There have been highly plausible but nevertheless unconfirmed rumors floating around the City for a while now that the North Figueroa Association, which administers the Highland Park BID, was responsible for the destruction of murals in Highland Park. Now, at long last, I have obtained definitive proof of this connection.
After reading last week’s article on the controversy in LA Magazine, a friend of this blog asked Felicia Filer of the Department of Cultural Affairs for relevant emails. And this evening she came through in a big, big way. Read the whole thing for yourself right here, and turn the page for transcriptions. The short version is that, in the words of Cedillo staffer Conrado Terrazas, there were:
… two murals we discussed that the North Figueroa Association would like to paint out because they have graffiti.
And after discussion with appropriate City staff, Conrado Terrazas actually gave Misty Iwatsu the go-ahead to destroy the murals:
Hi Yami,
Thank you for your follow up on this. Misty Iwatsu with the Business Improvement District, aka North Figueroa Association will paint out the walls where these two murals are located.
Hi Misty,
It is fine for your staff to paint out these illegal murals on City Property.
Regards,.
Conrado Terrazas
Here are the two murals!!
As I said, turn the page for transcriptions!
Conrado Terrazas <conrado.terrazas@lacity.org> Tue, Jun 6, 2017 at 5:04 PM
To: Yami Duarte <yami.duarte@lacity.org>
Cc: Misty Iwatsu <mistyli@aol.com>, Ricardo Flores <ricardo.x.flores@lacity.org>
Hi Yami,
Attached are the two murals we discussed that the North Figueroa Association would like to paint out because they have graffiti. Let me know what we should do.
Mural with words WOC painted on this is location on City Parking Lot 672 which is located behind Owl Drugs 5634 N Figueroa St. LA 900042
Mural with image of woman is located in City Parking Lot 638 which is located behind the Ebell Club of Hiqhland Park 131 S. Ave. 57, LA 90042.
Thank you.
Regards,
Conrado Terrazas
District Director
Office of Councilmember Gilbert Cedillo, District 1
Office 323-550-1538
2 attachments
Mural Photo – WOC – Lot 672 Behind 5634 N. Figueroa St. LA 90042JPG
873K
Mural Photo – Woman – Lot 638 131 S. Ave 57 LA 90042JPG
684K
Yami Duarte <vami.duarte@lacitv.org>
To: Dean Staron <dean.staron@lacity.org>
Hi Dean,
Since these murals are in your neighborhood, maybe you have come across them. Do you know if these walls belong to the City parking lot or the private properties?
Thanks,
Yami
Yami M. Duarte | Arts Associate
City of Los Angeles | Murals Program
yami.duarte@lacity.org | 213 202-5541
Department of Cultural Affairs | Public Art Division
201 North Figueroa Street | Suite 1400
Los Angeles, California 90012
www.culturela.org
twitter.com/culture_la
instagram.com/cultureja
www.facebook.com/culturela
2 attachments
Mural Photo – WOC – Lot 672 Behind 5634 N. Figueroa St LA 90042.JPG
873K
Mural Photo – Woman – Lot 638 131 S. Ave 57 LA 90042.JPG
684K
Dean Staron <dean.staron@lacity.org> Wed, Jun 7, 2017 at 12:43 PM
To: Yami Duarte <yami.duarte@lacity.org>
I’ll have a look and let you know tomorrow.
Dean Staron
Sr. Inspector
221 N Figueroa St. #1100
Los Angeles Ca. 90012
213 252-3082
Dean Staron <dean.staron@lacity.org> Thu, Jun 8, 2017 at 9:30 AM
To: Yami Duarte <yami.duarte@lacity.org>, Conrado Terrazas <conrado.terrazas@lacity.org>
Hello Yami and Conrado,
I inspected the site yesterday, both of these images are on City owned property, I would recommend contacting the Dept, of General Services if you want them removed. Unfortunately I do not have a contact at that Dept.
thank you
Dean Staron
Sr. Inspector
221 N Figueroa St. #1100
Los Angeles Ca. 90012
213 252-3082
Yami Duarte <yami.duarte@lacity.org> Thu, Jun 8, 2017 at 11:08 AM
To: Dean Staron <dean.staron@lacity.org>
Cc: Conrado Terrazas <conrado.terrazas@lacity.org>, Jason Valencia <jason.valencia@lacity.org>, Gerry Valido
<gerry.valido@lacity.org>
Thank you Dean for looking into it.
I did not know General Services also does abatement work. My usual contact is Public Works. Jason Valencia and Gerry Valido from Public Works are copied.
Jason and Gerry-The murals are not registered and on City property. Is this something your Department can address?
Images attached.
Thank you,
Yami
Yami Duarte <yami.duarte@lacity.org> Thu, Jun 8, 2017 at 11:17 AM
To: Dean Staron <dean.staron@lacity.org>
Cc: Conrado Terrazas <conrado.terrazas@lacity.org>, Jason Valencia <jason.valencia@lacity.org>, Gerry Valido <gerry.valido@lacity.org>
Ah-
I missed Conrado’s part of the question regarding the North Figueroa Association’s request to paint out the murals themselves. I am not aware of the issues surrounding non-city organizations abating graffiti on City owned property. What are your thoughts Jason/Gerry?
Thanks-
Dean Staron <dean.staron@lacity.org> Thu, Jun 8, 2017 at 11:56 AM
To: Yami Duarte <yami.duarte@lacity.org>
I don’t know that they do, but they are required the maintain the property like anyone else
Dean Staron
Sr. Inspector
221 N Figueroa St. #1100
Los Angeles Ca. 90012
213 252-3082
Gerry Valido <gerry.valido@lacity.org> Thu, Jun 8, 2017 at 12:58 PM
To: Yami Duarte <yami.duarte@lacity.org>
Cc: Dean Staron <dean.staron@lacity.org>, Conrado Terrazas <conrado.terrazas@lacity.org>, Jason Valencia <jason.valencia@lacity.org>
It looks like the graffiti are on walls of a City-owed/operated parking lot??
Maybe that’s why General Services would be the one to do the work.
Not sure what the “North Figueroa Association” is…but if this is on CITY-OWNED walls, City forces should probably be cleaning it…
Gerry
GERRY VALIDO
Graffiti Abatement Monitor/Court Liaison/Community Coordinator
O: (213) 978-0223
Adopt-A-Median / Adopt-A-Spot Program
O: (213) 978-0225
City of Los Angeles/Dept, of Public Works/Board of Public Works
Office of Community Beautification – City Mail Stop #465
200 North Spring Street, Rm. 356, L.A., CA 90012
C: (213) 761-3160 / Fax: (213) 978-0241
E-mail: gerry.valido@lacity.org
Website: www.laocb.org
FOR GRAFFITI REMOVAL REQUESTS, PLEASE PHONE 3-1-1
Yami Duarte <yami.duarte@lacity.org> Fri, Jun 9, 2017 at 1:48 PM
To: Conrado Terrazas <conrado.terrazas@lacity.org>
Cc: Dean Staron <dean.staron@lacity.org>, Gerry Valido <gerry.valido@lacity.org>, Jason Valencia <jason.valencia@lacity.org>
Thanks everyone.
Conrado, please reach out to GSD, let them know the murals are on City property, not legal and request abatement.
Unfortunately, we do not have a contact there.
Regarding the North Figueroa Association, that sure is nice of them, but hopefully GSD will take care of the problem- let us know what you find out.
Thank you,
Yami
[Quoted text hidden]Ricardo Flores <ricardo.x.flores@lacity.org> Fri, Jun 9, 2017 at 2:57 PM
To: Gerry Valido <gerry.valido@lacity.org>, yami.duarte@lacity.org, Jason Valencia <jason.valencia@lacity.org>
Good Afternoon Gerry,
I will taking over this case and will like a follow up on this murals. By reading the email history. Now that we know that the murals are not register. Who can we contact at General Services that can remove this murals as soon as possible?
Also, the North Figueroa Association is the organization that works with the local business to sweep, empty trash cans, and remove graffiti through out the Figueroa Corridor, just to name a few things.
Thank you,
Ricardo Flores
Constituent Services
Councilmember Gilbert Cedillo
Los Angeles City Council, District l
323-550-1538-Office
(323) 550-1579-Fax
ricardo.x.flores@Iacity.org
On Thu, Jun 8, 2017 at 6:49 PM, Conrado Terrazas <conrado.terrazas@lacity.org> wrote:
Hi Ricardo,
I’m Sending you this string as you are already working in this. The reason I contacted Yami with DCA was to find out if BID was authorized to paint it out.
I am taking myself out of this discussion as you are following up in this.
Thanks.
-Forwarded message-
From: “Gerry Valido” <gerry.vaIido@lacity.org>
Date: Jun 8, 2017 12:58 PM
Subject: Re: Two Murals We Discussed
To: ‘Yami Duarte” <yami.duarte@lacity.org> ]
Conrado Terrazas <conrado.terrazas@lacity.org> Fri, Jun 9, 2017 at 3:42 PM
To: Yami Duarte <yami.duarte@lacity.org> p Misty Iwatsu <mistyli@aol.com>, Ricardo Flores <ricardo.x.flores@lacity.org>
Cc: Dean Staron <dean.staron@lacity.org>, Gerry Valido <gerry.valido@lacity.org>, Jason Valencia <jason.valencia@lacity.org>
Hi Yami,
Thank you for your follow up on this. Misty Iwatsu with the Business Improvement District, aka North Figueroa Association will paint out the walls where these two murals are located.
Hi Misty,
It is fine for your staff to paint out these illegal murals on City Property.
Regards,.
If this is a constituent request, please contact Ricardo Flores at ricardo.x.flores@lacity.org or at 323-550-1538.
Conrado Terrazas
District Director
Office of Councilmember Gilbert Cedillo, District 1
Office 323-550-1538
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Yami Duarte <yami.duarte@lacity.org> Fri, Mar 9, 2018 at 1:27 PM
To: Ligeia Gorre <ligeia.gorre@lacity.org>
-— Forwarded message-
From: Conrado Terrazas <conrado.terrazas@lacity.org>
[Quoted text hidden] [Quoted text hidden]
Image of Misty Iwatsu is ©2018 MichaelKohlhaas.Org and was modified from this.
