New SW Museum Agreement: Another Broken Treaty?

Community Split Over 'New' Plan

by Edward Rivera
A recently announced agreement between 14th District Councilmember Jose Huizar and Autry National  Center President John Gray over the future of the Southwest Museum has been met by a storm of  protests in Northeast LA, and seemingly raises more questions than it answers. In addition, the agreement, which consists of a memo from Gray to Huizar, creates a new organization-The Southwest Society-made up of elected officials and various local citizens who will meet to direct fundraising for the Autry Center and Southwest Museum. Curiously, no current members of the Friends of the Southwest Museum Coalition, made up of 70 local community groups ”including neighborhood councils” who have led the fight to keep the Museum open on a full-time basis, were named to the group.

A local ad hoc group, the Northeast Progressive Alliance, kicked up a wave of protests, both public and private, when it announced its support of the "agreement," hailing it as a "victory." Most community members did not know any agreement or plan was forthcoming and were put off by being left out of whatever negotiations took place. .......

Full story available in the October Arroyo Seco Journal. On the streets now, and online at http://www.arroyosecojournal.blogspot.com