LA Spin
Don't take Oscar for granted
A recent editorial took the City of Los Angeles to task for the $1 million in fees and costs it waived for the Academy Awards, especially during a time of budget constraints.
It argued the City should not waive fees for profit-making companies, and stated "the truth is, Hollywood's biggest annual show isn't going anywhere, and the Academy knows it."
Not so fast.
One need only look so far as the Grammys, the entertainment industry's other major awards show, to see that moving the awards ceremony and all of the related economic boon to local businesses and our LA economy to a city other than Los Angeles is not only possible, it's been done before.
In any business, a $1 million investment that helps generate $122.5 million in economic impact for the region is a smart investment. Insisting otherwise is shortsighted, even foolish. No one could say with a straight face that similar expenses related to other events that focused the world's eyes on LA, such as the 1984 LA Olympics or a future Super Bowl, would be wasteful.
The City will continue to make tough choices when it comes to the budget, but would be ill-advised to take its signature event for granted. As the saying goes, you have to spend money to make money and, in this case, the City's investment paid off for local businesses and taxpayers.
Keep OurLA Safe
Home Fire Safety Tips
Install Smoke Alarms
Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home. Test it monthly, keep it free of dust, and replace the battery at least once a year. Replace alarm itself every ten years.
Prevent Electrical Fires
Never overload circuits or extension cords. Do not place cords and wires under rugs, over nails, or in high traffic areas. Immediately shut off and unplug appliances that sputter, spark, or emit an unusual smell. Have them professionally repaired or replaced.
Use Appliances Wisely
Overheating, unusual smells, shorts and sparks are all warning signs that appliances need to be shut off, replaced, or repaired. Unplug appliances when not in use. Use safety caps to cover all unused outlets, especially if there are small children in the home.
Keep Heaters Safe
Keep anything combustible at least three feet away from portable heaters. Keep fire in the fireplace. Use fire screens and have your chimney cleaned annually. Kerosene heaters should be used only where approved by authorities. Never use gasoline or camp-stove fuel. Refuel outside and only after the heater has cooled.
Install Affordable Home Fire Safety Sprinklers
When home fire sprinklers are used with working smoke alarms, your chances of surviving a fire are greatly increased. Sprinklers are affordable - they can increase property value and lower insurance rates.
Plan Your Escape
Practice an escape plan from every room in the house. Caution everyone to stay low to the floor when escaping from fire and never to open doors that are hot. Select a location where everyone can meet after escaping the house. Get out, then call for help.
Caution your Children
Children under five are naturally curious about fire. Many play with matches and lighters. Tragically, children set over 20,000 house fires every year. Take the mystery out of fire play by teaching your children that fire is a tool, not a toy.
OurLA...Featuring
200 million for Affordable Housing
The Mayor announced a $50.6 million investment from the affordable housing trust fund, the largest award of funding for affordable housing in the City's history.
Since each dollar from the City will leverage $3 more from public and private sources, this announcement represents a more than $200 million investment in affordable housing for the City of Los Angeles.
The money will go toward the construction of 14 affordable housing projects – 687 affordable housing units.
Since taking office, Mayor Villaraigosa fully funded the affordable housing trust fund for the first time in history at $100 million and has committed to keeping the fund fully funded at $100 million every year.
To read the press release, click here.
OurLA...Featuring
The Inherited Deficit
Earlier this month, the Mayor made his first presentation about the City's 2006-2007 budget.
One-time fixes used by the City to pay its bills over time, coupled with unforeseen events such as 9-11, the dot.com bust, the state raid on local revenue, and the increased cost of wage and health benefits, has resulted in a deficit of $295 million, which the Mayor inherited on the day he took office.
By spending reserves and deferring expenses, the City has been living beyond its means for too long.
The Mayor is committed to using his first budget to change this course by proposing a budget that begins to eliminate the inherited deficit, while investing in essential services our taxpayers need, such as additional police officers and other basic City services. He has pledged to eliminate the City's deficit within five years.
To read the Mayor's speech on the inherited deficit, click here.
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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? In February, we put the question to the fourth and fifth graders of Vaughn Next Century Learning Center, a public charter school in Pacoima. In the last newsletter, we put the question to you, the readers of OurLA newsletter. Here's what people say:
The Mayor's Top Three Priorities Should Be:
OurLA Readers
1.Improve Traffic and Transportation
2.Improve Education
3.Increase Affordable Housing
Vaughn Elementary School Students
1.Prepare LA for 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
Is it about time to fix the LAUSD? Please answer the online survey.
It's OurLA
Looking for a way to make your mark in OurLA? Start today by participating in one of the ways below.
Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa presents "BIG Sunday '06", LA's Annual Day of Service. To be a part of the citywide effort, contact Gabriela Ortiz via email or telephone at 213-978-0645 for more information.
Are you an employer who could use an extra hand this summer? Offer a summer job to a local youth, part of our summer youth job program. The job should be for a minimum of six weeks during the summer months. Help in the drive to provide work opportunities for the City's young adult population. Contact Robert Sainz at (213) 744-9051 or via email.
Volunteer for the Cesar Chavez Walk on April 1, 2006. Contact Gabriela Ortiz for more information.
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.
A Tribute to the Legacy of Archbishop Oscar A. Romero: "26th Anniversary of His Martyrdom"
March 24, 2006, 11am – 1pm
City Hall Rotunda
200 N. Spring Street, 3rd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90012
For more information, please call (213) 485-3451
LAPD/LAFD Women's Recruitment Expo
March 26, 2006, 8am – 4pm
Los Angeles Police Academy, Elysian Park
1880 N. Academy Road
Los Angeles, CA 90012
For information, please call (866) 444-LAPD
The Tree: a new opera
March 30 – April 16, 2006
The Los Angeles Theater Center
514 S. Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Tickets are $30.
For tickets, call (323) 226-1230 or click here
Cesar Chavez Walk
April 1, 2006, 8am
Historic Olvera Street
125 Paseo de la Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012
For more information, please call (323) 722-0118
Scholastic Hoops Jam: "Youth Leadership Skills on and off the Court"
April 10, 2006, 12:30pm
STAPLES Center
1111 S. Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015
For more information, please call: (310) 715-9300
Denim Day in LA: "Rape Prevention Education Campaign that Raises Community Awareness about the Devastating Impacts of Sexual Violence"
April 19, 2006
To register your participation in Denim Day in LA, please call (800) NO-RAPE-8 or go to www.denimdayinla.org
2nd Annual City of Los Angeles 5K Run/Walk for Victim's Rights
April 23, 2006, 7:45am
Exposition Park (near Gate 19)
700 State Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90037
100% of the proceeds will benefit City and County of Los Angeles community-based organizations who provide services to victims of crime in the areas of domestic violence, sexual assault, gun violence and hate crimes.
For more information and to register go to www.larun4victimsrights.com
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