- Target:
- Andrew Rifkin, DLJ Real Estate Capital Partners
- Region:
- United States of America
- Website:
- www.facebook.com
Please go to the correct address: https://gopetition.com/petitions/stop-the-evictions-at-800-traction-avenue.html
Community artists at 800 Traction Avenue in the Little Tokyo Arts District are facing evictions at the hands of new owner, DLJ Real Estate Capital Partners (led by executives of Credit Suisse). The loss of these artists will be a blow to the Japanese American community and Arts District, not only because of their skills, which have enhanced the cultural life of the community for decades, but also because the work spaces and archival facilities of the building are not available in other parts of Little Tokyo. These artists need a place to live and work, and the community needs a place to store its artistic treasures.
STOP THE EVICTIONS AT 800 TRACTION AVENUE
The Arts District has been experiencing the changes that come with gentrification and it is destroying the community of artists that helped to create it. Located in what used to be part of Little Tokyo and now, one of the last true artists’ loft buildings has been sold and the tenants are facing eviction. These artists and residents happen to be Japanese and Japanese Americans and are considered to be cultural assets to the Little Tokyo community. There are no comparable spaces that are affordable in the area..
As part of our pledge to preserve and protect Little Tokyo’s right to exist as a living cultural and community center for Japanese Americans and the rights of artists of the Arts District to remain living there, we, the undersigned, present the following demands:
1. That DLJ Real Estate Capital Partners CEASE their attempts to evict the renters residing at 800 Traction Avenue.
2. That Andrew Rifkin, managing partner to DLJ Real Estate Capital, come speak directly with residents of 800 Traction Avenue prior to August 31, 2017 to address our concerns.
Many view these evictions an extension of a 75-Year history of forced displacement of Japanese Americans. From mass incarceration into WWI concentration camps, to the destruction of low-income housing and small businesses by big banks in the 70's and 80's, the Japanese American community of Little Tokyo has had to fight to defend itself.
The artists of 800 Traction Avenue are assets to the community, but in addition, the work spaces and archival facilities in the building are integral to the local cultural life of the area.
What is an “Arts District” without artists? What would Little Tokyo be without Japanese Americans?
***** STOP THE EVICTIONS AT 800 TRACTION AVENUE *****
The STOP EVICTIONS AT 800 TRACTION petition to Andrew Rifkin, DLJ Real Estate Capital Partners was written by StandWith800Traction and is in the category Human Rights at GoPetition.