January 9, 2006
Contact:
Clare Sassoon (310) 403-0941
Jim Smith (310) 399-8685
Amanda Seward (310) 439-2422
MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY RALLY IN VENICE TO FOCUS ON LINCOLN PLACE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Martin Luther King's dream of justice, equality and a life of dignity for all will be celebrated in Venice, beginning at 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16, in an outdoor rally on California Ave., just east of Lincoln Blvd.
The rally is being held at Lincoln Place Apartments in Venice, California, to focus attention on the dismantling of affordable housing in our community and to re-ignite King's enduring vision of decent housing for all.
Prominent community and religious speakers and musical performers will celebrate Dr. King's life and work, and reflect on his dream in today's climate of forced evictions and the lack of affordable housing. On Dec. 6, 2005, 86 Lincoln Place residents (including 21 children) were locked out of their homes in the largest mass eviction lockout in Los Angeles history. AIMCO, the corporation that owns Lincoln Place, evicted the tenants pursuant to the Ellis Act, a California state law that was designed to allow property owners to go out of the rental business. Many believe AIMCO, one of the largest rental companies in the country, is abusing the Act, as it will remain in the rental business. In reality, AIMCO is seeking to destroy 696 units of garden-style apartments to build more than 800 luxury rentals and condominiums in their place.
"These evictions are a travesty, an injustice and a great shame," says Los Angeles City Councilmember Bill Rosendahl, who will be one of the speakers at the rally. However, the fight to reverse the evictions and save the affordable housing is far from over. Currently, there is a standoff between the tenants and AIMCO which is prevented from destroying any buildings because of their historic designation. Ralph Vaughn, an African-American architect, designed the complex after World War II to make maximum use of interior space in a park-like setting. Tenants say the apartments have stood the test of time and are as serviceable as ever. Lincoln Place was unanimously awarded state historical status last year.
Tenants and community supporters alike are impressed by Dr. King's tenacity in the face of overwhelming odds. They are inspired by King's words: "...there comes a time one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular -- but one must take it simply because it is right."
The Venice community is known for its lengthy -- and often, successful -- battles with developers. In past years, the community has turned back plans for a yacht harbor in its canals, Miami Beach-style high rises on the Ocean Front Walk, a freeway bisecting Venice and, most recently, a shopping center encompassing several blocks including the site of the Jan. 16 rally.
Rally organizers see the event as a community celebration of the Lincoln Place tenants who have fended off plans to remove them and destroy the buildings for more than 10 years. "The evictions at Lincoln Place show that Dr. King's struggle for justice has not been completed. Our community will stick by the tenants on Jan. 16, and as long as it takes to achieve justice," said Suzanne Thompson, one of the rally organizers.
Initial sponsors of the rally include (in addition to Councilman Rosendahl): the Lincoln Place Support Committee, Lincoln Place Tenants Association, Venice 2000, Venice Progressives, SPARC, Venice Arts Council, Venice Peace and Freedom, Free Venice Beachhead, Venice Community Housing Corporation, Venice Community Coalition, Ulan Bator Foundation, Venice Neighborhood Action Coalition (VNAC).
See flyer at www.freevenice.org/MLK_flyer.pdf.
###
© Lincoln Place Tenants Association
Email: info@lincolnplace.net