Neighborhood: District-wide
Next Steps on Cahuenga Peak
Cahuenga Peak Next Steps Committee members, l-r: Joe Young, Terry Davis, Daniel Savage, Sheila Irani, the Councilmember, Graham Marriott, Louis Alvarado and Felix Martinez.
Councilmember LaBonge and the Trust for Public Land (TPL) led a successful fundraising effort this year to acquire 138-acre Cahuenga Peak as an expansion of Griffith Park.
So, what's next?
The Councilmember formed a committee this week to identify other undeveloped parcels of land adjacent to the park that the city can consider acquiring as well.
"There's nothing like a wilderness mountain that you can see from almost any place in the city," the Councilmember told eight of the committee members at its first meeting last night. "Maybe there are other parcels near Cahuenga Peak that we could protect from development and open to all Angelenos for hiking."
The Cahuenga Peak Next Steps Committee will meet over the next six months to help plan the Cahuenga Peak celebration event and begin the next steps.
Rally for 9/11 First Responders Bill
Fire Chief Rueda and Tom with Police Chief Moore, members of the LAFD & LAPD and Dr. Vogler: "Vote Yes on HR 947 & SB 1334"
Los Angeles Fire and Police Department (LAFD and LAPD) officials joined Councilmember LaBonge in urging Congress to pass the 9/11 First Responders Act at a rally on Friday.
The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, or HR 847 and SB 1334, would provide first responders and those affected by the attack with long-term health care benefits for their exposure to toxins resulting from the collapse of the World Trade Center towers. It would also compensate them for economic losses due to illness or injuries caused by the attacks.
“Brave men and women from New York and across the nation worked tirelessly at Ground Zero, including some of our own Los Angeles firefighters and police officers,” Councilmember LaBonge said. “The Zadroga Bill needs to pass because we can no longer ignore the very serious health and economic needs of our nation’s heroes. Across the nation, we need to raise our voices and say ‘I support the Zadroga Bill.’”
"Some of the bravest men and women in the City of New York and from across the nation toiled to save the lives of others," Chief Rueda said. "I support those great Americans and any programs that will assist them in the future."
Ground Zero worker LAFD Chief Mario Rueda and LAPD Assistant Chief Michel Moore spoke about the importance of the measure. Dr. Francine Vogler who has experienced health problems related to her work at Ground Zero, also spoke.
The press conference follows a citywide resolution introduced by Councilmember LaBonge on Friday August 13, five days prior to President Obama’s announcement that he supports the bill. Calls of support came into the Councilmember’s office from across the nation. John Feal, a 9/11 first responder and founder of the FealGood Foundation, sent a message of support. The FeelGood Foundation had been key in rallying the nation around this legislation.
“On behalf of the 9/11 responder community the FealGood Foundation, I would like to personally thank the great people of Los Angeles for your unwavering support and compassion on the west coast for the Zadroga Bill,” John Feal said.
The event was held at the Frank Hotchkin Memorial Training Center, which features a large, 23-ton steel column. The column was shipped from Ground Zero and once stood as part of the lobby at one of the World Trade Center Buildings. It now serves as a Los Angeles memorial to all who were killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
To read the resolution introduced by Councilmember LaBonge, please click here.
Hollywood Goes Blue for a Cause
Capitol Records one of several iconic buildings going blue in Hollywood.
Councilmember Tom LaBonge flipped the switch at a ceremony on Wednesday, to turn Hollywood blue in support of the Prostate Cancer Research Institute’s (PCRI) Blue September Campaign. Dr. Mark Scholz, co-founder of PCRI and Jim Kuha, Senior Director of EMI Music North America, joined the Councilmember at the ceremony.
“It’s so important for Americans to learn how to speak frankly about this disease that affects 180,000 American men every year,” Councilmember LaBonge said. “This is my call to action for the people of Los Angeles and across the world: Let’s take care of ourselves, get your yearly prostate exam and let’s fight this killer.”
Buildings going blue include the Capitol Records Building, Paramount Studio’s Melrose Gate and Water Tower the historic Roosevelt Hotel and the Ramada of West Hollywood. International organizations are also showing their solidarity with the campaign, including The Harbor Bridge in Sydney, Australia and the Parliament House in Melbourne, Australia.
Prostate Cancer is the most common cancer in males in the Western world. Each year, 27,000 American men die from prostate cancer and 180,000 men are diagnosed with the disease. Over 2 million American men and women are currently living with the disease. Studies have shown links between a high-calorie diet and prostate cancer—a fact for serious consideration in Los Angeles where obesity has been on the rise. A 2003 report from the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services stated nearly 55% of Los Angeles residents are obese or overweight.
The Blue September Campaign, launched by the Prostate Cancer Research Institute, aims to raise awareness about prostate cancer. The PCRI was founded in 1996, with the objective of educating patients and their families about prostate cancer.
For more information about Blue September or PCRI, please go to www.blueseptember.org.
DWP Water Ordinance
New lawn watering restrictions are in effect beginning August 25 after Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa approved an ordinance already passed by the City Council.
Under the new guidelines, most Angelenos may water their lawns three days each week rather than the current limit of two days per week. However, the allowable watering period will be shorter - 8 minutes instead of 15.
The new guidelines also alternate watering days between properties whose addresses end in even and odd numbers. For addresses ending in odd numbers, watering will be allowed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. For addresses ending in even numbers, watering will be allowed on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. To read the proposed new guidelines, click here.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power proposed changing the restrictions because the changes in water pressure when the residents turned their sprinklers on at the same time each week was linked to a series of water main breaks throughout Los Angeles.
John Marshall High School's New Look
Acclaimed artist Yuriko Etue is installing a new mosaic at John Marshall High School, in part through a city grant that funds community improvements. The artist, known for the Vine Street Elementary School entrance mural and for her contribution to the Silver Lake mosaic "Art Cans," taught a group of students, city officials and neighbors how to place tiles within the huge mosaic on the corner of Griffith Park Boulevard and St. Georges Street on Thursday. Councilmember LaBonge was the first to participate.
"This mural will add to students' pride in their school and their beautiful campus," the Councilmember said.
The mural, funded by the community, school and city contributions, portrays the school's emblematic "M" in front of blue rolling hills. Students from Dorothy Lee's art class designed different versions of the mural, and the neighborhood council voted on the design. Etue, students and neighborhood volunteers are working to install the mosaic by October.
HIRE LA's Youth a Success
Councilmember LaBonge points out the benefits of Mayor Villaraigosa's HIRE LA's Youth program at culminating ceremonies this week.
Councilmember LaBonge joined Mayor Villaraigosa to announce the Mayor's call to action for non-profit, private and public organizations to hire Angeleno youth for summer work yielded 10,000 paid internships between July and August.
"Summer jobs are important. The experience of working cultivates an understanding of teamwork and develops leadership skills that are critical to success in life," Councilmember LaBonge said. "It also gives the kids a little bit of money to have some summer fun."
The LA Area Chamber of Commerce certified all HIRE LA's Youth to ensure companies received high-quality workers. The workers themselves received resume assistance, interview skills and job training.
Nearly 200 kids and summer employers attended the culmination event. The program was funded in part by the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act.
For more information, click here.
New Watering Ordinance
New lawn watering restrictions could go into effect as early as next week, if Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa approves an ordinance passed by the City Council this week.
Under the new guidelines, most Angelenos will be able to water their lawns three days each week rather than the current limit of two days per week. However, the allowable watering period will be shorter - 8 minutes instead of 15.
The new guidelines also alternate watering days between properties whose addresses end in even and odd numbers. For addresses ending in odd numbers, watering will be allowed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. For addresses ending in even numbers, watering will be allowed on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
To read the proposed new guidelines, click here.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power proposed changing the restrictions because the changes in water pressure when the residents turned their sprinklers on at the same time each week was linked to a series of water main breaks throughout Los Angeles.
Support for 9/11 First Responders
Tom presented a resolution to Council on Wednesday to help public safety and fire fighters who rushed to the emergency effort after 9/11. The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act would provide long-term health care and compensation for police officers, firefighters and other 9/11 first responders across the nation who have become sick after working at Ground Zero.
The measure, which was defeated in Congress in July, was given new consideration after President Obama released a statement of support. Named after a fallen NYPD officer who died of health complications after 9/11, the bill will be sent back to the floor next month.
For more information or to read HR 847, please click here.
