Happy Fourth of July!
Everyone enjoys fireworks as part of their 4th of July experience. However, every year there are many reported injuries due to improper or illegal use of fireworks. To learn more about firework safety, visit SafeJuly4th.org for tips on how to have a fun and safe holiday weekend! To enjoy fireworks, go to a professional show. You can find a list of shows by calling (888) 654-FIRE.

Today the City of Los Angeles celebrated the inauguration of our Mayor, City Attorney, and City Controller, and certain City Councilmembers (about half of the council seats were up for election this year).

Today, I attended a groundbreaking for the new Elysian Valley Bike Path. Situated along the west bank of the Los Angeles River from Fletcher Drive to Barclay Street, the path extends to a total distance of eight miles.

The path has existed as a walkway for several decades, but this project, which will be completed at the end of the year, will improve the pathway with a new smooth surface, lighting, traffic markings, signs, and new landscaping.

This path will make biking a safer and easier transportation option for Angelenos, and I encourage Elysian Valley residents, river advocates, and bike enthusiasts to take advantage of this terrific new community resource and to enjoy the outdoors.

Come join the fun down on the corner of Drew and Estara Streets this Saturday June 27^th, from 10a.m.- 2p.m.

Our summer block party will include a live DJ, games, face painting, a raffle for kids, a performance by Young Loke, and a special guest appearance by Captain William Murphy of the LAPD Northeast Division

Enjoy this special event because summer is the perfect time to hang out with neighborhood friends and families!

Today, hundreds of volunteers participated in PATH’s Project YIMBY (Yes! In My Backyard) Connect Day at the Music Box Fonda Theatre in Hollywood. PATH’s Connect Day is an annual event that connects homeless individuals to service providers in Hollywood. The estimated 800 homeless participants were provided with everything from food and clothing to medical exams and housing resources. In these tough economic times, it’s more important than ever to make sure that all Angelenos have a safe place to live. The best way to end homelessness is to coordinate our efforts to reach as many people in possible - and my office helped a host of other stakeholders in putting together the day's activities. By connecting homeless individuals and families directly to services, we can help alleviate the impact that homelessness has on our families and our communities.

In an effort to help Angelenos choose alternative modes of transportation, yesterday we installed more than 50 new bicycle racks on Hollywood Boulevard between La Brea and Vine. The city’s Department of Transportation worked with my office to developed a pilot program that transforms parking meters made obsolete by the city’s new Park-and-Pay system into new bicycle racks. To expand bicycle parking capacity, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation is installing “meter hitches” that convert the poles of former parking meters into bike racks.

This new program will provide more bicycle parking to make it easier for residents and visitors who want to use bikes to get around our neighborhood.

Don’t forget to ride safely!

This summer, Barnsdall Art Park is hosting an exciting line up of fun events. Be sure to bring your family along and stop by any of the following events:

• Free family art workshops every Sunday from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. offered by Barnsdall Art/ Friends of the Junior Arts Center (FOJAC) and the Barnsdall Art Park Foundation. For more information click here.


• Wine tastings every Friday from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., courtesy of Silverlake Wine. Tickets are $15 in advance up to six hours prior to the event and $25 online or at the door. Some of the profits from the wine tasting will go to support programs at the park. For information on tickets, click here.


• Independent Shakespeare Co.’s production of The Tempest and Henry V on Fridays-Sundays at 7:30 p.m. from June 26 - August 30. For more information, read my previous blogs or click here.
  

This morning in Council, I was pleased to welcome the 26^th Annual National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Conference to Hollywood. The Conference will be held in Hollywood from June 25 to 27.

Since 1976, NALEO has provided a forum for the Nation’s Leading Latino policymakers to collaborate, share resources, and discuss the issues that affect the Latino community. The 6,000 NALEO members hold some of the most important political offices in this country.

Los Angeles is home to one of the largest Latino communities in the country and NALEO’s Annual Conference could not have been held in a more fitting location this year.

Welcome to Hollywood, NALEO, and I hope you have time to enjoy some of the world class attractions in the neighborhood when you’re here!

The PAGE Project is collecting the following items to be distributed to rescue groups & individuals dedicated to animal welfare, including Brittany Foundation, BunnyLuv Rabbit Resource Center, Doberman Rescue Los Angeles, FixNation, German Shepherd Rescue Orange County, Pet Hope, PURRfect Solutions Feline Rescue, and Rottweiler Rescue:

• Clean used blankets, towels & sheets (bagged or boxed)
• Crates, carriers & kennels (all sizes)
• Dog & cat food – dry & canned (unopened)
• New & used collars, leashes & doggie sweaters
• Healthy treats & chew toys
• Frontline/Frontline Plus & Advantage
• Cleaning supplies & trash bags
• Cat litter (unopened)
• Gift cards & postage stamps

The collection will take place tomorrow (Saturday, June 20) from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Actors and Others for Animals parking lot off Beck (11523 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood).