BLOGS > Fleamail May 28, 2006

dear peoples

i am writing about something important

in Los Angeles, where i live
there is an area called South Central Los Angeles
this is a working class low income urban neighborhood
full of decent families trying to make a living and a peaceful life
for themselves

in 1992, in the wake of a court decision regarding a man called
Rodney King and some police officers
there were riots in the community and alot of people were hurt and a
lot of things were destroyed

after these riots
the people who live there were given and area of land which they called

The South Central Farm

this land is used by 350 families who dont have very much money
they grow food on it, and it is their farm, in the middle of a city
it is the largest urban farm in the united states
for many of these families it is their primary food source
it is a beautiful thing

but now
through a series of political dealings and law suits
a developer has bought the land from the city for below the market price
and is serving an eviction notice to the people who grow their food
there
they want a sheriff to come this weekend and forcibly remove everyone
to make room for a 'warehouse superstore'

there are a group of people who are asking the city to purchase the
land back from the developer for the price that he paid for it
the developer purchased the land for 5 million dollars in 2003
and now he wants 16 million dollars for 10 of the fourteen acres


so this group of people who are trying to help the south central farmers
are trying to raise money to buy back the land
and work with the city
and keep the south central farmers in their rightful spot

i believe they have raised 4 million dollars already

if it is possible i ask you to visit www.southcentralfarmers.com

and donate money if you can, or call the mayor of los angeles and
voice your opinion about this
or if you live in los angeles, show up on the site and let your
feelings be known

it is very possible to turn the tide in the favor of the farmers
a victory is within reach

i am in barcelona and otherwise would be there myself

thank you

always,

flea

CONCERTS > Mellowdrone @ Troubadour

The list of Hollywood venues as important to rock history as the legendary Troubadour is short. Very short. If it just had its California folk cache from the '70s—introducing Elton John to the US, ejecting John Lennon and Harry Nilsson after they berated the Smothers Brothers, and linking Carly Simon with James Taylor—it would be impressive enough. But other clubs, including the Whisky and the Roxy, have similar legacies. What sets the Troubadour apart is how essential it still is now. A steady string of top-notch booking agents have assured that the Troub still brings in prime up-and-coming talent which recently has included sold-out indie rock shows from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Franz Ferdinand and The Thrills. Monday nights are mostly free and mostly local (though checking the calendar is a good idea); now-huge bands like Incubus and Hoobastank got their start at these residencies, playing the main room before getting their first taste of stardom in the VIP loft overlooking the stage. Tip: If you're under 21, you can't smoke in the designated area in front of the venue.

9081 Santa Monica Blvd.Los Angeles, 90069. (310) 276-6168.

PHOTOGRAPHY > LISA EISNER > A BUTTERLY FLUTTERED BY: PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE WEST

M+B Los Angeles is pleased to present A Butterfly Fluttered By: Photographs of the West , an exhibition of color photographs by photographer Lisa Eisner. For her latest body of work, Eisner traveled the West--from California to Wyoming--exploring the spirit of a land that has captivated the imaginations of people since our country's inception. Her sensual renderings of America's settled frontier effectively captures the sense of spirituality in a region saturated with color, history and folklore, presenting an alluring portrait of the West.

As a Wyoming native, Eisner has been documenting the world of the West since the early Nineties. Her fascination and interest in the subcultures, ceremonies and rituals of the West has contributed to two previous bodies of work: Shriners and Rodeo Girl , both of which were published by Greybull Press. This is Eisner's third manifestation in her continued documentation of the subject.

Lisa Eisner is a photojournalist and co-founder of Greybull Press. She has been a fashion editor at Vogue and Mademoiselle and is a frequent contributor to Vanity Fair , W magazine, Harper's Bazaar , Paris Vogue , GQ magazine and The New York Times Magazine . Eisner currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband Eric and their two sons, Charlie and Louie.