Politics & Government

Englander E-News: Regulating Cash-for-Gold Shops, Mid-Term Review and More

Regulating “Cash-for-Gold” Businesses

This week, I submitted a motion to the City Council asking that the Planning Department and the City Attorney be instructed to report on the feasibility of implementing a moratorium, and other potential land use controls, on new cash-for-gold and secondhand jewelry businesses.

The proliferation of cash-for-gold businesses has led to concerns about their placement in communities and the potential to incentivize theft. These businesses also contribute to visual blight in communities where they are heavily concentrated.

Recently, some California cities have taken actions to limit these potentially negative impacts in their communities. The cities adopted ordinances to stop issuing new permits for secondhand jewelry businesses and to review the placement and zoning of these businesses in their cities.

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

The City of Los Angeles, in order to better understand potential solutions to this issue, should similarly explore the feasibility of adopting a moratorium on issuing new permits for cash-for-gold businesses.

Getting Tough on Hit-and-Run Offenses

The Public Safety Committee considered a LAPD report which examined hit-and-run collision statistics, enforcement, and prosecutions in the City of Los Angeles. Having scrutinized the report, and upon hearing presentations from both the Department and concerned stakeholders, it became apparent that it was necessary to place additional emphasis on the deterrence of hit-and-run crimes and the capture of those responsible for their commission. 

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

Therefore, as Chair of the Public Safety Committee, I made the following recommendations: remove the word "accident" from all future reference to hit-and-run crimes, as these are not accidents. When a driver makes the conscious decision to flee an accident--it is a crime. In addition, we asked LAPD to track all hit-and-run crimes in COMPSTAT, adopt all LAPD recommendations for increasing enforcement and investigative details and for sponsorship of state legislation to increase penalties for hit-and-run crimes, and that LAPD should report back with an update on Special Order 7 the department's recently relaxed impound policy, and expanded outreach and education programs aimed at curtailing hit-and-run crimes.

Councilmember Mitchell Englander's Mid-Term in Review

To see the Mid-Term in Review book, click here.

To have a printed copy of the book mailed to you, please send us an email with your name and address at Councilmember. Englander@lacity.org

The E-xcellence in Public Service Program Visits the Department of Water and Power

This week, our student leadership group, the E-xcellence in Public Service Program, visited the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Filtration Plant to learn about the City’s water infrastructure. The students learned how water from the Los Angeles Aqueduct is transported over 300 miles to the Sylmar Filtration Plant where the water is cleaned and treated to be distributed for drinking, City-wide. The Los Angeles Aqueduct is unique for no pumping is required and is 100% supported by the natural flow of gravity.

Our students also learned about how studies in engineering, biology and chemistry can be applied in a vast range of careers in the water infrastructure and treatment industry.

National Night Out

We invite you to join us for our summertime National Night Out program co-hosted by the Los Angeles Police Department’s Devonshire Division and outdoor screening of the kid-friendly movie, “Despicable Me.” The movie will be shown at Northridge Park at on August 6and will include FREE popcorn, FREE face-painting, and children’s activities.

Tuesday, August 6
Movie will begin at nightfall (approximately 7:50 PM)

Northridge Park
18300 Lemarsh Street
Northridge

Our “Movies Under the Stars” events are a great way to have a safe and fun family outing and enjoy the summer nights and our public parks. This “Movies Under the Stars” event, is also a celebration of “America’s Night Out Against Crime.” Every first Tuesday in August is a national celebration to promote police-community partnerships, crime prevention, and neighborhood camaraderie. We encourage you to bring picnics, blankets and chairs. Please be reminded that there are no BBQs, pets or alcohol allowed.

For more information, please call our Field Deputy, Jessie Levine at (818) 882-1212 or email Jessie.Levine@lacity.org, or visit our website atwww.CD12.org.

The Los Angeles City Department of Cultural Affairs is now accepting Grant Proposals

The Los Angeles City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) grants division is now accepting grant proposals from non-profit arts organizations for the 2014-2015 Fiscal Year. The deadline to apply is August 16, 2013. There will be a workshop held in the Valley to learn more about the grant opportunities.

Wednesday, August 7
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Encino-Tarzana Branch Library
18231 Ventura Blvd.
Tarzana CA

The guidelines for the City of Los Angeles FY 14-15 Department of Cultural Affairs cultural grants for non-profit arts organizations are now posted online here in this link.

National Health Center Week – Blood Pressure and Diabetes Checkup

The Mission City Community Network, Inc will be holding a community event. They will be conducting free health screenings. Community residents are invited to come out for free health screenings, receive health education material, prizes, and giveaways.

Wednesday, August 14
11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Mission City Community Network, Inc – Northridge
Non-Profit Clinic
8363 Reseda Blvd Suite 11
Northridge, CA

The second week of August is dedicated to recognizing the service and contributions of community health centers in providing access to affordable, high quality, cost-effective health care to medically vulnerable and underserved people in the United States.

If you have any questions please call MCCN at (818)895-3100 or visit them at this link.

Sunset Picnic Hike at Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park

T
he foundation for the preservation of the Santa Susana Mountains is hosting a Hike and Sunset Picnic at Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park. They will be hiking to the Upper Meadow near Stoner's Jump, picnic and learn about the old Stagecoach Route through the Santa Susana Pass.

Saturday, August 17
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Meeting Point: Lilac Lane entrance to the Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park

To get to Lilac Lane: Take Topanga Canyon north, and just past Stoney Point is the Santa Susana Pass Road. Turn left. After you pass the Rocky Peak exit off the 118, start looking to your left for Lilac Lane. Turn left on Lilac Lane. Drive a short way and look to your left for a large dirt parking lot with a State Parks wooden kiosk. Park in the dirt parking lot and meet at the kiosk.

If you have any questions, please contact State Parks Interpretive Specialist Jennifer Dandurand, SantaSusana@parks.ca.gov.

Reports From Our Staff

Our Communications Director, Stephanie Saporito, wanted to make you aware of a new campaign spearheaded by the Child Welfare Initiative (CWI) called the Extraordinary Families Campaign. Collaborating with six of the county’s top foster family agencies, they are aiming to attract new foster families who are willing and able to work specifically with the children who have been identified as needing Therapeutic Foster Care.

The centerpiece of the campaign is a website that takes interested parents through what is required to commit to being a TFC parent. Through video testimonials and specific steps to take, parents can assess whether this is something they would like to do. The need and the significance of this contribution are clearly communicated.

For more information about the Child Welfare Initiative, click this link, and please visit the Extraordinary Families website at www.Extraordinary-Families.org

CD12 Welcomes New Field Deputy Jessie Levine

Jessie Levine joins the staff of CD 12 as a Field Deputy. Previously, she has spent time as a tenant organizer providing low income tenants the legal knowledge to preserve their homes. She is a graduate of University of California, Berkeley with a degree in Development Studies. She is eager to work with community members and serve as a resource to the residents of CD 12.


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