Cornfield Music Festival Raises Social Awareness

Thousands united through the love of music at the Cornfield park in Chinatown Saturday for the We the People festival . The people-empowering music festival that hijacked the Los Angeles State Historic Park featured an eclectic lineup of more than two dozen performers including Les Claypool of Primus, Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, RZA of the Wu Tang Clan and Suicidal Tendencies.

Judging by the reaction of the main stage crowd when original dancehall master, Barrington Levy, took the stage one hour later than scheduled, music breaks all boundaries.

Councilmember Ed Reyes’ office would like to thank and congratulate the City's Department of Recreation and Parks, the Los Angeles Police Department, California State Parks, We The People sponsors and all who attended the festival. We made it a success!

Benefit Poetry Marathon at Ave. 50 Studio on Saturday

Many of L.A.'s top poets will gather Saturday, Sept. 27 at Ave. 50 Studio , 131 N. Avenue 50, in Highland Park for a benefit Poetry Marathon. The event, which runs from 10 a.m. to midnight, will help benefit Ave. 50 Studio following a burglary during which a valuable computer system was stolen. The $10 donation includes daylong admission, great food, music and poetry book giveaways, said Kathy Gallegos, Ave. 50 director. The event will feature 60 writers from all over southern California including Luís Rodríguez, Gloria Alvarez, Jerry Quickley, Sesshu Foster, Steve Abee, Peter J. Harris and Luis Alfaro. Media sponsors: Arroyo Seco Journal and KPFK radio. Please show your support for Ave. 50 Studio.

http://www.avenue50studio.com/
(323) 258-1435
Metro Gold Line accessible: Highland Park Station

For more information, email md84rfja65@yahoo.com

Reyes, Community Leader, Highlight MacArthur Park Coastal Cleanup Day

Councilmember Ed P. Reyes, in English and Spanish, discussses the importance of the recent Coastal Cleanup Day at MacArthur Park with Daniel Morales, Founder of Youth Empowered Through Scholastic Sports Service (Y.E.S.S.S.).
Last week, City departments and more than 250 residents collected 46 tons of trash in the Westlake community. The weeklong trash and bulky item pickup culminated at the first Coastal Cleanup Day at MacArthur Park on Saturday, September 20, 2008.
The volunteers, comprised mostly of youth soccer players, were among the more than 12,000 volunteers that gathered countywide Saturday to pick up thousands of pounds of trash as part of the Cleanup Day. After sweeping sidewalks and bagging trash, the soccer players enjoyed great a burrito lunch, courtesy of Liborio Markets, and soccer tournament at the newly-cleaned park.
Councilmember Reyes thanks City Department of Sanitation, County departments, Y.E.S.S.S., Heal the Bay, and Liborio Markets for making this event possible.

Reyes Kicks Off First Coastal Clean-up Day at MacArthur Park

Councilmember Reyes joined more than 250 community members to kick off the first Coastal Cleanup Day at MacArthur Park. They were part of the more than 10,000 volunteers Countywide who came out to different sites today for the event. Armed with rakes, brooms and trash bags, the crew--mostly local youth soccer players and their families--fanned out across the park to help clean up MacArthur Park and, thus, our waterways, Reyes noted.
"The majority of marine debris is made of plastic materials, such as plastic bags and food containers from communities that end up in our waterways," Reyes said. "Plastic wastes mar our neighborhoods, pollute waterways and harm marine and plant life. That's why what we are doing today is so important."
Reyes and his staff worked with City departments, Heal the Bay, and Daniel Morales, Founder, Youth Empowered Through Scholastic Sports Service (Y.E.S.S.S.).

Afternoon Delight at Debs Park

If you’re looking to enjoy the beautiful outdoors of Los Angeles after the California Coastal Cleanup Day at MacArthur Park on Saturday, visit Audubon Center at Debs Park for a FREE concert at 4:30 p.m. that celebrates the roots of Latin American music.

The Clasica event features a special musical performance by America Indigena. Led by Xavier “Yxayotl” Quijas, one of a few Mexican artists able to construct instruments identical to the ones used by indigenous nations from Mexico, the performance will showcase the beauty of the pre-Columbian music.

This special event is put on by The Orchestras of Pasadena, in association with Audubon Center at Debs Park. More information on the calendar section of this website.

Audubon Center at Debs Park, 4700 N. Griffin Ave.Los Angeles, CA 90031, (626) 793-7172, ext. 21.

California Coastal Cleanup Day

Join me and thousands of volunteers this Saturday, September 20 at MacArthur Park from 9 a.m. to Noon as part of California Coastal Cleanup Day! Last year more than 60,000 volunteers helped bag more than 900,000 pounds of trash, debris and recyclables from our waterways and inland.

More information on the calendar on this website, or at http://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/ccd/ccd.html, where you can find the Cleanup Day location nearest you.

MacArthur Park, at 653 S Alvarado St and Wilshire Blvd, is easily accessible via the Red Line Metro stop. Go to http://www.metro.net/ to help plan your trip. See you Saturday!

Reyes Responds to LAPD May Day Decision

September 16, 2008

Councilmember Ed P. Reyes, whose district includes MacArthur Park, issued the following statement following the Los Angeles Police Department’s decision regarding the incidents at MacArthur Park on May 1, 2007 that left some reporters and demonstrators injured.

Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton has announced plans to discipline 15 officers. Of those officers, four have been ordered to Board of Rights hearings with the recommendation of termination.

Councilmember Reyes responded with the following:

“The Chief’s action sends a strong message that we are holding people accountable,” said Councilmember Ed P. Reyes, whose district includes MacArthur Park. “But just as importantly, it’s about rebuilding the confidence between the LAPD and the residents in my district. The May Day events opened a tremendous wound in the community. But I believe these actions go along way in the healing process. I applaud Chief Bratton for his methodical approach in making sure everyone is held responsible.”