Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo unveiled Assembly Bill (AB) 1950 this Friday. This legislation, called the Chavez Ravine Accountability Act, aims to address the displacement of Latinos in the area.
“I think that kind of history needs to be made very clear,” she said. Nataly Tavidian of KNX reported on the proposed bill this Saturday.
According to a press release from Carrillo’s office, Latino communities were displaced from the Chavez Ravine in Los Angeles in the 1950s. In addition to Mexican-American families, many Italian-American and Chinese-American families were uprooted during that era as well.
“Families were promised a return to better housing, but instead, they were left destitute,” said Carrillo. “For generations, Chavez Ravine stood as a beacon of hope and resilience, embodying the dreams and aspirations of families who built their lives within its embrace. With this legislation, we are addressing the past, giving voice to this injustice, acknowledging the pain of those displaced, offering reparative measures, and ensuring that we honor and remember the legacy of the Chavez Ravine community.”
When the community was established in the early 1900s it encompassed Palo Verde, La Loma, and Bishop. It grew to be home to generations of Mexican Americans. Carrillo said Los Angeles began plans to acquire land in the area in the 1950s “under the guise” of establishing public housing.
However, the land was eventually sold to a private developer who built Dodger Stadium on the site.
“This displacement forced more than 1,800 families from their homes and businesses, scattering a close-knit community and leaving a lasting impact on their lives and livelihoods,” Carrillo’s office said.
If passed, AB 1950 would include: a comprehensive report detailing events surrounding the land acquisition and displacement; various forms of compensation, including offering City-owned real estate comparable to the original Chavez Ravine landowners or providing fair market value compensation adjusted for inflation, a permanent memorial and more.
“It is important to note AB 1950 focuses solely on the displaced community of Chavez Ravine and does not involve the Los Angeles Dodgers or Dodger Stadium,” Carrillo’s press release stressed.
Tavidian reported that the bill still needs to go through committee.