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