{news} Fw: [GPUS-PAX] REMARKS BY MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA REGARDING THE SOUTH CENTRAL FARM

[Justine McCabe]

 REMARKS BY MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA REGARDING THE SOUTH CENTRAL FARM
Office of the Mayor City of Los Angeles

ANTONIO R. VILLARAIGOSA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Joe Ramallo June 13, 2006
213-978-0741

REMARKS BY MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA REGARDING THE SOUTH CENTRAL URBAN FARM

As you know, this morning Sheriff's deputies began evicting farmers and
activists at the South Central Farm.

Today's evictions are unfortunate and come at the end of a tumultuous turn
of events that at times was not always discussed in public due to the nature
of real estate negotiations and the discussions that various parties were
having with the property owner.

In light of today's events and the fact that it appears that the owner will
not accept a proposal that meets his asking price of $16 million - I felt
it was important to brief you today.

Today's events are unfortunate, disheartening and unnecessary. After years
of disagreement over this property we had all hoped for a better outcome.

I'd like to be clear about what has transpired.

The property owner asked for $16 million * and last week, after 10 months of
negotiations and efforts by my staff and others from the Trust for Public
Land and the Annenberg Foundation * a proposal for a full-price, $16 million
purchase was made by the Annenberg Foundation to the property owner.

The foundation expressed a clear, sincere interest and commitment by its
trustees to acquire the property for $16 million dollars.

This morning, in a conversation with the property owner I reiterated my
confidence in and support for the Annenberg purchase. Even after meeting
his asking price, Mr. Horowitz told me that he would not sell the property
to the Trust for Public Lands and the Annenberg Foundation.

Everyone involved who cares about this garden and who cares about the
farmers who have built an oasis in a sea of industry and concrete has done
everything possible to meet the property owner's demands. First it was
about price, well*. we met his price. He set the bar very high and we met
it.

Now the bar has been moved.

I understand a businessman's need to invest and make a profit. I also have
a high respect for and will defend property rights. That is the spirit
under which we all operated when trying to negotiate and resolve this issue.


But I also believe that we are called upon by a sense of community and civic
duty to do the just and right thing. I had hoped that the landowner would
have heeded that call.

For those who say that there is no plot of land for urban farming in South
LA, you should know that the City will continue plans to relocate farmers to
an alternate 7.8 acre site, which has the capacity to house 200 garden
plots. Already, 30 farmers have been allowed to begin cultivating the land
located at 111th St & Avalon.

We want to make sure the farmers are properly relocated. In addition, there
are about 100 more plots located around the City that we have identified for
community gardens.

# # #

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