On July 11th,2011 From guest blogger Allison Mannos,Urban Strategy Director at the LA County Bicycle Coalition. A tip when looking for Pacoima on the map:look for the space on the map carved out for City of San Fernando,and then look just southeast. Pacoima,especially Van Nuys Blvd.,show up as hot spots for collisions,and you can see from the maps we are one of the more low-income and dense areas of the North San Fernando Valley.
 Pacoima's Van Nuys Blvd. among LA's Collision Hot Spots I wanted to draw some attention to some really profound maps LACBC just produced,thanks to one of our interns,Jimmy Nghe. As many of you know,LACBC/City of Lights has worked tirelessly to raise attention to low-income cyclists of color. We have helped spawn conversations and programs in other cities across the nation,won an award for our work,and have gotten the City of Los Angeles to pay attention to prioritizing low-income cyclists. As most of us know,though many low-income residents bicycle,walk,and take transit,they also face disproportionately higher incidences of car-bicycle injuries and fatalities. This is because,despite having higher numbers of carless residents,they tend to contain much fewer,if any bicycle facilities and more dangerous conditions than affluent areas. Using the newly released TIMS database,we see the large discrepancies in where higher rates of crashes and bicyclist injuries/fatalies lie:in marginalized,low-income areas of Central and South LA. We created these maps to start a nationwide conversation with other advocates,planners,and members of the public. These maps are the first time that,as a movement,we have put our heads together to pinpoint environmental injustices as they relate to bicycling on a neighborhood level. A total of three maps highlight the areas where bicycle and pedestrian fatalities have occurred,contrasting population density,fatalities in low-income areas compared to more affluent areas,and crash fatality density. These maps can be accessed on the LACBC website here. Please feel free to let us know what you think,to share,and please let us know if you are working on similar efforts or are trying to get anything started! Thanks, Allison
Learn more about the City of Lights program here and more about LACBC here. Thanks to Allison for her great guest contribution! On June 25th,2011 Swedish National Public Radio journalist Claes Andreasson recently profiled the work of the Clean Up Green Up campaign,highlighting the work of Pacoima Beautiful and Union de Vecinos,as well as the conditions are communities are up against and the need for this policy. You can read the article (as translated from the Swedish by Google Translate) here or view the original page here if you know Swedish! You can also read more at the Clean Up Green Up website here.  Photo by journalist Claes Andreasson of Branford/Montague Area Here’s a selection from the article: “This Is Branford,and Branford and Montague Streets are the concentration of a lot of the industrial uses in Pacoima,”said Lauren Ahkiam. She swings around the corner to Branford Street in Pacoima. Next door is wrecking yards,quarries,truck depots and chrome-plated. Stone dust swirls –while the gutter is glimmering with oil and solvents. “Not all companies follow environmental regulations to the last syllable,”says Lauren Ahkiam. “So we’re seeing a lot of auto dismantlers,auto parts. It is a very toxic job so it’s a major concern for the people who work there,because they’re exposed to a lot of different chemicals when they’re doing things like taking apart a car battery or taking apart an engine block;there’s lead,lots of heavy metals and toxic fluids that people will be exposed to and if they do not follow proper protocol they can bring home to their families or might empty into the street and infiltrate into the groundwater and cause sickness on a larger scale.” … A study in Pacoima reported one in five residents have respiratory problems,says Lauren Ahkiam of the organization Pacoima Beautiful. ”Diesel pollution has a huge impact on people’s health because of the particulate matter impacts people’s respiratory health,and also contributes to poor cardio- vascular health.” That a large group of people in vulnerable areas have health problems due to air pollution is of course nothing new. And air pollution control authorities have for years pursued and worked to improve air quality. The problem is that their work was a little aimless,says environmental lawyer Gideon Kracov. They engaged in often for a company at a time,instead of looking at the combined impact of emissions in one area. … A dilemma is understood that many of these small companies also provide jobs for those living in the area. And in economically tough times,it may be an equation that is difficult to put together. “We are well aware of it,”says Marcos Zamora-Sanchez of Pacoima Beautiful. “We are not looking to close the company ,without training,we want to help them become greener and better neighbors.” … This is Triumph Precision Products in Pacoima. In the large machine hall are rows of metal lathes that –on demand –mills for everything from small bolts to the water taps. The smell of solvents and oil-based coolant is heavy. The family-owned Triumph is also one of the first companies in Pacoima to set up the new “green”campaign. But in the long term Dina Cervantes hopes to see many more joining –that they see the campaign as an opportunity and not as a threat. One reason for the Triumph is in favor of the “green zone”is that the Cervantes family themselves live in the area. They are well aware of air quality problems and think they can help overcome them. “We live in the community,too,and we get it. We’re not far away from the factory and we’re not far away from the problem…and I think:why we got involved is that we realize that there is something that we can do.
Thanks to journalist Claes Andreasson for his thorough job driving all over the city to and speaking with a wide variety of the people engaged in this effort! Improving the health of the community and the environment is a global effort and its good to be reminded that we have allies on the other side of the world. On May 16th,2011  Pacoima Toxic Tour! Photo by:Mildred Martin On Saturday,May 7th,2011 Pacoima Beautiful hosted a Toxic Tour where Pacoima residents,along with Boyle Heights and Wilmington community residents,had an opportunity to learn more about the cumulative impacts affecting the community.  Wilmington resident enjoying his morning coffee. Photo by:Mildred Martin The day started bright and early with pan dulce and coffee. Pacoima,Wilmington,and Boyle Heights started arriving;we filled two 15- passenger vans to their full capacity! Residents under the age of 10 as well as residents over the age of 60 were present to learn more about the cumulative impacts of Pacoima and about the work Pacoima,Boyle Heights,and Wilmington residents are doing to improve environmental health in the City of Los Angeles with the Clean Up Green Up Campaign. Our tour began on a positive note,visiting Hansen Dam Recreation Park. Hansen Dam includes a 9-acre recreation lake and a 1.5-acre swimming lake. Pacoima residents often use this park to jog/walk on the infamous walk stretch;many refer to as “La Milla” or The Mile. The bilingual tour led by Lauren and Marcos then drove residents to visit toxic hot spots,such as the Department of Water and Power generating station,the Bradley Landfill,the over 118 industries related to auto uses on Branford Street,and the granite industries located on Montague Street,mixed in with residential housing.  Branford Street:Auto-dismantler "zone". Photo by:Marcos Zamora-Sánchez  Bicycles or Auto-dismantlers for Pacoima? Photo by:Marcos Zamora-Sánchez  Airplane about to land in Pacoima. Photo by:Marcos Zamora-Sánchez Participants of the Pacoima Toxic Tour had an opportunity to notice the site of the Whiteman Airport,located right in the middle of Pacoima. Many were shocked to know San Fernando Road had often been mistaken as a landing ground;they thought of it as a nuisance to the community. We then visited the site of Price Pfister,an industry that closed it doors in 1994 and moved to Mexico after NAFTA,after leaving soil and groundwater contaminated. The site is now home of Plaza Pacoima,where Costco and Best Buy are located. The building of such site would not have been accomplished without the work Pacoima Beautiful and the residents did to have the Environmental Protection Agency involved and the soil and groundwater cleaned up.  Boyle Heights,Wilmington,and Pacoima residents along the Pacoima Wash,behind Ritchie Valens Park in Pacoima. Photo by:Mildred Martin The tour ended on Haddon Avenue and Del Sur Street,behind Ritchie Valens Park. There we shared with our participants our greenway plan along the Pacoima Wash as well as future plans to make Pacoima Beautiful! Later,Boyle Heights,Pacoima,and Wilmington residents gathered at the Pacoima Community Center for lunch provided by Food Not Bombs and to share their experience with the tour. “I learned a lot about the problems faced by Pacoima residents,as well as the great accomplishments you have managed to secure,” stated Michele Prichard,Director of Common Agenda with the Liberty Hill Foundation,which helps fund the Clean Up Green Up Campaign. “It helped me put things into perspective,” said a Wilmington resident. The Pacoima Toxic Tour was organized as part of the work Union de Vecinos in Boyle Heights,Communities for a Better Environment and Communities for a Safe Environment in Wilmington,and Pacoima Beautiful in Pacoima whose residents are striving for to prevent,reduce and revitalize their communities with the Clean Up Green Up Campaign. If you would like a Toxic Tour of Pacoima,please contact us for more information at 818-899-2454. On May 9th,2011  New plants for the pathway Over 108 residents,students,and community members came out to the Pacoima Wash on April 30th to participate in the Mayor’s Day of Service. The focus of this year’s day of service was the Los Angeles River Watershed,with projects focused on improving the river and its tributaries happening throughout the city.  Fresh paint for the tunnel Pacoima Beautiful led a project to improve a very important pedestrian corridor crossing over the Pacoima Wash along Haddon Avenue. A coalition of local organizations were assembled to assist with this event including:Youth Speak Collective,Pacoima Family Source Center,El Nido,First 5 LA,Project Grad,and the Office of Assemblymen Felipe Fuentes. Throughout the morning,teams of participants worked on several important projects near the Wash including painting a pedestrian tunnel under the 118 freeway,cleaning up a garden in Ritchie Valens Park,and putting in plants and trees in a chronic illegal dumping location near the Pacoima Wash.  Plants for the entrance to Haddon Bridge These projects not only greatly improved the look of the area for residents and visitors to Ritchie Valens Park but made it a much safer environment for pedestrians. The corridor along Haddon Avenue connects San Fernando High School with the rest of the community and is used by over 200 students every day. The Mayor’s Day of Service project makes this area a much more appealing and safer place for these students. The work done also built on the bridge improvement project that was completed in November (visit the post to learn more).  Freshening up the garden at Ritchie Valens Many thanks to Angelica Ayala and the Mayor’s Office for her work making this happen (including these great photos),to Scotts for their generation of supplies,and to all the organizations who made this possible! On March 9th,2011 Help us increase our fan base by adding us on Facebook! By adding us,we will notify you about our upcoming events at Pacoima Beautiful. This is also a great way to network and connect with other Pacoima residents who continue to advocate for a better environment and quality of life in the Northeast San Fernando Valley. Join us! On March 9th,2011 Check our Events page to learn more about our upcoming events at Pacoima Beautiful. This is a great opportunity to get involved and help us better the environment and improve the quality of life for residents in Pacoima and the City of Los Angeles! On March 3rd,2011 To learn more about how you can get rid of lead in your home click here! On March 2nd,2011 On Tuesday,February 22nd,Pacoima Beautiful’s People’s Planning School concluded Unit One. Our members were excited to learn about City Politics,Land Use,and how to appropriately speak to Elected Officials to advocate for a better quality of life for community residents in Pacoima and throughout the City of Los Angeles. “I have learned about the impact of pollution and solutions to better the situation,and to present one’s issue to Councilmembers and work with others on a common goal,”states one member. “My favorite presentation has been ‘Speaking Up and Speaking Out!’” The People’s Planning School is fun,effective,informative,and useful for anyone looking to get involved to improve the environmental health of our communities. Below are a few responses our members stated when asked how the People’s Planning School can help them better their community: “Unite with neighbors to see what their concerns are and to help improve the neighborhood.” “It will help me accomplish the goals and propositions that are discussed in the People’s Planning School.” “It will help me be more aware and teach me how to make change.” “I will be more informed about how to take action on environmental justice issues.” “It has helped me organize and how to ask for help.”  Osbaldo Robles from PB explaining to our members the various departments in the City of Los Angeles.  Our members having fun planning a Farmer's Market for their community.
The People’s Planning School is held every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month until June from 6pm-8pm at Pacoima Branch Library. Our Unit Two will begin on Tuesday,March 8th,which will include amazing workshops on how to plan and design a healthier neighborhood in Pacoima. Please bring your ideas! If you have any questions about our People’s Planning School do not hesitate to email Marcos Zamora-Sánchez or call at 818-899-2454 x103.
On January 14th,2011  Bonnie and Rosten lead a game of Blocks and Lots with new students  Gilda goes over goals  Veronica demonstrates Blocks and Lots with our members Tuesday’s kickoff meeting of the People’s Planning School was an undisputed success. The class was attended by current Pacoima Beautiful members,college-aged activists,leaders in Pacoima’s black community and both participants and coordinators of local parents’ centers. The Pacoima Branch Library meeting room was spacious and comfortable and the bilingual setup ran smoothly. An introductory Planning and Land Use presentation by PB staff Lauren Ahkiam was followed by an interesting discussion on zoning with insights from Area Planning Commissioner and PB Deputy Director Veronica Padilla. “I think it went really well,” said Max Podemski,Pacoima Wash Initiative Coordinator and PB&J chef extraordinaire. Blocks &Lots designers and guest instructors Gilda Haas and Rosten Woo,who played their board game with the students,agreed that the activity was fun and enlightening for everyone involved. The group also enjoyed a special appearance by elder Pacoimera Doña Rosa (played by youth organizer Osbaldo Robles),who plans a slimmer comeback for the spring. The People’s Plan School will meet next at 6pm on January 25 and will feature skits,discussions,and introductions to our Clean Up Green Up Cumulative Impacts policy campaign and our Caminos del Pueblo/Complete Streets campaign. See you there! Responses from participants included: Adelita: “It was really fun!” Leon: “It was good for my education.” Osas: “It was beautiful to see!” Carlos: “It was great to be there.” On January 12th,2011  "Loaded Apricot Tree"by Bill Bumgarner We would like to invite you all to Pacoima Beautiful on Saturday January 29th 2011 from 10:00am-12:00pm to our Free Fruit Tree Giveaway that we are hosting in collaboration with Tree People. We have a total of 150 trees that we hope to give away to families in the community,we’ll have;apple,apricot,nectarine,peach and plum trees for our neighbors to enjoy. Please come and enjoy this beautiful gift and please help us distribute this flyer to the community (the flyer has both English and Spanish versions). | |
