A press release sent two days ago by GEPENC (Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council) announced that the council ended review of bids to repair the Lady of the Lake statue. The Lady is getting her hand back! Happy clucks all around!

But the announcement did not mention two longtime community activists -- Suzanne Kimbrough and Isa Kae Meksin -- who have worked hard at the Lady's return to the community and her preservation, and the ommission set off a new shitstorm of vitriol (mixed metaphor approved by the Chicken Corner editorial board) -- frothing, screaming over-the-top, going back and forth on a neighborhood list serv. (Neither Isa nor Kimbrough were party to this particular discussion.) One "open letter" to GEPENC's president looked, to me, like a hoax. Since the communications were not cc'd to Chicken Corner they won't be quoted -- just noted.

Meanwhile, GEPENC's website has been unavailable. And there is confusion over when and where meetings are planned.

Full text of GEPENC's Lady of the Lake press release:

Echo Park, CA - September 3, 2008 - Yesterday the Parks & Public Works Committee of the Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council (GEPENC) announced their recommendation of a conservator to restore the missing hand of the "Nuestra Reina de Los Angeles" (Our Queen of Angeles), commonly known as the Lady of the Lake, statue located at Echo Park Lake.

With the guidance of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, the committee took public comment, discussed and made a decision on the best course of action to restore the statue to its greatness.

The committee also unanimoulsy recommended that the Governing Board allocate the necessary funds from the $ 7,000 dollar line item in the board adopted budget to pay for the cost associated with the restoration project.

Although the Governing Board approved the budget item in its June 2008 meeting, two of the three bids under consideration did not come to the board until July and August of 2008. The other bid was received in December of 2007.

The Department of Neighborhood Empowerment requires bids from a minimum of three vendors when allocating neighborhood council funds over $ 5,000 dollars.

"Given the fact that the Department of Cultural Affairs is responsible for the restoration of the statue it only makes sense to seek their input and advice as to the best conservator for the job", stated Ida Talalla committee Chair.

During the committee meeting, the Chair shared her discussion with the department staff and expressed her understanding that all three bids met the necessary requirements by the department and that they had no preference of who was selected and would be pleased to work with any of the conservators recommended by the committee.

At its August meeting, the Executive committee referred the item to the Parks & Public Works committee to allow for a proper vetting of the three bids and for consulation with the department.

The Executive committee also requested that the Parks & Public Works committee analyze what impact if any would the $ 86 million dollar restoration of Echo Park Lake have on the Lady of the Lake restoration project and what effrots are being made to protect both the Lady of the Lake and the Jose Marti statues located at the lake.

After initial inquiry by the committee chair, Alfred Mata from the Bureau of Engineering stated that both statues as well as the Echo Park Boathouse will be safeguarded during the course of construction for the rehabilitation of Echo Park Lake.

"I want to thank the Department of Cultural Affairs and Tim McGowan as well Alfred Mata and the Bureau of Engineering for participating and assisting us in understanding the impacts the broader Echo Park Lake rehabilitation project may have on the restoration of the Lady of the Lake. I am glad to hear that every effort will be made to protect these two very important statues", added Ms. Talalla.

Brief History of the Work: The Lady of the Lake statue was commissioned by the Public Works of Art Project initiated by President Roosevlet in reaction to the depression of 1929... The statue was created by Ada May Sharpless in 1934 and accepted by the City of Los Angeles Park Commission in 1936.

The statue was housed at the lake until 1986 when it was removed and placed in storage. Through the efforts of current neighborhood council member Suzanne Kimbrough, various community members, the local historical society and the Office of former Council Member Jackie Goldberg, the statue was reinstalled and rededicated at the lake in 1999.

"I am very pleased with the swift work and priority Ms. Talalla and her committee gave this important item. Her leadership, careful research, due diligence and attention to detail has assured that the best conservator has been chosen to restore this important community and cultural landmark", stated Jose Sigala, Board President.

The next step in the process is to agendize the committee's recommendation at the next general board meeting at the end of September to approve the recommended conservator and funding allocation.

"The neighborhood council is proud to play an important and pivotal role in the next phase of the history of the Nuestra Reina de Los Angeles "Lady of the Lake" statue. Many people before us worked diligently to assure her survival over the decades and now we have an opportunity to continue that effort and safeguard the statue so that all the people in the City of Los Angeles can enjoy this magnificent work of art", concluded Sigala.

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About the Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council: The Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council (GEPENC) is one of 88 certified neighborhood councils throughout the City of Los Angeles. GEPENC was certified by the City of Los Angeles in April of 2002. It is comprised of a 21 member Board of Governors.

The neighborhood council covers the areas of Echo Park, Elysian Heights, Edendale, Angelino Heights, Temple Beaudry and Filipinotown and represents approximately 55,000 residents.

For more information about the neighborhood council, please visit our website at www.gepenc.org or contact Lisa Baca, the Chief Information Officer, at bacasigala@earthlink.net to be added to our email list.