CommentsSKID ROW-In the Court of Public Opinion, LA City Councilmember Jose Huizar was released early from a six-month probation period due to a sentence reduction based on “time off for good behavior,” which was to end January 31, 2017. (Photo above: Councilman Huizar with author General Jeff.)
This “punishment” stems from Huizar’s initial support for a proposed microloft project in Skid Row which would’ve converted buildings (through adaptive reuse zoning designations) previously owned by Salvation Army and used for well over 60 years to provide housing and social services to countless homeless people who reside in this area, commonly-known as “the homeless capitol of America.”
In a Zoning Administration hearing at City Hall in June of this year, Huizar’s staff representative publicly conveyed the councilmember’s support for the project even though there was strong and contentious opposing testimony from the Skid Row community. The current owner, architects and land-use consultants of the proposed microloft project were all in attendance.
With an extensive delay in the ZA’s decision, mostly due to the need to research a long-standing Wiggin’s settlement clause, no decision was reached that day.
About a month later, members of the Court of Public Opinion convened and Huizar testified that he “thought everyone was in support of the project” and “this is the first I’m hearing of any opposition.” After a brief deliberation, Huizar was immediately sentenced: his “People’s Champ” title was immediately vacated with no resistance by the defendant.
It was first rumored in September that a decision on the microloft project had been reached, but nothing could be confirmed. Finally, in October, the Court of Public Opinion learned there was “official movement” on the project. The owner and his representatives “formally withdrew” their application and requested that “no further action be taken” on file number ZA-2015-2843-ZAD.
Ding-dong the Wicked Witch is dead!
With other local matters affecting homelessness, such as Proposition HHH and other tax-based ballot initiatives in the air during that time, the temperature between Huizar and the Skid Row community went ice cold. It was rumored that polar bears in Alaska were jealous of the “daily, below-zero-type freezing temperatures.”
Members of the Skid Row community went to City Hall themselves and researched the “microloft file” and were able to confirm and clarify the status of the project. Soon, the Court of Public Opinion was contacted regarding a new hearing of determination on Huizar.
Without delay, the Councilmember’s good standing in Skid Row resumed without further comments from either side. He was immediately released from probation and his “People’s Champ” status returned and reinstated. (Wow, who’s this guy’s lawyer?)
Now that the $1.2 billion dollar HHH homeless housing initiative has passed and LAHSA’s next “Homeless Count” is fast-approaching (next month), a more cohesive level of communication between Councilmember Huizar and his constituents in Skid Row will be critical if significant strides in “reducing homelessness” across Los Angeles is to happen anytime soon.
With the pending formation of a Skid Row Neighborhood Council and the final determination as to whether LA will land the 2024 Summer Olympics both happening in 2017, Skid Row will need the “People’s Champ” to rise to the occasion. These matters and more will greatly impact homelessness across the entire City of Los Angeles moving forward.
If Huizar gets all of this right, he could be the next Mayor of Los Angeles in 2021.
(General Jeff is a homelessness activist and leader in Downtown Los Angeles. Jeff’s views are his own.) Edited for CityWatch by Linda Abrams.
Jose Huizar is Once Again Skid Row’s ‘People’s Champ’
