Grace E. Simons.

Chairman
WE WIN!
November 24, 1976 No. 70
VOTERS SAY 'NO' TO POLICE IN PARK
LOS ANGELES VOTERS told City officials emphatically Nov. 2 that
they do not want to be taxed to pay for a duplicate police academy in
Elysian Park. The vote against Proposition BB, the $154,000,000 police
tax override, which included $23,000,000 for the projected academy, was
two-to-one -- 529,098 (66.9%) "No to 261,242 (33.1%) "Yes. It was
the biggest electoral defeat ever suffered by the. Los Angeles Police De-
partment. Even sewer bonds, with a 47.6% "yes vote, were more popular.
Twice. before, in 1967 and 1968, voters said they did not want tax money
used for a police training facility in the park.
THE TAX REBELLION, without question, was a powerful persuader,
but the strength of the conservationist vote was undoubtedly a factor
in the victory. Conservation strength was demonstrated also in passage
of the $280,000,000 State Park Bond Fund, the only tax measure approved.
BUT THE VICTORY cannot be regarded as permanent. Police Chief
Davis has already stated he'll be back, asking for the same amount of
money, but in smaller packages. The fight to save the environment and
preserve Elysian Park is never-ending.
HAVE FUN -- AND HELP THE COMMITTEE
ENJOY A NIGHT at the theater Friday, Dec. 3, for the benefit
of the Citizens Committee. Excellent acting by the Colony
Players in a stage adaptationofThomas Wolfe's "Look Homeward
Angel." Refreshments during intermission. For details, see
overleaf.
STATIONERY, 24 sheets, shadow-printed with pictures of Elysian
Park, and Elysian Park note cards, both excellent for Christ-
mas gifts, will be available at the Studio Theater Playhouse.
COUNCIL ASKING CITY VOTERS
TO END CHARTER PROTECTI.ON FOR PARKS
THE LOS ANGELES City Council on Nov. 16 voted 10-2 to place a
Charter Amendment on the April, 1977 ballot that would virtually abolish
constitutional protection for parks.
CITY LEADERS of an earlier day (and a more ciVic-minded breed)
wisely adopted an iron-clad law to protect our parks from erosion by
the forces of greed aided and abetted by faithless officials. As if
foreseeing future attempts to filch park land, they wrote into the 1911
City Charter a categorical requirement that all park land ftshall forever
remain to the use of the public inviolate." This edict, unmistakable
in its intent, has served for more than half-a-century to protect our
parks from many attempted intrusions by commercial interests and others.
THE PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT would make it possible to give
away park land or recreation sites by mere passage of a city ordinance,
requiring only eight out of 15 votes of the City Council. City Council
action would be final; the people would have no right of appeal. Dedi-
cated parks, alone, would be spared dismemberment, but could be turned
over to concessionaires for business or other exploitation.
PARK-DESTROYING PLANS must be.hatched in secret. Accordingly,
the five-member Recreation and Parks Commission, which by law must deli-
berate in public, would be stripped of its power and reduced to an 1g-
nominous advisory status. The Department's appointed general manager
would be given full decision-making power. He would be accountable
neither to the Commission nor to the public. This 1s government in
secret, edging toward dictatorship. more
DONATION FOR COURT CASES , $ __
STATIONERY, Donation $3.50, & 50 mail. $ __
NOTE CARDS, Donation $1.50 & 25 mail $ __
MEMBERSHIP, DUES ( $1) , . , , , , . $ __
NAME
Address
Zip Telephone
CITIZENS COMMITTEE TO SAVE ELYSIAN PARK
1672 Morton Ave.; Los Angeles, Calif. 90026/ MA 5-8427
ONLY TWO MEMBERS opposed the motion: Councilmen Dave Cunningham
and Robert Farrell. Absentr Marvin Braude, Donald Lorenzen, Arthur Snyder.
SIMILAR, but less odious, proposals have been defeated twice by
the voters. Placing this proposed on the ballot a third time
is an inexcusable waste of tax money. The City Council should rescind
its action, and keep the amendment off the ballot.
APPEAL TO CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT ANTICIPATED
THE CITIZENS COMMI'rTEE leans strongly towards seekin<X a Supreme
Court review of a case originally filed in 1972, but a final decision
has not yet been made. The suit challenges the legality of the removal
of 21 acres of Elysian Park from the jurisdiction ofthe Recreation and
Parks Department to permit police use along with public activity, as well
as the use of the rest of the park for cadet training.
ON NOV, 2 the Appellate Court rejected our appeal from the Sup-
erior Court decision. The Appellate Court held (1) That the State Pub-
1 ic Park Prese.rvation Act of 1971 pro hi biting the transfer of park land
without payment does not apply to chartered cities, including Los Angeles;
{2) That the City Charter provision that "park land shall forever remain
to the use of the public inviolate" can be altered by a gradual transi-
tion to a non-park (police) use, without passage of a Charter amend-
ment; (3) That Charter protection is not absolute, but conditional, de-
pending on whether there is substantial interference with public enjoy-
ment; and (4) That police training, especially jogging and calesthen1cs,
are "wholly recreational in character."
COMl1ISSION APPROVES MONEY FOR NEW LOLGE
THE RECREATION and Parks Commission Nov. 18 approved inclusion
in the 1977-78 budget of $431,000 for planning and construction of a new
recreation lodge. The action was taken after Councilman John Ferraro
supported the proposal put forward by the Citizens Committee.
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