We all walk that fine line between community involvement and attention to our own lives. Community involvement can be demanding, so can our own lives. Community involvement can be rewarding... it can also be demoralizing. The reason so many people stop participating in their community after an initial rousing interest is because equally enthusiastic people with opposing views take it too far and turn their opposition into something personal. Now that would be a good bill to support: The Keep It Clean In Town (KIC-IT) bill to prevent: personal attacks, Facebook insults, snide remarks on Forums and rages on hate sites…
Anyway, in case you’re game, a couple of important meetings are scheduled for this week. First is the Sunland Tujunga Neighborhood Council Land Use Committee (STNC LUC) meeting tonight at 7747 Foothill Boulevard in Tujunga at 7pm. A number of items are on the agenda including a report on the new business going in at the former Coffee Stop drive-thru.
This business was originally embraced by the STNC LUC and the STA but now the Sunland Tujunga Alliance (STA) has turned against it: reporting the business owners’ failure to pull permits. The STA previously reported the business was allowed to “clean up the site” without permits; the owners also met with STNC LUC Chair Tomi Lyn Bowling after an LUC meeting had adjourned, and were encouraged to proceed but return to 'meet the community' at a meeting beforehand. Their expressed desire to fence in the entire site to prevent theft of tables and chairs left outside and the plan to eliminate the drive-thru went unchallenged. They never returned and began work in the evenings… this has tongues wagging.
Another item of interest on the agenda is the report on the progress and hearings about the request of Fresh & Easy for a conditional use permit for liquor sales at their proposed new site in Tujunga. This is a site permit only, based on prior sales allowed at the previous store: a Ralphs Grocery with full service checkouts.
A good deal of strategy goes into this request as F&E has policy they will not consider a site without it. This argument is further made into a hot topic because AB183 (the Fresh & Easy Bill) is before the Governor to prevent liquor sales at Fresh & Easy Stores due to self serve check-out stations.
Finally, a very important hearing is scheduled for the public at 10 am tomorrow September 20, at Marvin Braude Center 6262 Van Nuys Boulevard Room 1B in Van Nuys 91401 to express their concerns to the City of LA
I urge you to get involved… but be prepared, the opposition is out to win at any cost. Participate whenever you can, hear what all sides have to say and form your opinion. If you are an activist at heart that’s great but you may have to have thick skin…it is well to note that a movement initiated by the activists on 'this' side practices anti-hate, even dare-I-say-it? Peace. Give it a chance...
