MAYOR MICHAEL D. ANTONOVICH Los
Angeles County Board of
Supervisors 869 Hahn Hall of
Administration 500 West Temple
Street Los Angeles, CA
90012 http://antonovich.co.la.ca.us
MAYOR MICHAEL D. ANTONOVICH Los
Angeles County Board of
Supervisors 869 Hahn Hall of
Administration 500 West Temple
Street Los Angeles, CA
90012 http://antonovich.co.la.ca.us
|
PRESS RELEASE |
Contact: Tony Bell, Communications Deputy Office: (213) 974-5555 Cell: (213) 215-5176 E-mail: tbell@lacbos.org |
March 16, 2006 For Immediate Release
ANTONOVICH CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION
INTO MTA EXCAVATION PRACTICES
Los
Angeles -- In response to the discovery of a Chinese workers’ gravesite along
the proposed Gold Line Eastside extension route, Los Angeles
County Mayor Michael D. Antonovich has requested the
Metropolitan Transportation Agency (MTA) conduct
to place a motion
on its Thursday, March 23rd Board agenda to
hold a public investigation into how and why the MTA’s
environmental and pre-construction processes and why did not detect
this mass grave was not detected prior to submission of
the Final Environmental Impact Statement and Report.
During the recent
tunneling and excavation near Evergreen Cemetery in East Los Angeles in
preparation for the Gold Line Eastside Extension, MTA workers came across the
remains of 108 Chinese immigrant laborers who died over a century ago.
Questions
have been raised regarding how this mass grave went undetected by MTA staff
during the environmental and excavation processes until MTA construction crews
came into contact with the remains.
“These Chinese immigrant laborers helped build the rail infrastructure that allowed Los Angeles County to prosper economically, and they were interred in a manner that lacked the proper dignity and respect that should have been accorded to these workers,” said Mayor Antonovich. “My motion will address the concerns of the Chinese-American community, and ensure that the MTA’s environmental and pre-construction processes avoid similar problems in the future.”
Mayor Antonovich’s motion also directs MTA CEO Roger Snoble to develop a plan for the MTA to provide a dignified and fitting burial for the discovered remains, and work with the appropriate cultural and historical agencies to devise a memorial. The motion also calls for the MTA Board of Directors to bring back within 90 days a full review of MTA environmental and pre-construction policies with recommendations for revision.