Congratulations to the newly elected Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council and thanks to the over 1,000 people who stood in the hot sun in the Vons parking lot while the long line inched its way to the voting stations. There was more interest this year than in prior years and it brought out more voters to select from an abundance of candidates for these unpaid positions. It’s still a very small percentage of those eligible. The second Region 1 representative and secretary positions were so close that the winner couldn’t be determined until the 16 provisional ballots cast were evaluated. That illustrates perfectly why every vote matters. Please wade through the overheated rhetoric to get well informed and vote in the June Primary and November General elections. Democracy is something that can be lost if it isn’t exercised.

The efforts to save Rockhaven from inappropriate development continue despite the issuance of an RFP by Glendale. Friends of Rockhaven proposed state historic status for the complex and the California Historic Resources Commission will consider the application at its April 18 meeting in San Francisco. A public park would make such a wonderful addition to the city’s other parks and provide more opportunity for residents to enjoy the facility while learning about its history. Please continue to let the Glendale City Council know how you feel about preserving this historic treasure.

A new controversy over
Crescenta Valley’s history has erupted recently concerning the sign erected at the corner of Dunsmore and Honolulu avenues noting the historic name, Hindenburg Park, of what is now the western portion of Crescenta Valley Park. The property was owned by the German American League from the 1930s until it was sold to the county in 1957.

Paul von Hindenburg, for whom it was named, was a German WWI hero and later a reluctant political figure. His role in the rise of Adolf Hitler during the last years of his life makes his name offensive to some people. Hindenburg favored a monarchy but supported the Weimar Republic and served as President of Germany from 1925 until his death in 1934 at age 86. Hitler assumed power when Hindenburg died.

According to local historians the park was a meeting place for many European ethnic groups and hosted an annual “Old World Picnic” celebrating the diversity of the American people. While it’s true pro-Nazi groups occasionally used the facility prior to WWII, the community at large rejected that philosophy.

A massive American Legion gathering was held in the park in 1935 per a story in the Arcadia Tribune.

Hindenburg Park was also the site of a 75,000 strong gathering of Townsend Plan supporters in 1936 as documented in a San Bernardino County Sun newspaper article. The Townsend Plan was a model for our current Social Security system. Thanks to Nalini Lasiewicz for posting the clippings on the CVCA Facebook group page about these two events.

Removing the sign will not change history and leaving it there may cause more people to research Hindenburg’s complex biography. That might lead to greater understanding of how extreme political views are spread and how important it is for people of good will to continue to speak out.

Those who want the sign removed have filed a complaint with the L.A. County Commission on Human Relations and a hearing to gather the community’s input is scheduled for today, April 7, from 4 p.m. to 6 pm, at Sparr Heights Community Center, 1613 Glencoe Way. Please attend and share your views.

The next Crescenta Valley Community Association meeting will be April 28 starting at 7 p.m. in the community room at the La Crescenta Library, 2809 Foothill Blvd. Park in the upper lot accessed from La Crescenta Avenue. The agenda will include updates on local land use issues. Our meetings are free and open to the public.