CITIZL\S TO SAVE ELYSIA\ PARK

1672 Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. 90026/ 5-8427

Grace E. Simons, Chairman
PLANNING COMMISSION VETOES
COUNCIL ACTION ON STADIUM \lAY
February 3, 1979 No. 79
A QUESTION MARK now hangs over the fate of Stadium Way and hence Elysian Park.
On Jan. 23, the City Council, by an 112 vote, blocked construction of an overpass above
the Pasadena Free1ray at Stadium Way, as one of various amendments to the Figueroa Ter-
race Master Plan. !Yo days later, vithout notification to supporters of the Council
action, the Commission vetoed, 3-0, three of the Council amendments. A fourth,
calling for reduced tras apparently adopted 11ithout discussion. We have re-
quested a rehearing before the Commission.
FINAL DISPOSITION of the Figueroa Terrace plan Is scheduled for the City Council
Feb, B. It is not knoun as. yet uhat action Mayor Bradley will take. If he decides
the Commission, 10 votes will be needed in the City Council to override the
Commission veto, If he upholds the Commission, 12 votes uill be required.
THE STADIUM WAY OVERPASS is the key to the future of both Elysian Park and China-
toun. In addition to the overpass amendment, the Council deleted the plan's proposal to
!den the southern half of Stadium Way to six lanes, making it a secondary high1ray. Per-
mitting construction of the overpass and the road-widening would open the flood-gates of
heavily increased do.ntornto-valley traffic directly into Elysian Park, dividing it in
to ttro separate, unrelated segments, destroying Its unity; adding to noise and smog
1rhich has already seriously damaged rare trees; reducing the usable recreation area and
appeal of the park; and endangering children at play, None of this ras mentioned either
In the plan or its accompanying Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
AS FAR AS CHINATOWN is concerned, the overpass and road1fidening uould undoubtedly
provide a indfall of profits for major landowners and financial interests. For the
people "ho live there, hovever, and the small shop--keepers, it uould mean disruption of
the community by a major traffic artery, and would probably result in still another
tragic example of people removal in the guise of urban renewal, similar to what happen-
ed on Bunker Hill. Here, too, as In Elysian Par!<, the needs of the people are given
scant consideration.
INCORPORATED into the Council's main amendment ltas a motion to reroute Stadium
llay so as to bypass the Avenue of Palms and Bar lou tlospl tal. ThiS had previously been
approved by the Plann_lng Commission and Planning Director Calvin Hamilton. As sho<m- on
the Master Plan, however, only a portion of the motion is included.
PARK'S REBIRTH TO BE CELEBRATED
AT ANNUAL CHINESE BANQUET, Feb, 24
THIS YEAR s ANNUAL Chinese banquet, despite the uncertainty over Stadium \lay,
uill be a time for celebration. Last year's promise is nou becoming this year'sreal-
ity. A dramatic rebirth is in progress.
THE BANQUET will be held Saturday, Feb. 24, at the Hong Kong Low Restaurant,
425 Ginling Way, off N. Broadway in Chinatown. Social hour is at 6 p.m., dinner
at 7. Larry Em111e ui 11 be master of ceremonies,
NON-SMOKERS vill be seated in the front of the diningroom, with smokers in
the rear. Please indicate uhen sending in reservations vhere you want to sit.
Tables seat 10.
THE NINE-COURSE gourmet dinner will feature: Birds in an.,st, uinter melon
soup in the shell, Peking duck, fried creamed shrimps, pod: Mun-YeeMien, chicken
vings, Mongolian beef, crispy chicken and fried rice.
MARION SIU, 11ho is in charge, asks that checks ($12.50 per person) be made
out to the Citizens C011!1nittee to Save Elysian Park and sent to her at 1471 Avon
Park Terrace, L.A. 90026, no later than Feb, 20. No tickets ill be needed as
guests ''ill be ushered to assigned tables. For information, call 661-3373, 225-4025
or 625-8427.
FERRARO, LINDSAY IN HOSPITAL
COUNCIL PRESIDENT John Ferraro suffered a mild heart attack Jan, 24, according
to his office, but Is rapidly improving. A day earlier, Councilman Gilbert Lindsay vas
stricken uith uhat his aides describe as a gastro-intestinal disorder. He as given
emergency treatment and hospitalized. Both councilmen are expected to return to their
homes in a few days.
(..JTJlt.N r.o $XVt: ELYSJAN fA.lU\.
1672 Morton v Los Angeles, 5&427
.. . ., ' . . ' ..
NO, BRAD, YOU CAN'T ROTATE A ROSE GARPEN
A TYPE OF MADNESS is afflicting our local officials -- sports-mania, you might
call it. Inalviauals vho are nonnally judicious and reasonable in their decisions seem
to go out of their minds vhen a promoter so much'as hints that he vould like a piece of
parkland for typg of commercial sport. The proposal to turn over 700 acres of
Sepulveda l!asln to horse-racing is a case in point. Nou ue have the flap over digging
up the rose sarden in Exposition Park for the Baltimore Colts,
THE COLTS APPARENTLY don't even vant to come to Los Angeles, They're trying
to pressure the City of Baltimore into providing them ''lth a football practice field
and offices, But our leaders are off and running -- ve'll modernize the Coliseum to
the tune of $25 MILLION, throu out the rose garden and give you anything you want.
MOST DISTRESSING uas the 3-2 vote of the Recreation and Parks Commission, guard
ians of our parka, uith Brad Pye Jr. echoing Supervisor Kenneth Hahn that sure, ve can
move the rose !larden to an abandoned gas station, adding, "You rotate crops, anyvay,"
Preposterous.. Of course, you can't rotate a rose garden that has taken decades to bring
to its present justly famed perfection, Dig it up and you've destroyed it. Joining Pye
in the yes vote uere Commission President Robert Selleck and Jack Tenner. In opposition!
Evelyn Benson and Royce Nevschats.
DONATION FOR COURT CASE -. $ ---
ELYSIAN PARK STATIONERY, Donation $3.50 + 756 Postage,,,, $----
MEMBERSHIP. DUES ($1) $ ---
Name
Address
Zip
CITIZENS' COMMITTEE TO SAVE ELYSIAN PARK
... ..:,
. .... ;-.- '

ELYSIAN PARK
Mort<m
Calif. 90026
DATED
lllh ANNIVERSARY
Phone
I
lili:
tllil

CHINESE BANQUET
Sutun1ay, February 24th, 1979
<1/ the Hong Kong Low Restaurant
in Chinatown.
$12.50 donation per person.
Bulk Rate
U.S. Postage
PAID
Los Angeles, Calif.
Permit No. 30167