 |
|
IN THIS ISSUE
CITY HALL UPDATE:
|
NEWS FROM AROUND THE DISTRICT:
|
Councilmember
Eric Garcetti |
A Word From Eric
Sometimes, one day encapsulates an entire year’s worth of work.
(Often the same day feels like a year’s worth of time.)
Last Wednesday was one of those days.
That morning, the City Council was to vote on adding the Red Car trestle footings to the City’s list of Historic and Cultural Monuments. The trestle footings are all that remain in CD13 of the Red Car line that moved early Angelenos across the City, setting the pattern for the expansive growth of our city before automobile culture took hold. They span a hill and short trail on a mile-long property above Riverside Drive. The property, an often-overlooked oasis of green space, is threatened with development, but the Council’s unanimous decision to list the trestle footings will give the City some leverage in protecting this reminder of our city’s struggles with mass transit. Community members worked long and hard on this designation, and it was thrilling to see their work—and our history—acknowledged.
In the same meeting, faced with a devastating budget crunch (which may be partially relieved – see Budget, below), my colleagues joined me to protect the Housing Trust Fund from falling prey to our necessary belt-tightening. The Trust Fund generates revenue for the city by leveraging additional state funds, and it's incredibly effective at doing so. And of course, housing construction creates high-wage jobs. Sacramento’s turning wheels are leaving local governments dizzy, but we’re hanging on to our most valuable weapon against the housing crisis, for now.
A short distance across downtown, the Community Development Department completed the last stages of their interviews and hired a citywide Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) coordinator. A family with one child earning under a threshold may apply for a tax credit that can exceed even the tax owed, putting money directly into lower-income families' pockets. By taking full advantage of the EITC, working families could bring millions f dollars more in tax refunds to their own households and thus into our local economy. Too often, we’ve left that opportunity by the wayside, believing that the federal government should be promoting its own program. (As it happens, the feds take the opposite path, and audit EITC filers at a higher rate than upper-income filers). This spring, E-News will have more on my comprehensive program to help families claim more of the federal, state and local family supports that are available from the cradle through college and into the workforce.
The Housing, Community and Economic Development Committee met that afternoon, for the last time in calendar year 2003. The agenda was full with items that my staff and I had been nurturing for the past year.
My proposal to create an Office of Immigrant Affairs (OIA) in the Mayor’s Office was first on the agenda to move forward. As welcoming as we try to be to immigrants, and as central as they are to our civic life, no governmental agency exists to bring them into public life in Los Angeles. (The INS hardly counts.) The OIA would coordinate and promote utilization of City services by resident immigrants and encourage their full and active participation in our City’s civic culture. We speak 100 languages in CD13. It’s the City’s job to listen to all of them, by providing comprehensive language abilities to help mainstream immigrants, much like similar bureaus already operating in Houston, New York City, and other large cities. This proposal, and its funding with federal block grant dollars, moved forward unanimously.
Next up was the SuperCenters ordinance. My work on this issue during the past year has led me to believe that the impact of Big Box grocery stores on our local economy could be so dire that the City must prohibit SuperCenters from opening up in our City’s Economic Assistance Areas, such as Community Redevelopment Areas and Empowerment Zones. For every job they create, SuperCenters like SuperWalMart or SuperTarget destroy two more. We pay a little bit less at the cash register but a lot more in public emergency health services and other forms of public assistance. And membership stores like Costco provide low prices and high wages. Voting 4 to 1, the Committee directed the City Attorney to write an ordinance banning big box stores that include full-service grocery in and around Economic Assistance Areas. We should see a law on the books by spring.
Lastly, the Committee struggled towards resolution on a policy for distributing our Community Development Block Grant funds. These federal funds historically have been apportioned piecemeal without sufficient attention to need and social justice. A formula based on need would add to our yearly allotment. Many community groups and valuable projects thrive on this funding source.
Policy work isn’t as immediate as a lot of the work we do out in the neighborhoods. Nurturing an economy doesn’t show up as fast as fixing a pothole. Running the City day to day takes constant energy and vigilance. But my service to the people of CD13 doesn’t stop when the trees are trimmed back. That would be letting you down.
Last Wednesday was one of the big days. I wish you and your family a wonderful season, and I’m eager to get back to work with you on all the big and little days of the New Year.
Happy Holidays,
Eric
P.S. I did all my holiday shopping in Hollywood, Silver Lake, Echo Park and Atwater Village. It is thrilling to visit locally-owned stores with no lines, handmade and unique items, and that give back to the neighborhood. Your local Chamber of Commerce can help you find the best local stores.  Councilmember Garcetti and partner Amy Wakeland offer holiday greetings from the Hollywood Farmer's Market.
***
Strike harp, join chorus: the ceremony to light up Los Angeles was held simultaneously at City Hall, Eagle Rock, Van Nuys and San Pedro.
Thank you to all the community members and local businesses who donated to this year's toy drive! We had enought toys to distribute to several organizations.
|
CITY HALL UPDATE:
Public Safety
On January 1, the City’s new alarm policy will go into effect. The new policy will continue the current practice of dispatching a patrol unit to a location for two false alarms in a 12-month period. (Verified alarms and robbery or panic alarms are not affected by this policy change.) After two false alarms in a single 12-month period, a patrol unit will not be dispatched unless the alarm is verified either by someone at the location or through remote electronic visual inspection, although the call will be broadcast over the police radio for available officers to respond to. Along with this change, the Police Commission has recommended that the City Council impose a penalty of $95 for the first false alarm in a year and an additional $50 for each subsequent alarm during that year. I still support Chief Bratton‘s analysis that we will have more officers on the streets and be safer in our neighborhoods if the LAPD does not respond to unverified alarms at all. But these recommendations are a fine compromise while we seek ways to expand those resources.
One thing that has been made abundantly clear by this issue and the Vehicle License Fee refund controversy at the State level (see Budget below) is that public safety is a social justice issue. Los Angeles has struggled for years with public safety, and the size of our force lags behind other large cities. I have discussed possible solutions in this space before, and I am continuing to address the issue with my colleagues as well as Chief Bratton and Sheriff Baca. Many see crime fighting as a "bread-and-butter" issue rather than a social justice concern, but to lose one's child in a drive-by shooting is an injustice as great as any other that government tries to address. And as with education and social needs, a lack of revenue is at the heart of this injustice.
Budget
Eric and his colleagues
announce a lawsuit over VLF funds
|
Three days ago, I voted with a majority of my colleagues to sue the State for the refund of Vehicle License Fee monies to local governments. Yesterday, Governor Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in order to refund the money. Let's be clear about one thing: this is local money that is collected by local governments for local needs. This money keeps fire stations staffed and ready, keeps police on the street, and keeps municipal services running. Let's be clear about another thing: round after round of robbing Peter to pay Paul is no long-term answer. This fight has pitted natural allies against one another. We must cut waste and inefficiency in government, but if we want to provide the kind of service that the public demands, we must to look at more responsible revenue sources than the political piñata of the VLF.
Housing
Lead paint in antiquated housing is still a major factor in developmental disabilities in young children, which is why I fought for the new lead inspection pilot program being offered in CD13 as well as in Council Districts 1, 9 and 14.
On an 11-4 vote, Council finally approved amendments to the Rent Stabilization Ordinance that would prohibit evictions for major rehabilitation work. Landlord groups and renters' groups collaborated on final language that allows an up-to-10% rent increase over two years but protects people from illegal evictions.
I appeared at Blessed Sacrament Church in Hollywood to report to the Hollywood Interfaith Sponsoring Committee, along with Deputy Mayor for Housing Sarah Dusseault, on the progress CD13 has made towards creating 500 new units of affordable housing. We're well on our way to 595 units in Hollywood, with more on the way in other parts of the district, and we won't stop there—or ever—until all Angelenos have access to safe, decent and sanitary housing.
Neighborhood Empowerment
Our office continues to host leadership trainings for community members, recently facilitating a seminar for 22 members of the Congolese Community of Southern California.
Human Rights
On the last day that Council met in 2003, Council voted to implement the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. CEDAW's objective is to identify and eliminate discrimination in employment practices, budget allocation and in the provision of direct and indirect services to residents of the city. Women and girls in Los Angeles must have equal opportunity and rights, whether in our recreational facilities, as employees of our City, or in the way crimes such as rape and sexual assault are addressed by our police force.
On the same day that Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan addressed the City Council, we passed a resolution urging the United States to lend its support to the International Criminal Court. The Court, which garnered support from President Clinton but had that support rescinded by President Bush, began operating out of the Hague earlier this year, and the United States’ refusal to legitimize it is an international black eye. Hopefully Washington will hear our voice as it joins the many calling for full U.S. participation and recognition.
Eric speaks to striking workers
|
The UFCW strike continues on through the holidays. I was proud to join a rally attended by AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, UFCW International President Doug Dority, and thousands of local union members supporting a fair contract for striking and locked out workers. Many question why union members have fought so hard for their health benefits. In contract after contract, union members have sacrificed raises to protect those benefits, so it's no surprise that they would take a stand right now. For them to lose would mean greater hardship for all of us, as public health services pick up the burden that private corporations abandon. Send strikers some holiday cheer!
NEWS FROM AROUND THE DISTRICT: Atwater Village
Eric, Atwater Chamber of Commerce President Scott Hofman and local student Aaron light the tree |
I enjoyed the Atwater Chamber of Commerce’s annual Holiday Tree Lighting on Glendale Boulevard. I saw at least two hundred people there, including retired longtime Atwater branch librarian Joan Avery, visiting us from Oregon.
North Atwater Village’s Cristo Rey Church is nearly complete with a new parking lot. A tree-planting event was held last weekend with nine trees donated by Tree People. Thanks!
The new residential development on Perlita Avenue, after much compromise and many community hearings, will go forward. This project combines much needed housing construction with respect for the aesthetics of the neighborhood, and represents hard work and vision by a number of community members. We will continue to work with the property owner and interested neighbors to resolve outstanding design and site planning issues. Again, thanks to everyone for your input and hard work.
Glassell Park
The Fletcher/Estara Field at Washington Irving Middle School will be getting a little more exciting! Active play has been approved. The park is a "joint-use project" shared by the School District and the City, and the competing regulations and bureaucracies of the two organizations can slow us down. Fortunately, we were able to get some heads together and work out an agreement that—most importantly—puts the kids on the fields.
In a meeting between my office, the Autry National Center and the Southwest Museum, Southwest Museum Executive Director John Gray agreed to keep the Intertribal Marketplace at Southwest, instead of moving it to the Autry. The Marketplace is a great event for communities of the Northeast, and I'm pleased that it's not going anywhere.
Glassell Park Neighborhood Council held its elections for a new Executive Board. Helene Schpak will be Chair again next year. A representative from LAUSD announced that the advocacy by Helene and others has won a decision to fund a new high school in the area. Now that’s people power!
Drew/Estara property owners met with Neighborhood Prosecutor Jeanne Kim, Jerry Carrapia from the Los Angeles Housing Department and Detective Bob Lopez. This coalition of apartment building managers will be a powerful force in Neighborhood Watch and other neighborhood improvements.
Echo Park
We’re going after the big stuff. By focusing on the area south of Sunset between Glendale and Alvarado and the 101 freeway in addition to the usual Echo Park Avenue corridor, we were able to clear the streets of bulky items. It’s the little things that count, especially the big little things.
The Echo Park Christmas Parade braved the rain last Sunday and drew quite a crowd! In case you thought you saw me leaning out of a City car, that was actually one of my deputies. I was at a government conference out of town, but congratulations to everyone.
Historic Filipinotown
The Eskuela Kultura program, coordinated by Fil Am Arts and SIPA, brings together Filipino and Latino middle school students from Hi-Fi. It provides the students creative venues to address various issues such as race relations, gangs, and drugs through the arts. The students' exhibit of their artwork at our office was only the most recent of many cultural programs and art shows we host, and it was one of the best!
Silver Lake
We don’t all have to get up with the sunrise anymore. After numerous complaints came in to our office, Animal Control has addressed the problem of crowing roosters in the vicinity of Vendome and Dillon. Now, if only they could answer that question about the chicken and the egg…
East Hollywood and Hollywood
At a great meeting about the new park under construction near Madison and Middlebury, the Bureau of Engineering presented the design, and community members suggested potential park names. "Madison West" is the running favorite, and many favored including a memorial to local activist and Rampart Ranger leader Geoff Saldivar.
Over 200 families participated in the Turkey Give-Away with the Los Angeles Sparks and Lakers at People Assisting the Homeless.
Cleaning up Carlton Street with Fran & friends |
The Franklin Hollywood Hills Neighborhood Association sponsored a community clean-up. Thanks!
ABC picked up Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show for another season. Normally, e-News doesn’t contain TV listings, but by broadcasting from the historic Masonic building next to El Capitan, Jimmy’s show helps revitalize Hollywood Boulevard.
The legendary Mr. Kimmel was recently seen in comparatively less glamorous circumstances. He was one of many to address the CRA board in favor of the Legacy/Gatehouse project at Hollywood and Vine. The Board and now the Council passed the operating agreement for the project, which includes apartments, housing and a W hotel! The project comes with ample benefits for the community: jobs in construction and operation will be union and living-wage, and the developer will make contributions toward arts education at Hollywood High and towards healthcare access and career training.
Putting the finishing touches on a crosswalk light. |
Los Angeles Department of Transportation General Manager Wayne Tanda, Kerry Morrison from the Hollywood BID, Joel Fisher of the Hollywood United Neighborhood Council, and Rick Beltz and Todd Lindgren from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce joined me to light up a crosswalk on Vine Street north of Hollywood Boulevard, near the Avalon and Capitol Records. Clubgoers, you are safer now.
Alas, that was one of Todd's last appearances with the Hollywood Chamber. Mayor Hahn has hired him to direct operations in the North Valley. Hollywood's loss is the City's great gain. As the Chamber's legislative director, Todd worked on dozens of initiatives and projects with my office and was a great resource for businesses in the 13th District.
UPCOMING EVENTS
If you’ve been involved with development issues in your neighborhood, you may have met my planning deputy Alison Becker. Well, her trade secrets may soon be yours! Alison is offering a community course in "Planning 101" in January. Sign up now for a seminar in land-use law in Los Angeles.
Cormorants, ring-necked ducks, ruddy ducks, American wigeons, blue herons, great egrets, Canada geese, gulls and more! On Sunday, January 4, 2004 at 8 am, for the fourth year, birders will be counting the birds at Echo Park Lake in the 104th Christmas Bird Count, conducted internationally. The Count helps determine the health of local and migratory bird populations. Bring a pair of binoculars and a bird book or just show up at the Echo Park Lake Boathouse. $5 per person. Make checks payable to National Audubon Society. Call Judy Raskin at (323) 663-6767 or send an email to jayebea@earthlink.net.
Block party in Historic Filipinotown this weekend! There will be a toy giveaway as well at the party on Lake Street between Court Street and Beverly Boulevard at 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 20th. Join us!
"The Inspired Vessel" exhibit will be on display from Dec. 14 to Feb. 15, 2004 at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery in Barnsdall Park. This extraordinary exhibition focuses on the vessel as a way to explore the diversity of contemporary artistic expression. The display includes vessels from the Gloria and Sonny Kamm collection and works by Ralph Becerra, Daniel Clayman, Dale Chihuly, Dan Dailey, Cindy Kolodziejski, David Regan, Adrian Saxe and Aiko Takamori.
CONTACT US
Tell us what you think. ..... garcetti@council.lacity.org
Councilmember Eric Garcetti represents the Thirteenth Council District, which includes all or part of the communities of Glassell Park, Atwater Village, Elysian Valley, Echo Park, Historic Filipinotown, Silver Lake, East Hollywood and Hollywood.
Councilmember Garcetti serves as Assistant President Pro Tempore of the Los Angeles City Council. He chairs the Council‘s Housing, Community, and Economic Development Committee, is the Vice-Chair of the Environmental Quality and Waste Management Committee, and sits on the Information Technology and General Services and Budget and Finance Committees. He also sits on the Council‘s Ad Hoc Stadium Committee and the Ad Hoc Committee on the Los Angeles River.
Councilmember Garcetti and his staff can be reached via e-mail at garcetti@council.lacity.org or by mail or phone at City Hall, 200 N. Spring Street, Room 470, Los Angeles, CA 90012, (213) 473 7013 and 3525 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90026, 323/913-4693.
www.cd13.com
| | | |
