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DEEGAN ON LA—-“In my backyard” is where the germ of a movement was born: how to effectively say “not in my backyard” to the developers, politicos and corporate housing types that want to take a wrecking ball to the charm, familiarity and tone of single family neighborhoods and replace them with collections of tall, boxy structures fronting as architecture.
Hosted by Shelley Wagers and Danielle Peters, a pair of community activists, forty near neighbors, some meeting each other for the first time, gathered in the Wagers’ backyard for tacos and talk about how to organize themselves into a voice that will be heard at City Hall.
The nascent organization is called The Beverly Grove Neighborhood Association, a non-profit membership group formed to strengthen community ties and represent local interests. Beverly Grove (circa 1926) is a centrally located residential area bordered by a thriving retail district, restaurants, and major cultural institutions and boasts one of the city’s most walkable neighborhoods.
BGNA President Danielle Peters and Secretary Shelley Wagers mingled with the back-yard gathering that was enjoying each other and tacos from the grill. They then spoke briefly about the importance of having an organized community that can protect itself and push back against politicos and developers.
They told the group that they have formed BGNA to promote community cohesion and advocate for policy that enhances quality of life in the neighborhood, which is anticipating a new Metro station next month and far-reaching zoning changes when SB 79 takes effect in July.
Wagers, the group’s Secretary, told the gathering that “We are working with our elected officials and other community leaders to make sure residents have a say in decisions that impact their lives and property. We address issues like density, traffic, and infrastructure, and we coordinate with groups already set up to address safety and security issues.”
Peters, the group’s President, noted that “Beverly Grove continues to attract new residents and development. We want to honor the community spirit of all the people who love living here, whether it’s a block party or speaking up at City Hall. Our membership is savvy and engaged, and we sum up BGNA this way: Big-city smarts, small-town vibes.”
A third community activist, Dale Kendall, President of Save Beverly Fairfax, a contiguous neighborhood association, spoke to the assembled neighbors about the key to community building…communicating within the community to build an organization. “Our neighborhood group started with just a very few people about three or four of us we put up flyers on street poles and slowly but surely we grew to about 350. It doesn’t happen all at once it happens, one neighbor at a time…neighbors telling neighbors and working together. We went from about three or four people to over 350 people in just a few years”.
Danielle Peters grew up in Beverly Grove and is raising two school-age children in the neighborhood. In 2017 she started the Beverly Grove Security Patrol and later brought on Post Security. A land use attorney, she led the community campaign to address the impact of the Television City redevelopment on the neighborhood. She served 4 terms as President of PTA at Hancock Park Elementary School and still serves on its Board, as well as the Board of Friends of LACES and LAUSD Sunshine Committee.
Shelley Wagers is a retired journalist and communications executive who worked with Wall Street, Shelley led the campaign for local and citywide mansionization ordinances and was honored as Woman of the Year for CD 5. She served on the boards of Friends of Beverly Hills Public Library and Beverly Wilshire Homes Association. She and her husband have lived in Beverly Grove for 30+ years.
BGNA serves an area bounded by Fairfax Avenue on the east, Orange Street on the south, San Vicente/La Cienega on the west, and Melrose Avenue on the north. The group is a 501(c) (4) nonprofit. Their website address is www.beverlygrovena.org
(Tim Deegan is a longtime civic activist and columnist whose 'Deegan on LA' feature has been a staple of CityWatchLA for over a decade. With a focus on Los Angeles city politics and neighborhood issues, Deegan brings thoughtful analysis and grassroots perspective to every column. His work highlights the voices of local communities and the impact of City Hall decisions on everyday Angelenos. He can be reached at [email protected].)
