[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Sat, 15 Jul 2006 14:03:08 -0700
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [SCFs] WHO OWNS THE FARM? by Lila Garrett
WHO OWNS THE FARM? by Lila Garrett
In Los Angeles, the 16 million dollar question is who owns the 14 acres in
South Central Los Angeles, affectionately referred to as The Farm. Is it
the City? Is it developer Ralph Horowitz? He certainly thinks so and
before the courts had a chance to disagree he had a bulldozer come in last
week and level a big patch of edible green into a mud hole. It was heart
stopping. Aside from the legal issues, there are gnawing questions like, do you
rip 350 people from their land which feeds their families, beautifies the area
and provides blocks of clean air in the middle of industrial
pollution? Someone paid for the land, true. But other people gave it
life. So the question is, to whom does that land really belong?
We found that question so compelling, six of us formed a committee and went
to see Mr. Horowitz to ask him to reconsider. Our purpose had to do
specifically with the spate of anti Semitism he said he had suffered from the
Farmers. The farmers denied that any anti-Semetic remarks were made by any of
their people. In fact they felt so bad about it they sent him a basket of
fruits, vegetables and flowers as an apology for a crime they did not commit.
Our committees first concern however was that this accusation of
anti-Semitism, which was rumored by Horowitz himself, could have a ripple
affect which would be bad not only for the Jews, but for the city. Any group
can grab onto a hate movement, and use it as an organizing tool for its own
agenda. It may have nothing to do with the original issue which is
invariably forgotten. Nothing works to as an organizing tool like
prejudice. Milosovich used to with the Serbs against the Croats. Hitler used
it against the Jews. The Hutus used it against the Tutsies. You know how that
goes.
We sat down in Mr Horowitz comfortable office and introduced ourselves. Our
all Jewish committee of six was clearly progressive, so Horowitz, also quickly
identified himself as a conservative. He spoke bitterly about the farmers,
although when pressed he could not come up with who called him an anti-Semitic
name. When we asked if he had accepted the farmers apology he nodded, I
thought reluctantly, but then added he wouldnt sell them the land if they gave
him a hundred million dollars. His bitterness was palpable. And we couldnt
really figure out the root cause of it until he suddenly burst out: "These
immigrants, they come over here, they think they own the place"
And behold,
immigrant bashing filled the room and we spent an uneasy hour being regaled
with it.
In the end of our attempt to stem the tide of violence and anger in our
community, we realized that our meeting with Mr. Horowitz had fallen on deaf
ears. He proudly announced that he was a hero to his conservative friends. When
we asked if he was concerned about the ripple effect of his accusations
of anti-Semitism, he said "No". As long as he was true to himself, thats
what mattered. Then he referred us to Councilwoman Jan Perry, and we suddenly
got the impression that shes the one whos really running this show. Horowitz
is the man in the middle. Show me the money is all he really needed to say
and we all could have saved a lot of time.
Our little committee did contact Councilwoman Jan Perry, who agreed to have
a meeting with us. Her agenda promises to be a lot more interesting. In
the meantime, it felt good, as a person with no particular portfolio to help
avoid violence in our city. It felt good not to leave it to the other guy. It
felt good to decide to be on the side of the farmers, not just for their
talent, courage and perseverance, but for their lack of violence. Yesterday was
their first day in court. If they prevail the land will revert to the city and
theyll have a chance to restore their gardens. Maybe. Wherever it goes Ive
decided to go with it. I like people who hang tough for a good
cause. I like to be one of those people. They may have leveled the land,
but the farmers are still standing. Tall.
Its not over till its over. Im Lila Garrett
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