139

of 200 signatures

To Los Angeles County Board Supervisor, Holly J. Mitchell

I am writing to express my concerns about the ownership and management of the property in Leimert Park, currently owned by Black Owned and Operated Community Land Trust. BOOCLT is a Community Land Trust that received over $5.5 million in grants to purchase this property and preserve businesses in Leimert Park, $2 million of those funds were public money as a forgivable loan/grant from Los Angeles County. The community was told this would benefit and provide support our businesses. However, two businesses are being evicted while one unit was left vacant for over 12 months, only to now be occupied by BOOCLT and businesses from out of the area as a shared office space.
As a tenant in the building and a member of the Leimert Park community, I am troubled by the lack of transparency and accountability in the management of the property.

My understanding is that the funds provided by organizations for the property were meant to benefit and support BIPOC-owned businesses in Leimert Park. However, I am questioning whether this is truly the case. If the intention was to solely benefit the Building Ownership - Black Owned and Operated Community Land Trust (BOOCLT) rather than the tenants, I kindly request official clarification on this matter.

Upon review of the internal governing documents of BOOCLT, I have noticed that the bylaws state the BOOCLT has stewardship over the property. However, my concern is raised by the composition of the BOOCLT board, which consists of 19 members, with only four being current tenants of the property. Additionally, not all board members are familiar with the businesses in the building, and the decision-making process only requires the input of one tenant, rather than the majority. This raises questions about the current tenants' ability to have a say in the management of their property.

Furthermore, there is no information available about the BOOCLT board of directors, leaving tenants and community members unaware of the individuals making decisions about the property. Additionally, is seems that BOOCLT has failed to meet the requirement of filing an initial registration form and other necessary documents with the Attorney General's office, as set by Government Code section 12585.

I am also concerned about the management of the property under BOOCLT's leadership. The decision to hire unlicensed management company, SoCal Premier Property Management LLC, from October 2022 to May 2024 (when this company first aquired their license), is a breach of covenants and restrictions recorded on the property. This company should have been properly licensed, bonded, and carrying adequate insurance for property management activities in Los Angeles. Furthermore, this is a breach of fiduciary duty to both BOOCLT and the tenants. This neglect not only puts tenants in a precarious situation but also reflects a lack of concern for the businesses and the community.

When these concerns are brought up, they are often disregarded or dismissed, with BOOCLT claiming to work for the benefit of all businesses in Leimert Park, which simply is not the case.

Under BOOCLT leadership, tenants have only received communication from this property management company that operates in conflict with BOOCLT's intended purpose. Instead of support, four 3-day notices to either pay or vacate the premises have been received. In March, tenants were presented with a "courtesy notice" for a rent increase, without a required 30 days notice and back dated to January 2024, as well as eviction paperwork adding backdated late fees in excess of $3,552.50. These notices were also publicly displayed, creating an unwelcoming and hostile environment.

Furthermore, despite promises for improvement to gain community support, tenants have not entered into a new lease agreement. Instead, they are still bound by the terms of the previous lease, as no new agreement has been signed by BOOCLT. Additionally, a provision in the recorded property covenants requires a new owner (BOOCLT) to provide tenants with new leases for their protection. Tenants' requests for new leases have been ignored, leaving them vulnerable and in violation of the covenants. In addition, the neglect and disregard for the maintenance of the building, particularly the old and defective electrical system, and a leaking roof that has been poorly patched and never completely repaired by a licensed roofer is also a breach of fiduciary duty to both BOOCLT and the tenants.

The lack of communication is disappointing and makes the community feel unwelcome. It appears that BOOCLT's focus is solely on tearing down, redeveloping the building, and pressuring tenants to generate income, without utilizing efforts for collaboration and fundraising.
There seems to be little interest in colaborating or working together, and the end goal appears to be burdening tenants with expenses, potentially leading to their displacement.

I am writing this open letter to express our disappointment and urge Los Angeles County to enforce the covenants and demand tranparency. The tenants and the community has the right to be treated with transparency, respect, and fairness.

Open letter text

In light of these concerns, I implore the County of Los Angeles to investigate and ensure that the property is managed in accordance with the designated purpose of the funds provided by Wells Fargo, Genesis LA, and the Snapchat Foundation. As members of the community, we are turning to you, the county of Los Angeles, to fulfill your responsibility in safeguarding the well-being of local businesses and organizations. BOOCLT has failed us and we have no other options.
Therefore, we respectfully request your support and assistance in this matter as it has become evident that we are unable to resolve these issues with BOOCLT independently.
We ask that you hold BOOCLT accountable for their actions and ensure that they fulfill their initial commitments and responsibilities to the community.
Additionally, we ask for transparency regarding the election or appointment of the current board chair and Interim CEO.
It is imperative for all tenants to be invited to participate in the board, without exceptions or conditions. We demand that tenants have a voice in all decisions made by the board and for there to be transparent community involvement in the management of the property.
Your involvement and intervention in this matter will not only aid us as tenants, but it will also cultivate trust and confidence in the county's dedication to supporting small businesses and organizations.
We implore you to take prompt and necessary measures to address this issue and help us preserve the cultural and economic vitality of Leimert Park.

Sign the open letter

Signers list

K Anne White
Crev
William R Brown
Rosemarie Buxton
Sandra Tustin
Tyscen Taulawakeiaho
Zipporah Perine-Jones
Jordana Soares
Sarai Perez
Irene Herrera Stewart
Daniel Murphy
Natasha Nicholson
Mau Trejo
Pam Roche
Lacarra Guillemet
Julie Russell Hayes
Eisha Mason
Matthew Rich
Brandi Brown
Russell Riley
Lashawnda Woodson
Ron Wilkins Jr.
Salma Inyanji
Emily Riley
Maxine Williams-Gboizo
Susan Lengle
Arvind Malhi
Daniel Hoyt Kenneth Coton
Olivia Lenora Barbour
Dse Holdings & Technologies, Llc
Alfreda Washington
Jeff Altaffer
Imani Afi
Don Hylton
Sophie Dover
Neil Doyle
Omar Coes
Jorge Djalma
Krista Perez
Nicolassa Galvez
Adam Zosar
Yucheng Crystal Hu
Valerie Gilkey
Mya Baker
Ketria Land
Kimdongheyon Dongheyon
Rosie Brown
Eunice Kenny
Darren Starks

Ensuring Transparency and Accountability in the 4317-4331 Degnan Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90008 Property Ownership and Management.

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Ensuring Transparency and Accountability in the 4317-4331 Degnan Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90008 Property Ownership and Management.

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