Latest news with #EquestrianCenter
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Dozens of undocumented workers fired from LA Equestrian Center over immigration status
The Brief As many as 40 employees at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center were fired on Friday. LA Mayor Karen Bass said the firings came after immigration officials asked the facility if employees had proper identification. LOS ANGELES - Undocumented employees of the Los Angeles Equestrian Center near Burbank have reportedly been fired. What we know Employees told FOX11 as many as 40 employees who cared for the horses and stables were let go Friday morning. Some who board their horses at the center were upset by the mass firing. "It's terrible," said Susan Becker. "There's a lot of people whose life has been upended."The Equestrian Center is tucked just north of Griffith Park. RELATED: Federal appeals court upholds ban on immigration raids in LA What they're saying The city contracts private company ASM Global to run the facility. LA Mayor Karen Bass spoke with our Elex Michaelson about the matter. "Apparently, I guess ICE asked for whether or not the employees had proper identification and through e-Verify, and that's all I know right now," said Bass. "But what's important to me, though is, is ICE changing their tactics? Are they changing their tactics?" Just last week, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a federal judge's Temporary Restraining Order preventing ICE from stopping and questioning people about their immigration status without reasonable suspicion or a warrant. It does not appear that today's events at the equestrian center violate that order, but still people are upset. "I'm devastated you know? This is a terrible situation for all these people who, a lot of these people have been working a long time and they've been working really hard," said Becker. ASM Global shared a statement saying, "The Los Angeles Equestrian Center prioritizes the health, safety, and well-being of every horse entrusted to our care. As a matter of policy, we do not comment on personnel issues." FOX11 also reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for a statement on this, but it has not yet responded. The Source Information in this story is from boarders at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, an interview with LA Mayor Karen Bass, a statement from ASM Global, which contracts with the city of Los Angeles to run the equestrian center and previous FOX 11 reports. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Polk County OKs initial contracts for long-sought Agricultural Center south of Bartow
The Polk County Agricultural Center Complex in Bartow took a giant gallop forward on June 3 when the County Commission voted to approve architectural and engineering services for phase one of the long-discussed complex. A contract with The Lunz Group LLC was approved by the commission for $1.57 million. 'This has been a lot of work for a lot of people. I've been after this since I have become a commissioner. And it's had a lot of roads up and down, bumps, bangs,' Commission Chairman Rick Wilson said prior to the unanimous vote. In thanking those who helped push for the project, Wilson added, 'This is Polk County; this is going to be a nice facility for generations to come.' An equestrian-themed public facility in Bartow was first publicly discussed at a County Commission agenda review on May 20, 2024. Phase one would include a covered arena with seating. Overall, the complex will be designed to highlight Polk County's agricultural heritage. Bartow's City Manager Mike Herr made the pitch for the facility last year to the commissioners once another site for the complex fell through after years of planning. The last proposed equestrian center was to be developed in Fort Meade, but the Polk County Commission rescinded its pledge of $6.5 million toward the center in July 2023. On June 3 after the commission vote, Herr was very happy with the decision to begin the initial phase. 'We are very excited about the County Commission hiring the Lunz Group. First, they are a local firm, so circulating tax dollars to a professional firm who is qualified is important,' Herr said. 'This is a very exciting day for the south-central area of Polk County," he said. "The Equestrian Center will serve as a driver for additional agri-tourism events at this site and will attract families from all across the region. It's a very good example of putting heads in beds. Our city cannot wait for it to be open.' This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Polk County moves forward on long-sought Agricultural Center in Bartow
Los Angeles Times
28-03-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Where have all the horses gone? O.C. fair officials vow a return, but some are skeptical
Horses figure prominently in marketing for the Ranch Community Center — the new brand and concept for the O.C. fairgrounds' Equestrian Center — but appear to be missing from the complex's strategic plan and the grounds where they used to flourish. A billboard for the nascent center, erected on the northwest corner of the Costa Mesa property, depicts a trio of stabled horses, while a photo gallery on the Ranch's website shows a facility bustling with people, resident animals and activity. However, the same 7-acre site that once teemed with up to 100 equines and their owners, many of them trainers who offered paid lessons as well as workshops, therapy sessions and rides for the broader community, now sits largely vacant as sandy arenas remain untrod. Fair spokeswoman Terry Moore confirmed Thursday that five individuals are boarding six horses in five stalls. No trainers are currently working at the site. The vacancy follows a bitter legal dispute between fairgrounds operators and equestrians over the terms, tenancy and management of the center in recent years and comes as Orange County Fair & Event Center officials build out the space with more public-facing programs under the newly rebranded Ranch concept. But while the mainstay of equestrian tenants have left the building, and as lawsuits continue to wend their way through the courts, those who want to see horses have a strong presence at the fairgrounds continue to make their voices heard. Center officials on Thursday considered public feedback submitted in response to a draft of a strategic plan, submitted to the board in January, which highlights the mission, vision and objectives of the center through 2029. The 12-page plan identifies innovation, stewardship, operational excellence and visitor experience as primary objectives for the center and mentions the expansion of programs at the Ranch. But the document contains no explicit reference to horses or the reinvigoration of equestrian activities there. While no public outreach meetings were held, citizens were asked to submit comments through an online survey. Among 505 responses submitted, 447, nearly 89%, specifically pertained to keeping horses and equestrians thriving at the fairgrounds. 'The OC fair has a duty to preserve the historical equestrian community here in Costa Mesa,' wrote a local resident named Madison. 'This new plan should include reasonable boarding for the local public to board their horses at a well kept facility (with improved facilities) and equestrian trainers who maintain lesson programs. 'Without the knowledge and life long experience of local horse trainers you cannot be successful — they are a key part of running a clean, safe, and enjoyable equestrian facility.' 'No equestrian center mentioned in the Strategic Plan? WHY?' wrote Alexis of Costa Mesa. 'Put it back in there. You board members are ruining a once vibrant community of people where 12-year-olds rode with 70-year-olds and friendships developed over a common interest — horses. Thousands of people have enjoyed their time out there over the years. Please support it and include it in your strategic plan.' A previous strategic plan, covering operational objectives from 2022 through 2024, contained two pages specific to the Equestrian Center. It described numerous goals, such as hiring a supervisor, developing a revenue-generating horse show and working with nonprofit groups to provide free or low-cost riding lessons. Gibran Stout — a local equestrian ousted from the center for refusing to pay increased rental fees who is involved in litigation against the OC Fair & Event Center— criticized officials Thursday for not involving the public in plans for the Ranch. She, too, asked Center directors to specify objectives in the strategic plan and involve the community in creating robust equine programs at the site. 'When you have 90% of the people saying they want something, let's do it. Those responses from the public were from all the public. We're all the public, we're all the community. Listen to 90% of your feedback.' Board President Nick Kovacevich said he didn't see anything in the comments that haven't already been incorporated into plans for the Ranch. 'The good news is, it sounds like we've already listened to them and we've already incorporated that, so they can essentially rest assured it's moving in the right direction that they want,' he added. 'I hear from members of the public, they're significantly uninformed or there's even been, maybe, misinformation they've picked up on,' Kovacevich continued. 'If you've attended any board meeting in the last year and a half, you know the topic of losing the Equestrian Center has come up, and every time it's actually the board demanding that we reinvigorate that center and the grounds and add more programming.' Director Barbara Bagneris also expressed astonishment over the tenor of the comments. 'This seems more about semantics to me. We used to call it the Equestrian Center and now we call it the Ranch — the same activities are going to happen at the Ranch but more expanded for the community. Maybe that's the confusion?' she posed. In a follow up interview Friday, fairgrounds spokeswoman Moore accredited the low census at the stables to the fact that trainers, who often board numerous horses for programs, have vacated, leaving only a handful of owners with fewer wards. Moore further said initial occupancy plans focused on boarders, whose contracts and agreements are more straightforward than ones for those who conduct lessons and services at the site, and said officials will soon roll out a plan for inviting area trainers to the Ranch. 'Trainers bring in horses and fill stalls. [And] right now we don't have trainers there,' she said. 'The Ranch Community Center is the new plan, and we've moving forward with that plan. Exhibits are being built, and partners are coming in — we're getting there.'
