NOISE Shouts With a Victory!

"Be it resolved that the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council opposes the construction of South Region High School No. 15 on the Upper Reservation of Fort MacArthur."

A record shattering turnout at the Monday April 21, meeting of the Governing Board of the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council witnessed the members of the board pass two motions regarding the proposed high school, with a preferred site being at the Upper Reservation of Fort MacArthur.

The old attendance record for a Board meeting was only two months ago when the Vista del Oro Neighbors Against Condos packed the meeting room and the Governing Board listened and then voted to support only the construction of single-family, detached houses on the sites of the former McCowan's Market, in San Pedro.

The new attendance record established at this meeting is over 151 people, according to the official counter for Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council.

Not only did the Governing Board of the Neighborhood Council state its opposition to building a new campus on what we all lovingly call, "Angel's Gate", they strengthened that motion by stating that the officers of the Neighborhood Council will draft a letter to many government agencies opposing the construction of South Region High School No. 15 (SRHS 15).

A second motion overwhelmingly passed by the Board dealt with demanding answers to certain questions the Board has asked during the comment period for the Notice of Preparation and Initial Study for SRHS 15.

There was supposed to be two-ten minute segments of the night's meeting allowing first, a representative of LAUSD speaking in support of the new school.

Ms. Rita Davis, of Local Area 8 spoke and answered, or referred questions asked by the audience.

Unfortunately, Ms. Davis left the meeting before everyone had a chance to ask specifically her, questions about the proposed school.

Then Neighborhoods Organized and Involved to Support Education (NOISE) took its turn to demonstrate why it opposes building a new campus at Angel's Gate.

Ms. Yvonne Schueller gave a ten minute, or there abouts, Power Point presentation that seemed to rock the place. I don't know if there has ever been a standing ovation at a Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council meeting before that meeting, but Yvonne and her husband Robert deserved the loud clapping and standing ovation.

This blog will place some of the information from the presentation on future posts, but every single question asked of Ms. Davis during AND after her speaking, then leaving, were truthfully answered to what can only be described as a very appreciative audience.

NOISE members who probably made up the majority of audience members are only going to find more folks to become members and more involvement in opposing any new high school campus at Angel's Gate.

NOISE members know that there are alternatives to building a new campus at Angel's Gate and so many of them support education all students with the redevelopment of the Point Fermin Outdoor Education Center, which will serve at least twelve times the number of students EACH YEAR, that only a new high school campus could serve.

NOISE members have commented on the many alternatives to building an entire new campus at Angel's Gate, and have even offered alternative sites to build a new campus.

NOISE members have yet to chime in on the recall effort started in Wilmington against Dr. Richard Vladovic, the District 7 member of the Board of Education. Perhaps NOISE will need to join with those in Wilmington who are standing by quietly and allowing LAUSD to build a school with grades K-8 in an area where a beloved market, other businesses, and some residences will have to be taken by right of eminent domain and demolished to build a new campus.