I had a writing talent. CHELSEE: Tell us about some of the obstacles you’ve come up against in these fi ve years with the paper and what you think others can learn from your history?DIANNE: To open a new small business you have to have fortitude, confi dence in your vision, a courage that borders on delusion and an ability to take it one day at a time. When I asked a friend, who had a succesful business, for advice, he looked me in the eye and said "Failure is not an option". That was my mantra. It helped. Obviously, there are the fi nancial obstacles. You are supposed to start with some capital and I had none. I started with $0 and a dedicated refusal to debt. Despite my talent for ad sales, there were times when there just wasn’t enough money for the magazine. That's when most small businesses go for loans or under. But because debting or failure wasn’t an option, some of my supporters encouraged me to ask for contributions...which I was reluctant to do. I didn't want the appearance of failing. They said, “Are you crazy? This is a valuable free service that you are giving to your community. You are putting this on their doorsteps every two months….You can ask for donations!” I was like, "Yes, that’s true!" so I did. It takes a village to create a community news source. People in the community contributed, and some of my wealthy friends contributed. I sold some art. I also have advertisers that have been very loyal to me and support what I'm doing. I'm also very organized with my fi nances and records, a key to growth. But fi nances were a big obstacle as they are for any new small business. With help from my second job I'm starting to see improvement with the numbers. The other obstacle was push back from people in the community who may not have liked what I was writing about. I remember a woman in a local community group who voted against taking out an ad with us because she didn’t approve of one of our advertisers. I think there was some envy involved here and there, something women who stick their neck out, deal with more than men. There are also a lot of women who do community work and "control" territories, some of whom may not have been happy with me sticking my nose in their territory. And sometimes people just didn't like me. I'm a salesperson, I'm pushy. People have always either really liked me....or not, so I'm used to it. But I'm a people

Interview: Dianne V. Lawrence Cont. from Pg. 8

26

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The fact that I have you women working with me is an absolute triumph. It’s a small miracle that each of you came and offered the help the magazine needed and said, “Let me comtribute.” And the fact that people in the community contribute stories and ideas. I get emails telling me about things that we should be aware of. I recently got an email from a young man in Harvard Heights, 17-year-old Joshua Morgan, saying that his school told him to commit 20 hours of service in the community. And he went on to list a number of reasons why he values and appreciates The Neighborhood News, including the fact that his grandma reads it cover to cover. The spirit of the magazine, which is connecting people to information in the community and connecting people to each other, is alive and well; the intent of the magazine is working. The fact that the advertising continues to increase…. In the last three issues, we’ve had the best sales ever, so that to me is a very good sign. We went to 32 pages for the fi rst time this issue. Sales always go up and down, but the ups are higher. At one point I was having real diffi culty and prayed for a sign to continue and asked that it appear within two days. That very day I received two ads that totalled the amount of money I needed. One literally came to my doorstep. So I knew I needed to continue. But this poor little magazine had to support my whole fi nancial nut, and it said to me, “You know, okay, I’m working hard here but can you give me some relief?!” So I said, “Okay, I’ll get a second job.” And miracle of miracles, my associate editor Renee called about a job she'd seen and within a week I got a job dog training at a national pet store chain! I've been a longtime activist for dogs. I got a law changed making it illegal to tie them up in the backyard and have rescued, cleaned up and re-homed over 75 dogs over the years. I"ve been training for years. So I’m doing a service that I absolutely love, working with puppies and dogs and making them and their owners get along better. And it fi ts perfectly with my publishing schedule. So after much struggle, things are going well today. Can't complain. CHELSEE: What do you love in particular about being in this community? I know you said you’ve been here 30 years, but what makes you love it?DIANNE: (laughs) The Santa Monica Freeway! When I fi rst moved into this community in 1979 and discovered I was so close to the Santa Monica Freeway, I was like, “Wow! If there is no traffi c, I’m 15, 20 minutes from the beach. I’m 15 minutes from downtown. I can take it and zip out to the desert. I love the Santa Monica Freeway!" It’s no surprise to me that I live right across the street from it and next to one of its overpasses. I love living in such a diverse cultural and economic community. We have everybody! African-American, Asian, Hispanic, white, gay, straight, rich, poor. Also, this is an historic area and I've always loved living in older buildings. The place I live in was built in 1918 and I have a fi replace that works and a fi g tree in the yard! Plus the history of this area is off the charts. West Adams Heritage Association (WAHA) does a remarkable job of preserving and celebrating this history. [See article about WAHA's History Tour on Pg. 14.] And of course I love the people that live here. I've been walking my dogs for 25 years, and it's the best way to get to know everyone. I love the sense of community and neighborliness that I see all over this area.

Continued on Pg. 28

27AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

CHELSEE: Share one or two of your favorite memories from working in the area with the magazine. I’m sure there are more than one or two.DIANNE: (Thinking for a moment) Well I was really glad when my competition went out of business (laughs). I would say that anytime I triumphed over an obstacle, and sometimes it just took patience to watch an obstacle dissolve, is a favorite memory. I’ve always been a people person. What I really love is getting in my car, driving around the community and visiting my advertisers or talking to people in the community at events or meetings. Going to Pinky Rose or Darren's or Inri's or Cordially Invited, Desley's, or Papa Christo's to hang out. Getting my hair done at Indulgent Concept and listening to some of the stylists suddenly break out into song. I love going to the Wellington Square Farmers Market every Sunday and running into local people and talking to them and gossiping about what’s going on in the community. I have really grown to have utter respect for the small business owner who can hang in there. Connecting to the community through TNN and being able to contribute this way has been enormously satisfying for me. The fact that this is happening today in my life is a big moment for celebration. CHELSEE: TNN has also organized community events.DIANNE: Right! A major one was when there was an election in CD 10 for a councilperson. Nobody knew the election was coming up, and nobody knew that there were fi ve people running against the incumbent Councilman Herb Wesson - a Hispanic, Korean and three African-Americans, so I decided to hold a candidate’s forum. All the candidates participated including Councilman Wesson, who wasn’t going to show up but then ran in at the last second. Eighty attendees showed up from the community. Damien Goodman was the moderator and we had a community panel scoring the answers. The candidate who scored the highest marks got the least amount of votes in the election. None of them had money to run a campaign. We did a local talent show for the community. That is where Joshua Morgan fi rst met us. He was performing with Grandmaster Goode’s Karate school. We did a big Pico shopping district event to try to bring more attention to Pico retailers. I have spent a lot of space trying to shine a light on the Pico Shopping district.CHELSEE: How do you foresee the magazine growing and changing in the next fi ve years?DIANNE: That’s a tricky question because most business people have plans and goals, and they are going to meet those goals and business plans, but I seem to work differently. I take it one day at a time. I just go, “Oh, I need a website, but I don’t have any money for a website, but I know I need a website.” And then suddenly somebody steps up and there’s my website. I pay attention to the next step in front of me, the next need and what action is required. Ideas come to me as I move forward. The secret is to Do It! Take the actions needed when you get the ideas. And I do it, and things come my way. It’s amazing actually. CHELSEE: Are you going to expand your borders?DIANNE: People say expand your borders [see back cover for borders]… but I don’t want to spread it too thin. I prefer to get

became the fi rst black or Jamaican-American to graduate from the dental school. In addition to these professional accomplishments, the couple founded the Los Angeles Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, built a 26-unit apartment building for African Americans, which they named La Vada, and built a state-of-the art hotel called the Hotel Sommerville. The Hotel later became the Dunbar Hotel and subsequently hosted the fi rst NAACP national convention on the West coast. It was also “the most popular Jazz and Blues scene in Los Angeles…frequented by guests such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie…Langston Hughes and W.B. Dubois,” according to WAHA’s A Stroll Through Wellington Square brochure. Actress Dorothy Dandridge and her mother Ruby both once lived in Wellington Square as did Nick Stewart who played "Lightnin" on the Amos and Andy TV series and was the founder of the Ebony Showcase. The Showcase was later replaced by the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, current home of the Ebony Repertory Theatre. Another notable current feature of Wellington Square is the Wellington Square Farmers Market. Established in 2010 and held every Sunday from 1-4 p.m., the popular Sunday Market provides a welcome addition to Wellington Square’s overall history. And the history of Wellington Square adds a welcome chapter to the history of Mid-City L.A.

Wellington Square. Cont. from Pg. 20

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 201328 w w w.thene ighborhoodne wson l ine .ne t

Eye On Wesson Cont. from Pg. 21

more magazines on more doorsteps within our borders. People have suggested we leave behind the hard copies and just focus on our website, but I disagree. There is too much competition for one's attention on the Web. But a magazine comes in the door and gets picked up and read over time. It gets shared. Somebody told me they saw someone reading it in a dentist's offi ce in Beverly Hills. Cool! I say read it in the bathroom! The articles are just the right length. Also, many people don't use the computer who want to read TNN. I like the small-town feel of it. I'd like to get more corporate advertising. I don’t know if we are large enough for them, but increasing the number of copies distributed might help. I would love to get a salesperson to help. Sometimes I fantasize about starting other Neighborhood News in other communities, which is why I called it The Neighborhood News instead of Mid-City News. I do think every community needs one, the ones that don't have a news source, but I have my hands full with this one. I do want to boost the number of people visiting our web- site. I just joined site analytics and was pleasantly surprised by how many hits our site gets every day. I want more people from around the world checking out our community, and we are fi nding out people are hitting us from around the world. We had people from France, India, South America, Europe even China hit our site. Not a lot, but some. When people think of Los Angeles they think of Hollywood but I believe they are interested to fi nd out there is so much more. What’s really interesting about our community to outsiders is its history and the critical part it's played in the growth of Los Angeles...the architecture, and the people who have lived here. I noticed that a popular feature in Facebook are Vintage - name your city- Pages. It is why I created a Facebook page called Vintage Los Angeles Mid-City instead of a Neighborhood News Facebook page. We upload our historical architecture and people articles and link to our website.CHELSEE: What do you actually do on the magazine?DIANNE: Wellllll.... I am the sales rep. and generate all the ads, many of which I end up designing. Besides writing, I assign, solicit and edit stories from my writers and the community. I do the fi nancials, which means keeping records, collecting and managing the money. I design the covers from photos I've taken. I also design the magazine and oversee the distribution...and dance backwards in high heels. CHELSEE: Some people say you are very hard on Councilman now Council President Herb Wesson.DIANNE: Yes one might characterize it that way, but I have to say, he is the gift that keeps on giving. Some people are upset that we take him to task and others are grateful. But I think he warrants a critical eye being kept on him, and if you google the news about him...my instincts are not far off the mark. CHELSEE: Any last words?DIANNE: I discovered that on the block I live on, at the turn of the 20th century, the kids in the neighborhood would go out and gather the neighborhood gossip and bring the stories back to their parents who would create a neighborhood newsletter called the Teeny Weeny News. It lasted several years. Now nearly a 100 years later the same little block has produced another

Dianne V. Lawrence Cont. from Pg. 27

to waste as little time as possible listening to complaints from residents, gave them a total of 10 minutes to weigh in."We are a city that is fi nancially strapped," resident Colleen Marmor said. "And yet it was at the end of the agenda and heard in a bum's rush fashion at the 11th hour."Woodland Hills resident Siegfried Othmer asked to speak against the Westfi eld deal for three minutes but was rebuffed by Wesson who told her, “I will give you one minute starting now. Do not debate me. You’re wasting your time.”Public comment is such a waste of everyone's time. Council President...why not get rid of it altogether?

Councilman Wesson easily won re-election as City Council President with a 13 - 0 vote. Councilman Bernard Parks did not show. Given what happened to him and Councilwoman Jan Perry when they opposed his Presidency the fi rst time, can we blame anyone who may have wanted to vote against him for thinking

community publication called The Neighborhood News. I fi nd that interesting.CHELSEE: Well, on behalf of all the readers and the rest of the writers, we congratulate you on reaching fi ve years and can’t wait to celebrate birthday number 10. Thanks so much, Dianne.DIANNE: (Shading her eyes and gazing into the distance) I can see it! (laughing). Community Spirit Willing! Thanks Chelsee and THANK YOU community!!!

Keep our Local Businesses in Business. Use local Services! 29AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

Darren's Alive and Well and Sistering with Pinky!

In the June issue we reported that Darren's, one of our favorite Pico Blvd. Shopping District go-to places for unique gifts and

vintage jewelery, was going to close down. We are now happy to report that they have teamed up with Pinky Rose and are alive and well on the other (East) side of Hauser. Let the shopping begin!

Ellen Love, Pinky and Debby Matsushita

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twice and pushing the yes button? After the vote he had some joke gifts to hand out to the Councilpeople who had voted for him...socks in bright colors and stripes. Before handing them out, he jokingly proclaimed, “I like to do devilish things sometimes because I’m a devil.” Really?

Phase 1 (opened)Starbucks http://www.starbucks.com/careersAT&T http://att.jobs/Wells Fargo (3 outdoor ATMs) https://www.wellsfargo.com/careers/Footlocker http://www.footlocker-inc.com/careers.cfm?page=career-centerCIM Offi ce

Phase IILowe's (opened) First Floor Anchor Store https://careers.lowes.com/Lowe's bought 45 OSH stores but not Midtown's location so OSH/Midtown is being liquidated by Great American with higher prices than OSH. The OSH staff is being laid off and no inventory or employees will move to the newly constructed OSH Hancock Park on La Brea now owned by Lowe's.Ross For Less (Opened) http://www.rossstores.com/careers/Smart & Final http://www.smartandfi nal.com/AboutUs/EmploymentOpportunities.aspxCarter's - babies and kids wear (opened) http://www.carters.com/new-stores/retail-new-store-employment,default,pg.html?id=cartersChipotle (ETA September 1st per Tolentino Guzman, General Mgr. of Chipotle/Fairfax Farmers Market (323) 857-0608) http://jobs.chipotle.com/los-angeles-jobsULTA Beauty Supplies (just signed) http://careers.ulta.com/searchJobs.aspBright Now (Low Cost Dental Services-MediCal not accepted yet) http://www.brightnow.com/careers

Community Artist's rendering still not selected for the North Face tower as promised. Write to MINC for inquiries for submission for your public art. http://mincla.org/ MINC meets the 2nd Monday of each month at the Wilshire Police Station on Venice near La Brea.

Midtown Crossing Store Openings Update and Job Opportunities

Compiled by Gavin Glynn

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