THE VIEW FROM HERE-The City of San Fernando is part of Los Angeles County, but not LA City. Rather, it is a city onto itself—a place which draws visitors from all over our metropolis because of its beauty, antiquity, and singularity. The restaurants provide exquisite cuisine; the Mission is a wonderful spot for students and adults alike to view and learn about a piece of history; the parks are inviting for family gatherings. Its schools, such as San Fernando High School, have developed numerous programs deserving of great praise.
Not too long ago, however, its City Council was beset with corruption and unscrupulousness. A committee that I chaired had the opportunity to interview prospective new councilmembers to replace their scandalous predecessors. The process was an interesting and enlightening experience. In the long run, I believe, San Fernando is better for having gone through the nightmare.
On Monday of this week, I got to see a new and very different council in action. I was very impressed. All the councilmembers were in attendance and the chamber was packed—standing room only (a testament to the commitment that the residents have to making their city a better place under wiser leadership). The council under its current composition works well together and is open to new perspectives. They asked great questions and received expert answers.
The issue that drew such a large audience was the proposed greenway that would directly impact San Fernando and its surrounding areas. It would replace the abandoned, littered, dangerous stretch along the Pacoima Wash with safe bike and pedestrian paths, green parkways planted with native California vegetation and shade trees. It will also include equestrian paths (a big draw for all the horse owners in the area). Lighting will come from solar technology (a lighting company planning to relocate in the area has already committed to spending millions of dollars to ameliorate the poor lighting and other concerns along this pathway).
Through water-infiltration installations, the project will pay attention to the drought issues we are all facing by creating storm-water capture sites that purify and clean water for future use. Unquestionably, the efforts will help reduce the various effects of climate change. Creating such a place will reduce the need for parking space as people will be able to walk or bike back and forth, virtually eliminating the need for vehicles. Hence, minimizing the parking burden will help reduce our carbon footprint.
What transpires here will serve as a model for all our communities. People who live in dense urban areas will be drawn to greenways such as this one for a little R and R. Local residents will have viable alternatives for family-friendly destinations, rather than having to stay inside or go outside the community to find enjoyable and safe activities.
Studies show that in this community alone, there is a calamitous health danger that is not being addressed. With a population that exhibits a rate of 48% obesity, 20% asthma, and 6% diabetes, we can no longer delay turning these statistics around.
Doctors and other medical practitioners are always telling us to eat right, exercise, and get plenty of rest. This advice would be addressed by the kind of transformative project being considered now. Studies have also indicated that for every thousand residents, there needs to be 10 acres of park land. Currently the Northeast Valley has well below that number with only one acre per thousand. Therefore, adoption of this parkway would help minimize this disproportionate burden.
These greenways can provide exercise through walking and biking and leisure activities from family picnics to sports. Incidentally, there have been many bike give-away programs that are offered to the economically deprived. It is only logical, therefore, that proper bikeways be built to accommodate these cyclists.
Currently, while on their way to school or other destinations, pedestrians and especially students walk along the hazardous Pacoima Wash where there are unmarked paths and no sidewalks. Because there are no official walkways, people are at constant risk of injury from broken glass, uneven terrain, even falls into the wash which require public resources to rescue the victims. The fact that there are 10 schools within a 5-block radius of the proposed makeover makes prompt action even more imperative.
Right now, the stretch is a blight on the community. Because of the current configuration of the area, it is difficult for police patrol cars to access the area on a regular basis and for EMTs to arrive to provide help in a timely manner.
The proposed greenway will eventually be about 3.2 miles in length, beginning with 1.6 miles in its initial phase. It will be an uninterrupted bike and pedestrian paseo that will eventually lead to the Angeles National Forest, a destination which will attract even more people from all over the city and county, and will link many spots that are not presently connected. Bridges and underpasses will be built to ease access for all those utilizing these pathways.
The residents deserve their fair share of the amenities that such programs offer (part one by 2017) that are now available elsewhere (in perhaps more affluent areas which often have more clout). Thus, approval and completion of this proposal will produce a level of environmental justice for all concerned.
This strip of land is unquestionably underutilized. With approval of this proposed greenway, not only will more people access it, but nearby property values will rise because of the attractiveness of having such a greenway near their homes. Greater value equals higher property taxes which communities can use to fund programs that might otherwise have to be reduced in size or cancelled altogether. The neighborhood will attract new home-buyers and retirees and retain those who are already living there.
This is borne out by results we see along Ballona Creek and the LA River where such projects have already been created. “If you build it, they will come” seems to be a prognostication that has proven its verity over and over again. Communities eagerly support such innovations.
Entrepreneurs along this stretch of the Wash are also eager to see this change because they believe that more customers, as a result, will patronize their businesses, providing a boost to the overall economy as well as increasing employment because of theeconomic stimulation. It will, in part, answer the greater vision of creating healthy cities. These business people are willing to invest in the project (sponsorships will be needed to help maintain the area). They believe its creation will provide a viable alternative to keep at-risk youth off the streets, thus reducing criminal activity.
In fact, there is already a Volunteer Rescue Program which brings in such youth to teach them responsibility and diligence. They are then required to put in a certain amount of volunteer time to improve their neighborhoods through such activities as community beautification measures. CPR and swift-water rescue training are an important part of this program which partners with the LAPD. Such team members can also help with the maintenance of these parkways.
Pacoima Beautiful currently sponsors monthly community clean-up programs which include participation from such schools as Cesar Chavez Learning Academies and San Fernando HS. There are also large-scale quarterly projects which many of our LA City Councilmembers promote and in which they enthusiastically take part.
Costs are always a consideration when considering approval of this kind of motion. I think it is obvious and a pragmatic thing to do to invest in our own communities. Federal and County funds will help defray some of the costs. Grants are available. Groups like Pacoima Beautiful and the Mountains Recreation Conservation Authority (MRCA) and other NGOs will also be contributors. The City of San Fernando will have to cover a certain portion of the costs (much less than had been initially thought) but much of that can be offset by increased revenues as a consequence of this project.
Showing their unequivocal support for the greenway were staff members from the offices of Congressmember Tony Cárdenas, State Senator Alex Padilla, State Assemblymember Raul Bocanegra, and LA City Councilmember Felipe Fuentes (Chair of the Energy and Environment Committee). Further supportive testimony was offered by a number of individuals and groups, such as Pacoima Beautiful and MEND (Meet Each Need with Dignity)—a local institution that has a very long history of providing food, clothing, job training, and other assistance to the needy.
The owner of the first brewery in the Northeast Valley spoke passionately about this proposal, emphasizing that we must do whatever it takes “to promote a cultural renaissance in the City of San Fernando”—a goal that every community should emulate. Passage of this measure would further encourage the continuation and possible expansion of outdoor arts undertakings that presently exist and could and should be fostered along those greens.
Many speakers felt that such programs will promote community pride and have a substantial impact on generations to come. When there is pride in one’s home, there is a sense of ownership in the community and a desire to protect and promote it. It was further mentioned that San Fernando City Councilmembers need to participate actively in neighboring community councils to create a camaraderie and willingness to help each other—an action from which everyone will benefit regardless of where they live, work, or go to school.
If you have ever attended a city council meeting (in any community), it is always interesting to see how things shake out. Naturally politics plays into decision-making. Compromise is a consideration. Pointed questions are asked of experts and, depending on how well they answer, can determine the outcome of the final vote. Many of us play the game of counting votes—who we think will vote which way and how many votes are needed to pass or defeat a measure.
Many of us were not sure how the vote would go—maybe two votes, maybe three. But quite to our genuine surprise, the vote was unanimous to support the greenway. The Mayor, the Honorable Antonio Lopez, basically summed it up when he said, the decision was a no brainer.
MORE INFO:
● San Fernando City Council: 818-898-1204;
● Vanessa Benjamin (expert presenter):
(Rosemary Jenkins is a Democratic activist and chair of the Northeast Valley Green Coalition. Jenkins has written Leticia in Her Wedding Dress and Other Poems, A Quick-and-Easy Reference to Correct Grammar and Composition and Vignettes for Understanding Literary and Related Concepts. She also writes for CityWatch.)
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CityWatch
Vol 12 Issue 24
Pub: Mar 21, 2014