R Neighborhoods Are 1 Has Been Heard!

I can't thank you all enough for your support and the support you all have given to R Neighborhoods Are 1 and the great members of Janice Hahn's Community Advisory Committee.

Your voices were heard loud and clear by some great folks like Jerry Gaines, John Greenwood, Dan Dixon, and Richard Schuyler. Your voices have been heard for a long time by Leah Marincovich, Lucie Thorsen, Chuck Hart, and Richard Brunner.

We also should acknowledge the great efforts of Sal and Al who voted to reject Bob's plans outright.

Eight members of Janice Hahn's Community Advisory Committee for the Ponte Vista project voted in here presence to reject Bob's plans and call for a density at Ponte Vista not greater than R1 density or up to 9.0 units per acre.

We shouted, we signed, we protested, we explained nicely, and folks listened, learned and quite frankly, shocked the living daylights out of me.

I want you to know that R Neighborhoods Are one is part of a growing movement. Our group, along with folks on the west side, and two neighborhood councils in San Pedro are the genesis of a new movement to slow over development in all of L.A., for at least the time being.

With the help of all of you representing a growing group of citizens, members of two or our neighborhood councils have the backing of many thousands of concerned folks and that give them the power to have real influence with other neighborhood councils and elected officials.

United, we are the beginning of a movement that will move forward to slow down developers who are trying to lower the quality of our lives. together we will demonstrate to those who normally will not listen, that we do know what is best for OUR community, no matter what anyone else thinks.

"Smart Growth" can't qualify at Ponte Vista. There is no real transportation mitigation near enough to the area to really be considered. When we show the rest of the area that "Smart Growth" isn't really smart and should be reconsidered, I feel we can put on hold many greedy developers.

The fight continues. Yes we have won a couple of rounds, but this is just getting started. I think now you will begin to see what attitude Mr. Bisno takes and what he really thinks of us. I have heard he can be very difficult when he wants to be and we need to stay focused on the battles ahead.

Collecting more signatures on R1 petitions is still step one. 10,000+ signatures introduced us into the fray and the more signatures we collect, the stronger our voice will be with the L.A. City Council.

Showing up for planned demonstrations can be fun and informative to those who think we are just going to rest with the few rounds we have won. Showing up to let our voices continue to be heard is more important now that it appears the CAC may be meeting for one last time.

Let's grow our army of concerned citizens. We must not get lazy or silent or allow others to fight our battles.

Perhaps this is now the middle of the beginning. Perhaps when the Planning Department give us their opinion and we deal with that will be the real beginning of the middle of the beginning.

The end will be when 429 beautiful single-family, detached homes are built on Ponte Vista.

Until then, we need to stay strong, positive, and caring about OUR community.

Again, thank you to all the over 10,000 members of R Neighborhoods Are 1!