Thoughts on the River: Eric Garcetti | KCET

Title

Thoughts on the River: Eric Garcetti

Jillian Olivas

2013-06-16T10:47:22-07:00

In an exclusive interview immediately following the announcement of the Army Corps of Engineers' recommendation for the $1 billion plan for the L.A. River, Mayor Garcetti told us why the river is so important to the city's past and future, and to him personally; his thoughts on the NELA Riverfront Collaborative (of which we are the media partner); as well as an insight into the city's relationship to the federal government when it comes to projects like the L.A. River revitalization that could benefit the country's economy as a whole.

Below are highlights from our conversation with Mayor Garcetti; you can watch the whole interview above.

More on Eric Garcetti

On lobbying the federal government in securing funds for the L.A. River:

I was going to keep pushing and pushing and pushing because I knew I was pushing for something that wasn't a political favor. It wasn't a, you know, zero sum game, give us a little bit more in L.A. It was do it right or maybe don't even do it at all.

On how the city will spend the funds allocated for L.A. River revitalization:

This is like building a rail line. It doesn't happen in a single year. You don't need a billion upfront. In fact, we couldn't even spend a billion this year. What you have to do is the engineering studies, begin to take up the concrete, buy the parcels of land, link them with the bridges. And, we've got a good plan to do that, but since that'll happen over a decade, we now have to get the money each year from the federal budget and we have to get the money locally.

On the possible displacement of long-time residents along the river:

Nobody's house is going to be taken. Nobody can be kicked out of rent stabilized apartments close to the river. And people in public housing won't be moved, and those developments won't be brought down. What we have to insure though is that new people who want to live who are just graduating from high school or college and looking for an affordable place to find an apartment or even buy a home won't be priced out in future years.

On why redevelopment along the river is important:

We have so much land along the river which is underutilized or poorly utilized, land that's full of industrial uses, railroad tracks that cut off the community from the river, and underutilized space that I'm confident that smart developers coming to this city and asking for favors from us about the height or the density, in exchange we can ask for good things for the community back. More parks, more cafes, bike paths, affordable housing, jobs locally, so that people can actually live and work in the same community and reduce traffic.

On the NELA Riverfront Collaborative:

I think the emphasis on good planning was probably the best thing that came out of that. Planning seems like this esoteric academic thing that people do in universities or city halls. At the end of the day it's a really simple question. What do you want to see in your neighborhood? And, what can we help to make that happen?

On working with the community on city planning:

I've always believed all the answers lie not in city hall or in, you know, a university, a think tank, or in a corporate boardroom. They exist where people live.

Story continues below

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Send Email More Comment
Pin on Pinterest Share on LinkedIn

Support the Articles you Love

We are dedicated to providing you with articles like this one. Show your support with a tax-deductible contribution to KCET. After all, public media is meant for the public. It belongs to all of us.

Donate

About the Author
Jillian Olivas

Keep Reading

TV Talk

TV Talk

Celebrate Black History Month 2021 with KCET and PBS SoCal

In honor of Black History Month, KCET and PBS SoCal will showcase a curated lineup of enlightening programs to bolster awareness and understanding of racial history in America.

Celebrate Black History Month 2021 with KCET and PBS SoCal

Read More
Performance

Southland Sessions

Performance

L.A. River Becomes the Focal Point for Epic, Ongoing Experimental Theater

"Sleep No More" theater director Mikhael Tara Garver unearths the L.A. River's 8-mile deep stories and histories in an ongoing work of experimental theater called "Rio Reveals."

L.A. River Becomes the Focal Point for Epic, Ongoing Experimental Theater

Read More
Visual Arts

Artbound

Visual Arts

'90s Photos of LAPD Reveal a City in Pain

Joseph Rodriguez’s photographs of the LAPD in 1994 is a deeply personal, political act that still resonates in today’s political climate.

LAPD 1994: Portraits of a City in Pain

Read More
L.A. Loses a Champion: Tom LaBonge Dies Suddenly at 67

Tom LaBonge, a larger-than-life character in city hall meetings and effusive champion of Los Angeles, has passed away suddenly.

L.A. Loses a Champion: Tom LaBonge Dies Suddenly at 67

Read More

KL Sticky Header Menu Icon