And, whereas, the result of these practices have created a 75% increase in foreclosures from 2006 to 2007 with California leading the nation with over 400,000 homes lost to foreclosure and has had a devastating effect on not only those families who lost their homes, but on the economic health of communities hit hardest by these evictions,

And, whereas, the magnitude of this crisis and its reverberating effects nationally and worldwide is new and unprecedented and constitutes an epidemic of poverty that can only deepen and spread if not treated with serious and immediate measures no less than the state of California would treat any emergency jeopardizing the safety and health of its residents fallen victim to foreclosure - now numbering over 400,000 and climbing,

And, whereas an increase in foreclosures correlates to an increase in homelessness, which in turn increases  the likelihood of illness and death, especially in children, the epidemic of foreclosures in our state is a serious health risk to the already over 400,000 people in 2007 alone,

And, whereas, California’s largest city and one of the largest cities in the nation, Los Angeles, due to the enormity of this crisis, is not equipped financially nor materially to deal with the effects of this crisis on its residents,

And, whereas, the California Emergency Act calls on immediate action to be taken in Article 1, Section 8550 of its purpose statement when the safety and health of residents are in jeopardy and, in  Article 2, Section 8558 (b),  local government is not equipped to deal with such emergencies,

And, whereas the above stated Articles and Sections, especially Article 2, Section 8558 (b) warrant that such emergencies give the Los Angeles City Council the responsibility of urging that the Governor declare a state of emergency,

And, whereas, Article 3, Section 8570(c) and (i) and Article 16, Section 8646 (b) states that this declaration would empower the Governor to use all resources of the state to mitigate this emergency including the use of public and private property,

And, whereas, the US Supreme Court in the case of Home Building & Loan Ass’n v. Blaisdell, 290 U.S. 398 (54 Sup. Ct. 231, 88 A.L.R. 1481), held that during periods of emergency, a moratorium on foreclosures is constitutional and trumps the contract clause of the constitution, upholding a Minnesota Moratorium on Foreclosures, which was one of 25 state moratoriums on foreclosure declared during the 1930’s,

And, whereas, Article 3, Section 8571 allows during a state of emergency, the suspension of all statutes, rules and regulations governing business practices, both public and private,

Be it resolved that the City Council of Los Angeles, in regard to this unprecedented epidemic of foreclosures in this State, urge that the Governor of California declare a State of Emergency.

Be it further resolved that this declaration be used to immediately, using the above cited Articles in the California Emergency Services Act, urge the Governor to utilize any properties public or private deemed necessary, and study any contractual obligations of any entities regulated by the State for the purpose of:

(1) Instituting an immediate moratorium on foreclosures and evictions

CULTURE CLASH (www.cultureclash.com) will feature rare and satirical works from their historical anthology. Joining the comedic rambunctiousness will be Lalo Alcaraz, creator of the daily comic strip, “La Cucaracha” and co-host of KPFK’s “Pocho Hour of Power, heard weekly on Fridays on KPFK at 4pm. In the spectacular outdoor historic Ford Amphitheatre in the Hollywood Hills, attendees can expect a night of satire and great vibes under the stars sparked by the alternative rock music of MEZKLAH. CULTURE CLASH, POCHO HOUR OF POWER AND MEZKLAH are donating their time and talent to commence KPFK’s anniversary activities as it reaches the 50th year of continuous public radio broadcasting in 2009, primarily sponsored by its dedicated listeners.

Founded in 1984 in San Francisco’s Mission District, CULTURE CLASH is Richard Montoya, Ric Salinas and Herbert Siguenza. Dubbed the “missionaries of mayhem, activists and all-around troublemakers,” CULTURE CLASH uses "performance collage" to bring history, geography, "urban excavation," "forensic poetry" and storytelling together in a contemporary, movable theater narrative through a Chicano point of view–what Guillermo Gomez-Pena describes as "reverse anthropology."

CULTURE CLASH’S work has been produced by the nation’s leading theaters including the Mark Taper Forum, Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, La Jolla Playhouse, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, The Huntington, The Alley Theatre, South Coast Repertory, Seattle Repertory, The Goodman Theatre, among others. They have also toured and lectured at major universities and colleges including Syracuse University, Yale University, Stanford University, and Universities and state colleges of California. CULTURE CLASH’s theatrical work includes The Mission, A Bowl of Beings, S.O.S.-Comedy for These Urgent Times, Unplugged, Capra Clash, Radio Mambo: Culture Clash Invades Miami, Bordertown, The Birds, Nuyorican Stories, Anthology, Mission Magic Mystery Tour, Anthems: Culture Clash in the District, Chavez Ravine, Senor Discretion Himself, Culture Clash in AmeriCCa, Zorro in Hell and Water and Power

Described by the Los Angeles Times as “one of L.A.’s most powerful and promising alt-Latino bands” and “talented and visionary, projecting an appealing confidence” by Music Connection, MEZKLAH blends alternative rock with touches of reggae, salsa, and cumbia layered over with elements of trip-hop, drum and bass beats, creating and defining their own genre of music. On their debut album SpiderMonkey, the group expanded the barriers of music, melding language and song structure with tracks that seamlessly switch between English and Spanish. MEZKLAH is Angel Garcia, Greg Hernandez, Matias Pizarro and Juan Carlos Ramirez. The group has toured the world in support of their critically acclaimed release, playing shows throughout Europe, Latin America, North America and Japan and bringing their distinctive brand of Latin music.