OAKWOOD
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stay in touch with the Spirit of Venice
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
November 27, 2015
Venice Town Hall meeting sponsored by V2K H.E.L.P.E.R. Foundation and the Urban Peace Institute to discuss the Venice Gang Injunction in use by LAPD in the “Oakwood” area of Venice, CA.
——
——————–
October 16, 2012
OAKWOOD RECREATION CENTER
September 5, 2012
“Venice Landed Gentry” To Hold 2nd Meeting on September 12, 2012 – The Importance of Full Inclusion of all Oakwood-Venice Residents
To: Cassidy Lange, Neighborhood Watch Coordinator for “Venice Landed Gentry”
Jon Kirk Mukri, General Manager LA Parks and Recreation & Parks
Alexander Bustamonte, LAPD Inspector General
cc: Alfred Rodas, LAUSD Inspector General
U.S. Department of Justice
Mayor Villaraigosa and LA City Council
FBI
Janice Hahn, Venice Representative in US Congress
Parks and Crump, Attorney for Ronald Weekly
Grayce Liu, Interim General Manager DONE
LA Human Relations
NAACP
From: Rick Selan, Educational Advocate
Dear Cassidy Lange, Jon Mukri, and Alex Bustamonte,
On August 16, 2012, the “Venice Landed Gentry” led by their Neighborhood Watch Coordinator Cassidy Lange, with the permission of Oakwood Park Director Lizka Mendoza , held a Public Neighborhood Watch meeting for those in Venice who are not people of color, low income, nor Seniors.
Oakwood Park Director placed the onus of responsibility for this meeting on LA Human Relations Facilitator Sheldon Cruz during a phone conference. The night after the meeting, Police brutality began in Oakwood- Venice against people of color in the community.
The following night, this police brutality continued against Xavier College student Ronald Weekley, an African American on a skateboard. This police beating against Ronald was taped and has become national news. Ronald’s parents hired the Law Firm of Parkscrump who are the attorneys in the Trayvon Martin Case in Florida.
Yesterday, after talking to community, it was shared that it was Park Director Lizka Mendoza who contacted LA Human Relations Sheldon Cruz to participate in this meeting that Mr. Cruz knew nothing about.
Mr. Cruz attended the so-called “Neighborhood Watch” group and made it clear during the meeting of the Cassidy Lange group that he felt “duped” and would never return to the Mendoza-Cassidy “Venice Landed Gentry”, until all community including people of color, low income, and Seniors were included.
These facts above shared by community will be verified on August 27 through contact with LA Human Relations.
The police who brutalized Ronald were not from Venice nor from Pacific Division, but another part of the City. Who brought in this group of Police from outside Venice who were involved in Ronald’s beating and harassment against people of color in Venice and why ?
Was this special unit of LAPD and/or Pacific Division LAPD at the Lange-Mendoza coordinated
The low income , the people of color,and Seniors will be in attendance at the next “Cassidy-Mendoza” Neighborhood Watch Meeting. After speaking with members of the community, it is imperative that LA Human Relations facilitate this September 12, 2012 meeting.
Please Ms. Lange share the written agenda and minutes of your August 16 meeting at Oakwood Park. Please post these documents on the internet or fax them to 310-396-0754
Finally, it is time that Oakwood Park interview all those who have applied for membership to the Oakwood Park Advisory Council. Valley Parks Interim Superintendent Charles Singer and Lizka Mendoza have extended the application due date for a Board Interview four times in almost a year.
Originally, Dec 31, 2011 was the due date for applications.
In a phone conference, Ms. Mendoza informed this advocate that she and Superintendent Singer are planning to change the due date for applications until later in the year or next year. Ms. Mendoza states she has not received enough applications.
Might it be that Charles Singer and Lizka Mendoza have applications from people of color, the low income, and seniors in Venice, but not enough applications from the Cassidy Lange “Venice Landed Gentry”
Venice needs accountability, consistency,transparency and inclusion of all Venice residents.
Again, a federal investigation needs to occur or this “bad behavior” will continue. Thank you, LAPD Inspector General Alex Bustamonte for your division’s on-going investigation.
Peace. Rick Selan
—————–
Young African American Venice Children Accused of Trashing Oakwood Park. Assessed $100.
September 4, 2012
To: Jon Kirk Mukri, General Manager Parks and Rec
February 25, 2012
New CPRA’s Requested From RAP Regarding Quimby Funds and Irrigation Systems at Oakwood Park
To: Mary Alvarez, Recreation and Parks Responsible For CPRA Requests 2-24-12
cc: Kevin Regan, Assistant General Manager Parks and Recs
From: Rick Selan, Educational Advocate
Re: CPRA Request Regarding Oakwood Park.
Dear Ms. Alvarez,
Under CPRA ( Public Regards Request), please send as soon as possible:
1. Please send me all records of Quimby Funds related to Oakwood Park and a line by line item analysis of what funds have been spent; and a current budget statement regarding Quimby Funds remaining and how much interest has been earned, and into what account does the interest earned carries over to.
No Oakwood Park Board Meeting Ever Discussed the closure of Oakwood Park for an irrigation system that has locked down Oakwood Park until December, 2012 the community.
4. Please send a line item analysis showing the cost of this irrigation project and from what Park or City accounts these funds are coming.
Peace.
Rick Selan
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
LETTER TO THE COMMUNITY CONCERNING IRRIGATION PLAN TO LOCK DOWN OAKWOOD UNTIL DECEMBER 2012
Attention:
There must be some information that I missed at a Oakwood PAB meeting(attended all of them)? There was never a discussion about a year long irrigation system for Oakwood Park or the park being closed for this long ever. The line of communication must have been broken somewhere, at no meeting do I ever recall any discussion about the field having and irrigation system put in. If the community had been informed that this would be taking place and it takes a year to assemble this project then we would have stood up and protested as loud as we did when the gates were moved for no apparent reason.
This is the only open green space for our community, and to have been informed by the park director that this irrigation system was needed and it would be going on for a year, oh believe me it would have been some opposition by the PAB members and the Venice community. The only discussion about the field was to have the baseball diamonds refurbished because they were in poor shape.
It appears strange that when LAPD heard of the fences being raised back to seven feet( at the last PAB meeting in October 2011) that many bizarre events started to occur at Oakwood Park Recreation Center beginning in December 2011. Number one- Once the fences on Broadway were raised(LAPD requested that the fences be lowered to three feet, and the park benches removed about ten years ago because LAPD said it would give them easy access to people in the park who were doing illegal activity. The benches were returned after the Venice community had a meeting with Council district 11). Number two- the fence exits on Broadway and 7th Avenue and Oakwood Street and Broadway that have been there for over fifty years were closed. When the community let the Los Angeles City of Parks and Recreation know this was not working for the community, and especially the Seniors and handicapped. Number three- Then the trees were stripped not trimmed stripped of all their foliage, poor tree trimming job. Number four- Then this craziness with a year long project of and irrigation system comes out of the blue, and now the park is sealed off and completely closed for one year? Wow it all reaks of LAPD and Oakwood park director Ms. Lizka Mendoza working together closely to get the people of color out of the park. It appears when the other terrible ideas were put together and they didn’t pan out to what it was created for (to keep people of color out of the park). Park Director Ms. Lizka Mendoza decided to create this irrigation system project that would take a year to complete?
This community is outraged by the games that are being played with the only park in the immediate area for our children to play in. Enough with the games about such a project get it done and reopen the park in March!
Laddie Williams
————————–
January 27, 2012
Oakwood Park remains closed for refurbishing
Dear Barry Sanders, President of the LA Parks and Recs Board of Commissioners and Chairperson LA Parks Foundation, Bill Rosendahl/ Mike Bonin/ Arturo Pina, Mark Grant, CD11, Charles Singer,San Fernando Valley Interim Superintendent Over Oakwood Park, Mary Alvarez, CPRA Legal Parks and Recs Coastal Commission, c/o Chuck Posner Jake Kaufman, VNC LUPC Committee Chairperson, Kristopher Valentine, Incoming VNC Secretary
Oakwood Park remains closed for refurbishing. The only open gate is in the play ground area that is never locked.
Is this open area supervised during refurbishing ? What happens if a child is hurt inside the playground area without supervision when the Park is closed ? Who is responsible?
The front door of Oakwood remains boarded up after numerous gun shots had blown out the windows.
Might the $600,000 plus in Quimby funds given to Oakwood Park years ago, earning interest each year, from CD11 Bill Rosendahl be paying for this project? Who receives the “interest dollars” ?
Are the Coastal Commission and the VNC Executive Committee aware of this project that began when the Director of Oakwood Park Lizka Mendoza kept postponing selection of a new Park Board.
With no Park Board, the Director makes all refurbishing decisions with out community input.
A CPRA was sent to VNC LUPC Chair Jake Kaufman to discover whether VNC has knowledge and/or are involved in this project that was never shared with community.Mr. Kaufman replied that LUPC has no documents concerning Oakwood Park.
Based on advice from Mr. Kaufman, the CPRA was sent to the VNC Administrative Committee and incoming Secretary Kristopher Valentine. When Mr. Valentine notified this advocate that Joe Murphy is still secretary for a few more weeks, I sent Mr. Valentine a letter postponing the CPRA until he is installed as new Secretary in February. This was done based on Mr. Murphy’s cynical replies in the past denying CPRA requests against those who are accountable, transparent, and consistent.
Might this CPRA expose the Barry Sander’s LA Park Foundation, a 501c3, taking over the park after a past board voted to deny joining Mr. Sander’s organization, which donates 50% of the funds collected to fund political campaigns?
How can one person serve as President of the LA Parks and Recs Board of Commissioners while running an organization to take over the LA Parks under a 501c3?
Finally, is the water fountain behind the backstop being replaced? Community asked this advocate to write of this concern where dogs drink directly from the faucet.
The Venice Community needs Oakwood Park to return to the supervision by West Side Parks and Recs who play fair ball. This mess began when Oakwood Park was taken over by San Fernando Valley Parks and Recs under Interim Leader Charles Singer who has little concern of the Venice-Oakwood Community.
Peace.
Rick Selan
December 28, 2011
From: Rick Selan and Laddie Williams
NEED FOR AUDIT AND INVESTIGATION OF FUNDS and MANAGEMENT AT Oakwood Park 12-25-11
Dear RAP Commission CPRA Unit and RAP General Manager Jon Kirk Mukri,
Based on the attached e-mails between Oakwood Park Director Lizk Mendoza and Community, one perceives that ” things are not fine ” at Oakwoo Park.
” I have been assured by my management that the benches will not be removed. “
November 2, 2011
Parks and Recs Valley Directors Charles Singer/ Mark Israel Bring In Four LAPD Police, CD11, and Park Police To Protect Them From A “Vocal” but “Peaceful” Venice Community.
From: Rick Selan, Educational Advocate
A special thanks to Interim Valley Superintendent Charles Singer, Valley Deputy Mark Israel, Outgoing Appointed Oakwood and President Cameron Rodriguez for their refusal to set up intervention regarding their allegations that community is out of control and were in need of Police Action at Oakwood Park for tonight’s Oakwood Park Advisory Board. Based on the denied intervention by new Valley Leaders, Community Comes Out In Numbers.
Not one, not two, not three, but 4 LAPD Pacific Division Officers, Park Police Manny Aldana, and CD11, and Valley Authorities lined up standing like a barricade at the back of the meeting. As explained in the e-mails below, Park Director Lizka Mendoza and her appointed President Cameron Rodriguez contacted the Valley Authorities stating meetings in the past were out of control and Needed Police supervision.
Tonight the Oakwood Community came out in droves to challenge the Board who threatened to remove picnic tables and benches that serve as a historic landmark at Oakwood Park for at least 50 years. Community Member David Busch was placed outside the meeting by police alleging that Park Director Lizka Mendoza made it clear to him that one of the picnic tables and benches would be placed in another area of the Park or removed altogether. Mr. Busch made his voice heard regarding Ms. Mendoza’s decision.
Ms. Mendoza tonight changed her message to Mr. Busch stating she never made that remark. Mr. Busch explained emotionally that Ms. Mendoza “was lying”. The community made it clear tonight that they want none of the picnic benches and tables touched as this is an area where free speech is permitted for all community.
Of the sixty or seventy in attendance no one from community wanted those picnic tables and benches moved in favor or “less than attractive” fitness machines. Community made it clear they want the fitness machines to be integrated in the Park’s infrastructure but not near the area of the picnic table and benches.
The gentrification agenda of Mr. Rodriquez, Ms. Mendoza and her “Valley Boys”, back fired on them as their threat for police action brought out the community who were standing up for their rights. The threats by Mr. Singer, Mr. Israel, Mr. Rodriguez and Ms. Mendoza for police action did not scare the community, as they came out to challenge the gentrification philosophy of those mentioned above.
Money! Money! Money!. It was made very clear by Director Mendoza and her appointed President Rodriguez that there was $614,816.93 in the Park Quimby Funds as of October 26, 2010. Mr. Rodriguez appeared “less than accountable” along with Director Mendoza when neither knew how much remains of the $614,816.93 and provided no budget for Oakwood Park. Was this money spent fairly? The Board and their new Valley Leaders Singer and Israel were clueless about funds causing more concern by the community.
Why didn’t Ms. Mendoza nor Mr. Rodriguez introduce the new Valley Leadership , Mr. Singer and Mr. Israel. It appears the Valley Authorities did not want the community to know who they were ?
What was sad was the fact that neither Mr. Israel nor Mr. Singer would comment about Park Policy allowing Director Mendoza to unilaterally continue to pick Board members and appoint the President. Community wants involvement in the selection process but are denied input by the new Valley Authorities.
Why was Oakwood Park moved to Valley control? Mr. Singer continues to not abide to a CPRA requesting the memos concerning this change from Westside to Valley control. Might gentrification be the reason for his denial to share the documents?
Lizka Mendoza and her assistant Eliaja Cooper continue to preach the philosophy that Oakwood Park is all about Recreation, not Education. Ms. Cooper did make mention that she and Ms. Mendoza are working with the Mark Twain staff, but provided no names of whom they are coordinating with at the school. Might Quimby funds be supporting this alliance between Mark Twain Middle and Oakwood Park? Strangely this alliance has never come up at any Mark Twain governance councils nor Friends of Mark Twain.
I request Mr. Singer provide a statement regarding this Mark Twain- Oakwood Partnership that no council at Mark Twain knows about.
Might this involve the submission of the Mark Twain Charter that no school governance has ever addressed? Is Ms. Mendoza, Mr. Singer, and Ms. Cooper part of the Mark Twain Charter Cabal who shares no information with the community nor parents,except for a few favorites?
Ms. Mendoza stated this is the last Board Meeting until she unilaterally selects new members with the next meeting to be held in March, 2012.
A special thanks to the Oakwood Community who came out tonight and let their “Voice” be heard. The Valley scare tactics were less than successful. Will all Oakwood meetings now include 4 LAPD Officers, Park Police, and CD11 lined up in a barricade ?
Peace, Rick Selan
LAPD Harass Oakwood Park African American Community- Gentrification Harassment Continues By Valley Interim Supt. Charles Singer, Oakwood Park Director Lizka Mendoza and her Self Appointed Oakwood President Cameron Rodriguez
A Letter By An African American Oakwood Resident- Rising Up Angry Against Oakwood Park Gentrification – Promised Intervention Never Happened By Singer as Harassment Escalates 10-24 -11
To: Jon Kirk Mukri, General Manager Parks and Recreation, Kamala Harris, California Attorney General, Sophia Pina Cortez, Superintendent Westside Parks And Recs, Kevin Reagan, Assistant General Manager, Parks and Recs, Jon Peters, Captain Pacific Division, Steve Zipperman, Chief LASPD Sheldon Cruz, LA Human Relations Charlie Beck, Chief LAPD
From: Rick Selan, Educational Advocate
Re: Denial of Intervention by Charles Singer Creates An African American Community To Rise Up Angry
At least a month ago, Interim Valley Parks Superintendent Charles Singer was directed by his Superiors to participate in intervention after Charles Singer shared the slanderous allegations against community by the unilaterally Appointed Oakwood Chair Cameron Rodriguez.
Rather than participate in intervention dealing with the gentrification issue at Oakwood Park and the “less than fair play” by Oakwood Park Director Lizka Mendoza, Mr. Singer made a mockery of the process and ignored the Directives by his Superiors.
Mr. Singer ignored the request for intervention stating he will meet with this advocate on November 1, 2011 one hour before the PAB Meeting. It appears Mr. Singer and Cameron Rodriguez orchestrated the slanderous remarks to allow chaos to occur. I share below a letter I received tonight by a leader in the African American Oakwood Community.
Mr. Rodriguez continues his support of the Gentrification of Oakwood that he has participated in for over two years.
Letter Received At 4:08 p.m. This Afternoon By An Oakwood Park African American Community Leader:
Hi Rick,
I’m sitting at Oakwood park (3:14 PM) and people are out enjoying the day. There are lots of African Americans sitting out, on the park benches playing cards, dominoes enjoying there Monday afternoon.
LAPD ( four officers) arrives circles the park a couple times then park and decide to go in. They walk up on a gentlemen who is sitting on the lamp pole in the middle of the park he stands up and two of the officers frisk him and he sits back down.
All four of the officers talk with him for about fifteen minutes. I see them filling out a white card, a young lady arrives and the gentlemen gets up and leaves.
The officers then walk up to the park benches and begin this process once again to some other African Americans sitting on benches in the park.
These people get up after the officers are done and leave the park.
I question this procedure always harassing the African Americans in the park and never ever stopping to question the people with dogs off leash, or the Sunday kick ball players with ice chests and coolers (drinking alcohol )attending the park?
Why is it when African Americans or Latinos attend Oakwood park they are always, always bothered by LAPD?
Why I could swear that having dogs off leash is against the law but yet they are never told anything?
Drinking in the park is not permitted either but those kick ball players are never harassed. This violation is overlooked each and every time by LAPD.
LAPD the law is the law uphold it, and do unto the dog owners and Sunday kick ball people what you do to the people of color all the time without hesitation harass them and fill out white cards with their information on it. Stock pile their names and descriptions and arrest them when you accumulate more then five. Be fair and do what is right Oakwood is for all people.
Laddie Williams
——————
October 13, 2011
OAKWOOD PARK PICNIC AREA UNDER ATTACK?
Oakwood Park is supposed to be a great place to play sports, send kids to arts and culture classes, offer seniors a place to gather –or just do what generations have done there before: Come on out and have a neighborhood picnic in its friendly picnic area.David Busch
———————————-
September 27, 2011
From David Busch:
This Seems Urgent:
I Just got a look at the official announcement from Oakwood Park 😦
THEY APPARENTLY HAVE DECLARED IN A VERY HARD TO FIND SPOT IN THE OAKWOOD PARK BROCHURE (see attached) THAT THERE IS A WEBSITE OUT THERE SOMEWHERE WHERE THEY ARE COLLECTING “VOTES” ON THE EXERCISE EQUIPMENT !!!
On the first page of the brochure it mentions that for people to choose and vote on the exercise equipment they must go to the park website (which they don’t include) and click on “Park Improvement Projects” – I had to do a separate Google search to find the park website and here’s the link http://www.laparks.org/dos/reccenter/facility/oakwoodRC.htm – when I clicked on “Park Improvement Projects” it opens a one-page PDF which has no link to vote on equipment.
The only website in the brochure is this broken link: http://www.laparks.org/dos/ereg/facility/oakwoodRC.htm
WHAT”S UP?
Sincerely,
David Busch
—————————
September 26, 2011
Gentrification Agenda Continues By Oakwood Park Director Lizka Med zaValley Interim Superintendent Charles Singer
Promised Intervention Needs To Be Addressed 9-23-11
According to Oakwood Park Director Lizka Mendoza, the next Oakwood PAB Meeting will be held on November 1, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. at Oakwood Park. Sadly, there will be only two Oakwood PAB Members still on the Board at that time as Cameron Rodriguez and Chantel Hunter Mao’s term ends October 15, 2011.
Interim Valley Superintendent Charles Singer continues to avoid promised intervention between Park District officials, this advocate,and LA Human Relations focused on the issue of gentrification in the Oakwood Community. Mr. Singer, the Valley interim Superintendent ordered police to be present at Board Meetings after outgoing PAB Board appointed President Cameron Rodriguez reported the agendas could not be completed based on those who create “bad behavior” and deny agenda items to be discussed. What type of violent behavior does Mr. Rodriguez create to necessitate police at Board Meetings ? Why does Interim Superintendent Singer and his Deputy Marc Israel refuse to comply to PSRS requests and mail a copy of the Oakwood Park By Laws? Apparently more cover up.
Although Mr. Singer realizes he has been given false facts (lies) by Cameron Rodriguez, Mr. Singer continues to stall intervention to occur. According to minutes from the last PAB Meeting on March 22,2011, the entire agenda was completed 50 minutes after it started.
According to the minutes:
I. Meeting Adjourned
Meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
There was no bad behavior; only “Gaslight Behavior” by Cameron Rodriguez, who attempts to create chaos and promote gentrification. Why is Cameron Rodriguez being protected by Interim Valley Superintendent Charles Singer ?
Why is Mr. Singer not playing by the intervention rules as set up by LA Parks and Recs and LA Human Relations? Why does the Interim Superintendent from the Valley stall the intervention process rather than create resolution and open the doors to collaboration?
This very strange move placing Venice as part of the valley makes little sense.
Was moving Oakwood Park in Venice outside of the Westside into the supervision area of the San Fernando Valley Interim Superintendent Charles Singer a purely political move? Please send all paper work verifying Oakwood Park was moved from a Westside Park under Superintendent Sophia Pina Cortez to a Park now under the Authority of Valley Park Interim Superintendent Charles Singer and the reasons why.
As well, Ms. Mendoza put out a less than clear bulletin regarding “an on-line vote for the community” concerning exercise equipment. Why has this voting item never been placed on a PAB Agenda? Many in the community are low income under represented minority who do not have computers. Again, this is just part of the Rodriguez, Mendoza, Singer gentrification agenda.
As written by an active community member,
” On the second page of the [Oakwood] brochure it mentions that for people to choose and vote on the exercise equipment they must go to the park website (which they don’t include) and click on Park Improvement Projects” – I had to do a separate Google search to find the park website and here’s the link http://www.laparks.org/dos/reccenter/facility/oakwoodRC.htm – when I clicked on “Park Improvement Projects” it opens a one-page PDF which has no link to vote or any other pertinent info. re: choice of exercise equipment.
The only website in the brochure is this broken link: http://www.laparks.org/dos/ereg/facility/oakwoodRC.htm”
Please set a date for intervention before the November 1, 2011 PAB Meeting which at that time will have two active members.
Again, please send the by laws as soon as possible.
Peace. Rick Selan
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
HISTORY
On Sep 22, 2011, at 11:09 PM, RickSelan.com wrote:
Oakwood Park Director and Board, ” Oakwood Park is about Recreation, Not Education”
Gentrification Agenda Continues By Oakwood Park Board, Director, and Valley Interim Superintendent
CPRA Request 4th Request Slander by Cameron Rodriguez
To: Sophia Pina Cortez, Superintendent Westside Parks And Recs
Kevin Reagan, Assistant General Manager, Parks and Recs
Sheldon Cruz, LA Human Relations
From: Rick Selan, Educational Advocate
As each day passes, it appears Valley Interim Superintendent Charles Singer continues to cover up and stall intervention agreed to by Parks and Recreation and Human Relations based on slanderous comments made by appointed Oakwood Park President Cameron Rodriguez that moves into month two.
CPRA Request:
1. 4th request- Please send a copy of the Oakwood Park Advisory Park Board By Laws.
2. 2nd Request Was moving Oakwood Park in Venice outside of the Westside into the supervision area of the San Fernando Valley Superintendent Charles Singer a purely political move? Please send all paper work verifying Oakwood Park was moved from a Westside Park under Superintendent Sophia Pina Cortez to a Park now under the Authority of Valley Park Interim Superintendent Charles Singer and the reasons why.
3. Has Penmar Park in Venice also been moved from control by the Westside to control by the Valley? Peace.
Rick Selan
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Oakwood Park Director and Board, “Oakwood Park is about Recreation, Not Education”
Gentrification Agenda Continues By Oakwood Park Board and Director
Promised Intervention Needs To Be Addressed 9-20-11
3rd Request Slander by Cameron Rodriguez Needs To Be Addressed
Dear Sheldon, Sophia, Kevin, and Charles,
As one who believes in conflict resolution to improve the quality of life for the whole, I am concerned why Parks and Recs Valley Superintendent Chuck Singer prefers to stall the intervention process regarding the slanderous statements made by Oakwood Park appointed President Cameron Rodriguez to Mr. Singer to create “community chaos” and preserve a gentrification agenda opposed to education for the low income under represented minorities in the community.
.
Rather than deal with the issues, Parks and Recs appear to prefer anger to prevail. As I have had a long talk with Sheldon Cruz ten days ago and take the words of Westside Superintendent Sophia Pina Cortez as both “Gospel” and “honorable”, I am bothered what is holding this process from occurring.
Why does no one share the Oakwood By Laws? I have no option but begin to open boxes and look for my copy.
Rather than continue to play middle school “Gaslight” games, might we please hold this meeting(s) to clear the air.
I accept the fact that information given to Mr. Singer was less than fact. This is LAUSD and CD11 Politics at its ugliest. (“Gaslight” tactics ). All I seek is fair play, promised intervention and honesty for the whole community; not just a chosen few.
.
Was moving Oakwood Park in Venice outside of the Westside into the supervision area of the San Fernando Valley Superintendent Charles Singer a purely political move? Was Penmar Park and Mar Vista Park also moved to Valley Supervision or was Oakwood an isolated situation?
Peace. Rick Selan
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
From: lyd
Sent: Sep 7, 2011 10:17 AM
To: Lizka Mendoza , Sheldon , “Sheldon C.”
Cc: Laddie Williams , “rick s.”
Subject: Re: Few more questions
Dear Liska,
Communication is best to clear up mis-communications, you have the right to label what I wrote as false and misleading information. My questions were specific and you failed to answer them.
I do recall as being a former PAB member, per the bylaws that PAB members end their term on a calendar year and not in the middle of the year/month. However I seem to recall a great delay with interviews and the entire process taking very long. I will be requesting the information and documentation from you regarding this matter.
That’s great if Mr. Rodriguez and Ms. Mah end their term in December of 2011 because that means that there may be PAB meetings with a quorum and no reason to delay other park related issues and community concerns being addressed. As far as ‘fabrication for the date October 15th’, that remains to be seen and proven.
I have the OPS’ number and use it when I park, visit or see the dogs running off leash. I will quote you- “The more documentation there is, the better”. Then please answer my original question, why haven’t you and the staff called OPS or LAPD regarding the law being broken? Dogs off leash law is posted clearly through out the park. So when will you and your staff take a minute to call? Clearly there will be daily reports and additional calls made because people have been in violation – every single day…
“As for the rest of the PAB members, I will determine how many members I must replace after our final PAB meeting of the year.” I think this would be a good time to address the major responsibility the policies and the by laws that allow one person, the park director, to create and build the PAB for city parks. The PAB election and election process at Oakwood Park should be- a community process, after all look at the recent crimes of pedophilia in our neighborhood, Liska.
Best,
Lydia
On Mon, Sep 5, 2011 at 10:13 PM, lyd <nulydia@earthlink.net> wrote:
Liska,
When will you be doing interviews as Cameron Rodriguez and Chantel Mao term ends this October, to be more precise the 15th of October.
Pastor Allen and the student, whose name I cannot recall, have missed three consecutive meetings. Per the by laws, they are supposed stepped down or were their absences excused by you? Richard Henry is no longer with Greendot and lives in another community. So how many empty seats is that?
The only two who are on the Board after Oct. 15 is Ms. Navarro and Mr. Eddie Dabs and that is not enough for a quorum.
Regards,
Lydia Ponce
Laddie Williams &
Rick Selan
——————————-
June 7, 2011
Call For Safety Plan For Campers, Seniors and Those Who Use Oakwood Park.
Witnesses State, “7 Shots Fired Into Oakwood Park By One Who Yells Hate Remarks While Shooting”
Re: Seven Gun Shots Fired Inside Perimeter of Oakwood Park on Sunday, May 29, 2011, Afternoon
Why No Emergency Meeting of Oakwood PAB Board ?
Dear Mr. Mukri and Mr. Regan,
Oakwood Park Director Lizka Mendoza has unilaterally selected seven members to the Oakwood Park Board. Ms. Mendoza stopped election of officers and unilaterally selected Cameron Rodriquez as President of the Park Board. This new park board are smiling faces who “kiss up” to Ms. Mendoza. This would be fine, except this new
Board only deals with sugar and spice issues. Discussion of neighborhood safety inside the park has seized with a Board that appears hand picked from CD11 to make sure everything appears on the “Happy Channel”.
I write you with the concern regarding the safety of the children and seniors who attend the park; many who witnessed the shooting of seven shots into the park in broad daylight on the Sunday before Memorial Day.
According to witnesses, a Hispanic male between 25 and 30 jumped out of a black car with tinted windows at 7th and Broadway inside the gate opening not far from the picnic tables and fired seven shots into the park.
Fortunately no one was hit but there were sure a lot of scared kids and adults.
The statements yelled by the shooter will not be shared in writing as these remarks expound more hate and violence.
On Tuesday May 31, 2011, I spoke with Captain Jon Peters who informed me the police were working on leads.
On Thursday, this advocate was contacted by Pacific Division. I thank Captain Peters for following through.
What is the Oakwood Director and her assistant Asia doing to protect the children and the seniors ? The shots were fired inside the park. Why is the unilaterally appointed Board and the appointed President not holding a community meeting to discuss safety and security?
Will the children inside the Oakwood Park Summer Camp be safe ? Before I request by CPRA a safety plan by the Oakwood Park Director and her Board on how children and seniors will be kept out of harms way, I request you send me this safety plan before 5 p.m. June 10,2011.
Again rather than having the Assistant Director Asia preaching the gospel of how wonderful everything is at Oakwood Park at a gathering with LA Pacific Division, let’s make sure a plan is developed together as a community rather than unilaterally by Ms. Mendoza, Asia and her CD 11 approved Park Board.
I appreciate anything you might do to secure this safety plan.
Peace.
Rick Selan
——————–
June 1, 2011
Is $120,000 To Refurbish Two Oakwood Park Restrooms A Bit Too High ? CPRA Request
1. Interest on Quimby Funds
2. Bid quotes and itemized Budget of $120,000 to Reburbish 2 Oakwood Restrooms
Rick Selan, Educational Advocate
Date: 5-28-11 Venice, CA 90291
To: Mary Alvarez, Board of Commission Executive Assistant
cc: Arletta Brimsley, Deputy City Attorney iii (c/o Mary Alvarez), Kevin Regan, Assistant General Manager, LA Parks and Recreation, Mike Dundas, Deputy City Attorney
From: Rick Selan, Educational Advocate
Re: CPRA : $120,000 to Refurbish 2 Oakwood Park Restrooms
Dear Ms. Alvarez,
On Tuesday, May 24, 2011, Director appointed Oakwood Park Board President Cameron Rodrigues and the six Director appointed Board Members approved an estimated $120,000 of tax payer dollars in Quimby Funds to refurbish two restrooms.
Under California Public Records Act Request :
1. Please send all bidding quotes for the refurbishing of the two Oakwood Park washrooms.
2. Please send verification of the company chosen to do the refurbishing.
3. Please send a line item receipt for both washrooms which will be completed by July 4,2011.
4. For several years, Oakwood has had $614,000 in Quimby Funds. How much of the interest on these funds are returned to Oakwood Park and if these funds do not go to Oakwood Park where specifically does this interest income go ? Please send a copy of that account, if it exists on paper.
Peace. Rick Selan
——————-
April 28, 2011
Venice Neighborhood Council Discusses Takeover of Vera Davis Center by Cultural Affairs
CD11 Alleges Executive Director Olga Garay of LA Cultural Affairs Was Less Than Honest With VNC Member and Educational Advocate ~ Is It Time For An Investigation Into The Wesson-Hahn 3-18-11 Motion?
Dear Ms. Garay ,
On April 12, 2011, in a letter below, you shared with me and a board member of the VNC that you and your Assistant General Manager Saul Romo met with Arturo Pina, a deputy to Council Person Bill Rosendahl who asked you to help him out to allow the Vera Davis McClendon Center to be moved out of CDD into LA Cultural Affairs. As I wrote you, this meeting was taped so errors would not occur in quotes.
When we spoke on April 12, 2011, you informed me and the VNC Board Member that Arturo Pina informed you and Mr. Romo, “The goal was to permit Venice Arts to take over the management of the Vera Davis Center”.
Tonight at the VNC Meeting, this topic was discussed. I had the opportunity to question Mr. Pina. I asked him if the statement you stated he made above was true or false.
After attempting to avoid answering, he stated you did not state the truth. On the other hand, Mr. Romo stated he could not recall what was said.
A copy of the tape is available. All this community wants is fairness and honesty. Tonight’s meeting was a disappointment after speaking with you and hearing fact. The truth you shared with us needs to ring.
Many on the Board were shocked when they found out that a certain portion of the board knew about this change for several years and certain board members knew nothing. This came out when acting President Carolyn Rios, who has been stating she knew nothing of any takeover of Vera Davis, later admitted many on the Board were well aware of this takeover for several years.
When former Board President Mike Newhouse spoke in favor of Venice Arts, someone in the audience yelled out that his speaking as a Board Member regarding Venice Arts was a conflict of interests as he is on the Board of Venice Arts and VNC.
Mr. Newhouse left his seat and took the discussion outside the auditorium and got into a heated discussion with about a half dozen from the community. When he asked one community member if she would prefer to see Vera Davis closed or run by Venice Arts, the community Member responded, “Close it”.
Finally, it was explained that under Cultural Affairs, only those organizations who deal with the arts would be able to remain on the premise.
This upset many. What would become of the wonderful services now being provided and those who have already been forced out?
This meeting was all about “separate and less than equal and those far less than equal.”
It took a Hispanic leader several minutes to make a commentary in Spanish that few understood as there was no translation. If the schools can provide translation, why can’t the neighborhood councils ?
CD11 has been successful to keep the deep division brewing why they do whatever they want, whenever they want, with no one looking, because the people are fighting among themselves.
United we stand ,divided we fall. VNC and CD11 must look inward and realize it is time for introspection. Are you there for ego, self interests and POWER, or are you there for the people?
Peace.
Rick Selan
——————–
April 25, 2011
Why Was VNC Left Out of the Vera Davis “Oligarchial Coup”?
To: Bill Rosendahl, Councilperson CD 11 4-12-11 (Amended 04-21-11)
cc: Olga Garay; Executive Director LA Cultural Affairs
From: Rick Selan, Member MVCC-VNC Education Committees
Vera Davis Contract To Venice Arts For Apparent 5 Year Contract Plus Extension ?
Dear Council Person Rosendahl,
This afternoon this advocate had the pleasure to speak to Olga Garay, Executive Director of LA Cultural Affairs regarding the Vera Davis Center being turned over to LA Cultural Affairs.
She shared with this advocate that she was approached about two months ago by Council Member Bill Rosendahl while she was on other business before the City Council in regards to the Vera Davis Center being included as number 15 in an RFP process which the Cultural Affairs Department was working on with the COA for 14 art and theatre centers [Family Source Centers] in the City of Los Angeles.
Ms. Garay felt she was doing a favor for a councilperson, nothing more; nothing less, receiving no self interests nor perks. No hidden agendas.
A meeting was then held with Olga Garay and her Assistant General Manager and CD 11 Deputy Arturo Pina.
According to Ms. Garay, at this meeting, Deputy Pina stated ,“The goal was to permit Venice Arts to take over the management of the Vera Davis Center”.
Why was there no discussion nor advertisements for other organizations currently operating at the center to apply to operate this center ?
Was( Is) Venice Arts the only organization who has applied for the management of the Vera Davis Center, and if so, why was this opportunity to apply not shared with the Venice community when the motion was passed?
What will be the yearly budget be of Venice Site 15 of Cultural Affairs and will the name Vera Davis McClendon remain the name of Site 15? Who will control that budget?
Ms. Garay did not have the answers.
If Venice Arts receives (ed) the RFP will this conflict with $6,300 it is to receive in the next year from Cultural Affairs?
Why was no one from the Venice Neighborhood Council ever informed about this “political oligarchial coup” until at least a week after passage ?
Might you explain why Vera Davis was singled out as the 15th site as CDD is “getting out of the business of managing community centers” ?
Is Vera Davis the only Community Center in CD11 or are there more; and if so, who will be funding these other community centers beginning July 1, 2011?
What is the mission of Community Development Department vs. the role of the Department of Cultural Affairs?
Why is the Vera Davis Center being pulled out of the RFP process with other Community Centers that are not part of the original 14 Family Source Centers currently in place?
Might it be because the others will continue to serve the poor while the Vera Davis Center will have a different mission ?
Ms. Garay knew nothing of the keys being handed to Venice Arts on the 30th of June, nor for sure if Venice Arts was to be the awarded
the RFP contract and receive a 5 year contract plus a possible 5 year extension. Why did Mr. Pina speak on the behalf of Venice Arts as RFP?
Why was the Wesson-Hahn motion regarding the Vera Davis Center not written by you, the Councilperson whose area includes Vera Davis?
Finally, Vera Davis McClendon is a “Historical Site”? What will be done to preserve the history of Vera Davis McClendon and her contributions to make Venice the special place it is?
Mr. Rosendahl, you are not providing the people of Venice accountability, transparency, nor fair play. You seem to have no position except your own personal agenda. Please begin to work with the “little people” and try to understand the feelings, the past history of Venice, and the harassment and gentrification many Venicians live with on a daily basis.
It might be time to do some self reflection. With communications and compromise, both sides can win. Please stop playing one side against the other. That process has failed to accomplish a thing except more bitterness.
Peace.
Rick Selan
———————-
April 12, 2011
Greetings Captain Peters:
I want to address what I am seeing in the Oakwood community and it disturbs me greatly.
On Thursday April 7,2011 it appeared we were under siege by the Special units C.R.A.S.H. and LAPD motorcycle officers.
What I observed while sitting in various locations was these officers stopping African Americans and Latino’s while driving or walking and then asking them “Are you on parole or probation?” Then they would ask them to get out of there cars and search them. I also observed them ticketing and towing vehicles from the streets( one young lady reported she was in the parking lot at Ralph’s with a handicap sticker in her window and received a ticket for $345.00 dollars).
Many of the people stopped asked the officers why they were being pulled over and the reasons giving were you look like a Venice Shoreline or V -13 (exactly what does that description consist of?). One of the stops was because one young man had his license plate upside down, the other was because he was parked to far away from the curb. The young men cooperated which I was glad of but your officers were often times stopping the same men if they decided to stop and have a conversation in and around the community. Many of them informed the police that they were not on gang injunction and why were they being harassed? No response was given but the repeated driving around Oakwood Recreation park by your officers and continuing to target those groups disturbed me greatly.
I never once saw these officers tell the dog owners to put there dogs on leash (there were many different groups running their dogs off leash while these repeated stops were being made on people of color) and I would like to know why? Having dogs off leash and running in the park is against the law is it not? Signs are posted everywhere in the park but never are they addressed.
What I don’t agree with is this if your officers see anyone it does not matter who or what nationality they are doing something that warrants a stop or warning then lets make it across the board. The law is the law and it should be made clear to the officers that come in the Oakwood neighborhood to uphold it for all the people not just the people of color.
This is nothing new to us in the Oakwood area to watch this injustice go on but it is time that you are made aware that we want equal justice across the board and we are watching and we will be reporting it to you and wanting to see justice for all.
By the way people of color still reside in the Oakwood area and we love to sit out and enjoy the lovely weather also. We don’t appreciate every time we pull off from Oakwood park we are followed and our license plates ran as if we are criminals. I do not see the people who are playing soccer or kick ball, or running there dogs off leash stopped or harassed when they leave the park. People of color must endure this each and every time we come to Oakwood and Thursday was quite ridiculous.
If it means we need a meeting to make our voices heard then we will do this. People of color in Oakwood have been quiet about what is going for to long, and it is time we stand up, this is our community and home too-we need LAPD to respect that.
It will be a pleasure to hear back from you regarding this matter
Laddie Williams
————————-
Subject: Fw: Official statement regarding Vera Davis McClendon Center, from CD 11
To: board@Venicenc.org
From: lindalucks@aol.com
Date: Fri, 8 Apr 2011 21:28:28 +0000
This is an official statement from the office of CD 11. I received this today, Friday, April 8th.
It is the intention and goal of Councilmember Rosendahl, the Community Development Department, and the Department of Cultural Affairs, to keep the VDC operating and open to the public, with a wide variety of services offered to the community. We are working dilligently on means to keep the center operating until a Request for Proposal for an operator to manage the VDC and all such City-owned facilities is released, a contractor is selected, and the recommended contractor is approved by Council and the Mayor. That process will be open and fair to all responding agencies. Management of the VDC is planned to be transferred to the DCA on June 30, 2011. There are no plans to close the VDC.
Cliff, you may disseminate this information to the tenants as well. Please refer questions to me or to Arturo Pina. Thank you.
I can be reached at: 310 305-7996.
Respectfully submitted by Cliff McClain
Dear Ms. Garay, Executive Director LA Cultural Affairs
cc: CPA Thomas Carter and Budget Specialist George Buzzetti,
I have read the motion by Councilperson Wesson and seconded by Councilperson Hahn, to eliminate the Venice communities, ” Vera Davis Center”.
Ms. Garay has shared these documents above with budget analysis and spread sheets. Again from the “amount” of paperwork Cultural Affairs sends, how was it possible for no one in Venice to have any knowledge of this motion until two days (3/29/11) ago ?
Part 37 of the motion states: Authorize the General manager, LAHD [ Donald Guthrie ], who does not receive e-mail, or his designee, to negotiate and execute a contract with the most qualified contractor selected to provide urgent repair construction services for the UPR in an amount not to exceed $100,000 for a nine month period to commence on April 1, 2011 subject to the City Attorney as to form and the Department of Public Works, Bureau of Contract Administration, as to compliance with City and federal contract requirements.
Ms. Garay, please inform me which contractor has received the $100,000 contract that begins tomorrow for reconstruction of the Vera Davis Center.
Finally, this community has seen far less than fair play from “LA Housing General Manager Douglas Guthrie and the Assistant General Manager Helmi Hisserich.
I cannot understand why Councilperson Hahn, who is running for Congress in this area, did not want this information shared with the people in Venice before construction begins apparently tomorrow with $100,000 of tax payer dollars?
The people of Venice need immediate answers before the hammer bangs down the walls at Vera Davis. The people of Venice deserve answers.
Please send a copy of the less than or equal to $100,000 contract given to the most qualified contractor and how this contract was advertised.
This advocate truly appreciates your involvement in this urgent matter.
Peace.
Rick Selan
| Vera Davis Motion.pdf 1498K View Download |
———————–
Please include the item involving PPP’s below to be placed on the 2-22-11 Oakwood Park PAB agenda.
You still have not replied to my e-mail regarding the PAB that you appear to not want to focus on. leave off the agenda. This is not about personality, but about what is best for kids and seniors and the community.
If we all do not work together, the kids lose.
THE ISSUE IS THE “PUBLIC-PRIVATE-PARTNERSHIPS” (PPP) ON CITY’S RECREATION & PARK COMMISSION’S MAY 5, 2010
CLICK: ENVIRONMENT
Re: Fw: Community Organizing Meeting CLOSING PARKS
FYI – SHARE INFORMATION ON CLOSURE OF CITY PARK RECREATION CENTERS WHICH MEANS CLOSURE OF CITY PARKS.THIS EMAIL IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF THE PLANS AND AGENDA OF THE “LOS ANGELES PARKS ALLIANCE.”, NOTE FOR INFORMATIONONLY.IS YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CITY PARK RECREATION CENTER NEXT?WHO WILL BE IN CHARGE OF A CITY RECREATION CENTER IN THE FUTURE AND WHO WILL CONTROL ACCESS TO A CITY PARK AND OTHER PARK FACILITIES.ASK QUESTIONS AND CONTACT YOUR CITY COUNCILMEMBER TO PROTEST CLOSURES.
SIERRA CLUB
|
———————-
October 11, 2010
From: Rick Selan
Dear Laura Island, Supervisor Over Oakwood Park Director and Arturo Pina, CD11, 10-10-10
Re: Who Used The Name and Title of Laura Island To Share False Facts With Yo Venice? Why Is CD11 Participating in Creating Havoc and Chaos at Oakwood PAB?
I have met with Assistant General Manager Kevin Regan on October 8,2010 regarding the Yo Venice posts regarding the upcoming Oakwood PAB Meeting.He was in total agreement that the RV issue in the Oakwood Community does not belong on the agenda for the Oakwood PAB Board for October 26, 2010.
I feel an investigation is necessary to discover who used Laura Island’s name and title as Mr. Regan explained that according to Ms. Island she never spoke to anyone from Yo Venice regarding this non-PAB agenda item as this is not a PAB Board Agenda item.
As far as CD11, this appears as more Gaslight tactics by the Rosendahl organization to create divisiveness in the community to promote more battles between neighbors so CD11 might remain less than accountable while they apparently will select VCHC / POWER to operate the RFP program to set up night housing for RV’s. More taxpayer dollars to their friends.
If CD 11 were honorable, they might place the true facts on Yo Venice that this is not a PAB issue rather than be the instigators of more “hate and dislike” between factions in Venice regarding OPD/ RFP. I truly doubt this might happen as this has been continuous pattern and practice in the Rosendahl machine/ organization since Day One. This OPD/ RFP fiasco has been a tragedy for the entire Venice Community. Peace. Rick Selan
_________________________________________________________________________
On Sun, Oct 10, 2010 at 3:44 PM, wrote:
Greetings Laura;
I appreciate your response and I would like to say that I was informed that Mr Regan has stated the Park Advisory meeting will not be talking about the RV issue at the meeting on October 26, 2010.
Im very pleased that this will not be a meeting where this discussion will occur because Recreation should be the focus for the Park Advisory meeting.
May I suggest that you inform Yo Venice that this issue will not be on the October 26, 2010 agenda because it is all over the community about this meeting being a forum for getting homeless signs hung up on 7th Avenue.
Again thank you for your response and time concerning this matter.
Laddie Williams
—————————
October 6, 2010
Dear Laura Island
I just read this on Yo Venice.com ‘ I just called Laura and spoke to her. She said that they are encouraging everyone to attend the Park Advisory Board meeting on Tues October 26th at 6:30 PM (at the Park Rec Center). She also said that the PAB has already voted on this issue before and decided not to post any parking restrictions and she didn’t know why because she wasn’t in her current position when the PAB had voted on it.’
I don’t know if these are your words exactly but they are posted on this website (YoVenice) that is famous for writing lies and inciting hate and criminalizing human beings.
I’m asking if you stated that the PAB for Oakwood voted not to put up 85.02 signs? I would like to inform you that I sat in on that meeting and PAB did not vote on this issue at all. The PAB board voted on whether it was feasible to have the four hour parking signs in front of Oakwood.
The PAB board decided against it because of the community coming to Oakwood for events (parties, games etc.) and community staying longer than four hours and having to face and expensive ticket. Then they stated that Oakwood didn’t have a blue parking area in front for handicap parking. Never once did 85.02 postings come into the conversation. The lies that are swirling in the community need no help from LA Parks and Recreation leaders. Instead we need stability to handle this ordeal within the community. Your comment on this website needs clarification before it reaches and all new ugly height-because CD11 has done its part to create hysteria over this issue (Town Hall Meeting at Westminster Elementary).
I will await your response and pray that it is one from a Regional leader that includes human compassion for everyone involved. The streets of Los Angeles are not governed by LA City Parks and Recreation nor the Oakwood PAB,so why is that these groups (YoVenice) are encouraged to come to and advisory meeting for Oakwood to influence the PAB to vote on ordinances street laws so now the Oakwood PAB is doing the work of D0T, LAPD and CD11?
Waiting for your response.
Peace
Laddie Williams
—————-
Request to Have Oakwood Park Cell Tower Removed As Community Was Betrayed By VNC and Park Director Lizka Mendoza
Dear Ms. Lizka Mendoza, Oakwood Park Director
Please place on the agenda for the October PAB meeting at Oakwood Park the request to have the Board vote on the Cell Tower on the Perimeter of Oakwood Park and the need for it to be removed. Peace. Rick Selan
Coastal Program Analyst Chuck Posner Sends Cell Tower Letter From VNC Requesting Accountability By CD11 7-15-10
Dear Mr. Posner and Mr. Timms,
Thank you very much for faxing the letter from former VNC President Mike Newhouse. It appears at the same time Attorney Mike Newhouse went to Court as the Attorney for VNC to remove the T-Mobile cell tower from VNC-city property at Extra Space Storage in Venice to the densely populated Oakwood Park Community , Attorney Newhouse, acting as President, not Attorney for VNC, VNC placed responsibility on CD 11 Bill Rosendahl on 1-22-09 for the cell being built at Oakwood by stating:
1. there was improper notification to the surrounding residents and the VNC and lack of follow through.
2. No Coastal Development Permit was obtained, and
3. Failure to comply with VCZSP,particularly for the Oakwood sub-area.
President Newhouse concludes, There needs to be a citation regarding height restriction in this case.”
CD 11 ignored VNC and all the letters and calls from Oakwood residents and officials went unanswered.
Please share copies of this e-mail with all Coastal Commissioners involved in our Venice Beach community.
Please send copies of all documents and please inform me where I might obtain the site plan through CPRA. Pictures will be sent by a community volunteer who made the offer last night. Peace. Rick Selan
______________________________________________
Letter From Coastal Commissioner Chuck Posner 7-13-10
On Tue, Jul 13, 2010 at 9:56 AM, Chuck Posner wrote:
Mr. Selan – The Coastal Commission has no application, permit, or any other type of authorization relating to a cell tower in or near Oakwood Park.
I do have a copy of a January 22, 2009 letter from Venice Neighborhood Council to Bill Rosendahl relating to a cell tower next to Oakwood Recreation Center.
I also have a November 25, 2008 email that discusses the permit requirements for a T-mobile site at 7th and Broadway in Venice. In November 2008, I also rejected a Request for Exemption for a T-mobile project proposed at 7th and Broadway in Venice.
Please let me know if you want copies of these documents, and you may send photographs, a site plan (with address of tower), and any other relevant documents if you would like our office to investigate the matter.
Charles R. Posner
Coastal Program Analyst
California Coastal Commission
200 Oceangate, Suite 1000
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 590-5071
cposner@coastal.ca.gov
———————–
September 30, 2010
On Wed, Sep 29, 2010 at 12:29 AM,
Rick Selan, Educational Advocate
“Ubi Ignus est?” 1615 Glyndon Ave.
Venice, CA 90291
To:Kevin Regan, Assistant General Manager Parks and Recs
Jon Kirk Mutri, General Manager Parks and Recs
Mary Alvarez, Park and Recs CPRA c/o RAP
Barry Sanders, President RAP
Sophia Pina Cortez, Westside Superintendent Parks and Recs
Laura Island, Westside Parks and Recs Supervising Director
From: Rick Selan, Educational Advocate
Re: Oakwood Park Advisory Board Meeting August 24, 2010
Special Meeting Set Up With Downtown Management To Discuss Oakwood Park Venice Surplus Funds and Municipal Funds
CPRA on Quimby Funds At Bottom of E-Mail
Lizka Mendoza, Oakwood Park Director, has been unable to produce the Oakwood Municipal Account nor any of the funds surrounding Oakwood Park. Ms. Lizka, as she prefers to be called, has refused to discuss or to reply to where $75,000 in Oakwood Park Venice Surplus Funds are located, if they still exist.
Ms. Lizka and her Senior’s President Zelda James were successful in forming a coup of three Board Members who favor the gentrification of Oakwood and who ask no questions regarding the alleged cover up of funds. Ms. Lizka and the gentrifiers pretend everything financially is up to par but refuse to reply to financial questions and pretend the concerns are bogus. Ms. Lizka, will have beginning November 16, 2010 a 3 member Board who can not vote as there will be,no quorum. While the gentrifiers have the understanding they can do no official business until at least four new members are unilaterally selected by Ms. Mendoza, they refused to make a motion, upon request by community for unity, to allow the Board to remain whole until the new Board is in place as it took Ms. Lizka over a year before she unilaterally selected the three gentrifiers in October, 2009.
Ms. Lizka’s plan is to bring back the RAND corporation and PPP, the public-private partnership of Parks which the current Board rejected. Ms. Mendoza was in seventh heaven as she will be able to continue her alleged money laundering and strategies of privatization with no one asking questions as she personally selected gentrification candidates Attorney Chantel Hunter Mah and UCLA Student Cameron Rodriguez who grew up in Oakwood but never went to Venice Schools nor played in the Oakwood Community nor with Oakwood youth according to community elders. The third gentrification member Jill Prestup, again for the fifth month, never showed up. While Ms. Lizka never mentioned Ms. Prestup, gentrifier Cameron Rodriguez told those in the first two rows that Ms. Prestup resigned. Might this be more “Gaslight” by gentrifier Rodriguez and Ms. Lizka?
Ms. Lizka continues to deny Community Member Kendra Moore her Board Seat which Ms. Lizka unilaterally took from here while Ms. Moore was ill. The third member of the Board who will remain is Jataun Valentine who was given life membership by City Council Member Bill Rosendahl.
Ms. Lizka stated that with the Rand Corporation as partner, Rand will donate exterior “exercise machinery” for community. She failed to mention that her gentrification members also favor PPP where half the donated funds go to Oakwood Park and half to political contributions. ( Might these funds go to the Sarah Palin Tea Party or to the future of Private Parks in LA? ) As Ms. Lizka will not begin her unilateral selection of new Board members until early next year, the next Board Meeting where official votes might occur might not happen until next fall given the time it took Ms. Lizka to unilaterally select her current gentrification selections.
Ms. Chantel, as referred to by Ms. Lizka, was quite concerned about dogs off leash at Oakwood drinking out of the public water fountains.When this advocate explained that all Oakwood residents can buy a permit for $16 for a year to use the beautiful Santa Monica Dog Park a mile away, Park Police stated many could not afford the $16. Of course the low income under represented minorities might have trouble with the extra $16 dollars, but this sum is a drop in the bucket for the Oakwood gentrifiers who take control November 16.
Ms. Lizka announced Oakwood Park has been sitting on $614,816.43 in Quimby funds, different from funds received from Venice Surplus funds, since July 9,2008. A CPRA Request wil be made below to find where these funds are located and the kind of interest being earned on these funds and where the interest is going.
While Mark Twain Middle School has an after school program with tutoring for free with over 40 students, Oakwood has only 29 in their after school program as they charge parents and provide no tutoring nor educational assistance. Ms. Liska’s philosophy on Oakwood Park is that ” Oakwood is all about Recreation, not Education”.
On Friday, October 8, 2010, this advocate will meet with City Park Officials regarding a LA Park Investigation into the the location of the funds, if the funds are still there, of the Oakwood Municipal Account, the Venice Surplus Funds awarded Oakwood and Penmar and Driftwood; the $614,816.93 sitting in Quimby Funds somewhere for over two years earning interest; and the title of the property for Driftwood Park being given to Parks and Recreation apparently as a gift.
The gentrifiers were not interested in writing a letter to various security companies in the community to install cameras in the Front Hallway for the safety and security of the children and the seniors. Sadly,laziness was written all over their faces.
Unless community acts, Oakwood Park after November 16 will no longer be the Park of the Oakwood Community but the Park where Gentrification
Beat the People. Tonight was a sad night in the history of Oakwood Park.
CPRA Request To LA Parks and Recs Legal c/o Mary Alvarez
1. Please provide an accounting of the $614,816.93 in Quimby Funds allocated to Oakwood Park approved on July 9, 2008. Please provide the amount of interest paid on these funds and the location of both the interest as well as the $614,816.93. Money is constantly discussed at Oakwood Park but improvements do not happen.
Peace.
Rick Selan
————-
July 16, 2010
Coastal Program Analyst Chuck Posner Sends Cell Tower Letter From VNC Requesting Accountability By CD11 7-15-10
Dear Mr. Posner and Mr. Timms,
Thank you very much for faxing the letter from former VNC President Mike Newhouse to CD11 Bill Rosendahl dated 1-22-09. It appears at the same time Attorney Mike Newhouse went to Court as the Attorney for VNC and/ or the city to remove the T-Mobile cell tower from VNC-city property at Extra Space Storage in Venice to the densely populated Oakwood Park Community , Attorney Newhouse, acting as President, not Attorney for VNC, VNC placed responsibility on CD 11 Bill Rosendahl on 1-22-09 for the cell being built at Oakwood by stating:
1. there was improper notification to the surrounding residents and the VNC and lack of follow through.
2. No Coastal Development Permit was obtained, and
3. Failure to comply with VCZSP, particularly for the Oakwood sub-area.
President Newhouse concludes, There needs to be a citation regarding height restriction in this case.”
CD 11 ignored VNC and all the letters and calls from Oakwood residents and officials went unanswered.
Please send copies of this full e-mail to all Coastal Commissioners involved with Venice and Marina.
Please send copies of all documents per your letter below and please inform me where I might obtain the site plan through CPRA. Pictures will be sent by a community volunteer who made the offer last night.
Peace.
Rick Selan
cc: RAP,Kevin Regan, Steve Cooley
______________________________________________
Letter From Coastal Commissioner Chuck Posner 7-13-10
On Tue, Jul 13, 2010 at 9:56 AM, Chuck Posner <cposner@coastal.ca.gov> wrote:
Mr. Selan – The Coastal Commission has no application, permit, or any other type of authorization relating to a cell tower in or near Oakwood Park.
I do have a copy of a January 22, 2009 letter from Venice Neighborhood Council to Bill Rosendahl relating to a cell tower next to Oakwood Recreation Center.
I also have a November 25, 2008 email that discusses the permit requirements for a T-mobile site at 7th and Broadway in Venice. In November 2008, I also rejected a Request for Exemption for a T-mobile project proposed at 7th and Broadway in Venice.
Please let me know if you want copies of these documents, and you may send photographs, a site plan (with address of tower), and any other relevant documents if you would like our office to investigate the matte
Charles R. Posner
Coastal Program Analyst
California Coastal Commission
200 Oceangate, Suite 1000
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 590-5071
——————————————-
June 29, 2010
Oakwood Park Director Continues Path To Obstruct and Divide Oakwood Park Board and Community
Dysfunction At Oakwood Park Board Meeting As CD 11 Continues $ 107,900 Cover Up With More “Less Than Factual Statements”.
To:Kevin Regan, Assistant General Manager Parks and Recs
cc: RAP
Barry Sanders, President RAP, Sophia Pina Cortez, Westside Superintendent Parks and Recs, Carolyn James, Supervisor LA Parks and Recs, Laura Island, Westside Parks and Recs Supervising Director (15 parks), Sheldon Cruz, LA Human Services
From: Rick Selan, Educational Advocate
What happened to $614,816.93 in Parks and Recs Venice Quimby Funds ?
Oakwood Park Director Lizka Mendoza continued to divide the Oakwood Park community and PAB Board to allow her to continue to work with VNC, CD11 and those organized to gentrify Oakwood Park.
To demonstrate her disdain for the nearly one full year of work of the Oakwood Park Agenda Subcommittee , Ms. Mendoza unilaterally” dissolved the committee only to create a “unilateral subcommittee of her own” where she stated community is no longer able to attend nor participate.
I ask you, Mr. Regan, to explain to Ms. Mendoza that all meetings and sub-committee meetings of the Oakwood Park Board are open to the public. This next new subcommittee meeting is to occur on 8-17 at 10:30 am.
More obstruction was created as Ms. Mendoza, who took minutes at the April 27, 2010 meeting decided not to write them up for the meeting tonight. When asked why, she just smiled and said “thank you”. A copy of this advocate’s April minutes are at the end of this e-mail.
While the agenda subcommittee sent in tonight’s agenda 48 hours before the meeting because of serious illness by the Chair, two sets of agendas were on hand for this meeting. One agenda was unilaterally written by Ms. Mendoza and one was written by the subcommittee that Ms. Mendoza stated she eliminated at the last April meeting but had no minutes to validate her statement.
It took over 40 minutes for “the Board members present” chosen by Ms. Mendoza “unilaterally” to come to agreement with the other Board members on an agenda that would be used.
Ms. Mendoza spoke of the promised security system; the need to fix a beam in the gym that has fallen; a new roof and outside sports equipment that was to be ordered with $614,816.93 in Quimby Funds allotted to Oakwood Park two years ago. Both Ms. Mendoza and CD11 had odd looks on their face when it was discovered that not a penny of these funds have been touched or has the money vanished into thin air like a lot of money in CD11. Why does Ms. Mendoza never share any budget with the PAB Board? Is she instructed by her directors not to? I am not sure? Where is the money, Mr. Sanders and Mr. Rosendahl.
On April 16, 2010, the City Council approved of a motion by CD11 Rosendahl and Councilmember Parks ( Substitute- Item 62). This motion gave $237,000 to Penmar Park and $ 182,900 to Oakwood Park.
Strangely 4 days later, Mr. Rosendahl, seconded by Mr. Parks, had the above amendment changed( #51) giving Oakwood Park only $75,000.
Tonight, rather than Ms. Mendoza answering the concern, CD 11 Arturo Pina explained that Oakwood was only to receive $75,000 and the original amount of $175,000 was a clerical error as there was no “1” before the “7”. He became tongue tied when it was shared with him that the original amount given Oakwood was $182,900 and not $175,000. He did explain that Penmar Park still has their full $237,000. He could not explain why Oakwood Park lost $107,900. Might you Mr. Regan or Mr. Sanders?
Is there any wonder why Parks and Recs are pleading poverty. No one seems to know where the funds are ?
As far as funds, at the last Oakwood Park meeting in April, a community member donated $100 so the community kids could have a graduation party at the park because there were no other ways to raise the funds. According to Ms. Mendoza, the graduation party was never held and Ms. Mendoza unilaterally approved $60 of the $100 to be used for someone’s birthday party. The Board voted to return the other $40 to the donor.
A letter is being written before 5:00 p.m. June 30, 2010 by Cameron Rodriguez for a permit for the Venice Bull Dogs. As Mr. Rodriguez refuses to share his phone number or e-mail with other Board members, it is up to Lizka Mendoza to decide if other Board members might have the right to comment on the letter before it is sent. The Board overwhemingly decided that it is important for the younger children to practice football and have cheerleading at Oakwood Park rather than make the little children travel to Penmar.
Mr. Rodriguez, a “unilateral member chosen by Ms. Mendoza” walked out in the middle of the meeting after making less than kind comments about the effectiveness of the Board whose meetings he attends only when he feels like it. He continues his fraternity type college behavior by referring to community as jerks and jerkees.
Zelda James, made a motion to remove Chantel Hunter Moi and Jill Prestup from the grantwriting and fundraising committees as she stated they seldom come to meetings. Ms. James moved to have Lydia Ponce take their place. Ms. Mendoza has obstructed the first meetings of these committees for 9 months. The committees, now led by Ms. Ponce, will meet either July 14 or July 21, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. Who is directing Ms. Mendoza to serve as the obstructionist?
Park Police explained “dogs off leash” is no longer a problem at Oakwood during the morning or during daylight hours. Those who break the law with “dogs off leash” now come out at night.
Ms. Mendoza spoke about a neighborhood youth that was incarcerated. She stated the youth had asked her for help. She asked community to help this child because her position makes it impossible for her to get involved. It was an unusual request as it was not on the agenda and the nature of the crime(s) were not clarified.
Something about this needs more investigation as again there is more going on here than what appears on the surface.
The meeting concluded with a summary of the Community survey taken at the VNC Elections in early April.
At the VNC Elections, the Oakwood Park PAB Survey Committee provided surveys regarding Oakwood Park to those who voted.
A key question focused on rating the Oakwood Park Director on a scale from 1 -low to 5-high. Of the 59 responses of those who knew the Park Director, 34% of those who responded gave the Director the lowest rating while only 20% gave the Park Director the highest rating.
As far as Park staff, of the 69 responses of those who knew the Park Staff, 7% gave the Park staff the lowest rating while 42% gave the Park staff the highest rating.
As far as the Oakwood Park Board, of the 50 responses who knew the PAB Board, 12% gave the PAB Board the lowest rating and 34% gave the PAB Board the highest rating.
As far as attending a PAB meeting, of 139 responses, 22% have attended a PAB meeting and 78% have never attended a PAB meeting.
The central question focused on what process the community feels is best for selecting future PAB members in 2011. Of the 84 who had an opinion, 7% of the community wants to keep the current unilateral selection process of having the Park Director make the decision. 27% of the community would like to see PAB members and the Park Director choose new members collaboratively. 65% of the community would like to have an Oakwood Park community election on selecting a committe to choose PAB members with the Park Director. This is the rationale for community joining together to challenge the unfair selection of Oakwood Park Board Members.
Peace.
In unity for accountability,
Rick Selan
——————————
April 29, 2010
The Gaslight
If you wanted high tension drama that would keep you at the edge of your seat as passions soared, the divided Oakwood Park Board met on Tuesday April 27, 2010 in what might be described as a combination of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Lord of the Flies and 1984. Big Sister and/ or Nurse Ratched (dressed as the Oakwood Park Director Lizka Mendoza) sat far in the back of the room so she could not be seen unless the audience turned around. In an angry aggressive tone, Ms. Mendoza attempted to control the Board throughout the evening from behind, after organizing her “unilaterally selected members” before the meeting pushing a gentrification agenda.
In the front of the room was Sergeant at Arms Zelda James who informed members in the audience to “SHUT UP” and then began calling members in the audience, “nuts”. She did not specify type of nut. Gentrification Member Cameron Rodriguez ( unilaterally selected by Lizka Mendoza) informed members in the audience that he would have them removed because he will only address Board Members rather than community members. To the best of this advocate’s knowledge, Mr. Rodriguez, in his seventh month on the Board, has done not a thing with the Board nor participated in any projects. He is on the Director’s call to intimidate those she is unable to.
The other gentrification member “unilaterally selected by Lizka Mendoza” is Attorney Chantel Hunter Mah, who rather than participating in any Park Board activities put on by the Park and Board, complained of being harassed by a member of the community. She would give no specifics as this appeared all part of the planed “Gaslight strategy” by those discussed above before the meeting.
The third gentrification member “unilaterally selected by Lizka Mendoza” Jill Prestup had a serious medical emergency according to Ms. Mendoza. At the last meeting gentrification member Jill Prestup walked out of the meting after 20 minutes because the gentrification members’ coup to make “gentrification member” Cameron Rodriguez President back fired terribly.
The Need for Reform
The other Board Members are Fred Grant, President ; Lydia Ponce, Member and former Co-Secretary ( resigned as co- secretary after other Co-Secretary Jill Prestup refused to do any work whatsoever) and Jataun Valentine who is a lifetime member of the Park Board as designated by the CD11 Council Member. These three members carry the Board.
Zelda James, Sergeant at Arms, is similar to the political candidate who goes with wind change. She is both disrespectful and has no business being Parliamentarian and Sergeant at Arms. Nevertheless, Senior Member James does come for lunch to the park each day and participates with other seniors.
Based on this dysfunction and the fact that these serious conflicts began after Ms. Mendoza “unilaterally and politically” selected her gentrification candidates denying “unilaterally” LA Human Relations the right to sit in on the interviews , the community decided to work with RAP to change LA Park and Rec policy to create fair play in the selection of new Board Members in 2011.
Ms. Mendoza stated those attempting to change Park Policy were giving others a sense of false hope. Community reminded her we still, outside of Oakwood Park, live in a democracy, and the people have the right to challenge policy that is both unfair and politically incorrect in a time of accountability and reform. All Ms. Mendoza has to do is to look at the Oval Office and think of those who alleged our President was giving America a sense of false hope. It is time for change in LA Parks and Recs.
The Problems and Cover Ups
1. Oakwood Park Director Liska Mendoza could not explain why $107,000 was removed from the $182,900 allocation from the Venice Surplus Real Property Fund given to Oakwood Park for their after school program. While Oakwood Park was left with only $75,000, Penmar Park kept its full allocation of $237,000 for its after school program and pre school care.
Might this be based on lack of accountability and transparency ? Lizka Mendoza spoke of the large scale student summit Oakwood Park held in April bringing in NYA, VCHC, SPARK, and other non profits. When community asked Ms. Mendoza for a copy of the agenda and the summary of that program and the reasons no one from the PAB Board knew anything about this, she stated there was no agenda nor program nor summary.
She stated there is no real need for Oakwood to have an after school tutoring program as the non profits have them. Might this be why our Middle School has a math proficiency at 17% and English proficiency at 30%. Might this be why LA BRIDGES VCHC failed at Mark Twain because there is no accountability nor transparency to help the low income under represented minorities? The non profits have no accountability of student performance nor any data based information to support their credibility. Might have CD11 felt Oakwood Park did not have the leadership for this $170,000 funding?
On April 20, 2010, Mr. Rosendahl ( seconded by Mr. Parks) presented a new motion to the council (#51) to be added to the agenda at the next Regular Council Meeting to amend the motion to change the funding for the “Oakwood Rec Center from $182,900 to $75,000 with no reasons being given. Why?
2. The three “unilaterally selected gentrification members” refuse to share their phone numbers nor e-mails with the other members of the Board. Ms. Mendoza insists all e-mails must go to her instead to members so she can monitor all e-mails being sent out. Might this be Big Sister watching you?
Ms. Mendoza does not want to accept the fact that she has lost the trust with at least 3/7 if not 4/7 of the Oakwood PAB Board.
3. Ms. Mendoza refuses to seat Board Member Kendra Moore stating she did not follow procedure for “illness leave”. Public records indicate Ms. Mendoza can find no records nor minutes indicating her allegations about Ms. Moore.
4. A projector and screen supposedly for the seniors bought from an application to VNC not going through Park procedures in December, 2009 has still not arrived. VNC has not replied to a CPRA regarding these funds and the application sent to this advocate from a CPRA through LA Parks has no signatures. VNC Treasurer Hugh Harrison and Oakwood Park Director Lizka Mendoza have not replied to CPRA requests. Why did no PAB member know of this application nor why the sent documents had no signatures. Where is the money or the purchased items?
5. PAB Board Member Lydia Ponce expressed concern why Lizka Mendoza and her assistant intervened and stopped the Black History month celebration before the Minister gave his speech as Ms. Mendoza began to remove chairs and collapse tables making a scene upsetting the audience and PAB members present. This was disrespectful to the African American community and Ms. Mendoza still has not apologized.
6. Ms. Mendoza was unable to explain what has happened to the large allocation of Quimby funds given to Oakwood Park nor was she able to explain if any improvements were made to Oakwood Park or if funds still remain. Is it any wonder CD11 took $170,000 from Oakwood Park or did Ms. Mendoza agree with CD11 to use these funds for OPD’s or for studies for an Oakwood Dog Park ? Might this be the will of “the unilaterally selected gentrifiers” ? Why are there no answers?
More cover up.
7. There is continued use of alcohol being used at Oakwood Park by the kick ball players who torment the elders who play dominos. This was witnessed by 1100 voters who voted at a VNC election on April 11, 2010. According to PAB members LAPD refused to intervene. No tickets were given nor incident reports written up. Ms. Mendoza was at the park for the election and chose not to intervene.
At the meeting, gentrifier member Cameron Rodriguez requested LAPD give breathalizer tests to all who come to the park. Why did Mr. Rodriguez not mention Park Police who promised the Park Board data six months ago. Again at this meeting, no Park Police were present and Ms. Mendoza had no data regarding incident reports nor dog tickets.
8. The Park Director “unilaterally” altered the number of monthly meetings per year from 12 to 6 without consulting the PAB
9. The Park Director continues to use “less than dignified names” as “Gaslight strategy” to refer to certain female members of the Oakwood PAB Board. This is the United States in 2010, not 1855 Alabama.
10. CD 11 Bill Rosendahl and VNC President Elect Linda Lucks have done a good job in pitting the low income under represented minority within the Oakwood Community with those who buy property as gentrifiers. VNC and CD11 have worked together to have gentrifiers come to Oakwood Park with a proposal to use the Park part time as a dog park. What VNC, CD11, and the gentrifiers are not telling the people is that the dog park four tenths of a mile at Westminster Park is not used by community because it serves as a shelter for delinquents and other odd sorts who threaten those in the community who bring their dogs to Westminster Park. Westminster Park is filthy, has no park security and has drug sales going on in broad day light. It appears one of Ms. Mendoza’s “unilaterally selected gentrification members” is a silent member supporting an Oakwood Dog Park.
Data
At the VNC Elections, the Oakwood Park PAB Survey Committee provided surveys regarding Oakwood Park to those who voted.
A key question focused on rating the Oakwood Park Director on a scale from 1 -low to 5-high. Of the 59 responses of those who knew the Park Director, 34% of those who responded gave the Director the lowest rating while only 20% gave the Park Director the highest rating.
As far as Park staff, of the 69 responses of those who knew the Park Staff, 7% gave the Park staff the lowest rating while 42% gave the Park staff the highest rating.
As far as the Oakwood Park Board, of the 50 responses who knew the PAB Board, 12% gave the PAB Board the lowest rating and 34% gave the PAB Board the highest rating.
As far as attending a PAB meeting, of 139 responses, 22% have attended a PAB meeting and 78% have never attended a PAB meeting.
The central question focused on what process the community feels is best for selecting future PAB members in 2011.
Of the 84 who had an opinion, 7% of the community wants to keep the current unilateral selection process of having the Park Director make the decision. 27% of the community would like to see PAB members and the Park Director choose new members collaboratively. 65% of the community would like to have an Oakwood Park community election on selecting a committe to choose PAB members with the Park Director. This is the rationale for community joining together to challenge the unfair selection of Oakwood Park Board Members.
Peace.
In unity for accountability,
Rick Selan
——————————————————–
April 23, 2010
Take From the Low Income Under Represented Minority Children and Give Funds To Middle and Upper Middle Class
On April 16, 2010, CD11 Bill Rosendahl made a motion to the City Council, seconded by Council person Bernard Parks, to move that $237,000 be given to Penmar Park for after school and preschool care and $182,900 be given to Oakwood Park for after school care from the unallocated balance of the Venice Area Surplus Real Property Fund No. 434, Department 50. Other new accounts include $182,900 to the Venice Beach Board and Rec Center; $76,000 for Venice Beach Washrooms; $22, 207 to the Venice Beach LAPD Substation; and $6,500 for recycle bins for the Boardwalk.
The children living in Oakwood are primarily low income under represented minority students who most are less than proficient in basic skills and a greater majority basic and below basic on assessment testing. The $182,900 given to Oakwood would allow the PAB to provide some great educational programs to build basic skills and promote proficiency. BUT,
On April 20, 2010, Mr. Rosendahl (seconded by Mr. Parks) presented a new motion to the council (#51) to be added to the agenda at the next Regular Council Meeting to amend the above motion to change the funding for the “Oakwood Rec Center from $182,900 to $75,000 with no reasons being given.
It appears this 59% decrease is based on the fact that Oakwood Park deals with children who are less fortunate economically than others and whose parents do not have the legal representation to fight back.
I ask the City Council, RAP, and the City Parks and Recs Administration to assist the children of Oakwood to keep the
$182,900 in tact. This advocate has no idea why Oakwood Park Administration is not addressing this issue other than possible continued perks for the Director as is pattern and practice no different than her unilateral selections fo Park Board with no supervision nor oversight.
Peace.
In unity for accountability,
Rick Selan
———————————–
April 7, 2010
Subject: CPRA Requests: Continued Unfair Play By Oakwood Park Director All About Land and Money and “Who Cares About the People”
Date: 04-07-10
From: Rick Selan, Educational Advocate
Re: $1500 Cover Up by VNC and Oakwood Park Director, Where Are The Missing Signatures?
Oakwood Director Blocks African American Board Member From Her Board Seat With No Minutes To Justify Retaliation,
Oakwood Park Director Fails To Set Up Survey Logistics At VNC Election, Public Records Requests CPRA
Dear RAP, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Mukri, Mr. Regan, and Ms. Pina Cortez,
The Oakwood Park Director’s decision to hold no PAB Board meetings for three months have created more crisis at Oakwood Park.
Lizka Mendoza, Oakwood Park Director, has not yet replied when the Survey Sub Committee will meet to discuss the PAB survey. Board members fear that Ms. Mendoza and Ms. Esparza, a former CD11 Deputy, will attempt to dump the sub-committee’s survey and use the survey written by LA Parks Foundation and Rand Corporation which the Oakwood PAB Board voted down. The subcommittee has requested meetings to review the survey and request a time certain meeting to discuss the administration and implementation of the survey. The Oakwood Park Director and Ms. Esparza refuse to reply.
As Ms. Mendoza never contacted Sofia Torres, City Election Supervisor for the VNC Election nor apparently the Venice Election Clerks (Ivan Spiegel, Elizabeth Wright, Dante Cacace and Emily ________, no logistics for the survey have been done. The Survey subcommittee has sent numerous notes to Sophia Pina Cortez, Alexa Esparza, Kevin Regan, and Lizka Mendoza requesting a meeting time to review city election procedures and regulations by the Office of the City Clerk regarding doing a survey during a city election. Again, no response regarding a meeting time.
Ms. Mendoza, according to Recs and Parks CPRA Legal (pg.1 inter office memo) alleges that Lydia Ponce is Oakwood PAB secretary. This is false. Lydia Ponce and Jill Prestup serve as Secretary Co-Chairs. I have not seen Ms. Prestup since she was part of a coup to elect Cameron Rodriquez President. When the coup failed, Ms. Prestup left and did not stay for the regular PAB meeting. Cameron Rodriquez has been to 2 of 8 meetings and functions since he was “unilaterally appointed” by Lizka Mendoza along with Jill Prestup whose attendance is not much better.
Possibly the readers can interpret this line by Lizka Mendoza: “Unfortunately, Ms. Ponce never completed any minutes are relieved herself of this duty at the March 24, 2009 PAB Meeting. Facility Director [ Lizka Mendoza] took over this assignment since that date. “
It makes no sense as written.
Community and PAB Board members for at least 6 months if not more in 2009 requested that Oakwood PAB Board Member Kendra Moore return to her seat on the Oakwood PAB Board after her illness leave. Again “unilateral denial by Lizka Mendoza.
My public records request stated , ” Please send me all past minutes justifying Kendra Moore violated the by laws and rules you [Lizka Mendoza ] indicate. Was Ms. Moore “unilaterally excluded by Lizka Mendoza as Ms. Moore asks meaningful questions and represents a large portion of the African American population in Oakwood “. Parks and Recs Legal CPRA state: ” No Minutes Exist” by the Oakwood Park Director’s office to verify Ms. Mendoza’s “unilateral denial” to seat Ms. Moore.
As Ms. Mendoza states in the CPRA she has taken minutes at all meetings since March, 2009. Why can’t Ms. Mendoza produce the minutes and discussion regarding her refusal to seat Kendra Moore?
Isn’t it fact Ms. Mendoza wanted those new members she unilaterally chose for the Park Board to be those who knew little about Oakwood so that she, VNC and CD11 might easily maneuver them to vote in their direction regarding issues on gentrification.Might Ms. Prestup have received favors from CD 11 regarding her 501c3? I am not sure yet.
Ms. Prestup actually stated she was only at Oakwood Park twice in her life for the VNC $5,000 picnics the last two years. Ms. Prestup does not even live near Oakwood. Ms. Prestup also leads the Venice Historical Society, a 501c3 that refuses to share by laws or financial records. Two of the VHS Board of Directors represent Abbot Kinney Realty. Land and money and power over people. It is one big connect the dots with CD11, VNC, Oakwood Park, Venice Historical and those who do “less than clean” tricks for LAUSD Venice Complex Good Ol’ Boys and Girls Club.
As well I received the VNC application Ms. Mendoza put through with contact Ivan Spiegel ( a non-elected VNC resident ) for almost $1500 that has no signatures on the application by neither VNC nor Oakwood Park nor LA Parks.
Supposedly this screen and projector was passed many months ago by VNC, but still have not arrived at Oakwood Park. This needs investigation. Why can’t LA Parks and Recs Legal CPRA find the application with signatures and dates ? I am requesting that the City Attorney investigate this VNC City Application that was approved by VNC. As well, auditors at Parks and Recs need to investigate the location of this $1500 screen and projector.
At the April, 2010 Oakwood PAB Board, Lizka Mendoza must allow Kendra Moore to be seated. Ms. Mendoza’s “unilateral choices” appear a means to appease those in favor of gentrification of Oakwood. The low income under represented minority population in Oakwood are being treated “separate and less than equal”. Ask the community of the antics by Ms. Mendoza and her assistant the night the community held a most successful celebration of African American History Month. Ms. Mendoza and her assistant prohibited a minister from speaking by their bad behavior. This is wrong.
CPRA PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS To Sophia Pina Cortez and Alexa Esparza Within ten days:
1. Please send minutes of all Oakwood PAB Board meetings beginning with January, 2009 through the present.
2. Please send all agendas of all Oakwood PAB Board meetings beginning with January, 2009 through the present.
3. Please send again the VNC Community Improvement Projects Application Packet with all signatures rather than the one Parks and Recs Legal sent with no signatures. Does a copy exist with signatures?
4. Please send a copy of the purchase order of $1,489.27 from the City to LA Parks and Recs and/or VNC for the screen . and projector. Something appears wrong with this picture.
Again, please be kind enough to inform the survey sub-committee when the meeting to discuss the survey will take place. Time is of the essence. Peace.
In unity for accountability,
Rick Selan
———————————————————
March 31, 2010
A sign at Oakwood Recreation Center on California Avenue warns visitors to keep their dogs on a leash. Some resident want to let their dogs run free during certain hours. Others are opposed.
Dear ABC News, 3-30-10
The community within the Oakwood portion of Venice are quite protective of the public services that have served the Community for at least a half century and in some cases much longer.
For at least half a decade, there continues to be conflict between philosophy of community and the Director who operates Oakwood Park who makes unilateral decisions on selection of Board members and park operations with no accountability, transparency, rubric nor oversight.
Over a year ago, a Dr. Stoller (spelling ), representing newer residents of Oakwood, attempted to make a portion of Oakwood Park into a dog park for certain hours of the day/ night under their proposal’s monitoring system. Many in the community, right or wrong, concluded these were the same individuals who were pushing OPD. The Oakwood Community was divided.
The Oakwood Park Board Director turned against the original Park Board and teamed with her 3 “unilateral self selected” Board members who followed directions. The Oakwood Park Board remains divided in two as part of the cover up by CD11 and Parks and Recs to clean up Westminster Dog Park which is explained below.
When I spoke before ABC news, I wanted to focus on my central issue of reform of the Venice-Mar Vista public schools, but I felt the divide and conquer by Parks and Recs, VNC, and CD11 needed to be exposed with ABC.
For the last four years,I have worked as an advocate for the Oakwood Park Board. I never miss a meeting. The “dog issue” has been a serious one that no one took any responsibility. When Dr. Stoller came to the Oakwood Park Board representing a “specific group of individuals wanting a dog park at Oakwood”, he never explained why his group did not use Westminster Dog Park 4/10 of a mile away. This is the key question that was never answered.
The reason I chose this story for ABC happened after an incident in mid-March 2010 when friends from Chicago came to visit. After driving cross country, they requested to go to a dog park to allow Lucy, a well groomed large Standard grey poddle an opportunity to run. I informed them that I really wanted to go to Westminster Dog Park to check it out. I explained to my friends that the Westminster Dog Park is the responsibility of the office of CD11 Bill Rosendahl, Venice Neighborhood Council, and LA Parks and Recreation.
Before we entered the dog park, one of my friend’s who grew up on a family farm in Iowa, saw two girls dealing drugs that was not Cannabis.
When we entered the Park the only place to sit was on a small bench as the bleachers were filled, not with Venice residents nor those who have a purpose for being in Venice, but those who enjoyed harassing first time park goers they did not want near their bleachers.
A group of about 15-20 on the bleachers cheered when one sent a very large dog with a face scarier than a mean pit bull to sic us. As we sat there, quite frightened, the bleacher people continued laughing loud and pointing. Once we yelled over we wanted to go, the very large dog was restrained my his master in the bleachers and we moved quickly out. Besides meaning scary, the park was dirty and smelled. It felt like leaving a war or riot zone.
What we have here is a typical LAUSD “Gaslight” game. Rather than have Dr. Stoller come to Oakwood Park and ask for help with the serious problems at Westminister Dog Park, the group instead came to take over part of Oakwood.
This is the problem with VNC, CD11, and Parks and Recs and those who do dirty deeds for them as well as for LAUSD. Rather than have VNC, Parks and Recs and Bill Rosendahl take responsibility for this despicable Westminister Dog Park, they continue their “Gaslight strategy” to allow two sides fight over an issue which is the responsibility of VNC, Parks and Recs, and CD11.
I am placing this in writing as many were unclear of my message as ABC provided only 1.5 minutes, but you know what, that was fine. ABC showed their commitment to neighborhoods by hearing the issues.
Please, for your own safety, stay away from Westminster Dog Park until VNC, Parks and Recs and CD 11 does their job to clean it up and make it safe. During their stall period, VNC, CD11, and Oakwood Parks and Recs enjoy community to fighting among themselves to keep the pressure off those responsible; no different than use at LAUSD, a slowly sinking Titanic trapped in Orwell’s 1984.
VNC , CD11, and Oakwood Park needs new leadership. Peace.
In unity for accountability,
Rick Selan- candidate VNC Community at Large
——————————————
February 19, 2010
Please attend our meeting with Carol Galante from HUD. Ms. Galante is the top-level decision maker at HUD on everything about the Project-Based Section 8 program, and she has the power to help the Holiday Venice tenants and Mercy Housing buy the Holiday Venice apartments, a dream long-deferred. This is the highest-level HUD official who has ever come to meet with us in Venice.
WHERE: OAKWOOD PARK, 767 CALIFORNIA ST. VENICE
WHEN: TUES. FEB 23 @ 5pm
WHAT: POWER MEETING
WHO: DPTY ASSISTANT SEC. FOR MULTIFAMILY HOUSING CAROL GALANTE (HUD)
WHY: PERMANENTLY PRESERVE THE NATION’S STOCK OF PROJECT-BASED SECTION 8 (MULTIFAMILY) HOUSING
HOW: COME TO THE MEETING!
Please distribute this far and wide! This is an enormously important meeting for POWER and the Holiday Venice tenants.
Best,
Bill Przylucki
Organizer
People Organized for Westside Renewal (POWER)
(310) 439-8564 (cell)
(310) 392-9700 x 3#
235 Hill St.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
——————————————–
February 4, 2010
From: Rick Selan, Educational Advocate
Re: Mandatory Meeting For Oakwood Park Grant Writing Committee
Dear Mr. Regan and Ms. Pina Cortez,
This evening (2/2/10) at the Oakwood Park Board Meeting, the Park Advisory Board was informed in writing by Director Mendoza that all PAB meetings citywide have been cancelled until April 27, 2010 due to budget cuts. None of the new Board Members “unilaterally” chosen by Director Mendoza were present apparently as their coup to take over control of the Board failed terribly when the Oakwood Community banned together.
While it appears Ms. Mendoza goal along with CD11 was to divide and conquer the Oakwood community with Ms. Mendoza’s political “unilateral” selections of new park board members , the exact opposite has happened. Community is coming back strong and demanding “fair play”.
Ms. Mendoza has denied the Grant writing sub-committee the opportunity to hold meetings as it appears she had made political arrangements with the RAND Corporation and LA Parks Foundation who were to come in with her failed coup.
Since then, the Park Board voted against RAND Corporation’s access from RAND’s planned endeavor to create “RAND data” concerning Oakwood Park. The Board also voted down LA Parks Foundation for their political ties as illustrated in paper work concerning Executive Director Judith Kiefer’s many political donations to political candidates.
Ms. Mendoza now states that before the grant writing team may meet, the six members must find a convenient time in the early afternoon for the sub-committee, who are all on the West Side, to go downtown rather than have the Grant Writer Trainer come to Oakwood.
Ms. Mendoza stated the Grant writing Director, whose name Ms. Mendoza did not know, insisted the sub-committee ( half who work or go to school full time) must go downtown. This is a lot to ask of volunteers as this becomes an all day function.
Both the Oakwood Park Board President and this advocate are physically challenged and wonder if the Grant writing Director for Parks and Recs might reconsider her “unilateral” decision as explained by Ms. Mendoza. Ms. Mendoza directed that each sub-committee member send her three convenient dates. Is there not an easier way for six volunteers to be trained so grant writing and fund raising might be permitted to hold our first meeting?
Ms. Mendoza continues to charge under represented low income minority parents $75 per child per month for after school activities at the Park. At the same time , she has stopped since October the opportunity for the Grant Writing/ Fundraising Committee to meet.
Please reply as soon as possible. Ms. Mendoza no longer replies to direct e-mail nor sends out revised agendas to the agenda sub-committee. Peace.
In unity for accountability,
Rick Selan
————————————————————————————
January 18 2010
Re: Dogs Off Leash in Oakwood Children’s Playing Field
From: Rick Selan
Dear Oakwood Park Director Lizka Mendoza, 1-17-10
Re: Dogs Off Leash in Oakwood Children’s Playing Field
From: Laddie Williams
Dogs off leash in Oakwood is and everyday occurrence! When you call the phone number given out by Park Director the Safety Officers come and harass the people sitting in the park,and along 7th Avenue, while the dog owners rush to put leashes on the dogs and leave the park immediately.
The people in the park and surrounding the park don’t call because they’re belittled, arrested, ticketed by the Safety Officers while the dog owners are allowed to put leashes on and leave without a warning. The dog owners know this and return when they choose knowing that as long as these practices go on they don’t have to worry.
People aren’t going to keep calling while they’re harassed for sitting there playing dominos or just being in the wrong place when the dog owners come and break the law each and every day. LAPD passes by the park while dogs are off leashes, nothing is said. Individuals that LAPD decide are on their radars (never dogs off leash and their owners which is breaking the law)but always people of color and the homeless.
The domino players and homeless feel defeated by the Safety police and LAPD, while those who go home and email lies and made up incidents(RV dwellers urinate and deficate,African Americans are drinking and selling drugs- instant reason for Safety police and LAPD to harass them) walk freely breaking the law with nothing ever happening to them. Where is the justice in this?
Same old status quo “Persecute the poor and less fortunate and allow the elite to have run of the mill.” I guess secret meetings with Councilman Bill Rosendahl and LAPD pay off. The new Klu Klux Clan strategy works especially if you have access to the internet. The new sheets over there heads is the Super Highway of cyber space. I wonder who the new ‘Imperial Wizard is?
The struggle continues
Laddie
——————————————–
January 2, 2010
Re: Agenda Item for January 26, 2010 – Serving of Cold Food and Distribution of Food to Seniors “The Blessing”
To: Lizka Mendoza, Oakwood Park Director, Jataun Valentine, Oakwood Park Board Acting Facilitator, Lydia Ponce, Oakwood Park Board Subcommittee Agenda Chair
cc: RAP Commissioners, Jon Kirk Mukri, General Manager LA Parks and Recreation, c/o Kevin Regan, Kevin Regan, Asst. General Manager L.A. Parks and Recreation, Sophia Pina Cortez, L.A. Westside Superintendent Parks and Recreation, LA Human Relations
From: Rick Selan, Educational Advocate
Dear Oakwood Park Director Lizka Mendoza, Acting Facilitator Jataun Valentine, and Agenda Chair Sub-Committee Chair Lydia Ponce,
I have received more than one call regarding distribution and cold food being served to seniors at Oakwood Park. These individuals prefer not to talkwith you or with Ms. Zelda James as they speak of retaliation towards them when they make constructive criticism or ask questions. Our seniors do not need to live in harms way or fear cold lunches or be harassed for not having cards for senior citizens no longer made by Parks and Recreation if they ask about their rights as senior citizens. Why do seniors at Oakwood need to call the LA Department of Aging for less than equal services at Oakwood Park? Why are seniors told if they ask for a big TV it is a waste of their time because it will be stolen?
I ask Ms. Valentine, acting facilitator, to form a sub-committee at the 1-26-10 Oakwood Park Board Meeting. This committee needs to have lunch at three different Parks in Venice-Mar Vista and come back in February with a report of changes and other recommendations the sub -committee might suggest for implementation at Oakwood Park. Within the report might be a review of the 3 park visit to the Oakwood Seniors and our seniors ideas to be included in recommendations. I suggest that in March, 2010, these recommended changes be implemented as much as possible ( equipment might need to be ordered) and a report be given in March of a second evaluation given to seniors regarding serving of food, cleanliness, and whether food is hot or cold. These forms can easily be developed by the sub-committee. This evaluation data needs to then be given to seniors once every six once as part of Oakwood Park Policy so no senior has to fear retaliation for questioning food service.
The Israel Levin Center by the Westminister Dog Park has been rated highly for their food service to seniors.
Many individuals can not tolerate “small issues” that might become “larger issues” if not communicated and shared. This advocate was informed that for the Oakwood “Holiday Luncheon” before 12-25-09, the blessing given before the meal was only spoken in Spanish, not in English. Given the nature and the diversity of the Oakwood community, I would suggest in the future that any blessings at events be non-religious and spoken in both English and Spanish and any other language spoken in the community. Might this be passed along for all involved.
On 12-08-09, I sent you a public records request regarding a group “you” and part of your “New Elite” appear to want to bring into the park to raise money. This foundation gives 50% to the park and the other goes 50% elsewhere. Neither you nor your “unilaterally chosen New Elite” are willing to respond to where the other 50% of the money goes. Ms. Kiefer, the representative from LA Parks Foundation walked out angry in November and never showed up to make the presentation in December. A sub-committee put together in November by you was to meet with LA Parks Foundation during the first week of December which you cancelled. Then they were to meet 30 minutes before the December meeting which was also cancelled by you.
Please send the following public records immediately concerning LA Parks Foundation which you as Park Director seem to want implemented at Oakwood along with the corporate Venice Historical Society President Jill Prestup you “unilaterally” chose as a new Board Member denying LA Human Services (Relations) the right to sit in as a neutral party in the interview. Might their be a conflict of interest here between Ms. Prestup’s Corporation and the LA Parks Foundation? The spread sheet requested regarding LA Parks Foundation is long over do.
Sent 12-08-09 Under A CPRA Public Records Request: Please send within ten days:
Where do all of the funds donated to LA Parks Foundation really go ? Please share a spreadsheet on how these funds are used in other Parks and where and to whom the other 50% of the donation is distributed?
Peace. Rick Selan
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Re: Oakwood Park “The New Elitism” Money Over Community
This gross denial of information is sickening and quite disturbing. These acts remind me of the take over of the ravine in Los Angeles where Dodger Stadium now resides. Could it be that the land in Venice is such a Gold Mine that our City Council and LA City Parks and Recreation want to sell it out? Could it be that eminent domain is the next nasty move? Why is it that LA City Parks and Recreation would rather see the gym sit empty then allow childrens programs and events to go on “Free?”We need to bring this to the media’s attention and let the world see what our corrupt officials who are voted in by the people, are doing in this community. Money shouldn’t be the end all get all for Oakwood Park. You didn’t want to see minorities utilizing the facility and you complained and complained. In the past “The strong City Council people for CD11 always told you ‘If you don’t want noise and to see people why did you buy around a park?” Now the emphasis is charge for everything (which Oakwood’s Park Director does with joy) and get the under represented community out and use the cities policies to do so.
I implore all of you to realize that uneducated,ignored children become societies problem. What is going on is wrong and you all know this-right the wrong and stop the games.
Laddie Williams
—————————————————————————-
In a year and about three months you have turned Oakwood Park, a park for the Oakwood community, into what one may refer to as “The Park for the New Elite and those who favor Gentrification and turning part of Oakwood into a dog park”. Rather than allow community the right to use the park annex for a small group meeting, or a repass,a study group,or a baby shower,etc. where those holding the function set up and clean up, you have decided along with your “New Elite”, the Doctors and Lawyers and the Politicians, to charge community $75 dollars an hour to use this annex even though it sits empty. As well you and your “New Elite” want to charge the low income under represented minorities in the Oakwood community fees to sit in the park’s chairs as well as charge to use the tables.
In a non-advertised public meeting held last night December 8, 2009, never advertised to the community, which you called an Orientation Meeting, you demonstrated a “mean spirit” along with your new found “Elite” you “unilaterally” chose denying LA Human Relations the right to sit in on the interviews to allow fair play. On top of this you planned with never sharing with the Board your “unilateral” plan to bring into Oakwood Park the RAND Corporation and their mission and/ or their hidden mission different than what they inform the public. As well, you and Andrea Epstein, Bonds/ Volunteer Chair Coordinator and former Deputy to CD11, are bringing in LA Parks Foundation; a 501 c3 where “elite” donate money and half the money goes to Oakwood Park and half the money goes somewhere else.
As a teacher and tutor in this community for almost 35 years, I was stunned when Mr. Rodriguez and the other “New Elite” focused on charging low income under represented minority Oakwood teenagers who perform “less than basic on Standardized Assessments” for the right to free tutoring. Mr. Rodriguez made it clear that if a student cannot afford the tutoring, the student would perform an hour of community service after in return for the tutoring. According to Mr. Rodriguez, teenagers do not appreciate tutoring if there is no payback by the student. He kept referring to the training of referee’s, never explaining himself.
Under A CPRA Public Records Request: Please send within ten days:
1. The educational history of Cameron Rodriguez ? Is he a PHD Chemistry/ biology major at UCLA as you stated or was that less than true?
2. Does Cameron Rodriguez live across the street from the park as you indicated and why did you direct him not to share his credentials?
3. What is Cameron Rodriguez’s reason for applying to the PAB Board if he has never been to the Park and no one at the last PAB ever heard of him ?
4. For those parents who are currently paying for after school tutoring at Oakwood for their teens, will these children, following Mr. Rodriguez’s model, also be doing an hour of community service in return for the tutoring ?
5. Why are you, the Park Director, now stating that the purpose of the Park is all recreational rather than educational when our Venice kids are in harms way of never obtaining a high school diploma?
6. Where do all of the funds donated to LA Parks Foundation really go ? Please share a spreadsheet on how these funds are used in other Parks and where and to whom the other 50% of the donation is distributed?
Peace, Rick Selan
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
October 6, 2009
From Laddie Williams:
Dear People Of Venice;
We who love children and all children, need to weigh in on this immediately.
We have sat in at Oakwood Park Advisory Board meetings monthly and tonight those of us who attended learned that some of the children of Oakwood who are involved in football activities and cheer leading would not be able to attend a tradition of having Halloween Festivities being held at Oakwood Recreation. When two Parents brought this to the attention of the Park Advisory Board (One was a Grandparent who oddly enough is the President of the board)the reply to them “Well believe it or not the Westside Bulldogs children are not the only children in the neighborhood” stated by the Park Director Lizka Mendoza. That is true but their needs must be considered too. All children should have the opportunity to attend since it’s children this great party is being held for.
Let’s give respect to all the children of the community. It’s rare that it falls on a Saturday and it will be great fun for them to come and enjoy all the wonderful activities that are planned for them that night. I know we can make this work for all the children of Venice.
The PAB board didn’t have a say on the time, and this is what some of their duties entail, and there input could’ve assisted in the time being workable for all.
We need transparency and most of all accountability in running Oakwood Park. If organizations give they should do this with no strings attached. Excluding children shouldn’t be overlooked because enough questions weren’t asked, and Park Advisory Board members weren’t consulted. Let’s right this and get the hours changed as suggested by two board members Lydia and Jataun.
Please call Oakwood Recreation Center and voice your thoughts for the children. 310-452-7479 Lizka Mendoza Park Director. Please email Sophia Pina-Cortez- ) sophia.pinacortez@ lacity.org ( Area supervisor for Pacific Division LA City Parks and Rec’s)
Laddie Williams
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
October 3, 2009
To:
All Concerned People that Love Oakwood Recreation Park,
Lizka Mendoza – Park Director,
Sophia Pina-Cortez -Supervisor,
Kevin Regan-Regional Administrator of LA City Parks & Recreation,
Oakwood Park Advisory Board (PAB)
I attended the meeting held on September 29, 2009 and I have many comments that are pertinent to this entire Park Advisory Board (being informed and having input on all the events and scheduling of events).
1. PAB put together agenda for the meeting and it was not used? Why? In the Community Meeting held September 16, 2009 @ Oakwood Recreation – it was stated that this would be wonderful if the PAB would write the agenda -Lizka Mendoza.
2. Halloween Festival was in question? The time being to early? It would exclude many of the children who are cheering and playing football with the Westside Bulldogs they have all day games on October 31, 2009? The community has been accustomed to having the park to rely on for good times with the children, homes have not been child/ren friendly with the high fences, so parents don’t take their children to trick or treat they use the park for fun and good times. Parents requested that the time be changed so the Westside Bulldog children could participate, and the park director said “Believe it or not the children of the Bulldogs aren’t the only kids in the community.” All children including the Bulldog children should be thought of in the process of making a time that is amicable to everyone. If VNC , LAPD, CD11 and LA City Parks have a problem with these children then to bad because Halloween is special for all children! PAB seemed unknowing of the time that had been allotted for the Halloween festival? Was the time ever discussed with the members?
3. After school rate hike seems to be another issued that was not discussed with the PAB, they appeared to have no knowledge of the rate hike. Many children cannot afford to participate with these fee’s Community wanted to know why was this done? This afterschool program should be available to all children that need assistance in their homework, fee’s should not be and issue for children who need to be in the program and who need to utilize the park for safety reasons until their parents get off of work. Is this not what the parks are for?
4. Community room usage the astronomical prices that are being charged for renting the annex and then the renting of chairs and tables. The renting of the kitchen was outrageous? The community of Venice should not have to pay for the building that sits in their community – is LA City Parks and Recreation becoming Mafioso’s? What is the meaning of charging for a building that we the community fought to have adjacent to the gym? Why is money all we hear about when it’s clear that families need this facility to have parties,baby showers etc? Changing policy to assist children and community who have no means to pay for renting of everything inside a “Community Room.”
5. Oakwood doors being closed during hours of operation? Why? Keeping children safe on the inside and out should be important! Where is all the “Fear” coming from get over the fear that has come over this beautiful facility the doors need to be open. The after school program can go on with the doors being open to any and all children who cannot afford to pay. The doors are closed and this means what ? Money shouldn’t be the mitigating factor in who uses this facility,assist ,open up Oakwood’s doors and allow everyone equal access. The rooms to the South of the building could be used for the seventeen children that attend with the expectation of it filling to capacity with twenty-five children capacity. This is too much square footage to be locked up for four hours.
6. PAB had agreed one year ago that the PAB should be larger- four people, aren’t enough to run the park effectively. The applications have been in and accepted, but no interviews have been held. Why? PAB asked when the new members would be chosen? The PAB would love to have access to the interview process to have input also. The community asked if they could be involved also? Why has the PAB request not been fulfilled and the members not seated? Who is Andrea Epstein and why is it that her being there is more important then community and present PAB members? Why is the community being met with all these obstacles and being pushed out of the process? CD11 cannot have the right to put there person in to choose PAB members is gentrification the reason that CD11 has become so interested in who sits on this board? CD11 is there for what reason? The community and PAB members cannot attend but CD11 is vital? Please elaborate?
7. Budget for Oakwood was on the agenda that PAB members put together why was this not addressed? PAB and the community has the right to see this and make suggestions on how the money is best used. Budget request was for 2008/2009 and 2009/2010. Is this something that the PAB and community could receive?
8. There is a definite rift that is tearing Oakwood park apart, solutions need to be discussed openly. PAB and concerned community members who attend all the PAB meetings regularly should have input on the daily everyday running’s of the park. The compliance of the Director with PAB and community is vital- it has left a sour taste in the mouth of many community members and the present PAB.
9. Who pays the employees of Oakwood park is it the city or is it the fee’s that are paid to Oakwood via after school program, basketball, softball? This needs to be clarified because the understanding seems to be if the program doesn’t make money the employees don’t get paid?
Community is extremely important in making this program successful, communication is crucial. Money should not be the operating word for children getting the best of the best. This park has always been open to all the children and teens and no exclusion. Oakwood Recreation park was famous for the programs it offered and children and teens would travel far and wide to come and participate in what was being offered. The exclusion system that has reared it’s ugly head needs to be eradicated immediately. There are enough resources out there for everyone who wants to be in Oakwood and who wants to have their children attend. Gentrification is ugly and it’s greed is not going to be the reason that Oakwood cannot continue to serve any and all people who come to enjoy this beautiful park. Generations of well respected people have sacrificed to make this park special and we will not be pushed out by non-agreeable and less then agreeable city officials who supposedly work for all the community – CD11, LAPD, Venice Neighborhood Council, LA City Parks, cave to individuals who sit and complain daily via emails, never coming out to attend meetings to state their concerns. When you move near a park you must get on board with what the park is famous for having “People.” Oakwood park should be open to all who want to come and play and get along with neighboring people.
I formally challenge the procedure of the Park Advisory Board selection process, it’s roots are antiquated and exclusionary. I make this challenge as a resident who is involved and concerned that the present selection process is not fair to the community and ‘everyone’ it serves. The process needs and overhaul and it needs to be open and fair process that any and all who are interested to join in.
I value Oakwood Park lets make it what it’s meant to be, open, fun, free, assisting the community in keeping all children safe and interested in being individuals who are giving and loving of where they play and learn.
I will await a reply on my request to contest the policy and procedure of the choosing of Park Advisory Board Members.
Thank You
Laddie Williams
310-401-0172-home
310-908-7174-cell
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
DOG PARK ISSUE RAISES CONCERNS OF GENTRIFICATION
VENICE — The long-standing gentrification issue in a historically black and Latino neighborhood is now going to the dogs.
That’s the problem that some residents near the Oakwood Recreation Center believe is underlying a growing conflict between dog owners who run their pups off leash at the local park and those who want to keep the animals securely tied and away from children.
The increasing affluence of Venice has been a sensitive issue that has popped up throughout the Los Angeles neighborhood, including along Abbot Kinney and Windward Circle where residents are trying to fight off chain stores, along Rose Avenue where a Whole Foods moved in last year, and for the past 10 years, the Oakwood area where long-time residents complain about the presence of off-leash dogs, which is in violation of the city ordinance.
“When families in the neighborhood see the blatant disregard for the law and there is signage throughout the park, it sends a message that they’re above the law and privileged,” Lydia Ponce, who serves on the Oakwood Park Advisory Board, said. “It sets up a cultural divide.”
The lack of canine-friendly facilities has also been an issue raised by many dog owners who point out that the only other real alternative to Oakwood is the Westminster Off-Leash Dog Park, which is located about a mile away but has been criticized as being unkempt and filled with unfriendly-looking pit bulls.
A group of dog owners comprised of neighborhood newcomers and old residents are proposing a pilot project to permit dogs to run off leash at Oakwood Recreation Center between the hours of 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., a time when the park is mainly devoid of any activity.
“We’re law abiding citizens and we don’t want to get tickets for exercising dogs in the morning,” Dr. Douglas Stockel, who has lived in Venice for five years, said. “We think it’s a waste of city funds to do what they’re doing. They’re public parks that are not in use at all in the morning hours.”
Stockel is among a group of 10 residents who are trying to push the pilot project, presenting the idea to the advisory board last month. He said that the group is made up of courteous dog owners who make it a point not to bring their dogs off leash when there are children in the park, and even clean up after other pups who leave their waste bind.
He said that there is animosity in the community that predates his involvement in Venice and that the goal is to close that divide.
“We can all live together,” he said. “There has been change but we are all part of the community.”
G.D. Young, who has lived in the neighborhood for two years, takes his French bulldog and Italian greyhound to the park several times a week, avoiding Westminster because it’s too small and “filthy.”
He said the safety of the children takes precedence over the dogs, but stresses that the park is empty during the morning.
“It seems like a win-win,” he said. “We’re all for doing whatever we can to help the community and be a part of the community.”
L.A. Councilman Bill Rosendahl, who complained in 2007 when Santa Monica city officials decided to restrict the off-leash dog facility at Airport Park to residents within the city limits, said he is waiting to hear from the advisory park board’s recommendation before introducing discussion to the City Council about the matter. The dog park at Airport Park has since been opened to nonresidents.
He said that no new dog parks have been created in the district since the issue in Santa Monica, noting that one in Westchester just shut down last week.
“We have this problem in every city,” he said. “It’s all about the responsible dog owner and picking up after their pet.”
Lizka Mendoza, the director at Oakwood Recreation Center, said that any changes to the off-leash dog rules at the park would have to apply to the entire city.
The park, which takes up about two blocks, is mostly enclosed, with a few openings near the athletic fields. Mendoza said that she sees dogs off leash all the time. The Los Angeles Police Department and Office of Public Safety are responsible for enforcing the rules of the park, she said.
Mendoza said the solution to the problem would be to refurbish Westminster Dog Park.
“There needs to be space for the dogs and a safe space for kids,” she said.
Rick Selan, who has lived in the neighborhood for more than 30 years, said the dog issue hits on the gentrification problem in Venice that pits the long-time residents against the “gentrifiers.”
“They basically want to take over the park and are starting small by wanting to take over the park from (6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m.) with a dog park,” he said. “The newer people in the community aren’t really willing to sit down and listen to the side of the community as far as what that park means to those who lived in Venice their whole lives.”
But members of the group proposing the pilot project said they are willing to listen and don’t see themselves as the opposing side, hoping to instead work through a solution.
M.B. Boissonnault, a 10-year Venice resident, said that people come and go out of the neighborhood all the time, adding that she serves the community by volunteering with various organizations.
“To have an underlying issue with new people is a strange stance,” she said. “I think it transfers to the dogs than some underlying weird hometown pride that doesn’t make sense.”
She adds that its better to exercise dogs than leave them cooped up in a yard where they have no social interaction.
Many dog owners said they have been cited for having their dogs off leash. Jataun Valentine, whose family has lived in Venice for 95 years, said her 94-year-old relative was cited for simply carrying a daughter-in-law’s dog.
Valentine, who volunteers to help senior citizens, said her concern was that the presence of dogs results in fewer usable space for the elderly.
“There’s a big area where the seniors can’t use because most of them are walking with a walker and it would be too dangerous to sit,” she said.
Ponce said that she will take an objective look at the proposal, which will come back to the park advisory board this month.
“My heart is hopeful, not hateful,” she said. “It’s going to take a lot of work to fight it and change it. This is a city ordinance they have to change.”
Courtesy of Santa Monica Daily Press
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stay in touch with the Spirit of Venice — spiritofvenice.net
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Venice Landed Gentry” To Hold 2nd Meeting on September 12, 2012
The Importance of Full Inclusion of all Oakwood-Venice Residents
To: Cassidy Lange, Neighborhood Watch Coordinator for “Venice Landed Gentry”
Jon Kirk Mukri, General Manager LA Parks and Recreation & Parks
Alexander Bustamonte, LAPD Inspector General
cc: Alfred Rodas, LAUSD Inspector General
U.S. Department of Justice
Mayor Villaraigosa and LA City Council
FBI
Janice Hahn, Venice Representative in US Congress
Parks and Crump, Attorney for Ronald Weekly
Grayce Liu, Interim General Manager DONE
LA Human Relations
NAACP
From: Rick Selan, Educational Advocate
Dear Cassidy Lange, Jon Mukri, and Alex Bustamonte,
On August 16, 2012, the “Venice Landed Gentry” led by their Neighborhood Watch Coordinator Cassidy Lange, with the permission of Oakwood Park Director Lizka Mendoza , held a Public Neighborhood Watch meeting for those in Venice who are not people of color, low income, nor Seniors.
Oakwood Park Director placed the onus of responsibility for this meeting on LA Human Relations Facilitator Sheldon Cruz during a phone conference. The night after the meeting, Police brutality began in Oakwood- Venice against people of color in the community.
The following night, this police brutality continued against Xavier College student Ronald Weekley, an African American on a skateboard. This police beating against Ronald was taped and has become national news. Ronald’s parents hired the Law Firm of Parkscrump who are the attorneys in the Trayvon Martin Case in Florida.
Yesterday, after talking to community, it was shared that it was Park Director Lizka Mendoza who contacted LA Human Relations Sheldon Cruz to participate in this meeting that Mr. Cruz knew nothing about.
Mr. Cruz attended the so-called “Neighborhood Watch” group and made it clear during the meeting of the Cassidy Lange group that he felt “duped” and would never return to the Mendoza-Cassidy “Venice Landed Gentry”, until all community including people of color, low income, and Seniors were included.
These facts above shared by community will be verified on August 27 through contact with LA Human Relations.
The police who brutalized Ronald were not from Venice nor from Pacific Division, but another part of the City. Who brought in this group of Police from outside Venice who were involved in Ronald’s beating and harassment against people of color in Venice and why ?
Was this special unit of LAPD and/or Pacific Division LAPD at the Lange-Mendoza coordinated
The low income , the people of color,and Seniors will be in attendance at the next “Cassidy-Mendoza” Neighborhood Watch Meeting. After speaking with members of the community, it is imperative that LA Human Relations facilitate this September 12, 2012 meeting.
Please Ms. Lange share the written agenda and minutes of your August 16 meeting at Oakwood Park. Please post these documents on the internet or fax them to 310-396-0754
Finally, it is time that Oakwood Park interview all those who have applied for membership to the Oakwood Park Advisory Council. Valley Parks Interim Superintendent Charles Singer and Lizka Mendoza have extended the application due date for a Board Interview four times in almost a year.
Originally, Dec 31, 2011 was the due date for applications.
In a phone conference, Ms. Mendoza informed this advocate that she and Superintendent Singer are planning to change the due date for applications until later in the year or next year. Ms. Mendoza states she has not received enough applications.
Might it be that Charles Singer and Lizka Mendoza have applications from people of color, the low income, and seniors in Venice, but not enough applications from the Cassidy Lange “Venice Landed Gentry”
Venice needs accountability, consistency,transparency and inclusion of all Venice residents.
Again, a federal investigation needs to occur or this “bad behavior” will continue. Thank you, LAPD Inspector General Alex Bustamonte for your division’s on-going investigation.
Peace. Rick Selan
SOV BLOG ---- SPIRIT OF VENICE BLOG 
[…] History on this topic can be found at: https://spiritofvenice.wordpress.com/oakwood/ […]
LikeLike
This is really fascinating! Thank you so much for posting this information, I’ve been doing research on Oakwood and you’ve provided a lot of resources. Feel free to check out the photos I’ve posted on my blog!
LikeLike