Billboard Moratorium Approved

On Wednesday, the City Council unanimously adopted a three-month moratorium on all off-site sign permits, which means no new billboards or supergraphic signs (on the sides of tall buildings) will be approved for three months. The moratorium is designed to give the Planning Department time to develop a new comprehensive ordinance that regulates the approval, installation and enforcement of billboards.
"This is very good news for all Anglelenos," Councilmember LaBonge said. "I'm happy that my colleagues and I moved to take control of billboard issue." Wednesday's Council motion was a response to public outcry over the introduction of electronic billboards in some neighborhoods, including several in Council District 4.

Councilmember LaBonge Sends Dodger Dogs to Philly

Councilmember LaBonge in Council in Phillies shirt on Wednesday.

Councilmember LaBonge sent Dodger dogs, books and pumpkin bread to his counterpart in Philadelphia, Fourth District Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr., to pay off a friendly bet over the National League Championship series. “As hard as it was to give up my Dodger blues, I wore a Phillies jersey in Council yesterday and saluted the team’s great World Series victory,” Councilmember LaBonge said today. “As promised, I sent Councilman Jones a box of Dodger Dogs and nine books on the history of Los Angeles. I also sent him a loaf of pumpkin bread, baked by a cloistered order of nuns at the Monastery of the Angels just beneath the historic Hollywood sign.” The two councilmembers placed a friendly bet just before the Phillies and Dodgers met for the National League Championship in October. If the Dodgers had won, Councilman Jones agreed to send Mr. LaBonge a 6-foot cheese steak sandwich, a case of Philadelphia-based snack cakes called Tastykakes and books about Philadelphia for Los Angeles libraries.
The Phillies beat the Dodgers 4 games to 1 in the National League Championship, clinching the best-of-seven series in five games. The Phillies then went on to trounce the Tampa Bay Rays four-games-to-one to win the team’s first World Series title in 28 years. The Phillies were “determined to win the World Series and bring back a championship that the citizens of Philadelphia deserve,” Councilman Jones said. Mr. LaBonge said today: “Councilman Jones and I had a lot of fun with this bet. I hope our paths cross again in the future.”

City High School Football Championship at Fabled Coliseum

Councilmembers LaBonge, Hahn and Parks surrounded by students and staff from Narbonne and San Pedro high schools in front the Los Angeles Coliseum. The schools will compete there for the city football championship on Saturday.

Councilmembers Tom LaBonge, Bernard Parks and Janice Hahn welcomed the City Section Championship Division football final to the Los Angeles Coliseum at a press conference on Thursday. The game will be played on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 1 p.m.

Last month, the City Section and the Los Angeles Coliseum had been unable to negotiate a fee for the Coliseum for this important game. Mr. Parks, a member of the Coliseum Commission, and Mr. LaBonge, an alternate member, worked to ensure that the championship game would be played in the venerable Coliseum. Councilmember LaBonge raised $5,000 to cover the cost gap between the Coliseum and City Section.
On Saturday, the Narbonne Gauchos and San Pedro Pirates will play for the city title. Both schools are in Councilmember Hahn’s 15th Council District.

“High school sports bring communities together and ignite civic spirit," said Councilmember LaBonge. “We want everyone to know that this important Los Angeles game will be played here on Saturday. Come out and support your high school athletics.”

Added Councilmember Hahn: "It's no coincidence that both of these top teams hail from the 15th Council District. The battle between the Pirates and the Gauchos is sure to be intense. But the good news is, I win either way."

“As the hosting Councilmember, I am pleased that the historic Los Angeles Coliseum will once again be home to this year’s round of championship play,” said Councilmember Parks. “I look forward to the great competition between this year’s teams as they have the opportunity to play in one of the world’s greatest sporting venues. I would like to congratulate the teams and the great schools that they will be representing here in the historic Los Angeles Coliseum.”

The Councilmembers also called on all alumni of LAUSD schools to donate to the LAUSD Education Foundation to fund athletic programs throughout the city. Checks should be written to: LAUSD Education Foundation, and on the memo line, put "Athletics". The checks can then be sent to: Dale Petrulis, Director of Civic Engagement/Partnerships, 333 South Beaudry Avenue 18-178, Los Angeles, CA 90017.

CD4 Holiday Party

Councilmember LaBonge, Gloria Pink, Channel 4's Fritz Coleman, Santa and friends at the CD4 Holiday Party in Toluca Lake.

Hundreds of revelers turned out for the annual Council District 4 Holiday Reception on Friday, including Santa Claus, bagpipers, carolers and Pink's Hot Dogs. Pink's, the famous La Brea Avenue hot dog stand, served over 1,000 free hot dogs throughout the evening.
"This is what community is all about: neighbors and friends out walking and enjoying the city," said Councilmember LaBonge, marveling at the crowds lining Riverside Drive in Toluca Lake.
The Councilmember rode down Riverside Drive in a horse-drawn sleigh supplied by Scott Perez, owner of Diamond Bar Rental Stables in Glendale. Equestrian activist Lynn Brown and the Hoch Family of Equestrian Trails, Inc. arranged for the evening sleigh ride.

Garcetti-LaBonge Center Opens

Tom answering questions from student journalists at the Garcetti-LaBonge Parent Education and Child Care Center.

The Santa Monica Boulevard Community Charter School honored Council President Eric Garcetti and Councilmember LaBonge by naming its parent education center after them.
At a lively ceremony on Thursday, December 4th, the school community thanked the councilmembers for supporting their efforts at several pivotal junctures, particularly during the school's evolution from a traditional public school to a charter, which has a degree of independence from the school district.
"They've both spoken passionately about the challenges that children at inner-city schools face," said the school's co-director Vahe Markarian. Added Johana Juarez, the school's parent coordinator, "They're always helping the children, helping the school and helping the community."
The center is situated in a former home one-half block south of the school.
The councilmembers were interviewed by student reporters and serenaded by the student choir. Both said they were deeply flattered by the honor.
"Eric and I were students once, too," Tom said. "We were just like you. I came from a big family and had seven brothers. I'm proud to be able to tell them that this building is named for a LaBonge."

Tom Commends GLAZA

Councilmember LaBonge thanking GLAZA for its commitment to the Los Angeles Zoo with (l-r) Zoo Director John Lewis; Elephant Keeper Don Aguirre(partially obscured); GLAZA Executive Director Connie Morgan; Zoo Benefactor Laura Wasserman; the Zoo's Chief Veterinarian Dr. Curtis Eng and Zoo Asst. Director Denise Verret.

Councilmember LaBonge commended the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA) for committing to donate $14.5 million to the Pachyderm Forest Exhibit, which has been the subject of City Council debate for several weeks. Councilmember LaBonge has supported the $42 million elephant exhibit, which is under construction at the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens. The zoo attracts 1.6 million visitors each year and is located in Griffith Park.
“We must educate our children about elephant conservation and the best way to do that is through the zoo,” the Councilmember said. “We’re committed to giving the city the best elephant exhibit we can and GLAZA is making an outstanding contribution to make that happen.”
GLAZA’s announcement increases the organization’s commitment to the exhibit to almost $20 million. It had already raised $4.5 million for the elephant project. The other $22 million in the project’s budget comes from voter-approved city and county bond measures.
The elephant exhibit became the subject of debate recently when another councilmember proposed closing down construction and moving the zoo’s sole elephant to an unspecified elephant sanctuary. The public does not have viewing access to sanctuaries, which are privately operated.
After the GLAZA announcement on December 3rd, the Council voted to suspend construction on the project and send the item back to the Arts, Parks, Health and Aging Committee, chaired by Mr. LaBonge. The motion directs the committee to identify alternative funding options and bring the item back to the full Council by January 24, 2009.
The motion also instructs the City Administrative Officer and Chief Legislative Analyst to explore options for privatizing the zoo.

Hollywood Santa Parade

Councilmember LaBonge rode on the back of a rare 1952 Chrysler Phaeton with his wife Brigid, daughter Mary-Cate and son Charles at the parade on November 30th.

Tens of thousands of Angelenos lined the boulevards of Hollywood on Sunday night for the annual Hollywood Santa Parade. Stars from TV's Disney Channel rode on an elaborate float. High school marching bands from as far away as Connecticut trumpeted Christmas carols. Horses, llamas and firefighters on motorcycles were all part of the three-hour parade.
"Angelenos love this parade and they demonstrated their affection again on Sunday night," said Councilmember LaBonge, the parade's top promoter. "It was wonderful to see so many children and their families waving and smiling along the parade route."
Councilmember LaBonge saved the parade two years ago after the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce announced that it could no longer afford to sponsor the Hollywood Christmas Parade, a 78-year tradition. The newly christened Hollywood Santa Parade was launched last year by Council President Eric Garcetti and Councilmember LaBonge.
Councilmember Dennis Zine and City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo joined actors Fred Ward, Shirley Jones, Kyle Massey and Demi Lovato in the parade, whose biggest star was, of course, Santa. For more photos of the event, click here.