Traffic Lights and Other Plights on North Figueroa

by LA1 News

   It was a pleasant day of 78 degrees when LA1 News set out to cover the story yesterday. The sun was bright in Highland Park and energy was in the air, apparently. As we turned the corner at Avenue 55 and Figueroa Street, DOT workers were scattered in among a throng of city suits with lots of hair gel. Traveling northbound on Avenue 55, we pulled over to park just before Monte Vista Street. Highland Park Post #206 former commander and Vietnam veteran Larry Wible came walking out. He was alongside Helen Weston of Northside Inn, Richard’s Hofbraü and Mr. T’s bartending fame.

   Invited by Council District 1 to bear witness, Larry, Helen and the post commander headed to 55 and Fig for the new street light installation ceremony. As the Legion folks strolled down the east side of the street, a group of young school children from Monte Vista Elementary School walked on the opposite side, led by their teacher and trailed by the teacher’s aide. The kids wore Indian-style headbands with the proverbial feather creatively replaced by a cute traffic signal.

   Everything was fine with the approach to the community event, until just past the Gold Line tracks. Suddenly, from her porch, a female Latina yelled out at Helen the Legion bartender, “What the hell are you doing here, you white bitch? This is a Mexican neighborhood! Get out of here!” With advice from Wible about considering the source, and Helen not showing the mood to display her famous temper, the walk went on as planned.

   Arriving on scene, most of the North Figueroa mainstays were already there. Cheryl Johnson from Bob Taylor’s office came out. Heinrich Keifer was there with his wife. Librarian Sarah Moore brought the new “Book Bike” to the event, and Misty Iwatsu of the North Figueroa Association showed up sporting her North Figueroa t-shirt.

   It was an impressive display of outreach and the resultant local support. The event was noble, in the name of public safety. Still, the ugly stain of the verbal abuse unleashed by the troll on the porch hung in the air. After all, Highland Park is a tinderbox of racial tension these days. Not long from now, it could all explode.

   The kids from Monte Vista made a rhyme for the event. “Red means stop. Green means go. Yellow means wait, even if you’re late.” Gil Cedillo took to the microphone to thank the entire crowd and express regret for the loss of lives on North Figueroa over the years, due to vehicles striking pedestrians. Yolanda Lugo was killed at this very intersection this past September. Three months later, 17-year-old Andres Perez was struck and killed at Avenue 60 while walking to school. War veteran Bill Matelyan was killed at Avenue 26 in 2014, Jose Luna at Marmion Way in 2015, all at streets intersecting North Figueroa.

   While the loss of lives due to traffic in Highland Park is significant, a larger problem exists. The entire community is now disjointed with small fiefdoms in battle against each other. Having the historic community split in two separate council districts only complicates the issues. Cedillo was elected by the smallest of margins, only to have his very own Latino constituency turn against him for being too friendly to development, and gentrification. Huizar and the folks up on York have apparently found a new name for the historic York Valley community. They’re calling it York Village now, to nobody’s notice.

   Jesse Rosas, who ran against Cedillo in 2013 and then endorsed him on the promise of a chief of staff job that never came, is running against him again next year. Rosas has his own business association on North Figueroa to counter the North Figueroa Association. In the old days, the Highland Park Chamber of Commerce boasted business owner/members from both main drags. There were monthly mixers at the Ebell Club and other venues in the neighborhood. The chamber only exists in name now.

   Josef Bray-Ali put his name in the hat last week, and has pulled papers to run against Cedillo next year. Bray-Ali, initially a Cedillo supporter, is the owner of Flying Pigeon Bicycle Shop and collective and is Cedillo’s biggest critic nowadays. Contacted by LA1 News this week, he described any future hopes of a bike lane on North Figueroa as “dead in the water.” Bray-Ali says he is now running on separate platforms like responsible development and stakeholder responsiveness.

   The area of Highland Park is going to continue to either flourish or decline, depending on individual opinion. However, the community of Highland Park is going to continue to disappear, and it may very well be gone forever unless someone can step up to bridge the divide. Responsible, inclusive community events need to be held, much like the street light event put on by Cedillo, who has surprisingly kept his head up amidst the tugs and pulls from all sides along the way. Next week we return to the troll on the porch at Avenue 55 to see what's the matter. We will keep you updated.