Perry Pushes Motion to Reconsider Pershing Square Improvements
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — City Council today voted to assert jurisdiction over the recent Park Commissioners decision to move forward with a $190,000 renovation of Pershing Square's Palm Court. The motion by Councilwoman Jan Perry says that "Legitimate questions have been raised about this action which need further review."
The motion was not on the published agenda for today's Council meeting. It was presented as a special motion that "came to the attention of the City Council subsequent to the posting of the agenda for today's Council meeting."
The project now goes to the Council's Arts, Parks & Aging committee, where the Parks and Rec report will again be considered.
keeneye on June 17, 2008, at 11:17PM – #1
I'm stunned. Does this mean there is a change of wind blowing through the park? Is there a possibility that room for the community to work with the Parks people may be possible. First the Gin Blossoms and now this what's next better lighting?
Moving Backwards on June 18, 2008, at 08:01AM – #2
No, this means that an improvement project will now get delayed while a half-dozen entities with peripheral involvement in managing the park will try to claim credit for it and jockey to get their photograph in the Downtown News at a ribbon cutting.
out my wndow on June 18, 2008, at 09:31AM – #3
why do you think creating an area that only excons will use is an improvement? if there were no lunch concerts the park would once again be over run with homeless and drug runners day and night. today no concert. today a lawn full of sleeping homeless, zonked out drug users and families without a place to go. the activities force the park staff espically the security to work. i actually saw the clean up crew and the music crew wearing Pershing Square t-shirts yesterday.
Open Your Window on June 18, 2008, at 07:14PM – #4
For a refresher on what Pershing Square was not too long ago:
http://blogdowntown.com/2006/05/2236-pershing-square-invites-downtown-residents
So yes, an exercise equipment course that the public (including excons) can use is an improvement.
As someone in the related story said -- if you don't like the public parks, build your own private parks.
But until you have that kind of money you're just going to have to cope with a public space being used by the public.
Chattycathy on June 18, 2008, at 08:26PM – #5
Can we use some of the funds to hose down the human urine/feces more often? Where is the park security directing the homeless to the sidewalk potties? Or do we need to go back to the doggie park issue. Remember, humans know better, doggies don't.
out my window on June 18, 2008, at 11:18PM – #6
use funds for something. the parks is one of the richest in the city but the advisory pretends it's a poverty park. what do they do with all the money they make from parking. spend money on year round activities, uniforms on the people who work there and new trash cans. look at the trash cans next time you walk in the park. these are old school 1950 style that don't even try to match the park design. who bought those? they chain them down. like who wants to steal them. why do youu need to chain trash cans if you have 24 hour security?
Clean Your Window on June 19, 2008, at 07:55AM – #7
Trash cans are chained down so they don't get picked up and thrown at other people or into the street.
Look at what happened when new trash cans made from recycled plastic were put in near City Hall -- they we all set on fire and melted to the sidewalk. Charming.
Joel C on June 23, 2008, at 06:31PM – #8
The exercise equipment will add one more piece to the prison yard that is Pershing Square.
I don't think this will fix anything: the current design of Pershing Square is fundamentally flawed. The "rooms" concept has resulted in a pink and purple maze of mini-ghettos.
Do people in Parks/Rec understand how a downtown square differs from a community park? A community park provides recreational activities: a downtown square does not. Its purpose is fundamentally different: a downtown square is meant to provide a meeting place, or a place for a momentary escape from the concrete jungle.