EDITOR’S NOTE: More than a century-old and located at the birthplace of the city on Olvera Street, La Plaza United Methodist Church is fighting for its life. It is under assault from City Hall even though a long-running dispute between the merchants of Olvera Street and the city has just been resolved. The city is demanding the church, long a provider of services to the poor and needy, pay fair market rent on a lease limited to just five years and pay huge extra fees for each specific use, use fees that could make a baptism cost $3,000. They call it “pay-to-pray” and have mounted a campaign with Councilman Jose Huizar’s help to fight City Hall. Along with supporters such as civil rights leader Rev. James Lawson, they showed up before the Council on Friday to make their case during public comment. Among those testifying was church member Trey Baskett, who recently wrote me after I wrote several articles about Olvera Street.
Dear Ron,
I read your recent post about the lease agreement the merchants on Olvera Street reached with the city. There is one more piece of the El Pueblo puzzle yet to be put in place and that is the lease agreement between the city and La Plaza United Methodist Church. This church has served Los Angeles since 1899 and on the zocolo at Olvera Street since 1926. Unfortunately the church building is owned by the city of Los Angeles. In short, United Methodist Ministries built it in 1926 but it was subsequently appropriated by the state and city through threat of imminent domain in 1956. In all, our church has been in service to the city for 111 years and is, arguably, one of the most historically significant congregations in the city of Los Angeles having led the way on minority and immigrant services, healthcare, education and spiritual guidance for generations of Angelenos. We have been on the plaza for 86 years. All are welcome at La Plaza United Methodist church regardless of where they find themselves in life’s journey. Goodwill Industries of southern California got its start with this church and we had one of the first water fountains in Los Angeles people of any race were free to use.
We are currently in negotiations with the City Attorney’s office and the El Pueblo management seeking a long term, reasonable flat rate lease agreement to continue our work at the church and through our non-profit historical and educational foundation. Talks with the El Pueblo management have been difficult at best, insulting at worst. They have continued to push a “Pay to Pray” lease structure which could subject the church to incremental fees and possibly tens of thousands of dollars in rent each month! Council Member Huizar and his staff have been very supportive and helpful in driving the talks. Back on May 4th CM Huizar introduced of CF 11-0689 to take the parties to talks and include CM Huizar’s oversight. The council vote was unanimous in support of the church. Today we need more help and city council intervention.
Please see the attached FAQ sheet from our La Plaza team. (LaPlaza-FAQ.doc) We are requesting among other things, a flat rate lease with a term of 20 years. Negotiations, as they stand now, have failed to resolve our differences with the city attorney’s office and the El Pueblo management. We believe our position is reasonable, legally grounded, and will serve both the city’s concern for a separation of church and state as well as allowing us to continue our work on the plaza as one of the historical jewels of this city.
So, you see, we at La Plaza United Methodist Church are still fighting for a fair and reasonable lease agreement. On July 8th we plan to appear before city council to ask their support again to bring increased transparency and oversight to the talks. Of course if the city will agree to reasonable terms before the 8th we can all get back to business.
Thanks for your attention. Ask around. This church has been treated pretty poorly by the El Pueblo staff and we are constantly countering their rather manipulative techniques to diminish the presence of the church on the plaza and erase our long history of service to Los Angeles.
Trey Baskett
If you cut the church a break, then the politicians will drive a truck through this exception.
And $1 a year is way too low.
Can’t the City Attorney treat this as a non-profit without affecting its position with the business tenants.
City Attorney will do whatever his political masters tell him to.
If the church and the property are in Eminent Domain and is still in service, Somebody needs to get educated in our city council and law offices. Maybe they all should get fired. Hey, what a great idea!
To Anonymous on July 11, 2011 5:07 PM,
What do you mean “are in Eminent Domain”?
Was the property condemned?
When was the property condemned?
If condemnation occurred in the past and was not successfully challenged, then who currently holds title?
The City Attorney is just the “Yes Man” for the City Council and goes out of his way to please them, even though he ran for a independently elected office and claimed to represent the people of Los Angeles.
He should not run for a second term and instead go back to private practice on behalf of Corporations on Environmental issues.
He should have a smooth transition because he helps private interests seek many advantages from the City of Los Angeles to the determinant of the taxpayers.
Just look at how he went out of his way for AEG and Jan Perry.
Eminent domain means if the government pays for
the property, the owner will have to sell.
The point is why does the city want this property? For CRA OR AEG OR FOR SIMILAR PROJECTS?
READ RON KAYE’S ITEM ATTACHED.HOW IMPORTANT ARE THESE PROJECTS COMPARED TO AN OLD NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE PEOPLE HAVE ATTENDED THIS CHURCH, GENERATION AFTER GENERATION? Life is more imporant than just making money and more money.
Pesonally, the city is being raped. Yes it is
and that needs to stop.