FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 18, 2012 LA’s Architectural elite engage Councilwoman Jan Perry in the first of five AIA/LA Mayoral Candidate Forums A candid conversation offers architects, city staffers, and community activists an opportunity to hear the candidate talk about mobility, civic engagement, megaprojects, the demise of the CRA and the legacy of Mayor Villaraigosa In a city where land use issues fracture neighborhoods and frighten politicians, Bill Roschen, President of LA’s Planning Commission, and Christopher Hawthorne, Architecture Critic for the LA Times, demonstrated diplomatic skills as they moderated a peaceful discussion with Jan Perry that included density, developers, and affordable housing. “This forum exceeded our expectations,” said Will Wright, Government & Public Affairs Director of the AIA/LA, “and I’m pleased that we were able to establish that the mayoral candidates must demonstrate a plan for holding the many agencies and authorities accountable for their projects in Los Angeles.” Wright went on to explain that it is impossible for the architectural community to take responsibility for making LA more beautiful and economically robust if the largest developers in the city, the LAUSD and Metro, are allowed to operate independently. Perry was challenged to articulate her vision and her plan for making it happen and she didn’t skip a beat, stating confidently “I put people to work, I produce homes they can afford, I give them mobility options, I create neighborhoods where they can raise families, where their kids can attend good schools, and where they can enjoy the quality of life they deserve.” In lieu of offering a plan for making it happen, Perry simply pointed at her track record, beginning with her Planning and Land Use Deputy role early in her public service career to her recent accomplishments funding large projects and building small parkletts. City Watch LA has video of the entire two hour evening along with highlights that feature Perry discussing the demise of the CRA and the potential of Neighborhood Councils. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is the voice of the architecture profession, dedicated to serving and empowering its members through advocacy, educational and outreach programs as well as educating the public on the value and importance of architecture. City Watch LA is LA’s opinion, news and information website and newsletter. CityWatch reports and provides perspective on the issues that face us in Los Angeles at the neighborhood level. Our mission is to promote and facilitate civic engagement and neighborhood empowerment, and to hold area government and its politicians accountable. ### | | | |
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