By Barry Lank/The Eastsider
Originally published Nov. 18, 2024
From Boyle Heights to Eagle Rock, one of the highlights of community Christmas celebrations has been the lighting of Christmas trees, courtesy of the office of Councilman Kevin de León.
But this year’s holiday celebrations won’t be as bright. City Council District 14 canceled the lightings after the contract with the group that installs the lights expired, said council office spokesman Pete Brown.
With de León scheduled to leave office on Dec. 8 after losing his re-election bid, there’s not enough time to renew the contract and get the funds together before Ysabel Jurado takes over as the new councilmember.
Jurado plans to continue the tree-lightings, but won’t have access to a budget or City resources until she takes office, according to her campaign manager, Naomi Villagomez Roochnik.
In the past, the council office held events in Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno, and Boyle Heights, partnering with various neighborhood councils and community groups.
This year, Eagle Rock will be adapting to the sudden news by holding the holiday event on Eagle Rock Chamber of Commerce President Michael Nogueira’s front lawn. Nogueira noted that the tree-lighting has always been a Chamber of Commerce event anyway, rather than a Council District ceremony.
“I’m just a little disappointed,” Nogueira said. “I understand. The timing is off. But it is what it is.”
The Highland Park Neighborhood Council is also disappointed, according to its president, Darren Gold. But he noted that the Northeast Los Angeles Holiday Parade is still marching forward on December 1.
Brown said Council District 14’s annual toy distribution is also still taking place, this time coinciding with the turkey giveaway on the Monday before Thanksgiving.
Jurado said she also plans to do various food and toy giveaways in the future, and has also organized a turkey giveaway for Nov. 19 at Distrito Catorce in Boyle Heights.
