During the last month in OurLA...

LA Spin
How have our schools failed thee? 
Let us count the ways...

There has been debate over the accuracy of the graduation rates cited by the Mayor, the Harvard Civil Rights Project ("Harvard Study"), LAUSD, the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES), and other sources.

Dropout rate aside, we hope these statistics make the case for dramatic change in the governance of our public schools.

1. In 2005, 86% of fourth graders were not proficient in reading.
2. In 2005, 87% of eighth graders were not proficient in reading.
3. In 2005, 81% of fourth graders were not proficient in math.
4. In 2005, 89% of eighth graders were not proficient in math.
5. In 2005, only 26% of 11^th graders were proficient in the English Language Arts.
6. 81% of middle school students are in schools that are failing.
7. 66% of high schools students are in schools that are failing.
8. 61% of 9th graders who took beginning algebra in fall of 2004 got Ds and Fs.
9. 97% of 10^th graders are not proficient in algebra.

and last, but not least,

   10.  In the 2004-05 school year, the school board 
         employed a staff of 112 and a budget of $14.6
         million.

Any questions?

Keep OurLA Green
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle...and Save Money!

Help the Mayor transform Los Angeles into the cleanest, greenest big city in America by following these tips:

Reduce your energy bill:
1. Set your thermostat to 65-68 degrees
2. Air-dry your clothes on a clothes line or drying rack
3. Insulate your water heater with an insulating jacket
4. Plant (free) shade trees, reducing heat gain in your house
5. Turn off lights when not needed

Save water:
1. Fix leaking faucets and toilets
2. Replace toilets with Ultra-Low-Flush ones, earn rebate!
3. Install high efficiency showerheads
4. Wash full loads of dishes and clothes
5. Take shorter showers
6. Turn off the water when brushing your teeth, washing dishes or shaving
7. Reduce or replace lawn with drought-tolerant plants

Reduce trash going into landfills:
1. Recycle used motor oil on February 25th
2. Compost yard and food waste
3. Recycle bottles, cans, cardboard and other recyclables

Keep OurLA Safe
Homeland Security and Disaster Preparedness Initiative

The Mayor, along with Police Chief Bratton, Fire Chief Bamattre, and members of the City Council announced an initiative that will fundamentally improve the City of Los Angeles' counter-terrorism intelligence coordination and disaster preparedness training and response capabilities.

The initiative will fund 83 additional personnel within the LAPD and the LAFD to enhance homeland security and disaster preparedness activities and staff a new "intelligence fusion center."

For more information, click here.

OurLA...Featuring
Poverty and Opportunity in America

In January, the Mayor traveled to Washington, D.C. to address the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Asked to chair a new Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity in America, he challenged the nation's leaders to change the terms of the debate around poverty.

In today's global economy, hard-working Americans, often working more than one job, are struggling to compete, succeed, and simply survive.

This meeting of the Task Force was an opportunity for the Mayor to call on other mayors to find the best ideas that are out there, without regard to party affiliation, to pull together an action-oriented effort to address the problem and to articulate a pragmatic, problem-solving agenda for change.

To read the Mayor's speech "A Poverty of Aspirations", click here.

What OurLA is thinking...
In January, we asked the entire first-year class of the USC Marshall School of Business - close to 200 students of leadership and ethics - What should the Mayor's priorities be? 

This time around, we put the same question to more than 200 fourth and fifth grade students attending Vaughn Next Century Learning Center, a public charter school in Pacoima.
Here's what the students say: 

The Mayor's Top Three Priorities Should Be:

Vaughn Elementary School Students
1.Prepare LA for an Emergency/Terrorist Attack
2.Increase Affordable Housing
3.Fight Homelessness

USC Graduate Students of Leadership and Ethics
1.Improve Traffic and Transportation
2.Improve Education
3.Increase Public Safety

Now it's time for you -  OurLA readers -  to have your say. Please take the survey and tell the Mayor what you think.

It's OurLA
Looking for a way to make your mark in OurLA?  Start today by participating in one of the activities below.

Volunteer for the Cesar Chavez Walk on April 1^st.  Contact Gabriela Ortiz for more information.

Beautify OurLA!  The next City-wide Day of Service is coming up on May 7, 2006.  Contact Gabriela Ortiz for more info.

Volunteer for the City's Crisis Response Team!  Please contact Jeff Zimerman at 213-978-0697 or via email to get involved.  The program is especially in need of people who speak Spanish or Korean.

Interested in interning for the Mayor's office, or giving tours of City Hall?  Contact Gabriela Ortiz, Director of Volunteer Services, for more information.

OurLA Events 
We hope you check out these events in OurLA over the next month.

Mayor Celebrates African-American Heritage Month
The Mayor welcomes you to church services on Sunday, February 26 in honor of African-American Heritage Month at First A.M.E. Church in South Los Angeles and at the City of Refuge in Gardena.  For more information, please call Danielle Lafayette at 213-978-0600.

2006 Cultural Dining Tour: "Celebrating L.A.'s Diverse Community through Food and Special Events"
February 6 - 26, 2006
Locations at participating restaurants throughout the City of Los Angeles.  Every meal ordered helps organizations supporting homeless individuals.  For information, please call: 310-566-7342

Forum for Community and Policy Makers: "Leadership Forum on High School Dropouts"
Wednesday, March 1, 2006
8:00am - 2:30pm
USC Davidson Conference Center
University Park Campus
Los Angeles, CA 90089

youThink Student Art Exhibit:  "Engaging Students in Contemporary Issues and Civic Action through Art"
February 8 - March 3, 2006
Los Angeles City Hall Bridge Gallery
200 N. Spring Street, 3rd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90012
For information, please call: 323-761-8987

LAPD Foothill Station Senior Lead Officer Drop In Center Grand Opening
Saturday, March 18, 2006
11am
Northa East Valley City Hall
7747 Foothill Boulevard
Tujunga, CA 91042
For information, please call: 818-352-3287

Byzantine Latino Quarter Foundation, St. Thomas the Apostle Church and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association: "Free Neighborhood Chamber Music Concert"
Monday, March 27, 2006
8:00pm
St. Thomas the Apostle Church
2760 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90006
For information, please call: 323-737-3325