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Ex-RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE Frontman Joins Families In South L.A. To Defend Community Farm
- Nov. 19, 2005
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Former RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE frontman Zach de la Rocha will take part in a November 22 concert to mobilize the community in South Central Los Angeles in Support of the South Central Farmers. Tuesday's concert at 41st and Long Beach Ave. will begin at 8:30 p.m. Also appearing on the bill will be Quetzal, members of OZOMATLI, and others.
For 13 years, 350 families have tended a 14-acre community farm in the middle of South L.A.'s gritty industrial belt. Growing their own cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes and other staples has helped make good nutrition affordable. Traditional crops like chipillin, alachi, quelite and pipicha have helped keep traditional cuisine and folk-medicine alive.
The City of L.A. acquired the land in the late 1980s, but abandoned plans to build a trash incinerator after community protests. In 1994, officials transferred title to the Harbor Department, which contracted with the L.A. Regional Food Bank to operate a community farm on the property. In 2003, the City Council agreed to sell the 14 acres back to the original owner, private developer Ralph Horowitz, who wants to demolish the garden and build a warehouse.
The 350 families — organized as South Central Farmers — have camped out in the field for weeks to prevent Horowitz from grabbing the land.
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COMMENT | Other than
posted by : Jesusslaughter 11/19/2005 4:02:50 AM
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what is written I do not know all the facts for either party in this case, but I would admit that I have a biased against Horowitz in this situation. Basically, the way I see it is that some people are attempting to preserve their culture and subsistence system. This is good for sustainable environment (In contrast to SUV's, gasoline, oil, wars, and your typical wasteful human being) and society.
On the flip side Horowitz wants to shred the garden to throw up a warehouse, which has only surface value where economics is concerned with regard to employment of individuals that build the warehouse, and then work in its confines.
The bottom line is that a garden does more for humanity and nature than a warehouse.
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COMMENT |
posted by : 11/19/2005 4:19:55 AM
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I think this Horowitz guy is a douchebag but "original owner" means something. The only reason those families had access to that land in the first place was government seizure. If I had 14 acres and the government took it, and then by some miracle I managed to get it back, hell.... fuck the "common good", the "common good" basically stole from me in the first place.
But still..... a warehouse? That's lame. What a waste.
All this given I have a feeling there's something there's something the reporters of the story aren't telling us. The obvious reaction is too clear-cut; reality is never that simple. We're obviously SUPPOSED to see Horowitz as a greedy bastard, but I'd want more info before I came to that.
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COMMENT | ^^Dude^^
posted by : 11/19/2005 5:11:32 AM
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Reality is often that simple. To a financially-motivated group of outside investors the land is being "wasted" when it could be "profitable". To a community of people that have tended to said land, it is part of their home. The same struggle happens in every urban area and usually, and unfortunately, the shitbags with the money win.
Ever seen a long-standing community garden get bulldozed under for condos? I have...it fucking sucks.
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COMMENT | horowitz
posted by : BlackBehemoth 11/19/2005 5:57:51 AM
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is the original owner, and the land was taken from him by the local government. He should have first rights to its use.
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COMMENT | Yeah.
posted by : 11/19/2005 6:26:32 AM
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Please write song...about this.
Please come back !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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COMMENT | ????
posted by : 11/19/2005 6:39:23 AM
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but why are RAGE against machines?
Victor Smolski, wicked guitarist
HIGHER THAN THE SKY
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COMMENT | i grew up in long beach
posted by : 11/19/2005 7:59:23 AM
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california. that being said im familiar with south central.chances are these vegetables are being sold in l.a in the huge produce market they have there. to resteaunts 4 profit i would imagine.california is always short of water . and most likely the labor on this farm is mostly illegal aliens. a government owned property with illegal labor maybe that should be the focus. wait americans wont do labor jobs so we must allow the mexicans in to drop the price of labor so we can get this work done . fuck ima flooring contractor worked hard all my life. im now in arizona . and ill tell u this these builders turn a blind eye to illegal labor to maximise profits . the wages get lower and lower and their not lowering the cost of the flooring .... thier just pocketing more money.dont forget these aliens arent paying taxes ! yet thier using highways and roads same as u . by not paying taxes thier hireing more helpers which makes it harder 4 the tax paying tilesetter to compete.its4 not that americans wont do the work , more like thier being drivin out of the industry.hey im down 4 a pretty farm in the middle of hell . thats exactly what south central is . but theres other issues and fuck cabbage aint pretty lol.i guess when doing flooring isnt worh it anymore i can get a corporate job , oh shit i cant do that thier out of country now i forgot .guess ill cross thaty bridge when i get to it and the cost of gasoline has already started building that .
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COMMENT |
posted by : 11/19/2005 8:15:48 AM
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That fucking sucks; but good for Zach nonetheless, was wondering what he'd been doing recently.
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COMMENT | Well done Zakk
posted by : 11/19/2005 9:27:23 AM
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It's nice to see musicians who truly believe in what they sing about. Now release your debut solo album, fast! RATM!!!!!!!!!!
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COMMENT | To me it ...
posted by : soulrack 11/19/2005 9:40:47 AM
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Sounds like someone who wants the farm needs to buy the land.
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COMMENT | to me it...
posted by : 11/19/2005 10:22:40 AM
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Sounds like someone who wants the farm needs to buy the land.
Did someone above just say that? I agree.
I understand that people want to grow but the land is owned by someone else. I believe the developer offered an alternative plot nearby. I may drive down there today and check it out. I have nothing else to do except see Harry potter this morning and scratch my ass.
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COMMENT |
posted by : 11/19/2005 12:08:15 PM
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Zach is actively doing something for a cause - while Audioslave makes another generic album of unremarkable music for the Walmart masses.
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COMMENT | DaBOG
posted by : 11/19/2005 1:29:48 PM
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You can document that charge, of course...yeah, I didn't think so.
On topic: If it's possible to get a huge tax write-off by donating this land back to the community (or doing one of those ceremonial $1-a-year long-term leases), this Horowitz guy should at least consider the option. Good publicity and all that.
blessed be.
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COMMENT | middle ground
posted by : testament5000 11/19/2005 1:38:52 PM
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There is comprimise to be found in the situation if both parties want. Doing the right thing is usually the harder road.Horowitz owns the property, but should help the community.
p.s. Zach is a communist fuck!!!
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COMMENT |
posted by : RiotAct666 11/19/2005 3:12:46 PM
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Bring back RATM.
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COMMENT | Kull
posted by : testament5000 11/19/2005 6:40:02 PM
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You sound like a typical leftist college student with little to none, in the area of life experiece. Everyone has conquered or will be conquered in some fashion. It's a brutul yet beautiful world...WISE UP JUNIOR.
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COMMENT | Hmm.
posted by : La Parka Owns You 11/19/2005 6:49:35 PM
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Zach oughtta use a couple piles of all his Rage Against the Machine money to buy the land from the dude and give it to the people who live there. Isn't he a big-time socialist, anyway? But I suppose, then, there'd be no reason to protest against a guy's right to do whatever the hell he wants with his own property, and having an issue to yell about is more important than resolving the issue to some people.
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COMMENT | Ozomatli rules!
posted by : 11/19/2005 8:06:07 PM
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Quetlzal is pretty cool too.
Latin rock owns!
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COMMENT | FUCK YOU DABOG
posted by : 11/20/2005 12:50:08 AM
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I HOPE YOU DIE YOU FUCKING RACIST BASTARD
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COMMENT | piss on Zach
posted by : 11/20/2005 1:12:29 AM
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That whining commie can cry in f'n CUBA for all I care...
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COMMENT | ? ...
posted by : 11/20/2005 2:37:09 AM
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Good cause I guess... but uhhh... Didn't I see him in fucking Pepsi commercial??? I smell a fake...
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