Farm versus factory: an endless American debate
Filed under: Real Estate, Ripoffs and Scams, Simplification
You might think all the stories left to tell in this genre are about quaint family farms in the mid-West being overrun by giant corporations, but the latest salvo comes from industrial Los Angeles.
Two years ago, a community garden was razed to make room for a warehouse for the clothing retailer Forever 21, and now community activists are looking at the still-empty tract of land and they want their plants back.
The Los Angeles Times says the story is complicated by political ties -- the company made hefty donations to the mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa, who had initially opposed the destruction of the garden, which is located in South Central. This being L.A., there are celebrities involved: Daryl Hannah, Joan Baez and Danny Glover are among those who protested the initial plans, and it was the subject of the short documentary South Central Farm: Oasis in a Concrete Desert. The Forever 21 project is now stalled by community activists who are trying to get more stringent environmental restrictions placed on the 14-acre site. The mayor, who has received $1.3 million from Forever 21 over the past two years, is staying out of the fight for now.
Community gardens like this abound in urban spaces and are always on the verge of being crowded out by development, so this is a good test case for what will happen in the future since the profile has been so high. With the cost of food rising so fast, and environmental concerns such an issue, the stakes are pretty high for regular folks who use things like this. But most little gardens don't have celebrities to shill for them, or filmmakers to shoot documentaries. So what will become of them?
Two years ago, a community garden was razed to make room for a warehouse for the clothing retailer Forever 21, and now community activists are looking at the still-empty tract of land and they want their plants back.
The Los Angeles Times says the story is complicated by political ties -- the company made hefty donations to the mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa, who had initially opposed the destruction of the garden, which is located in South Central. This being L.A., there are celebrities involved: Daryl Hannah, Joan Baez and Danny Glover are among those who protested the initial plans, and it was the subject of the short documentary South Central Farm: Oasis in a Concrete Desert. The Forever 21 project is now stalled by community activists who are trying to get more stringent environmental restrictions placed on the 14-acre site. The mayor, who has received $1.3 million from Forever 21 over the past two years, is staying out of the fight for now.
Community gardens like this abound in urban spaces and are always on the verge of being crowded out by development, so this is a good test case for what will happen in the future since the profile has been so high. With the cost of food rising so fast, and environmental concerns such an issue, the stakes are pretty high for regular folks who use things like this. But most little gardens don't have celebrities to shill for them, or filmmakers to shoot documentaries. So what will become of them?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
8-23-2008 @ 7:26AM
Dan said...
Brad, are you for real get a f--king life
Reply
8-23-2008 @ 11:03PM
Tom said...
Don't know if you reported him, but I did.
8-23-2008 @ 8:08AM
Peggy said...
Well said Dan.
Reply
8-23-2008 @ 9:00AM
John SWansey said...
Know the truth of the trade --
why do you think people run for the city councle , it is a group of people how find out and know which way the city is growing , then they have their lawyer go out and buy a piece of land and hold it then selll it to some big company for a very high price . I saw this happen in houston as the mayor ssent his man out to buy the land for 8000.00 dollars , the farment old not sell so the mayor raised his tax.s to 24000.00 a year , so the farment went out and got the money and paid the tax . then the company got wind of it and sent their manout and ask if he would sell and he yes if I got a fare price for it so the company offered 800.000.oo and he sold the land . so you see how the city concel works . all plticians are in the realestate trade as that is where the money is
Reply
8-23-2008 @ 10:07PM
ron said...
you speaks wit reelz good englassh. Did yew growz up in da hoodz too.
8-23-2008 @ 9:58AM
SONNY said...
"TRY TO BE HONEST FOR A CHANGE"
THESE "GARDENS" ARE ALWAYS PUT ON "SOMEONE" ELSES PROPERTY. AND ALWAYS BY MINORITIES WHO
DEMAND "THEY" GET THE BENEFIT OF THE LAND "THEY"
DONT OWN.SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE. AND YOU
WOULD GET THESE "FREEBIE FOR ME" ON "ALL" THINGS
IF YOU ELECTED THE "BLACK MUSLIM" AS PRESIDENT.
Reply
8-23-2008 @ 11:07AM
rose said...
Uh, you base the "stealing" on what facts? In our city, when a slum lord (yeah, we have them here) has his/her tax-deliquent, code-violating housing knocked down, a community group may offer to step in and have a garden. I live in the city, I work one full-time and 2 part-time jobs, attend church and RESENT that you post such rubbish. But you have the right to your opinion. By the by, I own my house in the "bad" part of town, I'm not black, but not paronoid of my black or hispanic neighbors, and when your company decides to eliminate your health care, I'll take care of you at the free clinic I volunteer as a health provider, when I'm not working in the hospital.
8-25-2008 @ 10:45PM
imani said...
whatever! u obviously have issues with race and class. Exactly who owns the land "they" (love the way u assume only non-whites plant gardens and care abt preserving nature...) petition to turn into gardens? WE all pay taxes and any group of CITIZENS can petition to have a garden almost anywhere in the US. What pisses off the capitalists is the nerve of ppl to want to see some trees, flowers and plants without moving to the country. My parents were raised on a farm, they live in NY now but that doesnt stop them from planting vegetables and flowers...Just bc u'd like to bulldoze every piece of dirt in sight & raise conglomerate high-rise bldgs does not make anybody who disagrees "freeloaders" or any such parasite. Get a clue & realize the earth we live in now must be passed on to other generations. It would be nice if our grandchildren and great grandchildren knew what its like to plant a garden, run in the grass and plant a tree and you dont have to be in the "country" to do it! The earth belongs to those who preserve it and u obviously need to move to a nice ISLAND where just you are YOUR PPL can just build, build, build! Good luck with that!
8-26-2008 @ 12:21AM
TheWayICit said...
WOW!! So is it safe to call this racism? I think its safe to say america only wants a President that is #1- White #2- Male .... And religion really doesn't matter does it? Because you can say you're christian but when you don't act in a christ like manner ** Bush** no one ever questions it.
8-23-2008 @ 10:23AM
Dennis said...
Wow, the rascists are out in force. Those "city people" don't work hard? You rather crack the whip when they move out to the country?? Warehouses "belong" in the city? Says who?? People are gardening on others land? Are you insinuating that they're stealing???
Pathetic!
Reply
8-23-2008 @ 10:24AM
Blork said...
Sonny,
Citing you for the obvious racism is to easy. You know is wrong and inflamitory, that's why you did it. Not everyone is stupid enough to think you were just airing your dusty head out on AOL. But what you should be flogged for is your runaway " " use. I bet you " " your fingers all the time. That is so 1990.
Reply
8-23-2008 @ 10:31AM
jennifer said...
i love forever 21! it doesnt matter where they place their warehouse as long as I get my clothes!
Reply
8-23-2008 @ 9:36PM
heather said...
your stupidity is what's killing this country. how can you be so shallow and live with yourself, happy to be such a depthless, materialistic brat? don't you realize there is so much more to life than silly CHEAP and ugly clothes (btw, their clothes ARE inferior to say the least)? is it your goal in life to be such a sniveling snot? are you really satisified with yourself? you must be lacking something inside and severely suffering from it to act so immature and ignorant. i feel sorry for ignorant girls like you.....
8-23-2008 @ 2:40PM
cc said...
I'm with you homegirl!
8-25-2008 @ 12:27PM
Janaya said...
Forever 21 is a useless store. Their clothes are over priced (as any other store) and they use a lot more electricity than say Best Buy, just to light up their clothes.
I feel that its a shame that they ripped up that garden to place a "warehouse" there. Plus, is there even a warehouse there now? No! The CEO of Forever 21 just wanted to make a point, that big corporations are running America.
I agree 100% with Heather, how could you be so stupid and shallow?
And as for Bre, I know most cities, towns, and Malls do not have a Forever 21. And it would be best if they got rid of them.
8-25-2008 @ 12:38PM
Emma said...
I have to agree with Jennifer on this one. It's stupid tweens that are destroying our country. I have never shopped at Forever 21 and now I'm never going to. Most of those clothes come from Hondorus, the Phillipines, or Thailand anyway.
8-25-2008 @ 2:26PM
MAS said...
You know, I just saw the HISPANIC special, and how this chic from, Mexico made her debut, short movie complaining about Forever 21, and how they had to let the illegal employees go.
This film maker so to speak was blaming all the problems of this illegal immigration on the Forever 21 designer workshops.
Why do people from any other Country have the right to come here and make demands. I have lived in the US my whole life, and do not make demands, nor am I actually allowed to. I agree that gardens are great. However, I do not plant it on my neighbors land, then demand it, or vote that I should be allowed to steal their property for any reason. What is wrong with taking responsibility for ourselves. It´s very strange and interesting to me, that, Latino´s or Mexicanos do not seem to be demanding what they deserve in Mexico, however they feel free to demand everything in Estaduios Enidos, the United States. Just why is this. What would happen if there were demands made by them in Mexico, or anywhere else for that matter? How about making demands in Russia. Where would that get you? Hey, buddy look in your own backyard, before you try encroaching on somebody else´s!
Most of us worked very hard, and very diligently to accomplish what we have here in the United States of America. And, we are dam proud of what in some cases took generations in order to build something of value! We do not plan to sit back while, others demand it, or just be given to them for a few meager hours of labor. Get your life long plan of, blood, sweat and tears and back breaking labor, just like our fore fathers did.
Then also, start using your head and brain for more than just thinking of Democratic ways of ripping off the system. Get educated, and hold onto your values, loyality and honor. Have some pride, and work toward your goals, and build something greater than yourself. Like Ghandi said: ¨Be the change youwant to see in the World"!
8-23-2008 @ 10:57AM
Sarah said...
What's the point of destroying a community garden for a stupid clothing store I've never heard of? I'd much rather have fresh fruits and veggies any day. I might me moving to LA for work and would definitely be willing to work on one of these. I used to live out in the country but had to move to a different city to finish college. I'll gladly work in a city garden! I think that mayor may have lost his votes for reelection. They should toss him out as an example to others for this kind of crap.
Reply
8-23-2008 @ 10:57AM
scott said...
John Swnazy
Your closer to right than wrong. Cities have their agenda and being a council memeber can offor opportunities I suppose.
Reply
8-23-2008 @ 10:29PM
bre said...
ahahah you serious? youve never heard of forever 21?
dude. you need to get out more.
its an amazing store. i wear something from there almost everyday.