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The Black Planners of Los Angeles (BPLA) was established in 2024 as a qualified minority employee organization within the City of Los Angeles. We write today in enthusiastic support of Councilmember Tim McOsker’s proposal to establish a City Planner position within the Los Angeles City Planning Department that would be responsible for assisting stakeholders with planning efforts around the Cultural Crescent and other unique assets in Watts.
The community of Watts, located in the Southeast Community Plan Area, is a neighborhood of great significance to the history of Los Angeles. The Watts Cultural Crescent, in particular, provides significant cultural value to the City as it is home to Sabato “Simon” Rodia’s Watts Towers. Constructed between 1921 and 1954, the Watts Towers was designated as Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument Number 15 in 1964. The Towers became a beacon of multiculturalism and social harmony for the City as they stood through Los Angeles’ Black Renaissance and served as a focal point through the Civil Rights era.
Today, community members envision development of and around the Cultural Crescent that honors the historical legacy of Watts. Any plans should engage the local community and leverage ongoing efforts such as the Watts Cultural Trail, Watts Towers Arts Center Campus, and Watts Our Town. Moreover, the area is adjacent to various Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Subareas in the Southeast Los Angeles Community Plan Implementation Overlay (CPIO). The intent of these subareas is to leverage transit infrastructure such as fixed light rail transit and Metro Rapid bus lines to increase well-designed, culturally appropriate investments in the local community.
This City Planner position will be required to help Los Angeles navigate future development trends and prepare for significant citywide events such as the 2028 Summer Olympics, while balancing the unique needs of the Watts community. BPLA applauds Councilmember McOsker’s efforts to bring intentional planning efforts to South Los Angeles to leverage existing assets and elevate the voices of the local community.