Hollywood’s “Brave” Stand Against Property Rights
I can’t recall the last movie I saw with Darryl Hannah in it, much less the last Darryl Hannah movie I liked. Apparently, she has nothing better to do than climb a tree in one of the most idiotic protests I have ever heard about. The property they are protesting over is owned by Ralph Horowitz, who outraged the protesters by having the temerity to insist on the right to develop his property for a use that makes money (to build a warehouse), rather than sell it for a fraction of its actual value to be used as a haven for the poor families to grow “crops” on their “urban farm.”
Horowitz had owned the property for years, and got it back after successfully challenging the City’s 1986 condemnation of the property. This “evil property owner” has insisted that if the trespassers want to continue the use the property, they should pay him for the property, a position which has apparently outraged the thoughtful entertainment community. Hannah and Joan Baez are among those protesting the loss of an “urban garden” in downtown Los Angeles, along with a long list of celebrity guests who have visited the site to lend their support, such as actors Danny Glover and Laura Dern actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Ed Harris, Mariel Hemingway, Rosanna Arquette, Martin Sheen, Christine Lahti and Cheech Marin, and rockers Anthony Keidis and Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tom Morello of Audio Slave, and Michelle Shocked.
Maybe these celebrities who are so keen to offer up someone else’s property for an urban farm should donate some of their own palatial estates. I’m sure the farmers would much rather live in Beverly Hills or Malibu.
The property owner recently obtained an eviction order and protestors, including Hannah were removed and arrested. I just hope these celebrities exercise their right to remain silent . . . forever!
I'm sure most of these Hollywood types already have their own "urban gardens." You can imagine the crops they grow!
I read the news article about the protest. ms hannah said she protesting to protect certain "principles". I was unable to understand what principle she was trying to protect. surely it is not the right to farm someone else's property. evictions are unlawful or morally repugnant if the unlawful occupant is poor or an "urban farmer"? what am I missing? bill d.
I'm sure Hannah and Joan Baez, Danny Glover and Laura Dern actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Ed Harris, Mariel Hemingway, Rosanna Arquette, Martin Sheen, Christine Lahti and Cheech Marin, and rockers Anthony Keidis and Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tom Morello of Audio Slave, and Michelle Shocked could pony up the money to buy the lot if they were that concerned about "principles". Put your money where your mouth is or shut up whiners.