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IN THIS ISSUE
CITY HALL UPDATE:
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NEWS FROM AROUND THE DISTRICT:
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Councilmember
Eric Garcetti |
A Word From Eric
A lot of the talent in Los Angeles migrates here from somewhere else. Even the Lakers still carry a name from Minnesota (the Land of 10,000 Lakes).
But the local art group the Silverlakers are homegrown by CD13, and named for one of its neighborhoods (with a wink at the NBA team, of course).
Eric and the Silverlakers meet | I got to meet the Silverlakers last month at the White House Primary Center near 3rd and Vermont for the unveiling of their latest mural. Later, by phone, they unveiled their philosophy to the e-News.
"We're an informal group of artists, actors, and writers, neighbors in and around Silver Lake. In the last couple of years, we've proven Margaret Mead's famous quote: 'Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world—in fact, it's the only thing that has,'" said James Gerard Etue, a co-founder of the group. "That may be a little grandiose, but we can certainly change the city."
"Driving us are two ideas: that public art must be made to serve the greatest common good, and that the greatest common good can be found in the greatest common need. We can let the youth of our city spiral into self-destruction or we can offer them self-expression."
"As the city helps enable self-expression among our young, we offer an alternative to self-destruction. We offer them pride in their place, schools, neighborhoods, in their own murals."
James tells kids about art careers | And what murals those are! The Silverlakers' work at White House, like their other projects, was lively and beautiful. Recently, I've been working on reducing graffiti in the district. Had they had problems with defacing their murals?
"Quality finds its own respect," said James. "At Logan Street, hardly any painting has occurred on the mural, although there is graffiti around it."
The Silverlakers' co-founder Yuriko is a professional artist, but the murals are a labor of love for them. They receive funds from the Neighborhood Matching Grant, city funds that the Silverlakers then match with sweat equity and professional services. In his daily life, James Gerard gives corporate presentations on technology; other members include actress Amy Hill, who appeared in The Cat in the Hat, and writer Geoffrey Sharp.
Eric meets a future Silverlaker | Throughout the process of working on the murals, the Silverlakers meet the children and show them, through interactions and presentations, that they can find in art not only spiritual nourishment but also careers. "We get their hands wet with paint, and we whet their appetites for fine art. We bring out a box full of artists' tools, and we try to open their eyes to where artists are working right now: as illustrators, as cartoonists."
James spoke of his own artistic inspirations: Picasso, for his vision; Diego Rivera, for his courage. He also mentioned one non-painter: Walt Whitman. "He spoke so eloquently about the diversity and the richness of his city."
Meanwhile, the Silverlakers add to the diversity and the richness of our own. Don't just see their work here or on their website—go see them in your community. And if you have a little Silverlaker in you, either join them or ask my office about how to use the city's Neighborhood Matching Funds to make your own mark on your own neighborhood.
Best,
Eric
From left: Geoffrey Sharp, Jenny and Jeff Durling, Amy Hill, Yuriko, Public Works' Juliet Bae, Eric and James Gerard Etue,
Odds and ends: Robert Stewart's photographs of downtown, taken over the course of a sunset, hang at our field office in Silver Lake. Try this optical illusion. Doctor suggests that a yucky habit is good for you. Tell me your zip code and I will tell you who you are. Compare Los Angeles's MTA system to those of the rest of the world. Also, blogging.la has been blogging CD13.
CITY HALL UPDATE
Public Safety
A hearty welcome goes out to Captain Morris "Mo" T. Smith, the new Captain of Northeast Division. Captain Smith has lived in Southern California since 1951, when he moved with his parents from Mississippi. He has served with the LAPD since 1973, and served in many different divisions, wearing many different hats. In South Traffic Division, he oversaw a staff of 126 sworn and 8 civilian personnel; he comes to us from the Southwest Area Community Police Station, where he was the commanding officer. I look forward to working with him on projects in the CD13 communities he serves, including most of Silver Lake, Echo Park, Elysian Valley, Atwater Village, Glassell Park and Elysian Valley.
Those projects include my new, district-wide plan to cut graffiti in half in CD13: Uniting Neighbors to Abolish Graffiti (UNTAG). The program will be fully unveiled next month, but if you are interested in becoming an UNTAG volunteer, let District Director Ana Guerrero know.
Budget
The coming weeks should result in many cues, clues and controversies about next year's budget. The Mayor has planned a series of roll-out events to announce the budget, which he prepares and sends to the Council. Since we're looking at a budget gap in the hundreds of millions, it's clear that many people will be unhappy. Our challenge will be to make cuts equitably and maintain a high level of service.
Housing
An Inclusionary Zoning policy |
A key component of solving our housing crisis is coming to a vote soon. With Councilmember Ed Reyes, I have proposed an Inclusionary Zoning Policy that would require developers of market-rate housing to include units targeted at lower-income families. Incentives would go to developers to make the creation of housing easier. This proposal has been simmering through a year of public hearings and economic studies, and I'm pleased that it is rounding the legislative bases, with plenty of opportunities taken and lying ahead for comment. In the end, I believe we can cut red tape and address the housing crisis.
Sarah Dusseault | I was saddened to learn that Sarah Dusseault, Mayor Hahn's Deputy Mayor for Housing, has decided to leave service in City Hall. Sarah has been the kind of public servant we need in Los Angeles: someone who had a vision for housing in Los Angeles and who knew how to implement that vision. From her work on helping protect the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to helping pioneer innovative mixed-use housing developments in the city, she has overseen a period of dramatic turnaround in the housing outlook in our city. I will miss her, but her legacy can already be seen in more livable communities throughout Los Angeles.
With Mayor Hahn, I announced that the Housing Trust Fund would be protected and expanded in the 2004-5 fiscal year. See Hollywood, below.
Economic Development
Business tax reform has momentum! Councilmember Wendy Greuel and I, with the support of VICA and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, introduced a tax plan this week that would cut taxes for businesses by up to 25% over 5 years. It would give the most relief to targeted industries that create jobs. We have been building on the hard work of the Business Tax Advisory Committee, who are united with us in the quest for a simpler, fairer tax system for people creating jobs in Los Angeles. Stay tuned!
Joy Chen, Free Cash for College | Joy Chen, the Deputy Mayor for Workforce Development, has done a great job leading the Mayor's efforts on workforce development and expanding access to the CalGrants program through Free Cash for College. Joy has been a creative force in government and a key ally in forming the $1 million Healthcare Career Ladder. I was pleased to learn that although she will leave the Mayor's office to pursue opportunities in the private sector, she will continue to consult with the Workforce Investment Board on job training.
Open Space and the Environment
Did you see the Los Angeles Times story about tree waste in landfills? Los Angeles is a leader in recycling and reusing tree waste, devoting 100% of it to wood chips and compost for landscape projects. Palm fronds can't be included in this process, but Professor Jonas Haupman at Sci-Arc has designed a material that makes something like particleboard out of them. You can see furniture made from the material at Yolk on Silver Lake Boulevard.
Neighborhood Empowerment
My admiration goes out to the neighborhood councils for their impressive showing in demanding accountability from the Department of Water and Power regarding the proposed rate hike. Almost everyone recognizes that after a decade of no rate increases, we will have to change our rates in the upcoming year, but the councils have taught DWP lessons in transparency and democracy. Special thanks to Rusty Millar of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council, a key figure in the citywide action around this issue.
CD13's famous Leadership Institute is offering another session on building power on your block! Join us April 27th at 6pm for a workshop with other community leaders and folks who want to make a difference. If you're interested, you can read more about the leadership institute here and sign up here.
Cable and Technology
Although the Bresee Foundation hooked-up the first Wi-Fi park in Los Angeles, our first publicly provided Wi-Fi project has been announced for the Marvin Braude Service Center in the valley. I have asked the Information Technology Agency to look at setting up a demonstration project in a pedestrian-oriented district such as Glendale Boulevard in Atwater Village. What public facilities—parks, libraries, etc.—would you go to for Wi-Fi access if it became available?
Human Rights
Eric with Calista Flockhart, Harrison Ford, and LACAAW Board President Robbie Rutstein. |
I attended an event with Calista Flockhart, Harrison Ford, Los Angeles Commission on Assault Against Women Board President Robbie Rutstein and many others to promote April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and to recognize Denim Day coming up this April 21st. Denim Day was invented to protest myths and misconceptions around rape. It refers specifically to the ruling of a judge in Italy who said that a rape could not have taken place because the victim wore jeans, which could not be removed without her consent. Wear jeans on April 21st.
Mayor signs legislation | By recognizing the consular I.D.'s of foreign nationals, banks like Wells Fargo, Washington Mutual and Bank of America have added more than $2 billion into our local economy. Now the city has announced a policy for recognizing the consular I.D. cards of foreign nationals. With this program, based on the success of the Mexican matriculas consulares, the City Clerk's office will set up standards for security that will permit cardholders to use their consulate-issued cards to open an account at the library, show I.D. in City Hall, and access other public services.
NEWS FROM AROUND THE DISTRICT:
Atwater Village
At the annual Atwater Village Town Hall three weeks ago, I spoke to and answered questions from a crowd of concerned and active residents. Special thanks to the Atwater Village Residents Association for hosting such a spectacular community event. I was back in Atwater Village last week to see the Neighborhood Council as well. For more on CD13's activities in Atwater Village, download "What's Happening in Atwater Village" from our website.
Pink Trumpet Tree | The Warner Brothers Green Scene and the Friends of Atwater Village brought out some 200 people for a day full of community improvement, including a clean-up and the planting of a great Tabebuia ipe or Pink Trumpet Tree in a planter on the new bump-out sidewalk at the corner of Glendale and Madera.
The new traffic light at the intersection of Madera and Glendale came at our request, as part of our district-wide traffic improvement program.
Through the DWP Public Benefit allocation process, I was able to set aside $250,000 for lighting improvements in Atwater Village. Three new streetlights have been installed and wattage upgrades were made to all the existing lights in North Atwater Village. Now we're working with the Bureau of Street Lighting on a proposed project to design and install 17 new streetlights on Acresite, Greensward, and Ferncroft.
Glassell Park
Thanks for the help, commissioner | I had a special guest for my neighborhood walk in Glassell Park this month: Public Works Commissioner Cynthia Ruiz. While I'll save the details of the walk for the Neighborhood Council Special Report later this month, I want to acknowledge the work that Commissioner Ruiz has put in for CD13. She is a dedicated problem solver who is willing to think "outside of the box." She is currently working with my office to find solutions to such complex problems as the day laborer situation at the Home Depot in Hollywood and the homeless encampment on Silver Lake Boulevard under the Sunset Boulevard Bridge. She is also helping to coordinate various city divisions under Public Works jurisdiction (i.e., Street Services, Street Trees, Bureau of Street Lighting) to implement a series of beautification projects throughout the District.
About 50 stakeholders attended the Glassell Park Neighborhood Council Traffic Seminar on March 25th, filling up Fletcher Elementary School's cafeteria. Speakers included Martha Stevenson from the Department of Transportation, motorcycle traffic police officer Michael Belmonte, the Bureau of Street Service's John Supone, George Mossman from the Department of Animal Services, and John Ross, Jr. from Sanitation. The experts took on Glassell's toughest traffic problems, like Avenue 40 and Eagle Rock Boulevard, and announced the forthcoming prohibition of left turns into the Rite Aid.
In other transportation news, DOT approved another all-way stop at Aguilar and York and yet another at Avenue 31 and Division Street. Look for them soon!
The Proposition 12-funded project to redo two soccer practice fields is nearly complete. The grass that was planted has sprouted and taking hold. In about 4 weeks, the fence will come down and soccer play can begin on the new fields! The playground equipment is on order and should be installed within that same time frame.
The Glassell Park Chamber of Commerce held its second mixer, this time at Glassell Park's newest business, Arbor Plus, a company that specializes in heavy-duty garden and tree care equipment. The company was founded by Tony Macias, who was honored last year by the Department of Public Works as one of the outstanding community volunteers in the city. Tony and his crew often work in the community taking care of trees during community clean-ups and tree maintenance efforts. Congratulations!
Mt. Washington
While I no longer represent Mt. Washington, I was proud to help contribute to the creation of a community center that the community had wanted for so long a time. This Friday, April 16th, the Jack and Denise Smith Library and Community Center will be dedicated at 1:30 p.m. During my first year in office, before the redistricting process that removed Mt. Washington from CD13, I fought to make sure this community center was built, and navigated its funding through tricky budgetary waters.
Jack Smith wrote for the Los Angeles Times from 1958 until two weeks before his death in 1996. He captured the character of Los Angeles as it was being born during the great boom years following World War II. As a lifelong defender of L.A. to those who thought us vacuous and sun-baked, he would surely be pleased to lend his name to a library. I visited his wife Denise, a passionate advocate of community participation in her own right, the week before she passed away, and she expressed her gratitude to all who had worked on opening the center. She will be honored with Jack.
Elysian Valley
Gloria Moya, Pioneer Woman | I presented Gloria Moya as a "Pioneer Woman" before the City Council on March 26. Gloria is one of the founders of Elysian Valley United, the volunteer organization that has kept its doors open for the youth of Elysian Valley for the past decade. She sits on the board of the Elysian Valley Riverside Neighborhood Council and is its Treasurer. She's also a treasure of CD13.
The number-one concern mentioned when I went door-knocking in Elysian Valley was the need for left-turn signalization at Fletcher and Riverside. Last week, we found out that the Department of Transportation had approved our request for a signal! Our next step is to push DOT for installation date.
Eric welcomes Jardineros | Thank you to all who came out to Jardin del Rio's grand opening last Saturday, and to everyone who made sure that the project bore fruit! This community garden on Riverdale Street will soon be overflowing with summer's bounty. There's a waiting list for new gardeners; let Field Deputy Mitch O'Farrell know if you want to get on the list.
Echo Park
The clean-up at Echo Park Avenue and Delta Street went great! We hauled away more than 100 bags of trash. Thank you to the Echo Park Neighborhood Council for organizing this event!
Amazing kids in Echo Park! | I had the immense honor of hosting the students of Elysian Heights Elementary School in council. As dedicated e-News readers know, Elysian Heights is one of only two schools in California to win the 2004 National Title I Distinguished Schools Recognition Award. Study the picture to the right very closely—you might find a future CD13 Councilmember somewhere in it!
LAPD has been very successful in making gang-related arrests in Echo Park recently. They have been especially focused on the Crazies.
Not a belly-itcher in the bunch! | I got to throw out the first pitch at Opening Day for the Northeast Little League! It was my second first pitch since taking office, and I have to say, it was the most fun yet. (But the second best hot dogs—sorry, I'm a big fan of the Dodger Dog.)
The Dodger job fair was a big success! Together, we brought over 125 companies and non-profits to Dodger Stadium for the job fair. In years past, job seekers have averaged about 2,500. This year was no different, as U.S. Representatives, state elected officials and Councilmembers Reyes, Villaraigosa, and I welcomed them.
Phase I of the Glendale Boulevard Improvement Project is underway. Crews from the Department of Transportation are working on signal-related improvements, currently on intersections south of Temple.
Historic Filipinotown
Coffee at Sunny's | 20 people joined me at Sunny Zapanta's house for cupcakes, coffee and talk in Hi-Fi where we discussed the issues facing the neighborhood such as alley closures, preferential parking, graffiti and crime. After the 1996 death of a pedestrian at Beverly and Vendome, Sunny fought for a "smart crosswalk" to be installed there, facing 3 years of beating back multiple denials from the city. He never gave up, and finally he won the crosswalk. It was an honor to be hosted by such a community leader.
Now that we've secured funding for the Veteran's Memorial in Lake Street Park, it's time to find an artist to design it! Veteran Peping Baclag has been consulting with our office every step of the way. If you want information about the call for artists, please contact Field Deputy Joe Bernardo.
On April 17th, come to the community clean-up on Lake Street! Field Deputy Marcela Lucero has more.
Silver Lake
The 2nd Annual Silver Lake Easter Promenade took place last Saturday, April 10th near Sunset Junction. The event, co-sponsored by the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council, the LA Alternative Press, the Silver Lake Chamber of Commerce and Park2ParkLA.com, brought bonnet-wearing throngs out to shop locally. Also, check out Economic Development above, where the Silver Lake Chamber came out to support business tax reform.
SLIA meeting, photo by Kurt Rademaekers | I thank the Silver Lake Improvement Association for hosting me at its annual meeting. It was terrific to be able to reflect on what the organization has accomplished in its 14 years. Read the write-up of the evening at www.park2parkla.com!
We're only a couple of months away from the beginning of work on the Silver Lake Reservoir path!
The Silver Lake Beautification Day event at Laurel & Hardy Park on Vendome Street attracted an estimated two hundred people who collected at least one hundred bags of trash! Consolidating bulky items on street corners made pick-up by the Sanitation Department easier the following week. New plantings at the Gateway by the 101 have also brightened up the area. Thanks to the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council and the Silver Lake Chamber of Commerce for organizing the cleanup.
East Hollywood
I will be speaking in the auditorium at Virgil Middle School on April 22nd about public safety concerns in East Hollywood. Field Deputy Marcela Lucero has more information.
I joined the Catalina Kenmore association for a house coffee at the renovated home of Bonnie Buckmore. 15 people showed up to talk about their concerns for the area, such as getting a stop sign at Kenmore and First Street, streetside car repairs, and building positive relationships between tenants and landlords. House coffees are great ways to engage in a discussion and generate ideas about community improvement. If you'd like to host one, please contact District Director Ana Guerrero.
After walking the neighborhood on Berendo near Santa Monica and Lexington, I heard the plea for new sidewalks. They have been completed, making the area nicer to look at and safer as well.
Thai Festival | The Thai Street Festival and the Volvo bicycle race both happened on Hollywood Boulevard at the same time. It actually turned out quite well. Thanks to bicyclists and festival organizers for creating a unique CD13 moment.
Hollywood
I will see you at the Community Police Advisory Board meeting on May 25th. I look forward to a good discussion with Captain Downing, CPAB chair Gary Minzer and others about UnTAG and other issues of concern. Contact Field Deputy Baydsar Thomasian if you are interested in attending.
On March 25th, the Department of Recreation and Parks presented designs for Lexington Park II to interested community members. Complementing toddler-friendly Lexington Park I, the park will be designed for middle-schoolers, offering a full-size basketball court and swing-sets.
Soon to be Walgreens and housing | Mayor Hahn and I joined CRA board member Shu Kwan Woo, Helmi Hisserich, John McCoy and Kip Rudd from the Hollywood CRA project area, and the developers of the Sunset and Western "Views at 270" affordable housing project to announce that affordable housing production would steam ahead in fiscal year 04-05, with a fully-funded affordable Housing Trust Fund. Money from the AHTF comes back to Los Angeles at a rate of 5 dollars for every dollar spent. It's a successful program that's worth protecting.
Do you think, like I do, that there's no better place than Hollywood for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences Museum to locate? Let Communications Deputy Josh Kamensky get you involved with our letter-writing campaign.
The YMCA teen center opened on April 3rd.
Rumors that the e-news editor missed Janet Jackson's visit to Hollywood Boulevard on April 2nd because of a wardrobe malfunction are entirely untrue.
Congratulations to Christie van Cleve and Michael Taylor, the outgoing and incoming Chairs of the Board of Directors of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. I attended the installation luncheon at which Rhonda Fleming, the star of Alfred Hitchcock's "Spellbound", was honored for her contribution to Hollywood.
UPCOMING EVENTS
This week, labor contracts expire for more than 4,000 Los Angeles hotel workers. If you have events coming up at a union hotel, you may want to ask for a labor-dispute cancellation clause. For more information on how to support fair wages and protect health benefits for workers in Los Angeles's tourism industry, contact Josh Kamensky in my office or Silvia Carranza at the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, (213) 381-5611.
Please join us for another session of Planning 101, this time in Hollywood. The setting is relevant because the Hollywood Community Plan update is coming up soon! To sign up for a nuts-and-bolts course presented by Dick Platkin, City Planner for the Neighborhood Council Unit of the Department of City Planning, among others, please contact CD13 Planning Deputy Alison Becker at 213 473 7013 or via e-mail.
KIWA, the Korean Immigrant Workers Advocates, will celebrate its 12th Anniversary on Friday, April 16th at Holman United Methodist Church. Striking workers from Assi Supermarket and from the grocery strike will be honored, and longtime Los Angles labor legend Peter Olney will deliver the keynote address. Contact vy@kiwa.org for more information.
Volunteers are needed for the International Pow Wow, a travel and tourism convention that will bring industry representatives from more than 70 countries to Los Angeles between April 23rd and 28th. If you're interested in serving as an ambassador to an event that will bring $300 million in economic to activity in the next 2-4 years, please contact jquezada@mayor.lacity.org
There's lots going on at Barnsdall Art Park and the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery. On Friday, April 16, at 7:30 p.m., another "Conversations with the Artists" event on the Political Landscape features artists Karen Kitchel, Constance Mallinson, Rebecca Niederlander, Rebecca Morales, and Phoebe Brunner. On Sunday, April 18, Political Landscape closes, so come see it soon! Next up are the COLA award-winning artists, whose show opens on Wednesday May 5th. Come to their reception on Sunday, May 9 from 2-5, with performances at 3 pm and 7 pm. The Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery (LAMAG) is located at 4800 Hollywood Blvd.; regular gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m., and from 12:00 noon to 9:00 p.m., on the first Friday of each month.
On April 24th, enjoy music, arts and crafts at the Festival of Childhood, creating a peaceful world in conjunction with the Day of the Child and International Spank-Out Day. At Echo Park United Methodist Church, 1226 Alvarado, from 1-4 pm. Free. (213) 484 6676 for more info.
The Department of Water and Power sends out a Neighborhood Newswire. http://209.116.252.214/newswire.html Check it out!
Are you ready for La Gran Limpieza? Come clean up the Los Angeles River http://folar.org/cleanup03.html with Friends of the Los Angeles River and its many neighborhood council co-sponsors! April 30th and May 1st at many sites. For more information call Clean Up coordinator Jill Hill at 562-591-5980.
Get your tee time online with the Department of Recreation and Parks. http://www.laparks.org/dos/golf/reservation.htm
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
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