South
Central Farmers. Deadline Looming
Added
by: Gary Isse May 11, 2006. Photography by Gary Isse
 When most people think of South Central Los Angeles, they think of gangs, drugs,
drive-by shootings, and riots. I know those thoughts traveled through my mind
as I got off the bus at 41st and Compton Ave., on my way to visit the South
Central
Farmers. Although I was not the most relaxed or comfortable walking the two blocks
to the farm, I felt 100% safe once within its confines; a place that Tom
Morello guitarist of rock band Audioslave and
founder of Axis
of Justice called an “embodiment of the American Dream;” What Mike
Farrell, actor turned activist called an “oasis of life.” By now you may
be asking what Tom
Morello, Mike
Farrell, a farm, and I were doing in the middle of South Central Los Angeles.
 Thirteen years ago, after the Los Angeles riots, mayor Tom Bradley took a 14-acre concrete slab in the middle of South Central Los Angeles and, using the laws of eminent domain, gave it to the local community. Since then, the concrete has disappeared and an “oasis of life” as Mike put it, has been born. Where was once nothing but an old warehouse and home to rats and crime now exists the
country’s largest urban farm; a wondrous example of what could become a model of sustainable city living.
In an country were food now routinely travels “1,500 and 2,500 miles from farm to table,” <1> the South
Central Farm has allowed hundreds of families the opportunity to enjoy healthy fruits and vegetables grown literally in their own backyards, and has provided them with a beautiful place to raise their families and enjoy nature. Mike Feinstein, Santa Monica city councilmen and green party member said today in support of the farmers “what's happening here is a form of socially responsible investing… We cannot depend on long supply lines to bring in our food… what is happening here needs to happen all over California."
 Unfortunately, 13 years ago, Mayor Tom Bradley did not legally give this land to the South Central Farmers, because as the courts have ruled, it was not his to give. According to Bob
Reid at the Trust
for Public Land, the non-profit organization facilitating the transactions between the South Central Farmers and the city, Ralph Horowitz, the original landowner, recently won the land back after years of fighting the legality of its original confiscation. Now that he legally owns the land again, he understandably wants it back.
This situation presents a very difficult dilemma for the city, the people within
the community and anyone struggling between doing what is legal within our
current system and doing what is best for the people in the community. This
is the epitome of the ethics debates that are taking place all across the country.
At what price are profits allowed to go ahead of people? As Linda Avila from
the green party put it, " It is immoral to displace people who are trying to feed themselves."
 Fortunately for all of us, that question may not have to be answered today. The Trust
for Public Land, the South
Central Farmers and Ralph Horowitz have been able to come to an agreement that will allow the South
Central Farmers to keep the land. All they have to do is come up with the money… but they only have TEN DAYS LEFT!!!
The countdown can be witnessed firsthand at the South Central Farmers web site, www.SouthCentralFarmers.com, which has a program counting down the seconds right there on their homepage. Although the property is to be purchased at fair market value, the farmers themselves are tasked with raising a cool million dollars before the deadline looms. Not an easy task for a group of people who have basically been living off of the farm for the last thirteen years. What they need now is our help.
 Today the South Central Farmers put on what they referred to as the most important press conference in their history. “14 years could be gone in 10 days,” they started the press conference as saying. As you can see from my photo gallery of the event, people from many organizations attended to show their support, help raise money and find donors, both major and modest, to save the country’s largest urban farm.
"This is a work of god and is something that you should be supporting," said Mike
Farrell during his short speech at today’s press conference. Ultimately, it seems that is exactly what this is going to come down to… how much support, financially, spiritually and physically you are able to give.
Although there has also been much tension between city officials and the farmers, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has in the past stood side-by-side with the farmers in their struggle. Unfortunately, the farmers themselves have been asking lately where their long lost friend has been, as they have not seen him since he took office. However, Lorrie Estrada assured me today, during a call to the mayor’s office, that Mayor Villaraigosa has been working and doing everything possible to help the farmers with their problem. To paraphrase a representative from the National Action Center present at today’s press conference, if they don't do the right thing and save this farm they will see solidarity from the movements like they’ve never seen before. That sounded a bit ominous. I hope this doesn’t turn into the Los Angeles riots of 2006.
If you would like to learn more and/or help the South
Central Farmers in “the greatest civil rights struggle affecting Los Angeles today,” I strongly encourage you to visit their web site at www.SouthCentralFarmers.com and help out in any way, shape or form possible. Of course what they are most looking for are some dead presidents. All donations are tax-deductible and they can even be made online on their web site using Pay
Pal.
<1> http://www.worldwatch.org/press/news/2002/11/21/
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