COUNCILMEMBER ENGLANDER'S E-NEWS
March 30, 2012
Working To Bring Leading Edge Technology to the Fire Department...
Councilmember Englander introduced a motion last week requesting that the Fire Department (LAFD) report on the possibility of implementing AVL, or Automatic Vehicle Location technology (similar to GPS) for all Fire and emergency vehicles. This would include an assessment of the system's costs, how the system would be overseen and managed by Fire personnel, and how the system would be used to enhance emergency operations.
The LAFD is working to modernize its operations, which is increasingly important with the transition to a new citywide deployment plan. AVL technology uses GPS to transmit locations in real time to a centralized monitoring center. The benefits include ensuring that the closest available Fire Department vehicle is always sent to an emergency. A comprehensive AVL system would enable the Fire Department to track the location of every vehicle in the field, whether it is at a Fire Station or on the road. This would help maximize the use of our existing emergency response people and vehicles. Click here to see the motion.
On February 17, Councilmember Englander introduced his motion to implement FIRESTAT LA, a new system modeled after the LAPD’s highly successful COMPSTAT. FIRESTAT LA will enable the City to use today’s leading-edge technology and innovative management techniques to make the best Fire Department in the country even better. FIRESTAT LA was passed unanimously by the Public Safety Committee and is expected to be heard by the full City Council in April. We will announce progress on FIRESTAT LA here in our newsletter and on our website at www.CD12.org.
Click here to see the FIRESTAT LA motion.
April Pothole Project...
Cracked, broken-down streets are something that affects every one of us every day and repairing and maintaining them is a core City service.
I have made it my top priority to work to bring the City back to its most essential core services. That is why we are launching a special April Pothole Project. The Bureau of Street Services usually fills potholes within 24 hours, but they need to know where they are. We want to engage and empower the people in our community to help identify the worst potholes in our District.
We will have a special interactive form on our website at http://tiny.cc/CD12Potholes where you can report the exact location of potholes in Council District 12. The information will go directly to the Bureau of Street Services. We will track its progress and send you a notification when it has been completed. We will post reports and photos during the month here in our newsletter.
If you have any questions about the April Pothole Project, please call us at (818) 882-1212.
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 11: Get CERT Trained
All individuals should be able to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours following a major earthquake. During that time, community members can do a lot to help themselves, their families and their neighbors by having basic first aid, evacuation and other emergency training.
The best way to get prepared is to get CERT trained. CERT - Community Emergency Response Team - is the Los Angeles Fire Department's nationally acclaimed free community emergency training program. The CERT program is an all-risk, all-hazard training.
CERT members receive 17.5 hours of initial training, usuall one day a week for seven weeks. The courses are free for any City resident over 18 years old.
To learn how you can sign up for a CERT class and see schedules and locations, visit www.cert-la.com. To arrange a class (20 person minimum) for your community-based organization, Neighborhood Council, school or house of worship, call (818) 756-9674.
To see our printable Emergency Preparedness Checklist, with every week's entry, click here.
Bureau of Sanitation Yards Open House...
Don't miss the Bureau of Sanitation's annual open house at their maintenance yards. Kids love this fun, free event, with hands-on trash truck demonstrations, sanitation facility tours, and educational information and demonstrations about recycling and the environment.
Saturday, April 28
9:00 am to 2:30 pm
East Valley District Yard
11050 Pendleton St., Sun Valley
Click here for the flyer.
Saturday, May 19
9:00 am to 2:30 pm
West Valley District Yard
8840 Vanalden Ave., Northridge
Click here for the flyer.
For more information, click here.
Councilmember Englander Discussing Hot Button City Issues on City Maven Radio...
Councilmember Mitchell Englander was interviewed on City Maven Radio Hour on LATalkRadio.com, a weekly current affairs talk show covering the issues that are making headlines in the City of Los Angeles.
On this week's show, Councilmember Englander discussed his FIRESTAT LA motion and issues concerning the Fire Department response times with hosts Alice Walton and Brendan Huffman. He also talked about the LAPD's change in policy regarding the 30-day impound for unlicensed drivers, which he opposes. He also discussed his Performance-Based Budgeting Motion, which would improve the way L.A. manages its budget. To hear the show, click here.
National Volunteer Week Management Trainings...
In celebration of National Volunteer Week, April 15 - 21, 2012, Volunteer Los Angeles is holding a series of free Volunteer Management Trainings sessions, including several in the San Fernando Valley.
As non-profits and public agencies in Los Angeles cope with the ongoing effects of economic hardship, they need to generate creative solutions to deliver services, including establishing new partnerships and more strategic ways to engage volunteers. Volunteer Los Angeles's series of trainings for non-profits and public agencies will help them learn how to strategically engage volunteers for maximum impact.
All sessions are 10:00 am to 12:00 pm or 1:00 to 3:00 pm. For more information, call Rafael Castellanos at (323) 450-5053 or email rcastellanos@volunteerlosangeles.org, or Pedro Barrientos at (323) 450-5087 or email pbarrientos@volunteerlosangeles.org.
SOLID Fundraiser Dinner at Islands in Porter Ranch...
Come enjoy a delicious dinner and help support a great cause at the SOLID (Supporters of Law Enforcement in Devonshire) fundraiser night, Wednesday, April 18 at Islands Fine Burgers & Drinks in Porter Ranch.
Wednesday, April 18
3:00 pm to close
Islands Restaurant
11400 Porter Ranch Dr.
Porter Ranch
Print and cut out the adjacent flyer and present it to your server and Islands will donate 20% of your food and beverage purchase to SOLID.
SOLID is a non-profit organization that purchases non-City supplied materials and equipment that is needed by the Police Officers at Devonshire Community Police Station.
For more information visit http://soliddevonshire.org.
SOLID Pancake Breakfast...
SOLID's annual All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Breakfast is coming up on May 19, so save the date! Proceeds benefit SOLID (Supporters of Law Enforcement in Devonshire), which provides non-City supplied materials and equipment needed by the Police Officers at Devonshire Division.
Saturday, May 19
7:30 am to 1:30 pm
Devonshire Community
Police Station
10240 Etiwanda St., Northridge
$7 per person.
Regency Theatres in Granada Hills has generously donated 25 pairs of movie tickets to be given away to guests in a prize drawing. Free child photo-IDs are provided by Hollywood-West Valley Masonic Lodge. Free facepainting for kids!
For more information, visit http://soliddevonshire.org.
RideOn Pancake Breakfast...
Don't miss RideOn Therapeutic Horsemanship's annual Open House and Free Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, March 31 at the RideOn Ranch in Chatsworth.
Saturday, March 31
9:00 am to 12:00 pm
10860 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Chatsworth
Come enjoy a delicious, free pancake breakfast, and learn about the services RideOn provides, see their facility, learn about volunteer opportunities, and meet their staff and their horses. RideOn offers physical therapy on horseback for sport, exercise and recreation for children and adults with special needs.
For more information, contact Sara Jones at sara@rideon.org.
Free Electronic Waste Collection Day...
Bring your unwanted or broken TVs, computers, toys, and other electronic devices to be safely and properly disposed of on Saturday, March 31 at St. Euphrasia School in Granada Hills.
Saturday, March 31
9:00 am to 2:00 pm
St. Euphrasia School
17637 Mayerling St.
Granada Hills
It is illegal to throw away electronic devices into the regular trash. They contain toxic substances that can leach into the environment if the end up in a landfill.
For more information, visit www.steuphrasiaschool.org or call (818) 363-5515.
"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 beautification project every Thursday!
Schedule for April
April 5 - Northwest corner Mayall St., near Wilbur Ave.
April 12 - Northwest corner Chatsworth St., near Wilbur Wilbur Ave.
April 19 - Northwest corner Tribune St., near Wilbur Ave.
April 26 - Northwest corner Kenya St., near Wilbur 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.
Saturday, March 31, 8:30 pm is Earth Hour...
More than 5,200 cities and in 135 countries worldwide switched off their lights for one hour in observance of Earth Hour last year. Earth Hour 2012 is Saturday, March 31 at 8:30 pm. This collective action sends a powerful message to raise awareness about climate change and energy conservation.
To learn more visit http://www.earthhour.org/
Tip-A-Cop to Support the Special Olympics...
Come help our local Police Officers support a great cause and enjoy a delicious dinner at Tip-A-Cop in Northridge on Thursday, April 5.
LAPD Officers will volunteer to work as your celebrity waiters at the Claim Jumper Restaurant in Northridge. All of their tips go toward the Tri-Valley Special Olympics.
Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to more than 3.7 million athletes in more than 170 countries. Special Olympics activities are held every day, all over the world. To learn more visit www.SOSC.org.
Thursday, April 5
5:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Claim Jumper Restaurant
9429 Tampa Ave., Northridge
(At the north end of Northridge Fashion Center)
Join the Chatsworth Chamber Relay For Life and Help the Fight Against Cancer...
Our District Director Megan Cottier works closely with a wide range of organizations in our community, including the Chatsworth/Porter Ranch Chamber of Commerce. She is also an advocate for supporting cancer treatment and research. She reports on a great charitable event coming up - The Chatsworth/Porter Ranch Chamber of Commerce's Relay for Life.
April 28, 9:00 am through April 29, 9:00 am
Chatsworth High School
10027 Lurline Ave., Chatsworth
Relay For Life is a 24-hour long relay walk/run, where community members, schools, Neigbhorhood Councils, businesses, houses of worship and other community-based organizations form relay teams to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. The Chamber team will be at the Relay in memory of Mike Carter from Adventures in Parties.
The event celebrates those who have survived cancer and remembers loved ones lost to cancer. It raises funds for American Cancer Society's programs and services, and helps fund research into cancer treatment. It also raises awareness about what we can do to help fight cancer and support those affected by it. The teams' members take turns walking around the track for a full 24 hours. There are somber memorials and educational activities, but also fun, booths, food and more.
To donate to the Chamber Relay Team, visit http://main.acsevents.org/goto/chamber.
There are 17 teams already formed for this year's Chatsworth Relay for Life. To support or join any of the teams, or to learn how to form your own Relay Team visit http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=36478.
As an FYI, the link to the printable checklist no longer works; might Patch be able to notify the Councilmember's office to update the link?
Matt Myerhoff, CD12 Communications Director.