E.

Simons, Chairman
No. 85 - January 16, 1981
'Ding Hao' Chinese Banquet Saturday, February 28
SATURDAY, "Feb. 28, i's the t'ime for a celebration and You are all invited -- mem-
bers, friends and others who would like to join with us -- to our annual Chinese ban-
quet, marking the 16th anniversary of the founding of the Citizens Cotmnittee to Save
Elysian Park.
WE PROMISE a "Ding Hao" (extra good) dinner, with !'!arion Siu again in charge,
and larry Etmne once more as Master of Ceremonies. The gourmet menu will include:
Sharks' fin and birds' nest soup, Peking duck, lobster Cantonese, Mo-Shu pork; also
crispy-skin chicken, sizzling Mongolian beef, broccoli with crabmeat sauce and sweet-
sour pork.
THE PlACE will be the same as before -- Hong Kong Low Restaurant, 625 Ginling
Way, in Chinatown, off N. Broadway. Social hour, 6 p.m.; din,ner at 7. In previous
Years, some guests seated in the ante-room, next to the bar:, have felt "shut out .. "
Therefore, this year we are limiting attendance to the 200 that can be accommodated
in the main dining room. So send in reservations as soon as possible, but not later
than Feb. 21. Reservations are $15 per person. Checks should be made out to the Citi-
zens Comnittee to Save Elysian Park, and sent to Marion Siu, 1471 Avon Park Terrace,
L.A. 90026.
IF YO!J HAVE ANY PREFERENCE, please include with your check the names of those
with whotn you would like to be seated. (Tables seat 10.) Please also state if you
prefer .the "smoking" or "non-smoking" section. For more information, call: 661-3373;
628-9710 or 664-3738.
The 25 Acres Are Ours
DURING THE CHRISTMAS holidays, the strategic 25 acres above the Stadium Way-
Acadetny Road intersection were finally acquired by the City for inclusion in Elysian
Park. The transaction has now cleared escrow and the land is legally ours. To help
insure its permanence as park land, we are looking forward to its early dedication.
We held an exploratory meeting at the site, and the virtually unanimous sentiment was
for keeping it in its natural state, with irrigation provided, but with no buildings
other than unobtrusive restrooms. The promentory abounds in exceptional, long distance
vistas. Strongly favored were hiking trails, including some for the handicapped, picnic
areas and trees east and south, along Academy Road. No def.inite decisions have been
tnade, and suggestions are still welcome.
State Bonds Voted; But We Get Nothing
WE ARE INDEED PLEASED that the State Park Bond issue, which we strongly supported,
was approved by the yoters last November. We are disappointed, however, that none of
its $285,000,000 has been eartnarked for Elysian Park. We had been led to believe that,
if the referendum passed, we would get a share of it, most likely for rebuilding the
old Recreation Lodge, which burned to the ground late in.l979. As has happened all too
often ).n the past, however, we were left out when the money was being apportioned.
This is discouraging; also unwise. We hope it will be reconsidered. The Lodge, in an
ideal setting, was, we understand,the most popular recreation facility in the City and
one of its best money-makers. And as such things go, rebuilding it would not be an ex-
pensive project, can help by letting City officials know they want the
Lodge rebuilt, now.
DWP Again Schemes to Take Swim Lake Site
FORCED TO WITHDRAW its slurry operation from the Swim lake site in Elysian Park
several years ago, the Department of Water and Power has hatched a new scheme to take
over a portion of the same land. We regard this second t.:l:Lempt as a cynical hoax, aimed
at trying to coerce the Recreation and Parks Department to agree to the give-away for a
new pumping station. The DWP claims that the present station, at the foot of a steep
hill adjacent to the Swim lake site, is earthquake-prone and must be replaced. It fur-
ther seems to have implied that should the building collapse from a serious shake, the
Parks Department and. some of its employees would somehow be legally liable for any re-
sulting damage to life or property. We do not comprehend such "logic." What was not diS
closed, at least in the informal::io.n transmitted to us, is the fact that under State law
the DWP is obligated to tnake the present building earthquake-proof, or put up a new
structure, by 1982. We think this. places the responsibility in the lap of the DWP.
CITIZENS COMMITTEE TO SAVE ELYSIAN .PARK
1672 Morton Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. 90026/ MA 5-8427
What the DWP also
ity, is a feasible
failed to mention is that its parking lot; next to the existing facil-
location for a pumping station, accor-ding to one of its own spokesmen.
TO PROVIDE AN to the Parks Dept., the DWP has offered to pay $50,000
to fill in a ditch over one of .its pipeline easements. Normal procedure provides that
the holder of an easement must return the surface of. the land to its former condition.
So far DWP has produced no documentary evidence showing that this ditch-filling job
is an exception to the accepted practice.
TO AVOID OBTAINING a required Environmental Impact Report (EIR), Paul H. lane,
the DWP's Chief Er,gineer of Water Works, claims that placing the pumping station on the
Swim lake site involve "no change of land use" and that it "can be seen with reason -
able certainty" that it would have "no significant effect on the environment." The land
is now zoned for parks, R-1; industrial use is prohibited, Further, either we or Mr. lane
l\S!iHl new glasses. As we see it, the DWP proposal \.10uld have a very significant effect
on the environment, and a very damaging one. We regard an EIR as essential. We hope the
Recreation and Parks Department will not permit itself to be hoodwinked into accepting
the DWP'sscheme. If it does, we hope the Recreation and Parks Co1mnission will promptly
overrule. the dE>"ci"ston.
Hikes Scheduled for Elysian Park
ON THE' THIRD SATURDAY ofMch month; hikes of about six-mites will be conducted
in Elysian Park, starting at 9 a.m., at'Douglas Street and Elysian Park Drive. (Get off
the Sunset Blvd. bus. lfo91 or lfo94 at the 1400 block, and walk north up the hill.) The lea<d
er is Phil Bruce, a:s<:isteci by his wife, Ione. The host will be Park Ranger Manuel Lopez,
naturalist and hiscorian. For additional information, phone 463-0762.
DUES, ($1) ..................... $------
STATIONERY, Donation $3.50,+ 75c Mailing . $-------------
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'Ding Hao' Banquet
Saturday, Feb. 28
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