LOS ANGELES, CA – Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda L. Solis, Supervisor to the First District, released the following statement after the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved her motion on the development of a future Southeast Los Angeles (SELA) Cultural Center:
“For the past seven years, I’ve had the privilege of representing SELA – a community that’s home to so many gifted artists with a unified mission to uplift our most vulnerable,” shared Chair Solis. “By investing in SELA through the development of a Cultural Center, we can continue to support the cultural lives and community resilience of a region that has been devastated by the pandemic, and help our residents thrive. Efforts to strengthen our safety net must be systemic, for all workers, including local artists. To that end, I am proud in authoring this motion which will truly help unite our community through the Arts.”
The County of Los Angeles Flood Control District, in partnership with the San Gabriel & Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, has been working closely in early planning, feasibility, siting, community outreach, and various aspects of the predevelopment and planning phase for a community cultural center in SELA near the City of South Gate, California. The SELA Cultural Center was identified by Lower LA River planning efforts and will be located at a prominent site near the Rio Hondo Confluence – in a 10 acre area currently occupied by the Los Angeles County Flood Control District. In addition, Los Angeles County’s draft LA River Master Plan also incorporates the SELA Cultural Center within the planning process of 51 miles of connected public open space that provides landmark opportunities to reduce flood risk and improve resiliency, support healthy and connected ecosystems, address potential adverse impacts to housing affordability and people experiencing homelessness, promote healthy, safe, clean water, and create jobs while fostering opportunities for local art, culture, and community engagement. The State of California has allocated various budget appropriations to support planning, environmental documents, and community outreach activities related to this project.
The motion approved today directs the County to formally engage with all relevant entities to discuss various administrative, regulatory, and funding discussions in collaboration with community stakeholders for the future SELA Culture Center – specifically around the environmental document, planning, design, construction, operation and governance of the Center.
To view the full motion, click here.