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Ahead of the 80th anniversary of LA’s historic Olvera Street this weekend, the merchants of the downtown heritage site continue to organize against proposed rent increases. With the city facing a budget shortfall of $212 million dollars this year, the El Pueblo Board of Commissioners sought to significantly raise rents at La Placita Olvera, as it is commonly known, to what it described as “market rates.” In a meeting in late March, LA City Council members on the Arts, Parks, Health and Aging Committee agreed to delay the contentious increases for a so-called thirty-day “cooling off” period. Feeling that the raises in rent would be too much, too soon, many merchants, including some who have been at Olvera Street for decades, fear that they would be put out of business. They further argue that the proposed increases would be in direct conflict with a 1999 City Council resolution mandating the El Pueblo Monument Commission lease reasonable and fair rents. With this unresolved issue looming in the background, the Olvera Street Merchants Association Foundation and El Pueblo De Los Angeles Historical Monument will still be presenting an all day 80th anniversary celebration on Saturday featuring speakers, an environmental “Nuestra Tierra” conference, and musical performances from Very Be Careful, La Santa Cecilia, and more.

GUESTS: Paul Hamilton, Attorney with the Law Firm of Jeffer Mangels Butler and Marmaro, Diana Guerrero Robertson, Olvera Street Merchant, Chairperson of the Traditional Events Oversight Committee

For more information on this Saturday’s 80th anniversary celebration, visit: http://www.calleolvera.com, http://www.olvera-street.com