A PI’s Portfolio n e i g h b o r h o o d k n o w l e d g e lOS aNGELES

How Big is the City of Los Angeles? The greater Los Angeles Area could hold the combined areas of St. Louis, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Boston, Pittsburg, Manhattan, and San Francisco.

Cambria Apartments Pico Union, 1995

COMMUNITY

Los Angeles: Total Unpaid Property Taxes in 90’s Source: Los Angeles County Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (91-95)

Model of Urban Disinvestment in Los Angeles Step One: Step Two: Step Three: Step Four: Step Five: Property Tax Delinquency Maintenance Problems/Code Violations Utility Non-Payment Major Code Violations Bankruptcy or Foreclosure

11 Different interactive ways to find properties and map property databases

NKLA Usage (August Sept. 2001) Average of 8,000 to 10,000 ‘hits’ per day, about 154 visitors per day More than 5,000 registered users (since August, 1999), about 200 new registered users a month

NKLA User Groups

Uses for the LA Neighborhood Early Warning System Targeting Municipal Code Enforcement with more than $150 million in residential improvements Researching properties for infill redevelopment of nuisance sites. Outreach to seniors and others to prevent foreclosures due to predatory lending or other threat Assisting in tenant outreach and organizing

Criticism of NKLA “Glass half-empty”—a focus on deficits rather than assets. “…not really neighborhood knowledge, it’s government information about neighborhoods.” Response: Online Community-Based Data Collection and Mapping

UCLA undergraduate students mapped housing and other assets in the Boyle Heights community Local youth in Vernon Central map assets with a focus on school siting and affordable housing I AM LA was launched on February 10, 2000 and is being piloted with groups in the two target communities… The site is located in the Data and Maps section of the NKLA site ( ) Projects…

Pacoima Beautiful Youth So far we have 24 assets on the following categories We are divided into two groups: Youth Assets**Cultural & Historical Daily News Presents: October 28, 2001

Community Coalition: Neighborhoods Fighting Back Research skills Scanning Power point Data entry Design and formatting

New Tools for Neighborhoods Utilize web page in public hearings –Illustrate extent of the problem –Document investigations –Hold authorities accountable  Utilize web page in community revitalization efforts  Marketing area to retail developers  Enhance discussions with policy makers

Primary Challenge Pursuing new opportunities while keeping NKLA actively engaged with the community and growing the project to meet changing needs.

Outgrowths of Community Mapping Living Independently in LA: UCLA in LA: Non-Profit Mapping: Under Development Neighborhood Knowledge California (NKCA): Under Development