Community response: South LA murals



Mural on Crenshaw Blvd. in South LA. | Stephanie Monte

Mural on Crenshaw Blvd. in South LA. View more mural photos on Flickr. | Stephanie Monte

The L.A. City Council decided Tuesday to allow South L.A.’s private, single-family houses to be painted with murals.

The vote — ten approvals with five absences — extends a former provision limited to commercial buildings. It will apply to homes in Districts 1, 9, and 14 — many parts of South and Southeast Los Angeles as well as Boyle Heights and Downtown. (Click to view the City Council reports.)

The council only requests that these private, home murals steer clear of advertisements or other commercial intent.

In the couple of months that the City Council has spent debating the ordinance, little has been heard from the residents of the communities it would affect. We took to the streets to get their input, and discovered that many residents had no idea the extended provision was even on the tables for discussion. Still, they had plenty to share.

Click on photos in the slideshow below to read their thoughts and opinions. Visit Flickr to view Stephanie Monte’s photos of existing murals.


Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa endorses Curren Price for L.A. City Council



In a dramatic sign of the growing and diverse coalition behind a campaign to transform the 9th District, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has endorsed Sen. Curren Price for L.A. City Council.

The mayor cited Price’s deep roots in the 9th District, and his impressive record of achievement in the areas of immigrants’ rights, public safety, expanding healthcare coverage and providing opportunities in education.

“Curren Price was born in the 9th District, attended a school in the 9th, and then went on to serve residents and families in the 9th District in the legislature,” said Villaraigosa. “As State Senator, Curren Price helped champion the California Dream Act that expanded access to college for children of immigrants, he helped protect funding for neighborhood schools and for anti-gang programs, and he successfully expanded health care coverage for all families.”

Price welcomed the enthusiastic support from one of America’s most visible leaders, and said he looked forward to coming to City Hall and building on the progress that has been made during Villaraigosa’s time as mayor.

“Mayor Villaraigosa is a good friend who loves Los Angeles and cares deeply about its future,” said Price. “He understands that it will take a record of leadership, integrity and experience to move the 9th District forward, and a champion to fight for its fair share of resources and city services. The advances in public transit and neighborhood safety that have resulted from Mayor Villaraigosa’s leadership have set the stage for the 9th District to become a model for how diverse communities can unite behind shared goals, and make their neighborhoods a better place to live for our families.”

Mayor Villaraigosa’s support is the latest development in the campaign that demonstrates mounting support for Sen. Price’s campaign. Among elected leaders, Sen. Price’s City Council candidacy is also endorsed by Gov. Jerry Brown; Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom; former State Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez; Congressman and former L.A. City Councilman Tony Cardenas; Congresswoman Karen Bass; Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod; L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas; L.A. City Council President Herb Wesson Jr.; and State Sen. Kevin de Leon.

Sen. Price has also won endorsements from the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO; United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA); SEIU; AFSCME Local 685, UNITE HERE; United Farm Workers; and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.