Communication from Public Name: Rita Moreno Date Submitted: 05/11/2020 10:44 AM Council File No: 20-0500 Comments for Public Posting: During this unprecedented event, Covid 19 has dealt a harsh blow to the economy. Placita Olvera deserves a chance to stay in business after this is over. They have been in the city of Los Angeles from the beginning. The only way the stands can stay is to please allow rent forgiveness that the vendors are requesting. I understand 2 months is being considered, but I don’t believe that is sufficient. It’s an unfortunate event, but even more unfortunate would be to arrive on the other side of this, and not have most of the vendors reopen. Thank you for your consideration Communication from Public Name: Jared Olvera Date Submitted: 05/11/2020 06:45 AM Council File No: 20-0500 Comments for Public Posting: My family took me to Olvera Street many many times when I was growing up. It is special to me. Communication from Public Name: Tina Vines Date Submitted: 05/11/2020 08:37 AM Council File No: 20-0500 Comments for Public Posting: I’ve read that a motion is being put forward to assist the merchants of Olvera Street with rent assistance for two months. I’m writing to ask that you please consider extending that to ensure that this amazingly beautiful, historic landmark and vibrant cultural center stays open for generations to come. Olvera Street Market is one of my absolute favorite places in LA. I always recommend it to people asking for ideas of where to visit, while in town. As a lover of history and culture, this place is so special to me. Talking with the lovely merchants & buying their beautiful wares is a highlight of any visit, as is sitting by the fountain or eating on the patio of one of the street side restaurants. This place holds a special magic & Los Angeles history that cannot be replaced. Please consider any assistance that can be allotted to this historic landmark and cultural center. It is simply too precious to be lost. Thank you, Tina Vines Communication from Public Name: Date Submitted: 05/10/2020 11:58 PM Council File No: 20-0500 Comments for Public Posting: Please help in preserving Olvera Street. This is a historical landmark that is important for the education of future generations. It’s a place for people of all backgrounds to gather, learn, enjoy good food, and shop. Olvera Street is LA! It’s a place I’ve known about my whole life, it’s a place my family and friends have visited in learning about the historic LA Pueblo. I love seeing this small patch of historic sites among the downtown area. Don’t let us die, don’t let it become just another high rise or mall. It’s important to have historical landmarks in LA! Let’s help them out! Communication from Public Name: Paul Hanley Date Submitted: 05/11/2020 12:42 AM Council File No: 20-0500 Comments for Public Posting: Dear Budget and Finance committee members, My name is Paul Hanley and my wife is a 3rd generation merchant on Olvera Street. She and her mother (82 yrs old) have run the business (Casa California) up until March of this year when the order to shut down was ordered by the Mayor. Her family has been on Olvera since its’ inception in 1930. That’s 90 years, same as the anniversary this year. Councilman Huizar is putting forward a motion for some relief of 2 months’ rent forgiveness which is appreciated. This however should only be a starting point. The financial hardship created by this unprecedented pandemic has a ripple effect that will last for a much longer time period for these merchants of Olvera Street. Much of their survival depends on tourism and discretionary funds of the local public. Tourism will take at least 2 years to have a significant return and the local dollars will not soon return because they will be playing catch-up with their own financial hardship. So, why come to you? Because you are the landlord of Olvera Street. In your hands is the survival of these families of Olvera Street who are the Stewards of living history for the settled culture here. They are your history of Los Angeles. I hope you will see the importance of this historical landmark and the families who maintain your history. We of course understand the hardship that this pandemic has had on the country as a whole and the city specifically. However without your support, this revenue stream that has supported the city for 90 years will cease to exist. The business and sales tax that has come from these businesses will cease. I hope you will see the symbiotic relationship that has existed for 90 years and how it should continue with your help. I hope you will make this request an open dialog to the mutual benefit of both the City of Los Angeles and the Merchants of Olvera Street. Sincerely, Paul M. Hanley Communication from Public Name: The Rivero Family Date Submitted: 05/11/2020 01:53 AM Council File No: 20-0500 Comments for Public Posting: In regards to Olvera Street: My Name is Amanda and I'd like to share the importance of Olvera Street to myself as well as my family. I am the baby of three (I'm 41 years old), myself along with my siblings were all baptized at La Placita. My family has been visiting Olvera Street long before I was even born. I have had the blessing of growing up visiting Olvera Street and thru my adult years to be able to take both my two daughter's thru their childhood ( one 20 and 16 years old) It is my family's favorite place to visit, shop and meet up for special occasions. It truly saddens myself and my family if the City is unable to negotiate and work with Olvera Streets Merchants and possibly be forced to close. Please, Olvera Street , its restaurants, Merchants , museums are part of us Angelinos. It's a place I've been able to utilize to learn myself and teach my daughters of our culture being Mexican American. I am begging and praying that the City of Los Angeles work with the Merchants to help them survive. Olvera Street is a landmark and the future of it not only affects the Merchants but all of Los Angeles as a community itself. Thank you for reviewing my comment and hopefully taking my family's request into consideration. Respectfully , Amanda Rivero Communication from Public Name: Sylvia Rua Date Submitted: 05/11/2020 04:12 AM Council File No: 20-0500 Comments for Public Posting: I am writing to express my concern about the financial hardship that has put the future of Olvera Street in jeopardy. This vital cultural landmark is an essential part of not just Los Angeles, but our nation. Angelinos are no doubt aware of the significance and importance of this cultural center. On a personal level, countless families like mine have visited Olvera Street for generations. Some of my earliest memories were of walking with my dad among the stalls and stores, having a modest and affordable lunch as we sat outside to listen to live music, and of leaving with a toy treasure at the end of the day. As I grew older, we continued to visit, purchasing fiesta dresses for parades. Lunch at La Golondrina was a special treat I looked forward to every year. Now that I have a family of my own, I love to bring my daughter to Olvera Street to recreate the special memories with my father. I want her to be able to bring her own children so another generation of our family can feel the connection we have to the place. I am also a US History teacher. Olvera Street's preservation is crucial to preserving our individual and collective history. Maintaining Olvera Street as a living cultural landmark makes it so much more tangible and significant to students. Its continued existence is such a point of pride for the students I teach. I wish there was a way to convey how salient the past becomes to young people who learn about a place from the past that is relatively the same as it has been for decades. The visible joy of learning about history continues in them as we arrive at the end of the unit and they are told they can visit this special place whenever they have the chance. It is my feeling that the city must do everything in its power to maintain this national treasure. It cannot go by the wayside of history to be diminished and eventually forgotten. The modest requests by merchants to have rent reductions and repayment plans should be met. However, it is my additional feeling that these requests do not go far enough. The city should take a bold initiative to ensure that rents are charged with cultural preservation, not profits, in mind. Thank you. Communication from Public Name: Maria Goretti Jaramillo Date Submitted: 05/11/2020 09:01 AM Council File No: 20-0500 Comments for Public Posting: Please allow Olvera Street to re open! Communication from Public Name: Samuel Tendai Chanaiw Date Submitted: 05/11/2020 09:18 AM Council File No: 20-0500 Comments for Public Posting: My name is Samuel Tendai Chanaiwa. I am a native Angeleno and have been visiting Olvera Street for over 40 years! I love being able to visit the individual shops and interact with the shop owners (Murillo Leather is one of my favorites).