LA Real Estate Developer Sues 350 Poor Families

[Clara T]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT:
Fernando Flores
[phone]
[e-mail]
www.southcentralfarmers.com

Brentwood Real Estate Developer, Ralph Horowitz, sues 350 poor families from South Central Los Angeles for $729,745.72.  In an ironic turn, the plaintiff claims the South Central Farmers have abused the legal system.
South Central Los Angeles, CA, March 7, 2006 – On Monday 6, 2006 the South Central Farmers were served legal papers (BC347949) by Horowitz’s law office of Overland Borestein Scheper and Kim, LLP.  The Plaintiff claims that the South Central Farmers have abused the legal system.
 
“This is very ironic, Horowitz used his expensive Beverly Hill Lawyers to hold the city hostage and muscled the city council into settling a speculative lawsuit(BC272571 LIBAW HOROWITZ INVESTMENT COMPANY VS CITY LOS ANGELES ET AL), even after Judge W. Crispo had ruled three times against Horowitz; the city officials conceded to give the land back to Horowitz for a mere 5.1 million dollars, extremely under the fair market value, since in 1994 it had been sold for 13.3 Million dollars”, stated Tezozomoc, Elected Representative of the South Central Farmers.
 
“Clearly, Mr. Horowitz, has used his financial influence with City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo, who made the final recommendation to the City Council to concede the land back to Horowitz for well below the fair market value ( use the following site and http://ethics.lacity.org/efs/public_search.cfm?pubsearchstep=2&rept_type=ALLCon search for  Eileen Horowitz, Ralph Horowitz, Jack Libaw, and Timothy Ison).”, stated Tezozomoc, Elected Representative of the South Central Farmers.
 
An eviction notice has been posted on the west gate of the South Central Farm by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department at 2:00pm, yesterday March 2, 2006.  According to the notice the 14 acre farm (the largest urban farm in the nation) needs to be vacated by Monday March 7, 2006.  Until the end of that day, it will still be legal for the farmers to remain on the land.
 
For 13 years, 350 families have tended a 14-acre urban farm in the middle of South L.A.’s gritty industrial belt.  Growing their own cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes and other staples has helped make good nutrition affordable. Traditional crops like chipillin, alachi, quelite and pipicha have helped keep meso-american cuisine and folk-medicine alive. This urban farm, the largest in the U.S., provides a safe, children-friendly environment for 350 families and thousands of visitors who come to the lively farmers market on Sundays. The farm is also an oasis of green-space that helps to lessen air and water pollution in the surrounding community.
 
Please stay tuned for further details by visiting:
www.southcentralfarmers.com

Posted in total with full permission and in solidarity.

[Triana]

1. I wonder if this twit is any relation to...

..David Horowitz? Sounds like they're from the same family. Repug...

[YOY]

5. He sure is not related to Adam Horowitz!

He's my favorite Horowitz or was it HoroVitz...

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Isn't this the guy who wants to take away the land used for

growing food and sell it to build a Walmart?

[Clara T]

3. Yes and these are the people he is suing- Here's More

Gubernatorial candidate Peter Camejo to urge
LA Mayor to intervene Thursday on the eviction
of 350 families at South Central community farm

LOS ANGELES – Former vice-presidential candidate Peter Camejo – who has
announced he will run for Governor – will hold a major news conference
Thursday to comment on the pending eviction of 350 families who have
been
sustaining themselves for 13 years on a 14-acre South Central community
farm, the largest U.S. urban farm.

The news conference is set for 10 a.m. Thursday at the South Central
Community Farm (Alameda & 41st St.).

Camejo is expected to strongly defend the rights of the community
farmers,
and publicly urge Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to intervene
to
protect the interests of the community against for his decision to give
in
to big developer Ralph Horowitz at the expense of those most in need in
South Central.

The city allowed the South LA community to develop this land into a
productive farm in 1992. The city secretly decided to sell it to
developer
Ralph Horowitz for about $5 million dollars in a back-room deal without
public hearings. Horowitz is now demanding $16 million from the 350
families.

And here is more:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - News Conference Advisory
Friday, March 10, 2006
Contact: Fernando Flores [phone] or Rosa Romero [phone]

ATTN: Daybook/Assignment Desk


South Central Farmers, Zack de La Rocha, Julia Butterfly, South Central
Farmers’ Support Committee, and community groups will hold a peaceful
demonstration outside of LA City Hall. Protesting the eviction of 350
poor families from the South Central Community farm, which is located at
41st and Alameda.


LOS ANGELES – Supporters are expected to strongly defend the rights of
the community farmers, and publicly urge Los Angeles Mayor Antonio
Villaraigosa to intervene to protect the interests of the community against
the decision to give in to developer Ralph Horowitz at the expense of
those most in need in South Central.

The news conference is set for 10 a.m. Thursday at the South Central
Community Farm (Alameda & 41st St.).

The city allowed the South LA community to develop this land into a
productive farm in 1992. The city secretly decided to sell it to developer
Ralph Horowitz for about $5 million dollars in a back-room deal without
public hearings. Horowitz is now demanding $16 million from the 350
families.

“As citizens and tax payers of the City of Los Angeles we are outraged
that the city of LA settled a speculative lawsuit with Mr. Horowitz.
Even after Judge W. Crispo had ruled three times against Horowitz, the
city officials conceded to give the land back to Horowitz for a mere 5.1
million dollars, extremely under the fair market value, since in 1994
it had been sold for 13.3 Million dollars.”, state Tezozomoc, elected
representative of the South Central Farmers.

Those who conceded the sale have an essential liability to return this
asset to the community. We are calling on Congressman Xavier Becerra,
Speaker of the California Assembly, Fabian Nuñez, County Supervisor
Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and the whole city
council to 1) nullify the sale with Ralph Horowitz, or 2) take the land
by eminent domain, or 3) take on the burden of fundraising to buy the
land that was given away to a speculative developer. The land belongs in
the community for the good of the community.


The farmers were to be evicted March 6, but have vowed to fight the
eviction process.

For more information:
www.southcentralfarmers.com


Please help if you can.

[CrazyOrangeCat]

4. They're up against a city attorney named Rocky???

Sheesh . . .

You know, if there IS a hell, there's gonna be an awful lot of white guys in expensive suits there . . .