For our first Esotouric webinar of 2021, we gathered a dream team of cultural, architectural, public and military historians and documentarians to tell the story of Pershing Square, from its mid-19th century origins as La Plaza Abeja to its current state of chaotic decay and to advocate for restoration of John Parkinson's 1910 design.
The 3.5 hour webinar Pershing Square, Los Angeles: the History, Tragedy and Potential of Our Original Central Park, 1866-2020 is available here.
While gathering material for the program, we made a surprising discovery in the b-roll footage from Jose Huizar's 2014 press conference announcing his Pershing Square redesign contest.
Just prior to Kim Cooper asking on behalf of The Pershing Square Restoration Society petitioners if the public will have an opportunity to vote for the John Parkinson design (Huizar lies and says they will), L.A. Times reporter David Zahniser asked where the $1 Million to fund the competition came from. And Jose Huizar, who is facing a long prison sentence if convicted on racketeering and public corruption charges, lowers his voice as he reveals that he doesn't know how to pronounce the name of donor Victor MacFarlane!
So who brokered this valuable deal if it wasn't Jose Huizar? And will that person also be indicted?
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