LA Weekly

Early Doom

In my seven years serving on the Los Angeles City Council, I have seen a transformation on Hollywood Boulevard, Sunset Boulevard and other major corridors in Hollywood. I am proud of the work I have done in partnership with the Hollywood community to bring new shops, restaurants and housing to the area’s major boulevards. Crime is down. Blighted properties have been given new life. The area has become more family- and tourist-friendly. And we’ve done this while maintaining the dynamic and diverse residential neighborhoods in the area. I think most people agree that this renaissance has been great for the community and for our city.

I am equally proud of my work to protect and enhance the character of residential areas in my district. In the area near Bellevue Park in Silver Lake, I am working to change zoning laws to scale back the density allowed for new construction. In Echo Park, I am pushing for expansion of the Historic Preservation Overlay Zone to protect existing homes there. I have worked to create new parks across my district, finding land in some of our densest neighborhoods to nearly triple the number of parks from 13 to 33 in seven years. These are just a few examples.

Your story [“Doomscraper?” by Patrick Range McDonald; May 2-8] focused on one project that is so early in the planning process that the environmental study required by state law prior to review by the City Council is not even complete. This document will be included in the actual proposal the developer will put before the Council and the community for review. It will provide the specifics of the project in terms of size, scope and community impact.

With every project, I conduct a rigorous review of every possible impact on the community — both positive and negative. I scrutinize how the project will impact traffic, and the environment. I look at what benefits the project might bring, such as jobs for local men and women, affordable housing, or replacement of a currently blighted or crime-ridden property. Most importantly, I work with community members to ensure that the project incorporates their vision for their neighborhood’s lasting future. I urge every property owner to meet with and listen to community members early in their planning process because community support for a project is a crucial factor in my decisions.

You can be sure that I will review this project’s report closely and speak with community members about their concerns and suggestions, just as I have done with every major project in my district.

As someone who grew up in Los Angeles, I am a strong believer in creating great neighborhoods across our city. I believe my record representing neighborhoods stretching from Hollywood to Echo Park to Silver Lake to Atwater Village demonstrates this commitment.

Eric Garcetti
President, Los Angeles City Council

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