An Open Letter to Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez
Dear Councilmember Soto-Martinez,
The man you replaced, Mitch O’Farrell, was perceived by many as a cynical politician who placed the desires of wealthy real-estate developers over the concerns of the people he was supposed to represent. Sensitive to any perception of impropriety, you’ve made it a point to not accept campaign donations from developers. 
You’ve also made it a point to stress the importance of pedestrian safety in CD 13. Indeed, your latest constituent newsletter emphasizes your commitment to protecting residents from the violence of street accidents.
Given these facts, many of us who live in the district you represent are having great difficulty understanding why you and your staff are currently supporting a proposed development [DIR-2023-4766-TOC-SPR-VHCA] at the corner of Sunset & Gardner – which calls for a seven-story “mixed use” building (consisting mostly of more unnecessary luxury apartments) to be constructed directly next to Gardner Street Elementary School, a Title 1 institution. Not “near,” not “down the street from,” but literally next to, with one enormous wall of the building abutting the school’s playground and outdoor garden. The concept is unprecedented; no other LAUSD school has ever suffered such a grotesque indignity.
Frightened parents have provided numerous reasons in writing why a project of this scope and intensity is obviously inappropriate for such a sensitive location. Rather than catalog them here, I invite you and members of your planning team to see for yourself. See how many vulnerable children walk directly across the proposed Gardner Street driveway; see how much dangerous traffic forms around the school during business hours; see how many “close calls” we witness on a daily basis.
Alas, despite several invitations to do a walk-around and meet with concerned parents, teachers and neighbors, despite multiple Neighborhood Council and School Community meetings to address the oncoming harm, you and your staff have been a no-show.
Your reticence is understandable. One imagines it would be terribly difficult to look mothers and fathers in the eye and tell them in so many words a rich person’s pursuit of more riches is somehow more important than their children. But the alternative – ignoring their pleas and allowing this poorly conceived project to go forward – could haunt all of us for the rest of your life. Because when the inevitable happens, when a child is harmed, everyone will ask the same question: Who thought constructing this enormous building directly beside a school was a prudent idea? Who allowed this?
Councilmember Soto-Martinez, our beautiful, fragile community needs you.
We need your leadership, your sense of righteousness, your focus on justice for all, not merely those who can hire lobbyists and consultants. I urge you to investigate this developing tragedy, practice good representative governance, and stand with children, parents, teachers, administrators, neighbors and frightened stakeholders and oppose the project as currently proposed.
Sincerely,
Michael Konik (Two Driveways from Gardner Street Elementary)
