A
major sports and entertainment center that agreed to an unprecedented
set of community concessions in 2001 in response to the Figueroa
Corridor Coalition for Economic Justice (FCEEJ), led by Strategic
Alternatives for a Just Economy (SAJE) was formed to advocate on
behalf of local residents. The original plans for the Staples Center
paid little attention to the social and environmental costs of new
project on the local neighborhood. Because the Staples Center is
located in a heavily populated low-income area, housing primarily
Latino immigrants, of particular concern was the displacement of
local residents. Not only were many residents displaced, a major
issue given Los Angeles's perpetual housing crisis, but the remaining
residents were adversely affected by increased traffic, parking
and crime. Over 300 residents and 30 labor, community and environmental
justice organizations joined the Coalition, which won an historic
set of concessions in exchange for support of the project, including
a preferential parking district for low-income tenants; guarantees
that 20% of housing units will be reserved for low-income people;
$1 million will be set aside for parks; and half of the 5,500 permanent
jobs must go to local residents. |
