Is St. George La Casas Savior La Casa de la Raza refurbished a massive industrial warehouse on the Eastside more than 4. Covered with historic murals, the nonprofit became a cultural and political hub for the Latino community, offering great food, social services, and live music to people of all ethnic backgrounds alike. Treasure Island is an artificial island in San Francisco Bay and a neighborhood of the City of San Francisco. Built 193637 for the 1939 Golden Gate International. No more missed important software updates UpdateStar 11 lets you stay up to date and secure with the software on your computer. But changes are looming. For years, La Casas financial struggles have been well documented. To bail them out, Santa Barbara developer Ed St. George has a cash offer on the table that is not yet finalized. This news has not sat well with some original founding members, who expressed resentment the Latino community may be losing ownership of a center activists worked so hard to build. Others, though, expressed relief that new plans may help keep La Casas doors open. What happens now remains a question. Court documents reveal a few details, but board president Michael Gonzales called the arrangement very fluid. Well just see how it unfolds, he said. US/ABC_watlers_rodger_mar_140625_16x9_992.jpg' alt='Yahoo Weather Isla Vista' title='Yahoo Weather Isla Vista' />Two years ago, St. George quietly immersed himself in the nonprofits financial problems. He said he got pulled into helping its Board of Directors while working on the proposed sobering center in Isla Vista with Marisela Mrquez, UCSBs Associated Students executive director and former La Casa board president. At the time, La Casa filed for Chapter 1. Now, St. George, who built student housing in Isla Vista and on the Mesa, wants to buy half of the 2. The other half would be relinquished to an entity called Casa Redevelopment Company that essentially would remain La Casa, according to its Los Angelesbased bankruptcy attorney Eric Bensamochan. Isla-Vista-Saturday-022_t958.jpg?fef15e12b784e9bbb22bf3f2924819218cda3d1a' alt='Yahoo Weather Isla Vista' title='Yahoo Weather Isla Vista' />Court documents indicate St. George would manage that entity, but Bensamochan said thats more of an administrative title. A bankruptcy judge must approve the plan when the case returns to court in August. By Paul Wellman file. Ed St.  George. La Casa has racked up nearly 1 million in debt, including 1. Drum Midi Files Reggae Festival'>Drum Midi Files Reggae Festival. IRS and nearly 2. You have not yet voted on this site If you have already visited the site, please help us classify the good from the bad by voting on this site. As everyone is undoubtedly aware by this point, on August 21st, folks across the country will be able to see a total solar eclipsethe first one visible coastto. I celebrate myself, and sing myself, And what I assume you shall assume, For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you. I loafe and invite my soul. Marquez, who was not available for an interview before this papers deadline. With the cash from St. George, the nonprofit should be able to pay back its debts. Marquez and Executive Director Raquel Lopez have come under public fire for the pending sale. N6A4246_t958.jpg?fef15e12b784e9bbb22bf3f2924819218cda3d1a' alt='Yahoo Weather Isla Vista' title='Yahoo Weather Isla Vista' />Gonzales, however, stuck up for them. If it hadnt been for people like Raquel, he said, La Casa would not be in existence today. Others have noted that fiscal problems predated her tenure. I know they get beat up a lot, St. George added. There are a lot of problems with it, but hes willing to do whatever I can do to keep it alive. The board, he said, will be almost entirely replaced with individuals who have a little more business sense. An added wrinkle, however, is founding member Tomas Castelo, who currently owns the mortgage note. In the past, he has not expressed a willingness to sell it. He was not available for an interview this week. Castelos attorney, Tony Fischer, said in an email La Casa has long failed to pay rent. Fischer argued St. George would have control over all future decisions. But St. George refuted that Its not like I get to do whatever I want. He said La Casa does not need and does not use half of the buildings vast space. St. George might ultimately use more of the space and essentially pay rent to La Casa. As for specifics, board president Gonzales said, Well cross that bridge when we cross that bridge. St. George explained his interest in the property is two fold. First, he initially planned to turn the funky old building into a hotel. But, he said, city officials are in the process of restricting hotels from being built in industrial zones as part of the citys updated zoning process. Its unfortunate, he said. The design was a very beautiful design. He envisioned traditional weddings in an indooroutdoor space that celebrated Mexican artist Carlos Santana. Second, St. George has a history with the center. La Casa really represents the Mexican people, the real Mexican culture, not the American Mexican culture, he said. A Santa Barbara native, the 5. La Casa as a teenager. He felt even more engrained after his friends  the Sierras, a Latino family on the Eastside  took him in after they found him living out of his pickup truck. But these days, St. George is going to do whatever it takes to make a profit, claimed founding member Ben Cheverez. He is smart enough to figure that out. Founding member Leo Martinez expressed frustration with just about everyone involved. Its bullshit, he said. Wmfdist11.Exe Windows 7. Im just hurt. Mary Cheverez Morales, an original staffer who essentially ran the place, added, I blame the community. I blame the board. Jacqueline Inda, who described herself as a concerned community member, said communication between the current board and St. George has occurred behind closed doors. She expressed mixed emotions. Shes glad the building will remain standing. But, she added, Its unfortunate that it was a Latino owned asset, and now we will be there as tenants.