urban land reform action research for power, people, and possibilities
SAJE’s mission is to impact public and  corporate  policy   in a manner that: Provides concrete  economic benefits   to working class people, Increases the  economic rights   of working class people, and Builds  leadership  through a movement  for  economic justice In the process,  SAJE creates models of  economic democracy   that are replicable and sustainable.
Rich City, Poor City
Rich City Staples Center Billionaire Phillip Anschutz, owns: Qwest communications empire 7 professional soccer teams L.A. Kings hockey franchise, 25% of L.A. Lakers Sports arenas: L.A., London, Berlin  10,000 downtown lofts Average tenant earns  $100,000 year University of Southern California L.A.’s largest private employer Owns 200 properties off campus $2 billion endowment
Poor City Downtown Homeless Thousands live on the street, 5-7,000 in residential hotels L.A.’s Worst Slumlords Oldest housing 50-100 years Boom makes slum conditions worse 200,000 working class people Most are poor  – median income is less than half of the city’s. 86% are renters 74% Latino 12% African-American  5% Asian
The Promise  Redevelopment & Renewal 2001  “Staples Agreement” 2,700 living wage & union jobs local hiring affordable housing parks & recreation   300 tenants 30 community organizations 5 unions
The Problem Displacement & Gentrification 2002-2005 Property values skyrocket I llegal evictions  Slum conditions increase Displacement Community Response Tenant organizing & education Legal defense  Policy campaigns
Long-Term Goals An Urban Land Reform Strategy Criminalize Slumlords Redevelopment Reform Universal Tenants’ Rights Land for People Build SAJE
Criminalize Slumlords “ Big Fish” strategy Increase fines & penalties Felonies for worst offenders Abatement, receivership,    forfeiture
 
Danpour Network
Universal Tenants Rights in California Consolidate local & regional allies Build statewide alliances Legislative strategy
Saje  Network
Saje Network Core
Redevelopment Reform No Net Loss housing policy Preserve residential hotels Build replacement housing up front Extended relocation benefits Local hiring and training
Land for People Figueroa Corridor Community Land Trust Partners: SAJE Figueroa Corridor Coalition  for Economic Justice Los Angeles Community Design Center Enterprise Foundation Esperanza Community Housing Corporation
cecilia’s house
 
 
OUR AGENDA Preserve Affordable Housing Create mixed communities & use Improve quality of life for existing/remaining low-income tenants Prevent & mitigate displacement to extent possible Build higher density housing Take land off market OUR AGENDA Buy low, sell high “ Milk it” Profit maximize Downtown “revitalization” Cheap jobs Displacement @ lowest possible costs Mega Development 10 Critical to our success – MUST HAVE! INCLINED TOWARDS ACTIVE SUPPORT 6 Important 4 Nice to have on our side 2 So what DIE HARD DIE HARD ACTIVE SUPPORT INCLINED TOWARDS Inclusionary Zoning H.E.R.E.  EC Fight  minor Growth w/ Justice CIR INS Raids Elections Nov/March Football Baseball Stadium Gentrification – Mega Development Housing Shortage Crisis State fiscal crisis – no public resources Real Estate Speculators Displacement – Disruption of entire community Bad housing conditions Following ranked 2 – our  agenda & inclined towards: County Fed H.E.R.E. Local 11 SEIU 1877 LA EcoVillage KYCC Concerned Citizens of SCentral New Economics ‘4’ Women Loft dwellers “ gentrifiers” Small Business Owners 4 – Gets Attention  our agenda & Inclined Towards Long-term African-American & Immigrant residents Shamus Corp PACs CD 9, Pico  Union, Hoover N.Councils SEC, NA, PU Central City  Association Neighborhood Council Downtown USC Mayor Hahn Jan  Perry Bernard Parks Frank  McHugh CRA Padilla Ludlow Reyes,  Garcetti Villaraigosa ECHC Enterprise LACDC LAFLA – CEC SAJE 8  Very Important to our success Staples Money Partners Weingart Foundation LAFLA – EDC Shorebank FCCEJ CA Comm Foundation ICE CES Gilbert L.
Figueroa Corridor 2006

Applied Research: Mapping

  • 1.
    urban land reformaction research for power, people, and possibilities
  • 2.
    SAJE’s mission isto impact public and corporate policy in a manner that: Provides concrete economic benefits to working class people, Increases the economic rights of working class people, and Builds leadership through a movement for economic justice In the process, SAJE creates models of economic democracy that are replicable and sustainable.
  • 3.
  • 4.
    Rich City StaplesCenter Billionaire Phillip Anschutz, owns: Qwest communications empire 7 professional soccer teams L.A. Kings hockey franchise, 25% of L.A. Lakers Sports arenas: L.A., London, Berlin 10,000 downtown lofts Average tenant earns $100,000 year University of Southern California L.A.’s largest private employer Owns 200 properties off campus $2 billion endowment
  • 5.
    Poor City DowntownHomeless Thousands live on the street, 5-7,000 in residential hotels L.A.’s Worst Slumlords Oldest housing 50-100 years Boom makes slum conditions worse 200,000 working class people Most are poor – median income is less than half of the city’s. 86% are renters 74% Latino 12% African-American 5% Asian
  • 6.
    The Promise Redevelopment & Renewal 2001 “Staples Agreement” 2,700 living wage & union jobs local hiring affordable housing parks & recreation 300 tenants 30 community organizations 5 unions
  • 7.
    The Problem Displacement& Gentrification 2002-2005 Property values skyrocket I llegal evictions Slum conditions increase Displacement Community Response Tenant organizing & education Legal defense Policy campaigns
  • 8.
    Long-Term Goals AnUrban Land Reform Strategy Criminalize Slumlords Redevelopment Reform Universal Tenants’ Rights Land for People Build SAJE
  • 9.
    Criminalize Slumlords “Big Fish” strategy Increase fines & penalties Felonies for worst offenders Abatement, receivership, forfeiture
  • 10.
  • 11.
  • 12.
    Universal Tenants Rightsin California Consolidate local & regional allies Build statewide alliances Legislative strategy
  • 13.
  • 14.
  • 15.
    Redevelopment Reform NoNet Loss housing policy Preserve residential hotels Build replacement housing up front Extended relocation benefits Local hiring and training
  • 16.
    Land for PeopleFigueroa Corridor Community Land Trust Partners: SAJE Figueroa Corridor Coalition for Economic Justice Los Angeles Community Design Center Enterprise Foundation Esperanza Community Housing Corporation
  • 17.
  • 18.
  • 19.
  • 20.
    OUR AGENDA PreserveAffordable Housing Create mixed communities & use Improve quality of life for existing/remaining low-income tenants Prevent & mitigate displacement to extent possible Build higher density housing Take land off market OUR AGENDA Buy low, sell high “ Milk it” Profit maximize Downtown “revitalization” Cheap jobs Displacement @ lowest possible costs Mega Development 10 Critical to our success – MUST HAVE! INCLINED TOWARDS ACTIVE SUPPORT 6 Important 4 Nice to have on our side 2 So what DIE HARD DIE HARD ACTIVE SUPPORT INCLINED TOWARDS Inclusionary Zoning H.E.R.E. EC Fight minor Growth w/ Justice CIR INS Raids Elections Nov/March Football Baseball Stadium Gentrification – Mega Development Housing Shortage Crisis State fiscal crisis – no public resources Real Estate Speculators Displacement – Disruption of entire community Bad housing conditions Following ranked 2 – our agenda & inclined towards: County Fed H.E.R.E. Local 11 SEIU 1877 LA EcoVillage KYCC Concerned Citizens of SCentral New Economics ‘4’ Women Loft dwellers “ gentrifiers” Small Business Owners 4 – Gets Attention our agenda & Inclined Towards Long-term African-American & Immigrant residents Shamus Corp PACs CD 9, Pico Union, Hoover N.Councils SEC, NA, PU Central City Association Neighborhood Council Downtown USC Mayor Hahn Jan Perry Bernard Parks Frank McHugh CRA Padilla Ludlow Reyes, Garcetti Villaraigosa ECHC Enterprise LACDC LAFLA – CEC SAJE 8 Very Important to our success Staples Money Partners Weingart Foundation LAFLA – EDC Shorebank FCCEJ CA Comm Foundation ICE CES Gilbert L.
  • 21.