Englander E-News: Impounding Cars, New Office, and More...

COUNCILMEMBER ENGLANDER'S E-NEWS

March 2, 2012

Statement on the Change in LAPD's Impound Policy...

I oppose and have always opposed the change to the LAPD's impound policy regarding unlicensed drivers.

I believe it is a matter of public safety that unlicensed, untrained and uninsured drivers should not be encouraged to break the law by lessening the consequences for doing so. That said, the LAPD is governed by a Citizen's Commission, that voted 4-1 on Tuesday, Feb. 28, in favor of the change to the impound policy.

I still believe that there are questions as to the legality of these changes. I have raised those questions on the record with our City Attorney, based on the State Office of Legislative Council's concerns and others. Additionally, District Attorney, Steve Cooley issued a letter to Chief Charlie Beck about the impound policy change stating: "...such policies are contrary to State law and likely would create risks both to public safety and to public treasuries."

I agree and eagerly await the City Attorney’s response to more than 20 critical legal questions that I addressed to him in the Public Safety Committee last week, in addition to the single question raised by the Police Commission.

- Mitchell Englander, Councilmember, Twelfth District.

Moving to Our New District Office...

We are consolidating our Northridge and Chatsworth offices into a single location in Chatsworth.

Our new office will be more centrally located in our District. In addition to housing our District operations, staff offices, constituent services and meetings, the new office will also feature a Constituent Service Center, where residents can meet one-on-one with representatives from various City Departments to get assistance with certain City services. We will announce details on that service in coming weeks. 

Our (818) 701-5253 phone number will be disconnected on March 5 and on March 12, it will connect to our new office. Our (818) 756-8501 phone number will be disconnected on March 12, but it will have a recorded message giving our new phone number for one year.

The main phone number of our new District Office will be (818) 882-1212. It will be activated on March 12. Our new District Office address is 9207 Oakdale Ave., Chatsworth, CA 91311.

You can still reach our City Hall Office at (213) 473-7012 and email us Councilmember.Englander@lacity.org.

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 will be working 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, our newsletter will feature a new item in an Emergency Preparedness Checklist. These are simple steps that everyone in Los Angeles should take in order to be prepared for any disaster. If you follow each item on this checklist, you will be highly prepared at the end of the year.

Week 8: Emergency Escape Ladder
Anyone who has a two- or three-story home needs to consider their emergency evacuation route in case their stairs are blocked in a fire, earthquake or other emergency necessitating evacuation. Jumping from a window could lead to serious injuries, especially for the elderly or for young children. A compact emergency escape ladder can be easily stored under the bed or in a closet and pulled out when needed. Make sure everyone in the house knows where it is and how to use it.

There are a wide variety of emergency escape ladders to choose from. To see some examples, click here.

To see our printable Emergency Preparedness Checklist, with every week's entry, click here. 

Street Closures for Canoga Orange Line Busway Construction...

As part of the construction on the Metro Canoga Orange Line Extension, there will be some street closures this weekend and next week.

When it is complete, the 4-mile dedicated busway will connect the end point of the Orange Line busway at Warner Center with Chatsworth Depot Metrolink Station. It will create an interconnected public transit hub, giving San Fernando Valley commuters better access to train, light rail, and bus lines throughout the entire region. 

The intersections of Canoga Ave. at Roscoe Blvd., and Canoga Ave. at Nordhoff St., will be closed Friday, March 2, 9:00 pm until 6:00 pm Saturday, March 3. The work involves the final grinding and paving of the street. 

Lassen St. will be closed between Remmet Ave. and Old Depot Rd. (entrance of the train station), Monday, March 5, through Friday, March 9, 9:00 pm to 6:00 am. The closure is to allow removal of the temporary bridge framework from the Lassen St. overcrossing.  

For more information email the Orange Line Extension Project at
molextension@metro.net or click here or call their hotlines at (818) 701-2827 and (213) 922-3668

Welcome to CD 12's Newest Staff Member...

We are proud to welcome Melody Jaramillo, Council Aide/Case Worker, as the newest member of the Council District 12 staff. Melody is working out of our District Office and handles constituent service requests, administration, and works with Neighborhood Councils and community groups in our District.

Melody is from Simi Valley and graduated from CSUN with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, and an emphasis in local government.

405 Freeway Closures Will Impact Traffic To/From San Fernando Valley Valley This Weekend...

Metro reports that all northbound lanes of the 405 Freeway between Getty Center Drive and Ventura Blvd. will be closed at midnight tonight, Friday, March 2, as crews begin work on the Mulholland Bridge. They will start closing lanes as early as 10:00 pm, and all lanes will closed by midnight.

Some ramps will be closed as early as 7:00 pm. The northbounds lanes are expected to be reopened at 5:00 am Saturday, March 3.

The southbound lanes of the 405 Freeway between Getty Center Drive and the 101 Freeway will be closed from Monday, March 5, midnight to Tuesday, March 6, 5:00 am. The southbounds will close again on Tuesday, March 6, at midnight, and open again at 5:00 am.

The same southbound lanes will also closed Monday, March 12, midnight to Tuesday March 13, 5:00 am. They will also be closed Tuesday, March 13, midnight to Wednesday, March 14, 5:00 am. During the lane closures, Sepulveda Blvd. will remain open as a detour route.

Click here to see detour maps. To sign up for email notifications on freeway closures affecting your neighborhood, click here.

Participate in SurveyLA and Help Record L.A.'s Historic Resources...

The City is conducting community outreach for SurveyLA, Los Angeles' first-ever comprehensive effort to identify and record its diverse historic resources. This year, SurveyLA will be operating in the Chatsworth/Porter Ranch, Northridge, Granada Hills/Knollwood and Reseda/West Van Nuys Community Plan areas.  

While many of Los Angeles’ historic places are well known, there are also many hidden gems that may not have gained the recognition they deserve. Documenting these resources is a huge undertaking, so the project needs the input of the people who live, work and play in and around our historic resources in L.A. 

How you can participate
Community workshops will be held in April and May in the Northwest San Fernando Valley. Details will be announced soon here.  
 
Visit www.MyHistoricLA.org, a crowdsourcing website, which allows users to contribute information about important historic resources in their communities. The information is used by SurveyLA’s professional survey teams. 

Visit SurveyLA's blog, http://www.surveyla.wordpress.comsurveyla.wordpress.com. 

Follow SurveyLA on Facebook www.facebook.com/surveyla  and Twitter  www.twitter.com/SurveyLA.

Visit MyHistoricLA guide to public participation for research tips and community activities. 

Request a free public speaker from the SurveyLA Volunteer Speakers Bureau to do a presentation at your Neighborhood Council or community-based organization meeting.

Northridge Library Used Book Sale...

Friends of the Northridge Library is holding a used book sale on Saturday, March 10 at the Northridge Branch Library. At this sale, there will be special books that have not been displayed in previous sales. Come support the library! Proceeds from the sale go toward purchasing new books and help the library continue its free programs and activities.

Saturday, March 10
10:00 am to 4:30 pm
9051 Darby Ave., Northridge

For more information, call (818) 886-3640.

"Sky's the Limit" 7th Annual Aviation Career Day at Van Nuys Airport...

Save the date for the 7th Annual Sky's the Limit Aviation Career Day at the historic Synchro Hangar at Van Nuys Airport on Friday, April 20.

Friday, April 20
9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Synchro Hangar
Van Nuys Airport

Every year, this great event offers over 1,400 young people the chance to learn about the exciting and challenging careers paths in the aviation and aerospace industries in the San Fernando Valley and beyond.

The event will feature interactive aviation and aerospace exhibits, military and civilian aircraft displays, airfield bus tours, and light refreshments.

For more information, call (818) 901-9828 or email letv@saicraftsmen.com.

Join Northridge West Neighborhood Council's "Clean Sweep" Weekly Clean-Up and Help Make Northridge Shine!

Join Northridge West Neighborhood Council's Clean Sweep community beautifictaion project every Thursday! 
 
Clean-Up Schedule for March
March 8 - South side of Lassen St. at Tunney Ave.
March 15 - South side of Lassen St. at Calvin Ave.
March 22 - North side of Lassen St. at Calvin Ave.
March 29 - South side of Lassen St. at Vanalden Ave. 

At 8:00 am the crew will review the game plan with free refreshments provided by Northridge West Neighborhood Council. Bring gloves if you have them, sunscreen,a sunhat and appropriate shoes for outdoor work. Northridge West Neighborhood provides the refreshments and tools.
 
For more information contact Jo Ann Phillips at (818) 304-4989 or  japhillips1@yahoo.com or visit www.NorthridgeWest.org. 

For a map, go to http://g.co/maps/zc4a4. 

Help Shape the Future of Transportation in L.A....

The City is holding a series of interactive "Think Labs" workshops including two in the San Fernando Valley, to get L.A. residents engaged in shaping the future of L.A.'s transportation.

Saturday, March 3
1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Pacoima Neighborhood Constituent Services Center
13520 W. Van Nuys Blvd., Pacoima

L.A. residents are invited to participate in the free “Think Labs” workshops to give their input on the future of transportation and mobility in L.A. The ideas generated will guide the development of an updated streets and transportation plan with policies and programs that reflect the communities’ ideas, needs and concerns.

To learn more, visit  http://ideas.la2b.org.

Northridge Hospital Trauma Center Annual Champagne Brunch...

Save the date for the Northridge Hospital Trauma Center's Annual Golden Guild Champagne Brunch, on Sunday, March 25 at the Odyssey Restaurant in Granada Hills.

What happens in the first 60 minutes after traumatic injury is critical to one’s survival. That is why paramedics and trauma doctors call it “The Golden Hour.” The Golden Hour Guild is a volunteer fundraising group dedicated to supporting the Northridge Hospital Trauma Center.

Sunday, March 25
Odyssey Restaurant
Granada Hills

This great annual event helps raise funds to support the Pediatric and Adult Trauma Centers at Northridge Hospital. There will be drawings for prizes, including $1,000 in cash, women's jewelry donated by Gold Rush, and a two night stay at the Luxe Hotel, City Center at LA Live. Their 2011 event raised almost $60,000, which helped the Trauma Center purchase much-needed equipment for Northridge Hospital.

If you are interested in sponsoring or donating toward this event, please call the Northridge Hospital Foundation at (818) 885-5341, ext. 2.

CD 12 Non Profit Summit...

We are proud to be organizing the Council District 12 Non-Profit Summit together with Valley Nonprofit Resources on Monday, March 12 in Northridge. 

Monday, March 12
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Child & Family Guidance Center
9650 Zelzah Ave., (At Superior St.)
Northridge

We invite all non-profit organizations, charities, and community-based organizations in the Northwest San Fernando Valley to participate. The theme of this Non-Profit Summit is "Strategies for Recruiting and Mobilizing Volunteers." 

Guest speakers include  Nancy Olson from Volunteer Los Angeles, Merri Whitelock from CSUN Community Service Learning, and Victoria Garcia from Directors of Volunteers in Agencies, SFV. This a great opportunity to network and share resources and knowledge with other non-profits and community based organizations, and learn from experts about the best ways to recruit, mobilize, organize and motivate volunteers in your organization's work, activities, and events.

This event is free, but space is limited, so RSVPs are required by March 7. 
RSVP to Semee Park at (818) 756-8501 or Semee.Park@lacity.org

VIP Basketball League Championship Game and 10th Anniversary...

Congratulations to the Balboa Recreation Center's VIP Basketball League on their 10th anniversary! The VIP Basketball League is also holding its championship game on Saturday, March 10 at Balboa Park. Come support these great athletes at their final game of the season, and support the VIP Basketball League's program for people with special needs.

Saturday, March 10
Balboa Recreation Center
17015 Burbank Blvd., Encino

The league was started 10 years ago by Encino resident Steve Siskin. While he was coaching his kids' basketball team, a team member's younger sister who had Down's Syndrome asked if she could play as well. So Steve created the VIP Basketball League to offer young people with disabilities the opportunity to play basketball with organized teams, matches, coaches and referees. There are now over 50 players participating in this great program at Balboa Recreation Center.

For information call (818) 501-4480 or email MichaelGerety6@gmail.com. 

Shout Out to Chatsworth Kiwanis for Adopt-A-Street Clean Up Project...

Our Field Deputy Semee Park reports this week on another great volunteer effort to keep our community clean.

The Chatsworth Kiwanis club continued their Adopt-A-Street project with a clean-up effort on Saturday, Feb. 18 on Chatsworth St. between Mason and De Soto. They filled up 75 bags of trash, with the help of their KeyClub and K-Kids members.

Chatsworth Kiwanis is part of a worldwide organization of volunteers dedicated to bringing positive change to the community. Their regular clean-up efforts are open to all volunteers. For more information, or to volunteer or sponsor one of their events, visit www.chatsworthkiwanis.org.

The Adopt-A-Street Program is a public-private partnership with the City. Any Neighborhood Council, school, business or group in the community can "adopt" a segment of a City street, by making a pledge to keep the sidewalks and landscaped areas clean at least once every four months. The Department of Public Works provides brooms, rakes, shovels, trash bags, gloves, safety vests and trash pick-up.

To learn how to sign up for the Adopt-A-Street Program, call our office at (818) 756-8501.