The Neighborhood Action Committee (NAC) was established in 1985. The organization has two objectives: to force Caltrans to abandon plans to build the 710 extension, and to substantially improve the quality of the rental housing stock that Caltrans owns in El Sereno.

NAC initiated a successful lobbying campaign with state legislators to document the poor conditions of the housing, labeling Caltrans as a "negligent absentee landlord". The organization also lobbied the City of Los Angeles to force Caltrans to restore street lighting along Sheffield Avenue which had been removed during the late 1960s. Area residents felt that crime along the proposed route was directly related to Caltrans' action in removing the street lights. After a 3-year effort, Caltrans reluctantly agreed to pay for the new street lights.

After documenting the deteriorating condition of the housing stock, and with the strong support of State Senator Art Torres, Caltrans initiated a 2-year program to rehabilitate the housing units owned by the state along Sheffield Avenue.

Since the late 1960s, NAC, along with South Pasadena, has been active in proposing that the Metropolitan Transit Agency eliminate the Route 710 extension from the regional transportation system. The "No Build" strategy -- the first among government agencies -- has played an essential role in developing a broad based, multi-ethnic opposition to the proposed project.

Indeed, the "Low Build Alternative" now advocated by the coalition against the freeway is, in fact, a refinement of the original "No Build" strategy.