August 2025 Newsletter
Dear LA Chinatown Community Members and Supporters,
LA Chinatown CLT Board Member Eugene Moy (fifth from the left) and Board Member Winnie Fong (far right) lead a group of supporters on a walking tour of Chinatown.
LATEST NEWS
Thanks for joining us for the LACCLT Chinatown Walking Tour!
We explored the deep history and vibrant resistance of Chinatown—from the organizing wins at Hillside Villa and the cultural significance of Dynasty Center, to the urgent challenges posed by luxury development and projects like the proposed gondola. Along the way, we highlighted the work of the LA Chinatown Community Land Trust (LACCLT) to build a long-term, community-owned future where working-class residents can stay, lead, and thrive.
Community members gather to learn more about the different models of social housing.
LACCLT @ the Models of Social Housing Panel
On July 17th, LACCLT Boardmember, Elise Dang, participated in a panel discussion about different models of social housing with representatives from Beverly-Vermont Community Land Trust, POWER, and the LA Legal Aid Foundation. Panelists compared and discussed the differences between public housing, community land trusts, and co-op housing as different models of social housing that currently exist in Los Angeles. The discussion covered topics such as existing infrastructure for social housing, the scalability of the different models, and each model’s role in addressing the housing crises.This conversation is relevant to LACCLT’s work as we consider how the community land trust model can provide long-term, community-controlled housing solutions that prioritize affordability and stability for Chinatown residents.
Strategic Planning Updates
Read the Chinatown Current State Assessment!
As part of our strategic planning process, we’ve developed the Chinatown Current State Assessment, which is a snapshot of Chinatown today based on stories, data, and insights from community members.This assessment helps us better understand the challenges residents and small businesses are facing, as well as the assets we can build upon. It reflects what we’ve heard through interviews, surveys, and our first town hall, and it lays the foundation for the next phase of the CLT’s work to re-define our shared vision, mission, values, and priorities.
Read the Current State Assessment Report here.
Upcoming Strategic Planning Events
🗓️ Saturday, August 16 | Town Hall #3: Visioning to Reality
🕙 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
📍 LA Chinatown Library Branch
Help turn our priorities into a reality! Join us for a fun, hands-on town hall where you’ll help shape the future of Chinatown through interactive activities. We’ll be sharing a draft of our Strategic Plan, including a proposed mission, vision, and values. Together, we’ll put these ideas into action by working through real-life scenarios as we explore how the CLT might make decisions about property acquisition, development priorities, and meeting community needs. Please RSVP here.
🎉 Saturday, September 20 | Strategic Plan Launch & Celebration
🕙 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
📍 LA Chinatown Library Branch
Join us as we unveil the final LA Chinatown CLT Strategic Plan and celebrate the culmination of our collective visioning journey. Come reflect on what we've built together and look ahead to what's next!
OTHER COMMUNITY NEWS AND EVENTS
Stop the Gondola Campaign
Learn more about the current efforts of the Stop the Gondola campaign and its current efforts to stop or amend SB1, a proposed state-wide law that would specifically help fast track the LA ART gondola project. Check out their website to support their letter campaign and get updates on the project.
LASHP Picnic Rally in the Park
Monday, August 18, 2025
9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
LA State Historic Park - 1245 N Spring St.
Let's rally at LA State Historic Park and remind state legislators and agencies how much we care about and must protect this green space, and its surrounding historic communities from the LA ART Gondola. The state legislature is considering SB71, a bill that gives special favors to one project in the entire state: Frank McCourt's gondola. Let's turn out huge numbers of people that can speak out, hold signs, and demonstrate communal uses of the park, such as picnicking, kite-flying, biking, walking, etc.
Stop the Gondola coalition orgs will have campaign swag and light refreshments while supplies last. Please wear either your STG shirt or red t-shirts! RSVP here!
Help Improve Community Safety and Mobility near Chinatown and LA State Historic Park!
LADOT Pop-Up Event
The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) is planning safety and mobility improvements along Spring Street and Alameda Street near Chinatown, Union Station, and LA State Historic Park — and they want to hear from you! Complete a short survey by Monday, September 8, 2025, to share your input and enter for a chance to win a $50 gift card. You can take the survey here: bit.ly/S-A_Survey. Learn more about the project and download the fact sheet by visiting the LADOT website here. We will also have fact sheets and surveys available in English, Chinese, and Spanish at our next Community Town Hall event. We will have fact sheets and surveys available in English, Chinese, and Spanish at our next Community Town Hall event at the Chinatown Branch Library on August 16. LADOT will also host a pop-up activity as part of the Chinatown Safe Routes to Seniors program at Alpine Recreation Center on August 20 from 9am-12pm.
~Thank you to Our Supporters~
Inclusive Action for the City
Thank you Inclusive Action for the City for selecting us for their LA Community Ownership Grant. With this $20,000 grant, the LA Chinatown CLT will be able to fund future property acquisition and rehabilitation work.
LISC LA
Thank you LISC LA for their steady support for the greater CLT movement in Los Angeles. As part of the LA CLT Coalition, the LA Chinatown CLT received $5,000 to support strategic planning for the coalition ensure we stay focused on building and supporting the movement for community ownership and collective power.