Politics & Government

Englander E-News: Paving, Hit-and-Run, Crimes and More ...

This is the weekly City Council District 12 newsletter.

COUNCILMEMBER ENGLANDER'S E-NEWS
Jan. 11, 2013

Information About Proposed LA Street Repair Bond...

On Jan. 4, Councilmembers Mitchell Englander and Joe Buscaino proposed placing before voters a $3 billion General Obligation bond to repair and rebuild all the failed and poor condition streets in Los Angeles in 10 years.

Los Angeles' streets are in the worst condition of any major US city, costing vehicle owners about $750 in additional maintenance every year. Chronic under funding of street maintenance from the 1950's to 1990's led to the deterioration of 8,700 miles of city streets, that now must be completely reconstructed. Budget constraints only allow for a very small number of streets to be reconstructed every year. At the current rate of repair, it would take 60 years to reconstruct all 8,700 miles of failed streets.

Find out what's happening in Northridge-Chatsworthwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Once the backlog is gone and the failed streets are rebuilt, they can be slurry- sealed and maintained at a much lower cost, so the City will be able to maintain them in good condition on an ongoing basis. When they are reconstructed, they will be re-configured to improve traffic safety and traffic flow, will which will improve 911 response times. Improved crosswalks and implementation of bicycle master plan features will make the streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists as well.

The improvement to our streets will boost property values and generate jobs and economic benefit. The funds from the bond cannot go toward any other purchase than the designated street repair, and will be placed in a trust fund, with a Citizens Oversight Committee to ensure transparency and oversight.

Find out what's happening in Northridge-Chatsworthwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

There will be extensive outreach, including public meetings of the Public Works Committee across the different regions of the City of L.A., offering community members, Neighborhood Councils, businesses and community-based organizations to hear details, ask questions and give their input. 

The informational website has been put up with detailed information about the Los Angeles Emergency Local Street Safety and Traffic Improvement Measure.

The informational website has an FAQ page, a powerpoint presentation, and links to several studies and reports about the condition of LA streets and the
benefits of investing in infrastructure.

To see the website, click here.
To see the Daily News editorial click here.
 To see the L.A. Times editorial click here

Addressing The High Number of Hit-and-Runs in L.A...

As Chair of the Public Safety Committee, I seconded a motion by Councilmember Joe Buscaino last week requesting that the LAPD report to the Public Safety Committee on hit-and-run collisions on Los Angeles. The motion was in response to recent reports about the increasing numbers of hit-and-run collisions on pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists.

The report revealed that 48% of all reported vehicle collisions in the City were hit-and-runs, the highest rate in the nation. Of these, 4,000 resulted in the injury or death of the party abandoned at the crime scene.

We must do everything possible to keep our streets safe for all. The motion asks the Police Department to report to the Public Safety Committee about what efforts they are undertaking to curtail hit-and-run collisions and report on what additional resources, if any, would help reduce the number of these incidents in the City. Click here to see the motion.

- Mitchell Englander, Councilmember, Twelfth District

LAPD Releases 2012 Crime Statistics...

On Jan. 7, the LAPD released its year-end citywide crime statistics for 2012, showing that overall, crime has continued to decline in the City for 10 years. The City has seen a 39% drop in homicides since in 2005 . Serious crimes such as homicide, rape, burglary and theft in 2012 were also down 19% compared with 2005.

Total violent crimes in 2012 were 8.2% lower than in 2011 and 40.2% lower than in 2005. Total property crimes were up .2% over 2011, but were still lower 23.6% lower than in 2005. To see the LAPD 2012 Crime Snapshot report, visit http://tiny.cc/kjgmqw.

The men and women of the LAPD who protect and serve our community every day have our deep gratitude and admiration.

Welcoming a New Business to Our Community - Humble Bee Bakery...

We were proud to welcome a new business to the Council District 12 Community - Humble Bee Bakery and Café. Husband and wife team Jim and Jessica Bonanno opened Humble Bee Bakery and Café in April 2012. 

They use local, farm-fresh, and organic ingredients to bake delicious fresh breads and pastries in-house, every day.

The Humble Bee Bakery and Café is a member of the California Green Business Alliance and is committed to environmental conservation, local and fair trade and uses biodegradable packaging. 

They are located at 17321 Saticoy St. in Northridge and are open Wednesday through Saturday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, and on Sunday from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. For more information, click here to visit their website or click here to visit their Facebook page.

Granada Hills Charter High School's Highlander Fest...

 Save the date for Highlander Fest, an annual community event to welcome families, alumni, neighbors and friends to celebrate Granada Hills Charter High School, Saturday, Jan. 12. This fun community event is completely organized and executed by the students. 

Saturday, Jan. 12
11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Granada Hills Charter
High School
10535 Zelzah Ave.
Granada Hills 

The event includes bungee jumping, a petting zoo, obstacle courses, a free throw contest, pony rides, a geography game, skee ball, human hamster balls, Sumo wrestling, rock climbing and other games. The food and treats at the event will include cotton candy, In N' Out Burger truck, Numero Uno Pizza, cupcakes, Thai food, pupusas and more.

For more information, click here.

Call for Volunteers to Help Prune Park Roses...

The Southern California Garden Club in partnership with the San Fernando Valley Rose Society and the West Valley Garden Club will be organizing two volunteer rose pruning events in our local parks in January.

Saturday, Jan. 12
9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Orcutt Ranch Park
23600 Roscoe Blvd., Canoga Park
(Additional volunteer opportunities available
Jan. 9, 10 & 11 after 1:00 pm)

Saturday, Jan. 26
9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Homestead Acre
Chatsworth Park South
10835 Shadow Oak Dr., Chatsworth

There are nearly 600 rose bushes at Orcutt Ranch and over 300 rose bushes at Homestead Acre in Chatsworth Park South that need pruning. You can volunteer for this fun event and help maintain these beautiful gardens. A short pruning tutorial will be provided and refreshments will be served. Bring clippers and gloves if you have them. The flowers harvested during the rose pruning events will be donated to the Los Angeles Zoo for their primate and reptile program.

For more information, call Albert Change at (818) 363-5925 or emailafchangusa@gmail.com.

SOLID Fundraiser Night at Islands Restaurant...

Don't miss the SOLID (Supporters of Law Enforcement in Devonshire) Fundraiser Night, an evening of delicious food for a good cause, on Tuesday, Jan. 15 in Porter Ranch. 

Tuesday, Jan. 15
5:00 pm to close
Islands Restaurant
11400 Porter Ranch Dr.
Porter Ranch

Print out this flyer and present it to your server at Islands Fine Burgers & Drinks in Porter Ranch on Jan. 15 and Islands will donate 20% of your food and beverage purchase to SOLID!

SOLID is a community based non-profit organization that provides non-City supplied materials and equipment to the Police Officers at Devonshire Community Police Station.

For more information, call (818) 368-2305. For more information about SOLID
visit http://soliddevonshire.us/.

Canoga Park/West Hills Chamber Breakfast with Councilmember Englander...

 Join Councilmember Mitchell Englander, the Canoga Park/West Hills Chamber of Commerce, community and business leaders for the Chamber Breakfast coming up on Thursday, Jan. 17. Councilmember Dennis Zine will also speak.

Thursday, Jan. 17
7:30 am to 9:00 am 
Hometown Buffet
6705 Fallbrook Ave.
West Hills

The Chamber Breakfast is a great opportunity to meet community and business leaders, network, and discuss issues affecting our community. Tickets are $15 for early registration for Chamber members, $20 at the door for Chamber members, and $25 for non-Chamber members.

For more information or to RSVP, call Nora Ross at (818) 884-4222 or email
info@cpwhchamber.org. To learn more about the Chamber, visitwww.cpwhchamber.org.

Granada Hills Library Used Book Sale...

The Friends of the Granada Hills Library will host a two-day used book sale on Jan. 18 and Jan. 19.

Friday, Jan. 18
10:00 am to 5:00 pm 
Saturday, Jan. 19
10:00 am to 2:00 pm 
Granada Hills Library
10640 Petit Ave., Granada Hills

There will be a wide range of fiction, nonfiction, hardcover and paperback books in good conditions for excellent prices! Bags of books may be filled for $5 each. All proceeds will help provide materials and programs for the library.

For more information, call (818) 368-5687.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service…

HOPE Worldwide and the Foundation for the Preservation of the Santa Susana Mountains invite all community members to help clean up the Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park for their Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service on Saturday, Jan. 19. 

Volunteers will help remove invasive plants, maintain trails, install posts for park signs, and paint over graffiti. You can also help clean up the historic Old Stagecoach Trail. Special activities are planned for kids younger than 12. 

Every year volunteers and community-based organizations across the nation undertake efforts to improve the community in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s contributions. HOPE Worldwide is an international non-profit organization dedicated to serving the poor and needy through sustainable, community-based services, including healthcare, nutrition, housing and education.

Saturday, Jan. 19
8:00 am to 12:00 pm
Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park
Andora Ave. at Andora Place
Chatsworth 
Click here for a map.

All adult volunteers will meet at 8:00 am at the Andora Ave. entrance to the Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park, next to the Oakwood Cemetery in Chatsworth. Volunteers with children will meet at 8:00 am at the entrance to the park on Lilac Lane at Santa Susana Pass Rd. Park in the dirt parking lot west of the park kiosk. Please wear sturdy close-toed shoes, long pants, and long sleeves for working around brush. Light breakfast will be provided for all volunteers.

For more information, please call Susan Knudsen at (818) 357-0161
or email knudsenpurdy@aol.com.

Ham Radio Exam & Informational Overview...

The Valley Public Response for Emergency Preparedness (VPREP) is offering a Ham Radio exam and informational overview on Saturday, Jan. 19 in Woodland Hills. 

(In our previous newsletter, we mistakenly announced this was a Ham radio class. It is an exam, and those taking should study in advance.)

Our office is proud to support this event, together with Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield, the California Highway Patrol, and community-based emergency preparedness organizations.

Saturday, Jan. 19
California Highway Patrol West Valley Station
5825 De Soto Ave.
Woodland Hills
(Between Burbank Blvd. & Oxnard St.)

In times of disaster, when regular communication channels fail, amateur Ham radio operators can play an important role in assisting emergency communication efforts and working with public service agencies and the community.

There will be an Amateur Radio Entry Level FCC-License Test at 8:00 am. RSVPs are required because space is limited, and applicants need to receive exam study materials in advance. There is a $5 administrative fee for the exam. At 11:00 am there is an informational presentation on Ham radio, where you can learn more about the Ham radio system, and how you can become a Ham radio operator.

Please RSVP to Erik Rodriguez at (818) 904-3840 or emailErik.Rodriguez@asm.ca.gov. Upon RSVP, you will receive detailed instructions on the exam and the study guide.

Chatsworth Library Used Book Sale...

The Friends of the Chatsworth Branch Library are holding a used book sale on Saturday, Jan. 19. There will be a wide range of used books in good condition, including paperbacks, hardcovers, fiction and non-fiction from many genres.

Saturday, Jan. 19
10:00 am to 2:00 pm 
Chatsworth Branch Library
21052 Devonshire St., Chatsworth

Paperback books: $0.50. Hardcover books: $1. Children’s books: 3 for $1. 
All proceeds benefit the Chatsworth Branch Library. 

For more information, call (818) 341-4276.

Northridge South Neighborhood Council Town Hall Meeting on Proposed Development...

Northridge South Neighborhood Council is holding a town hall meeting to discuss a proposed 140 unit senior assisted living facility on the north east corner of Parthenia St. & Shoshone Ave. Information will be presented followed by community discussion.

Wednesday, Jan. 23
7:00 pm
Northridge Woman's 
Club House
18401 Lassen St.
Northridge

For more information, contact Northridge South Neighborhood Council athttp://www.northridgesouth.org/contact-us/

Kicking off Our Year of Healthy Living...

This month we are kicking off a new initiative - the CD 12 Year of Healthy Living! Every month, we have a community activity or event meant to offer families in the community a fun way to get healthy. The events range from community hikes, walks and bike rides, to informational events on nutrition, healthcare and financial health.

Healthy living means more than just eating vegetables and exercising. It also means taking care of our community, our environment, our mental health and more.

Saturday, Jan. 26
9:00 am to 12:00 pm
North Valley Family YMCA
11336 Corbin Ave.
Porter Ranch
(at Rinaldi St.)

To start off the Year of Healthy Living, our January activity is a Health Expo in partnership with the North Valley Family YMCA on Saturday, Jan. 26 in Porter Ranch. At the Health Expo, there will be doctors and pharmacists on hand to provide free consultation, and there will be booths with information about healthcare services and resources. There will also be live entertainment, healthy recipe ideas and free snacks and refreshments and more!

For more information about this event call the North Valley Family YMCA at (818) 368-3232.

Learn Ballroom Dance and Other Styles at St. Euphrasia...

Looking for a fun way to burn off those holiday calories and fulfill your New Year's resolution? St. Euphrasia Church in Granada Hills is offering ballroom, swing and fox trot dance lessons every Friday evening through Feb. 8.

Every Friday
Through Feb. 8
7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
St. Euphrasia Church
Parish Hall
17637 Mayerling St.
Granada Hills

Registration is at 6:30 pm, and the classes start at 7:00 pm sharp. Single classes cost $10, and a six-week series costs $50.

For more information, call Susie Sempelsz at (818) 360-4611 or emailsusie@sarshop.com.

North Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce Installation Luncheon...

Save the date for the North Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce's annual installation luncheon on Friday, Feb. 15 in Granada Hills. The key note address will be given by CSUN's recently appointed President Dianne Harrison. The Chamber will also present Rickey Gelb with the 2013 CK Tseng Award.

Friday, Feb. 15
11:30 am
Odyssey Restaurant
15600 Odyssey Dr.
Granada Hills
Cost: $55

For more info or to RSVP, call Stephanie Schwinn at (818) 349-5676 or emailstephanie@nvrcc.com.

Free CERT Training...

There is a great opportunity coming up for families to learn how to get prepared for earthquakes, wildfires, floods or other disasters at the free Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) course in Chatsworth.

These courses could make all the difference for you and your family before, during and after a disaster. We applaud Chatsworth Neighborhood Council for sponsoring this important public safety resource for the community.

Thursdays
Through Feb. 21
9:30 am to 12:00 pm
Chatsworth Library Meeting Room
21052 Devonshire St., Chatsworth

CERT trains community members in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations. You will learn how to prepare for emergencies, what supplies, food and water you should have in your home or office, and most importantly, how to protect your family and your neighbors.

For more information email cert@chatsworthcouncil.org or call Clara at(818) 773-9655.

A Year of Emergency Preparedness...

On January 17, the 18th anniversary of the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, we kicked off our Year of Emergency Preparedness in Los Angeles.

Throughout 2012, we worked on legislation, programs and public awareness efforts to help the residents of Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley be prepared for natural or man-made disasters.

Every week during the year, our newsletter featured a new item in anEmergency Preparedness Checklist. These are simple steps that everyone in Los Angeles should take in order to be prepared for any disaster. If you followed each item on this checklist, you would be highly prepared at the end of the year.

Week 50: Neighborhood Emergency Preparedness Workshops...

The L.A. Emergency Management Department offers a free program to help you get your neighborhood prepared for earthquakes and other disasters. By attending the workshop, you will receive a guide to building a Neighborhood Disaster Plan in five steps, with templates and instructions on how to plan, do outreach for, and conduct a neighborhood disaster preparedness meeting. 

To register for the series of Neighborhood Emergency Preparedness Workshops coming up in February, visit 
www.constantassociates.com/disaster

For more information, email aislynn@constantassociates.com or call (424) 247-1214 or TTY (213) 978-0463.

To see our updated, printable Emergency Preparedness Checklist, with every week's entry, visit our website at www.CD12.org and click "Year of Preparedness."

LAPD Semi-Annual District Meeting...

Our Public Safety Deputy Jim Dellinger is a former LAPD Officer with over 26 years on the force. He reports this week on the next LAPD Semi-Annual District Meeting on Jan. 17, covering the issues surrounding boarding houses in residential neighborhoods.

These LAPD community meetings offer a chance for community members to ask questions and get information from the LAPD about crime, public safety and other matters that impact our neighborhoods. Attending these meetings is a great way to become more involved in the community and get to know the Police Officers who protect and serve our neighborhoods.

Thursday, Jan. 17
World Vision Church
19514 Rinaldi St.
(Corner of Rinaldi & Corbin Ave.)
Porter Ranch


The subject of the meeting will be issues surrounding boarding homes in residential neighborhoods. This is particularly relevant, as Councilmember Mitchell Englander's proposed Community Care Facilities Ordinance (CCFO) is coming to the City Council for a vote soon. 

Councilmember Englander introduced the CCFO, which is common-sense legislation, carefully crafted to not discriminate against any groups. It would enable licensed, well-run group homes to continue providing their services. It will give the City the tools to ensure that vulnerable people including people with disabilities, seniors and veterans are not victim to the overcrowded, unsafe and unsanitary conditions.

It will also address the proliferation of unlicensed, illegal nuisance group homes and boarding facilities that have had a huge negative impact on single-family neighborhoods across the City. It would regulate unlicensed facilities operating as businesses in residential areas, some with up to 50 people crammed into a single home, often without any supervision, programs, security, or adequate kitchen or bathroom facilities.

Councilmember Englander introduced several important amendments to ensure that the CCFO would not have unintended negative consequences on people with disabilities, veterans and other vulnerable populations, and address concerns from advocacy groups.


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