Tamales de la Paz (Peace) also serves to further the existing Rediscover MacArthur Park Campaign which is dedicated to revitalizing the neighborhood and surrounding areas through community partnerships that provide local health, safety, business, festive, educational, recreational, and social service activities.
The campaign has played a key role in transforming the community from a crime-filled "point of destination" into a thriving business and social/cultural "point of destination." The event also highlighted past and future community reinvestment activities.
Certificates of Appreciation were presented by Councilmember Ed P. Reyes to various organizations for helping reverse decades of disinvestment into neighborhood reinvestment within the MacArthur Park/Westlake District.
Sandi “Mama” Romero of Mama’s Hot Tamales, on behalf of the Rediscover MacArthur Park Alliance, presented awards to the “10 Top Hot Tamales of Los Angeles” - 10 community builders whose efforts have had a significant impact on the MacArthur Park neighborhood. Councilmember Ed P. Reyes and Police Chief William J. Bratton were among the award recipients.
A special note of recognition to Arturo Martinez, Deputy City Attorney here in the City Attorney’s Office, who received a “10 Top Hot Tamales” award for his work in the City Attorney’s Safe Neighborhoods Division focused on the MacArthur Park neighborhood.
The event closed with participants dining on a gigantic, 12 foot long “peace tamale” created by Mama’s Hot Tamales.
