FREE ESSAY ON LOS ANGELES POLITICS

LOS ANGELES POLITICS

Glen Gemeniano
1/28/00
POLI 1A
Alternatives to Belmont Sites Have Problems of their own 
The site for new Belmont still hasn't been found. The School district has been fumbling
with two proposed alternatives by interim superintendent Ruben Cortines and CEO Howard
Miller respectively suggest using high-rise office suites and open 4 new schools quickly.
These alternatives have been met with mixed emotion from both sides of the battle. Those
for the Belmont project to continue are in favor of using the former ambassador hotel in
the mid-Wiltshire district, because 10 years ago the school board had chosen this site
for the high school but was met by Donald Trump's Legal Team. Upon reclaiming the site
after foreclosure the negotiations with such prominent figures such as Magic Johnson who
owns many Cinemas in the area to combine his movie complex with a middle school. The
conservancy group is expected to block the demolishing of the hotel claiming it is a
historical site citing that it is the place of the Kennedy Assignation and many Oscar
nights. School Board Member Caprice Young wants Johnson and the conversancy to look at
the need of the children. I personally don't think that children no matter how appealing
would in long run want the distraction of a movie theatre ruining their education. The
reason many people have so many differing opinions is because if we were just another
state this wouldn't be an issue but a time for action. A time to step forward and take
the blame for being to focused on keeping appearances that we abused our children. It's
time they started thinking about kids, Young said. The city is the movie Mecca of the
world and has a lot of land at it's disposal but because it wants to make the place a
visitor attracting place doesn't want to sacrifice a hotel to fit the needs. I think this
plain wrong on the part of the school board. I remember reading about how the state can
take over a site because it was to be made use for a federal project such as highway
which many people use to go to and from work. If we don't see the value of an education
than it is true what other states do say about us, that we are more into our looks that
to do what is right. The Hollywood facade of this city has been around much to long and
is due to change and no physically but mentally. A face lift of this sort would cause a
rift in our society but if there noone to stand up for the rights of the children then
those buildings that the conservancy wants to keep as historic landmarks would be all for
not.