Englander E-News: Driving Auto Dealers Back to L.A.

COUNCILMEMBER ENGLANDER'S E-NEWS

Nov. 11, 2011

Motion to Help Bring New Auto Dealerships, Jobs and Revenue to L.A...
We were proud to join Mayor Villaraigosa and Council President Eric Garcetti to announce that Beverly Hills Porsche would be moving to a location in the City of Los Angeles, during a press conference on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

We also announced a motion that we co-authored with Council President Garcetti to eliminate the business tax for auto dealerships selling new cars in the City in an effort to lure them to locate in L.A. The City has lost 95 car dealerships over the last 25 years. 

Car dealers contribute a far greater amount in sales tax than in business tax to the City. All together, L.A. car dealerships paid a total of only $2.9 million in business tax, but $29 million in sales tax. They employ 5,200 people in the City, generating $640 million in wages and benefits, according to the Greater Los Angeles New Car Dealers Association.

The car dealerships create a variety of high-quality jobs, including sales, finance, mechanics, service and administration. They also generate a great deal of business for the surrounding local economy, which also helps create more jobs. The sales tax revenues they would generate would help fund crucial City services such as police, fire and infrastructure. 

To read the Daily News article about the motion, click here.

Come to the Holiday Toy Express and Support the Toy Drive for At-Risk Kids...
Get ready for the Holiday Toy Express, the Metrolink train covered in 50,000 colorful holiday lights, with animated displays, live entertainment, Santa and more, stopping at Chatsworth Depot Metrolink Station on Friday, Nov. 18. 

Come enjoy a free holiday party with your whole family, and bring unwrapped, new toys to donate to the Devonshire PALS (Police Activity League) Youth Center and Spark of Love toy drive. All donated toys will go to struggling families in the community who may not be able to afford to buy holiday gifts for their kids.

PALS offers valuable after-school programs to offer at-risk youth in our community positive alternatives to crime, gangs and drugs. Please visit www.devonshire-pals.org. 

The festivities include live performances by the Woman's Quartet-from River Oaks Chorus, and the Chatsworth Hills Academy Glee Club, and free popcorn provided by Councilmember Mitchell Englander. 

We are co-sponsoring this great holiday event, together with the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council, Chatsworth Community Coordinating Council, Chatsworth/Porter Ranch Chamber of Commerce, the LAFD, LAPD and other local organizations.

Friday, Nov. 18
6:30 pm - festivities start
8:15 pm - train arrives
Chatsworth Depot Metrolink Station
10046 Old Depot Plaza Rd., Chatsworth 
Click here for a map.

This is the only opportunity to see the train in the west San Ferando Valley, so don't miss out! For a full event schedule and listing of all the stops please go to www.metrolinktrains.com/holidayexpress.

First Annual Non Profit Summit...
We were proud to launch the First Annual Non-Profit Summit to help community-based organizations, non-profit organizations, charities and schools build stronger partnerships to move our community forward, on Monday, Nov. 7 in Northridge.

We provided tools and resources to help non-profits build stronger partnerships with each other.  

We also had a presentation by L.A. Shares, a philanthropic organization that takes donations of used furniture and office supplies from local businesses and distributes them for free to Los Angeles- based schools and non-profit organizations. Over the past 11 years, L.A. Shares has redistributed over $80,000,000 worth of goods and materials to over 2,500 local organizations and schools, which also reduced waste going to landfills!

If you work with a non-profit organization, school, or other community-based organization and would like information on this or other activities involving non-profits in Council District 12, please call Semee Park at (818) 756-8501 or send an email to Semee.Park@lacity.org.

Support Our Heroes This Veterans Day...
Nov. 11 is Veterans Day, so please honor and thank our nation's heroes for their service and sacrifice to our country.

Our Veterans need our help and support. They are disproportionately represented among the homeless population, and many of them return from serving in Iraq and Afghanistan with lasting physical and emotional wounds.

WAYS YOU CAN HELP:

Donate or volunteer with Veterans Affairs of Greater Los Angeles.

Support Ride with Pride's free Veteran's Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy Program.

The National Coalition on Homeless Veterans offers these tips to support Veterans:

Volunteering at a shelter, be a mentor or offer legal aid

Organize a Stand Down program

Develop a Veteran burial program

Volunteer or donate to community-based Veteran support organizations in your neighborhood

Advocate for homeless Veterans

Donate to the National Coalition on Homeless Veterans

Help Provide Thanksgiving Dinners to Struggling Families...
Councilmember Mitchell Englander and the entire CD 12 staff are volunteering on Monday, Nov. 21 to help North Valley Family YMCA distribute 1,000 Thanksgiving dinners to struggling families. You can be part of this wonderful annual effort by the YMCA by volunteering or donating food or money.

Turkey Donation Challenge!
Councilmember Englander is donating $1,000 to the Thanksgiving dinner program, and will donate an additional $5 for every whole turkey donated by an individual. So bring a turkey to donate to the YMCA and help us give even more to this wonderful event!

Each year, the North Valley Family YMCA distributes baskets with a turkey and all the fixings so that a family can have their own complete Thanksgiving dinner at home. It is hard to express how important it is for a family that is barely able to keep afloat during these tough economic times to be able to provide their kids with a Thankgsiving dinner.

The YMCA needs donations of frozen turkeys, $10 gift certificates for Ralphs or Food 4 Less and donations of canned cranberries, pumpkin, green beans, gravy, boxed mashed potatoes and other Thanksgiving food items. Monetary donations are always welcome.

You can drop off a check made out to "YMCA" or food items at the YMCA Monday through Friday, 5:00 am to 10:00 pm, Saturday 7:00 am to 8:00 pm, or Sunday 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Checks can also be mailed to Sisy Sagastume, North Valley Family YMCA, 11336 Corbin Ave., Porter Ranch CA 91326.

Volunteers are also needed for Saturday, Nov. 19 and Sunday, Nov. 20 to help prepare the baskets.

To sign up, donate, or for more information, please call Sisy Sagastume at the North Valley Family YMCA at (818) 368-3231 ext. 2304.

Join Northridge West Neighborhood Council for Their Community Clean-Up and Help Keep Northridge Streets Clean!
Join Northridge West Neighborhood Council every Thursday for their weekly community project and help clean up the streets of Northridge!

On Thursday, Nov. 17, they will be at the northwest corner of Wilbur Ave. and Lassen St. working on planting drought-tolerant plants in the raised garden area and installing a residential sign on the block wall.

Thursday, Nov. 17
8:00 am
Meet up at the corner of Wilbur and Lassen, Northridge

At 8:00 am they 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.

The project was launched in the Spring of 2010 by Northridge West Neighborhood Council and neighborhood residents who wanted to get involved in beautifying our public streets and sidewalks. Since then they have removed thousands of bags of debris from the streets and sidewalks and inspired several more groups to launch street clean-ups!

For more information, call Jo Ann Philips at (818) 304-4989 or email Japhillips1@yahoo.com

Join Operation Gratitude and Help Support Our Troops Overseas During the Holidays...

There are only three more Holiday Assembly Days so come join Operation Gratitude and help assemble care packages to send to US troops serving overseas. The next assembly day is on Friday, Nov. 25

Friday, Nov. 25
Saturday, Nov. 26
Saturday, Dec. 17
9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Operation Gratitude
National Guard Armory
17330 Victory Blvd., Van Nuys

Operation Gratitude is a San Fernando Valley-based non-profit that organizes volunteers and donors to put together care packages to ship to our troops serving overseas to offer them support and comforts from home. The care packages include everything from toiletries and snacks to books and letters of support.

Please RSVP to Volunteer Coordinator Penny Alfonso by sending an email to opgratvolunteer1@yahoo.com with "Operation Gratitude Volunteer" in the subject line.

Festival of Trees...
Don't miss Northridge Hospital Foundation's Festival of Trees, a three-day event where individuals and businesses can purchase, decorate, display and donate an artificial tree, wreath, centerpiece or handmade quilt for the Hospital's silent auction.

Enjoy live entertainment in the Magical Music Land with carolers, live bands and dance acts. Stop by Santa's Sweet Shop for hot cocoa, candy, fudge, cookies and other holiday treats.

The event raises funds to help Northridge Hospital purchase lifesaving equipment, technology and to support programs for the Richie Pediatric Trauma Center. 

Opening Night
Thursday, Dec. 1
6:00 pm - Welcome & Reception
7:00 pm - Tree Lighting Ceremony & Silent Auction
21701 Prairie St., Chatsworth
Bid on exquisitely decorated trees, wreaths, centerpieces and quilts.
Tickets: $25. $15 presale before Friday, Nov. 18
For ticket sales information call (818) 885-5341 ext. 3

Festival Celebration
Friday, Dec. 2 & Saturday, Dec. 3
10:00 am to  9:00 pm
Entertainment & children’s activities, auctions on festival items.
Tickets: Adults - $5. Kids ages 3 to 12 - $3. Free for kids under 2.

For more information, visit or call (818) 885-5341 ext. 3

Discounted Dog Licensing & Vaccination at Sepulveda Off-Leash Dog Park...
Our District Director Megan Cottier leads our office's work on Recreation and Parks facilities and issues, and she reports this week on a great service for dog owners. Los Angeles Animal Services (LAAS) is offering a low-cost vaccination clinic at Sepulveda Basin Off-Leash Dog Park this Sunday, Nov. 13.

Sunday, Nov. 13
3:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Sepulveda Off-Leash Dog Park
17550 Victory Blvd., Encino

LAAS Officers will also be on hand to collect new and renewal applications for dog licensing. The cost to license a spay/neutered dog is only $20. The fee is discounted for low-income seniors, people with disabilities and people with service or companion dogs. City law requires that dog licenses be renewed annually, so take advantage of this opportunity to renew your license quickly, easily and inexpensively. (Please bring a check. Cash is not accepted.)
 
All dogs over four months of age in Los Angeles must be licensed, vaccinated, and  spayed or neutered. Animal Services Officers will offer information on how to qualify for free or low-cost spay or neuter options. 

Bring your dog down to enjoy the Off Leash Dog Park! 
 
For more information about dog licensing, vaccinations or sterilization requirements, contact West Valley Animal Shelter at (818) 756-9326.
 
For questions about the Sepulveda Basin Off Leash Dog Park please call the Valley Region Office of the Department of Recreation and Parks at (818) 756-8185.