Docuprotest began in 2012 with a collaboration between myself and activist Skip Haynes after creating two protest videos for Hillside communities in Los Angeles. What followed were a series of short form projects documenting issues in local communities and advocating for change.
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LA Weekly: CLICK HERE
Curbed LA: CLICK HERE
LA Observed: CLICK HERE
"Canyon Defender 1" was created with Laurel Canyon residents who wanted to stop the irresponsible, dangerous, and illegal construction project at 8407 Grandview Drive in Laurel Canyon being conducted by developer Michael Smith. Some of Smith's more flagrant construction practices included driving a 15-ton backhoe up a substandard street with no safety measures, parking the backhoe on a steep slope directly over several homes without any safety measures, destroying city property, and obtaining a permit to begin construction without fulfilling the requirements of that permit.
In addition to receiving several thousand views in the first two days it was uploaded to Youtube, the video was seen by several officials in city government and the developer Michael Smith was forced to stop his construction project at 8407 Grandview Drive. In addition, Councilmember Paul Koretz of Council District 5 introduced a proposal for a Condition Compliance Unit to uphold and enforce the changes in planning, notification, and enforcement that this video is fighting for.
"Canyon Defender 2" was created with the “Canyon Defenders” to stop the destruction of an acknowledged Wildlife Corridor in Laurel Canyon, California. Linn Wyatt, the Chief Zoning Administrator, had given preferential treatment to a developer constructing homes directly on the Corridor and inhibiting wildlife from using the land set aside for them.
CLAW (Citizens for Los Angeles Wildlife) has initiated a motion with Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Koretz.
Each day our wildlife is in danger of being poisoned by homeowners, local businesses, and professional exterminators. The poison comes from common household pesticides, the most dangerous of which are called “Anticoagulant Rodenticides.” This type of poison is easily purchased and commonly used to kill rodents. These poisons target rats, mice, gophers and squirrels, but are also responsible for the indiscriminate deaths of hawks, owls, bobcats, coyotes, and mountain lions each year. Domestic animals like dogs and cats are especially vulnerable to these poisons. Go to www.clawonline.org to find out alternatives and how you can help rid us of this indiscriminate killer.
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