"Joan Baez, in a tree..... a developers worst nightmare...."
I cracked up last night when I heard that headline on the evening news , Joan Baez, the 60's folk singing activist had hoisted herself up a tree in protest and was not coming down.
But I wasn't laughing when I heard why.
It seems there is a plot of land in South LA, a really tough neighborhood by any standards. An area of about 4 city blocks, abandoned for years and virtually a dump, has been squatted and the residents have turned it into a virtual oasis. They have, in the past few years, taken this piece of land, cleaned it up, fenced it, and turned it into a park . A beautiful park/garden that has been declared by the neighborhood as a safe place, a place for the community to grow vegetables, for the children to run and play. A place of hope. It sits, plum in the middle of destitution.
And I cheered for these people , these squatters, who have taken what they had, and spun it into gold.
And now the developers have taken notice of this paradise, and are wanting to develop it. To take it away from the community, and make it into, whatever, I wasn't listening.
I haven't climbed a tree for years, but can shimmy with the best of them.
Perhaps I'll join Joan up there.
We'll have a tree party.
For the children that play there, in this safe harbour..........
A tree house.
A tree house.
A free house.
A secret you and me house.
A high up in the leafy branches,
happy as can be, house.
A street house.
A neat house.
A be sure to wipe your feet house,
is not the kind of house for me.
Let's go and live in a treehouse.
TreeHouse by Shel Silverstein
Update:
I think it is obscene that this landowner expects to make 11 million dollars $$$$PROFIT$$$$$ on this.
Reminds me of another folk singer's lament.....
and they paved paradise and put up a parking lot.......................
9 comments:
I have followed this story for a while, as it is unfolding not all that far away.
From what I understood, the landowner allowed the people to come on the land when they asked him, although always letting them know that he had plans to sell it. And that when he did, they would be expected to vacate.
Except they aren't.
So in one sense, I feel bad that the community garden will be gone, but on the other, a property owner has his rights, and is probably thinking "No good deed goes unpunished" type of thoughts.
A different perspective, thanks Gina.
Apparently the land is worth 10 million dollars, and one could hardly expect that to be ignored.I agree the land owner is probably thinking just that.Damned either way.
Can't all you rich Hollywood types clean out your coat pockets and come up with the cash?
Let charity begin in your backyard.
It just sad that this little community miracle will disappear.
It sounds like quite a story. I wonder if a compromise could be reached?
Actually, I just did some more reading on this, and it seems he wants to develop the land, not necessarily sell it.
So there are some people who think that the jobs, businesses, and taxes that would bring is a fair compromise.
And i just did some reading as well,as my update indicates. just what is the scoop??????
From a tree-huggin' wanna-be...I might have to join Joanie! (I have been known to let loose a shimmy of my own!!)
And...I also wanted to mention...
You are Queen for many more reasons than your ability to pack up all the campin' stuff!! Your 4-acre Queendom-spread is absolutely beautiful! And...it is a true Queen who can feel the plight of inner-city sanctuary-seekers...and suggest she might travel to LA to shimmy her way up a tree for them!
Well, always two sides to a story. As I said, I think he prefers to develop it, but hey, the story can change.
I can see that you feel strongly about it, I wish you the best of luck in however you feel like helping.
I see your point Gina, but I also wonder why they can't get enough people (and governments) together to pay for it to stay as a greenspace. I'm not saying that development is always a bad thing, but I hate to see greenspace disappear, especially when it's being used to feed people, etc.
I see your point Gina, but I also wonder why they can't get enough people (and governments) together to pay for it to stay as a greenspace. I'm not saying that development is always a bad thing, but I hate to see greenspace disappear, especially when it's being used to feed people, etc.
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