The Autry Drops its Expansion Plans

The Merger Agreement agreed to by Autry in 2003 included the restoration of the Southwest Museum as a fully functioning museum. A study by Autry's architect Brenda Levin confirmed this was a viable plan. However, after the new building project was given to Levin, she recanted. The activists believe Autry's goal was to gain control of the collection and abandon the historic Southwest Museum facility.

All Jose Huizar asked was that Autry make good on the promises made in a 2007 letter written to him by John Gray. It appears John Gray and the Autry Board never intended to honor the Merger Agreement. At the very least, the current Resolution to the Los Angeles Board of Referred Powers openly reneges on those commitments.

It was reported by Adolfo Guzman Lopez this morning that Autry has spent money on restoring the Southwest. In fact they have spent other people's money. For instance, in Autry's own magazine published this summer, an article cites the source of funding for the Caracol Tower restoration as a combination of grants from the Federal Emerrgency Management Agency (FEMA), the California Cultural and Historic Endowment (CCHE), and the Paloheimo Foundation. Good for them to have found the money, but John Gray and others mislead the public by implying this was out of Autry's pocket.

How can we expect Larry Mantle and KPCC to give a fair and balanced view of this important L.A. cultural institution - the Southwest Museum - when they are in the tank for the Autry? How is this? KPCC broadcasts regularly from the Autry National Center. Do you think this cozy relationship allows objective reporting on this topic? More info at: autrylies.com.

How do you think cultural institutions function Martha? Grants, donations, endowments, etc.

If the "activists" would have been supportive of the Southwest Museum when it was failing, before the merger, and actually attended the museum (not just when they were kids on a field trip) things may have been different. But they didn't. In fact, they've been protesting the museum for years, way before the Autry appeared on the scene and saved it for Los Angeles.

1. Why is the Autry squandering a rail stop at the museum? There is no transit infrastructure at Griffith that comes close. The foot traffic potential is enormous, not to mention cutting down congestion and smog.

2. How much has the Autry actually spent? Mr. Gray cites the following contributions by: major foundations ($3 million); federal govt ($950 thousand); California Cultural and HIstorical Endowment ($936.,000); FEMA funds ($1 millikon) etc.?

John Gray made written promises to Councilman José Huizar in 2007 to restore and reopen the Southwest Museum. Now he says it's too risky. That sounds like a broken promise to me.

Autry can raise funds to enhance the facility in Griffith Park to improve attendance and access. But they won't do the same for the authentically historic facility in Mt. Washington.

When self-promoting “activists”, who care nothing about “the truth”, create an atmosphere hostile to a cultural institution this is what we get: hysteria masquerading as measured public debate.

If the Friends of the Southwest Museum think they have “won” they are in for a rude surprise. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Autry National Center says, “Your broke it. You own it.”

Congratulations, Los Angeles! Businesses are leaving in droves. Now we've said to cultural institutions, "We don't want you and your kind here."

John Gray states they can store AND show all of the Southwest Museum collection in Griffith Park space. Then why do they need to expand in the park?

I particularly love the SW museum and its collection. But I think that the support problems of the Autry and SW should be viewed in the context of all of the museums and cultural venues in L.A. county. A much higher level of support is due all of them, and that can be obtained through higher visitation. What curtails visitation is accessability. The museums, city and county should subsidize bus transport on weekends and during holidays, and make available multi-museum ticketing so that visitors and residents can more easily find and get to these wonderful resources.

This is a fascinating topic. I have been hoping Air Talk would do a show on this for quite some time now. As a non native Angeleno, I have been to the Autrey, which I think is great, but have never been to the Southwest Museum. It's obvious that many people on both sides have very strong opinions. I hope Air Talk can revisit this issue again in the future. Thank you, Larry.

I worked at the Autry and I attended SW as a child in a school field trip. I loved how much the Autry was caring for the SW collection, but I understand the surrounding communities need to keep SW's doors open. However, why can't there be a compromise? Why can't SW remain open but as an education facility that has some exhibit space but that is primarily used for students? Could it be a school, or public programming facility, something of that nature? The SW collection is incredible, but its too big, and I feel that entity like the Autry is more equipped to take care of it.

Autry has lied from the very beginning at the merger Mrs. Autry showed a faked balance sheet which it imply that the Autry had a hundred million dollars in their bank account and could take care of the Southwest Museum needs. This money will only be available at the death of Mrs. Autry if she does not change her mind in the meantime.

Within the Southwest Museum Board there were individuals that wanted to take the collection out of the Southwest Museum since l989. Their plans failed at that time but they continue to work behind closed doors, now they are part of the Autry Board.

The Southwest Museum was bringing in more money into the museum than the Autry at the time of the merger. So who was failing?

The Autry needs the Southwest Museum collection in order to survive and to gain clout in the museum world. It is for their own interest to take care of the collection. Remember they want the collection for themselves.

The Autry has painted the Southwest Museum time and time again as a depilated old relic with no possibility. City Hall, Los Angeles Library and many other old relics have been restored to 21st Century standards. The Southwest Museum can be restored and expanded it has been proved by their own architect Brenda Levin yet the Autry tried to withheld that information for months and now ignores it.

Most of Autry’s supporters that came to the June 30th hearing were employees, docents or receive some type of benefit from the Autry.

The Southwest Society does not represent the Northeast community. This society was formed behind closed doors without the knowledge of the community. They have been used as political puns to deceive the community.

We have to be clear; Councilman Jose Huizar’s Memo from John Gray, September 2007 does not fulfill all the agreements in the Merger. In order for the Southwest Museum to be a First Class World Museum (that deserves to be) those agreements have to be honored.

Autry hired one of the best and costliest law firms Latham and Watkins to find ways to take over the Southwest Museum collection and their lobbyist have been working City Hall.

Autry’s name brings into mind Gene Autry and his name is being used to convince people that they are honorable. Just like Mardoff , Enron and many others that were able to deceive people with their name and their wealth.

Autry Ignores Museum Ethics

Teachers United again reiterates our position that the Southwest Museum needs to be a vital educational destination museum at its historic location in Mt. Washington (Northeast Los Angeles as it has been for nearly 100 years) across from its own named "Southwest Museum" gold line metro transit stop.

This is not just a local issue-it is an important regional one because for the first time 170,000 school children and their teachers are within walking distance of a gold, blue, or red line transit station that could deliver them to the foot of the Southwest Museum to study California State mandated curriculum. (Study done by Franklin High School 2006)

Both the Autry site (off the 5 freeway) and the Southwest site need to exist as important cultural institutions displaying the Southwest's vast collection. This 1 billion dollar collection of artifacts was acquired through merger and not purchased by the Autry.

Museum ethics mandate That a non profit museum holds in trust treasures that must be available to the largest audience possible. By deciding to close the Southwest Museum this fabulous collection will be unavailable to the vast majority of people who depend on public transportation and who live in the most densely populated area of Los Angeles.

There is no logical reason for the Autry to ignore their nonprofit museum responsibility. Why not seek donors to not only build a huge new Autry but to also make the Southwest Museum a functional museum? (Brenda Levin's study confirms that potential of a viable Southwest Museum at its historic site.)

A new Autry vision would create good will, dollars, and success and would remove the public's current perception that the Autry is looting the cultural heart of Northeast Los Angeles and making the treasured collection inaccessible to school children, their parents and the general public.

Children know about sharing and it is time for the Autry to join with the coalition of 80 organizations who support the historic Southwest Museum remaining in the community. They need to agree to a winning solution that will make sharing and caring the hallmark of Gene Autry's legacy.