As you have probably heard by now, there is some discussion of Bergamot Station being turned into a maintenance facility for the Light Rail. This decision potentially harms a rich cultural asset for the arts which serves the community in both Santa Monica and the greater Los Angeles area.

We are in favor of the completion of Phase 2 of the Exposition Rail Line for its positive effects of alleviating severe traffic congestion and linking Culvery City to Santa Monica and the rest of Los Angeles. However, we also need to make known to both the Expo Construction Authority and the government of the City of Santa Monica that Bergamot Station is an integral part of the cultural life of Los Angeles and should not even be considered a site for a maintenance facility."

We're calling on all Society6 Members to do their part in saving Bergamot Station. Here is a draft of a letter which you may either customize, or send as is:

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March 30, 2009

The Honorable Jan Perry, Chair
Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority
707 Wilshire Boulevard, 34th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90017

Dear Chair Perry:

I am writing to express my strong support for building Phase 2 of the Exposition Light Rail Line, linking downtown Los Angeles with the Westside. The completion of Expo is essential to a healthy economic and recreational life in Los Angeles. This project will help alleviate severe congestion on freeways and surface streets that link the west and east sides of Los Angeles.

I also support keeping the line on the Exposition Right-of-Way.

I am concerned about the placement of the maintenance facility and am strongly opposed to locating a maintenance facility at Bergamot Station.

For over a decade, Bergamot Station has served as a rich arts and cultural center, located in Santa Monica, but serving greater Los Angeles. Drawing over 800,000 local and international visitors per year, Bergamot Station is home to the Santa Monica Museum of Art and over 35 art galleries. It has been the perfect model for private/public partnership, transforming an abandoned industrial site into a nationally and internationally known cultural destination.

Bergamot Station is an active civic partner, demonstrated by the many educational programs, non-profit events and fundraisers that are hosted by the complex. Each year, thousands of school children and adults participate in free and stellar educational programs. Bergamot is used, at no cost, by many charitable and not for profit groups for fundraising events, such as the CLARE Foundation, Ocean Park Community Center, the Los Angeles Ballet, and Step Up On Second just to name a few. Bergamots partnership with the City of Santa Monica includes hosting the phenomenal program, Rosies Girls. The Santa Monica Museum located in Bergamot is an important component of the community as well serving students, seniors and the entire Santa Monica and west side.

Bergamot Station has become a vital part of the fabric and resource for the community, and should remain in its current location, an integral part of the light rail, where it can continue to have a positive impact on Santa Monica and the greater Los Angeles community.

Respectfully Yours,


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Just copy and paste the letter into the body of an email (or write your own) and send it.

EMAIL SUBJECT LINE: SAVE Bergamot Station

SEND TO:

The Honorable Jan Perry:
councilmember.perry@lacity.org

PLEASE "CC" ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:

MTA: Phase 2@exporail.net
Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority: gcollins@exporail.net
Herb Wesson, City of LA 10th District Councilmember: councilmember.wesson@lacity.org
Bernard Parks, City of LA Councilmember: councilmember.parks@lacity.org
Mark Ridley-Thomas, LA County 2nd District Supervisor: seconddistrict@lacbos.org
Zev Yaroslavsky, LA County 3rd Distrcit Supervisor: zev@lacbos.org
Pam O'Connor, Santa Monica City Council: pam.oconnor@smgov.net
Scott Malsin, Mayor of Culver City: scott.malsin@culvercity.org

Please also separately email the following link to your friends and colleagues so that they may also help us save Bergamot Station from becoming a maintenance facility.

http://savebergamot.society6.com/post...ot_Station

Thanks for your support and hope that together we can achieve our goals!