Posted: December 6th, 2007

Dear Friends,

As reported in the New York Times, The City Project is “working to broaden access to parks and open space for inner city residents and, more recently, to fight childhood obesity by guaranteeing that city students get enough physical education.” The City Project advocates for places and policies for children to move more, eat well, stay healthy, and do their best in school and in life.

We use diverse coalition building, multidisciplinary research and analyses, strategic media campaigns, and policy and legal advocacy outside the courts to accomplish these goals. This approach is having a national impact, as The City Project is asked to share its experience around the country.

And today, The City Project needs your support

But first, we want you to share in our success. In 2007, The City Project with our allies has:

• Worked with the community, public officials, and Community Health Councils to study the health impacts of oil drilling in the Baldwin Hills during a one-year moratorium on any new wells.
• Helped build a diverse and growing alliance to Save San Onofre State Beach and the Native American sacred site of Panhe, and stop the proposed toll road that would ruin both.
• Addressed human health, affordable housing and local green jobs in the L.A. River Revitalization Master Plan to help create healthy, livable communities for all along the 52-mile river, working with the Alianza de los Pueblos del Rio.
• Created Transit to Trails to take hundreds of inner city youth on mountain, beach, and river trips with Anahuak Youth Association and the Mountains Recreation Conservation Authority to have fun while learning about water, wildlife, history, and health.
• Celebrated with the community the grand opening of Rio de Los Angeles State Park at Taylor Yard on Earth Day 2007.
• Published the Policy Report “Healthy Parks, Schools, and Communities: Mapping Green Access and Equity for the Los Angeles Region,” as covered in the Los Angeles Times.

Our plans do not end there.

The City Project is looking at more river front park space along the Los Angeles River for new park space by 2009. We are working on the planning process in Griffith Park to ensure that all L.A. residents get their fair share. The City Project is also focusing on the billions in infrastructure bonds for parks and schools to ensure they are spent fairly and prioritize underserved communities.

These projects are ambitious and we need help to do them right. Our new policy director Angela Mooney D’Arcy and law fellow Jason Insdorf will pursue these projects and others, like:

• Improving parks and recreation in every neighborhood by working with the community and public officials to implement City Controller Laura Chick’s blueprint for change.
• Working with United Teachers of Los Angeles to improve physical education and student health in public schools.
• Promoting programs and places for physical activity and healthy eating to improve health and reduce obesity and diabetes.
• Extending the lessons of Los Angeles to other cities and regions around the nation.

But we cannot act without your help

These opportunities will help create healthy, livable communities for all.

We ask you to support the work of The City Project. Donate Online Here.

The City Project counts on individual supporters like you to help us build new opportunities like Transit to Trails, meet with dozens of community groups and agencies to direct public funds for parks and schools, and share schools and parks after school and on weekends.

The City Project needs your financial support today - so that we can respond when community activists, nonprofit allies, and agency officials call for help.

Please send your support as soon as you can. Thank you!

Robert García

Executive Director and Counsel

P.S. - A gift of $25, $50, $100, or $250 or more will help The City Project start 2008 with the essential funding it needs to bring healthy, livable communities to all. Please help today!

P.P. S. - Donating appreciated stocks or securities can be even better than donating cash!