Politics & Government

Poor Roads, Pioneer Day on Sunday and more

Road Conditions in L.A. Region Judged Worst in Country

According to the Los Angeles Times, the City of Los Angeles ranks number one in poor road condition and annual cost to drivers. This is based on a study done by TRIP, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that studies transportation data and issues.

Los Angeles' streets are in the worst condition of any major US city, costing vehicle owners over $800 in additional per-vehicle operating costs every year. Chronic underfunding of street maintenance from the 1950's - 1990's led to the deterioration of 8,700 miles of city streets that now must be completely reconstructed. At the current rate of repair, it would take 60 years to reconstruct all 8,700 miles.

Our streets are the foundation of our city. Poor pavement conditions affect every Angelino, every day, whether by increased traffic, slower public safety response or decreased property values. It is vital that we invest in our infrastructure to improve our quality of life and our City.

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

Click here for more information on Save Our Streets L.A.

Click here to view the full L.A. Times story.

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

Bringing Legal Counsel to Area Planning Commission Meetings

This week, I introduced a motion instructing the City Administrative Officer, the Planning Department and the City Attorney to report back in 30 days with recommendations to fund City Attorney staffing at Area Planning Commission meetings.

The City’s seven Area Planning Commissions are quasi-judicial agencies that are responsible for making important decisions on a variety of land use issues.

For the first several years since their inception, Area Planning Commission meetings were staffed by a City Attorney who was available to provide valuable legal advise to the Commission and City staff on land use matters and procedural questions. Because of staffing issues, however, City Attorney presence at the meetings was discontinued.

Due to the sometimes complex nature of land use issues, it is prudent that the City Attorney reconsider its staffing priorities to include having a staff member present at Area Planning Commission meetings.

C.E.M.P. Celebrates 50 Years of Service

This week, I was proud to join the California Emergency Mobile Patrol in celebrating its 50th Anniversary serving the San Fernando Valley. C.E.M.P. is an all-volunteer, full-service suburban search & rescue team based in the San Fernando Valley. Established in 1962, it operates under the umbrella of the Los Angeles Police Department and responds to the emergency needs of the LAPD and other area agencies, including the Los Angeles City Fire Department and Los Angeles City Park Rangers. These volunteers hold full-time jobs along with a passionate desire to give back to the community.

The White House Honors LAFD Captain Stacy Gerlich

Last week, the White House honored LAFD Captain/Paramedic Stacy Gerlich as a “Champion of Change for Community Preparedness and Resilience.”

Captain Gerlich, MA, serves as theCommunity Emergency Response Training(CERT) Program administrator and manager, providing both organization and leadership to the continual development of the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) trained volunteer program. The CERT program was developed by the LAFD in 1986 and has remained a leader in its field. LAFD CERT is currently training 4000 citizens annually and maintains an active cadre of 215 trained volunteers who contribute over 4,500 volunteer hours annually to the LAFD. The CERT program provides a structured curriculum for citizens to become more prepared, resilient, and vital components to “whole community” preparedness.

Captain Gerlich is considered a subject matter expert in the field of disaster preparedness and has had the honor of working with citizens and stakeholders throughout the United States to prepare our nation for an untimely whole community disaster.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/champions

Granada Hills Community Blood Drive

The Granada Hills Rotary Club will be holding a community blood drive. Last year, teaming with AYSO Regions 8 and 174, over 400 pints of blood valued at approximately $140,000 were donated to Providence Holy Cross Center, Kaiser Permanente, Cedars Sinai Medical Center and Red Cross.

Saturday, October 5
8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Granada Hills Recreation Center
16730 Chatsworth St.
Granada Hills

North Valley Youth Sports Complex
13225 Whistler Ave.
Granada Hills

If you have any questions please call the Granada Hills Rotary Club at(818)388-6428.

6th Annual Valley Emergency Disaster Preparedness Fair

Get preparedness information from the Red Cross, the Gas Company, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and many others. Learn how to volunteer with emergency response organizations like Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), California Emergency Mobile Patrol and Civil Air Patrol.

Saturday, October 5
10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Fire Station 87
10124 Balboa Blvd.
North Hills

Community Potluck and Movie.

The Congregational Church of Chatsworth would like to invite the community to a potluck and free movie.

The potluck will begin at 6:00 pmin the multipurpose room and will be followed at 7:00 by a screening of "Return To Me" starring David Duchovny, Minnie Driver and Carroll O'Connor. Please bring a dish to share at the potluck and then stay to watch the movie.

For more information call 818-349-2550

Saturday, October 5
6:00 pm

The Congregational Church of Chatsworth
20440 Lassen Street
Chatsworth

Farmers and Charmers Square Dancing.

The Wilkinson’s Senior Center is hosting a Square Dance! Whether it's folk dancing, line dancing, square dancing, or ballroom dancing to live music - this is a marvelous venue for making new friends and having a lot of fun while you're getting that cardio going! And most of these events are free or very low cost and both singles and couples are welcome!

Saturday, October 5
7:30 pm to 10:30 pm

Wilkinson Senior Center 
8956 Vanalden Avenue
Northridge

 Call 818-344-0305 for more information.

23rd Annual Pioneer Day at Chatsworth Park South

Attend Pioneer Day at Chatsworth Park South. This fundraising event is for the Minnie Palmer Homestead Acre and the preservation of Chatsworth History. This event will be featuring a chili cook off, Quilt weaving, Black Smithing demos, Gold Panning, and different arts crafts.

Sunday, October 6
11:00 am to 4:00 pm

Minnie Palmer Homestead Acre at Chatsworth Park South
10385 Shadow Oak Dr.
Chatsworth

It is $5 donation to attend the event and if you have any questions please call Ann Vincent at (818) 882-5614

Walk to School Day

The City of LA is coordinating Walk to School events all over the city onOctober 9th. We are calling on organizers to lead events at individual schools, and we could use your help. This person can be a parent, nurse, school champion for physical activity or traffic safety, student leadership member, PTA representative, etc.

Wednesday, October 9
All day


You can find more information on our website at www.WalkToSchoolDay-LA.org.

California Retired Teacher’s Association Division 19 Luncheon

The featured speaker, Dawnnesha Smith, Community Outreach Manager for the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer Affairs will discuss how to protect against identity theft.

Friday, October 11
10:00 am

Northridge Women’s Club
18401 Lassen Street
Northridge

The West Hills Optimist Club Presents “Blithe Spirit”

"Blithe Spirit" is a comedic play written by Noël Coward. The play concerns the socialite and novelist Charles Condomine, who invites the eccentric medium and clairvoyant, Madame Arcati, to his house to conduct a séance, hoping to gather material for his next book. The scheme backfires when he is haunted by the ghost of his annoying and temperamental first wife, Elvira, after the séance. Elvira makes continual attempts to disrupt Charles's marriage to his second wife, Ruth, who cannot see or hear the ghost.

Saturday, October 12
Play starts at 8:00 pm

West Valley Playhouse
7242 Owensmouth Ave.
Canoga Park

Tickets are $28 per person. If you have any questions please call Kathy Willets at (818) 970-7200

Oktoberfest at Oh’Gradys

Oktoberfest is coming to Oh’ Gradys. There will be Brats, Burgers, and Ice Cold beer. There is a $5.00 Admission fee and all proceeds will go to the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles.

Saturday, October 12
2:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Oh' Gradys
17633 Chatsworth St.
Granada Hills


To learn more about the event please call (818) 368-8424

Kiwanis Equestrian Competition for Special Athletes

The Kiwanis Club of Warner Center is holding its 20th Kiwanis EquestrianCompetition for Special Athletes. It is a fun filed day with informal equestrian competitions for special needs children and young adults. This is not only fun for the kids and their parents, but this is also benefits the children through therapeutic riding.

Sunday, October 13
8:00 am – 4:30 pm

Hansen Dam Equestrian
11127 Orcas Ave.
Sylmar


If you have any questions please call (818) 347-6523.

Workshop on Non-Profit Advocacy

Join nonprofit advocacy and public affairs expert Larry Kaplan to explore how nonprofits can legally advocate for systemic change. There will be presentations by Kafi Blumenfield, CEO of Liberty Hill Foundation, and Lyn Shaw, Staff Director for LA City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield. Advocacy can get policies changed and get public officials on your side, engage supporters in the community, and have a positive impact on funders.

Tuesday, October 15
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Valley Nonprofit Resources
5435 Balboa Blvd.
Encino

To attend the Workshop, please RSVP through the VNR Project. Please contact Julaine Konselman at (818) 990-0176 or julainehiri@aol.com.

18th Annual SOLID All You Can Eat Pasta Dinner Fundraiser

Come join SOLID’s all you can Eat Pasta Dinner Fundraiser and help theDevonshire LAPD Station raise money for updates to their Police Station. Dinner fundraiser will be $9 per person and children under 3 eat for free.

Friday, October 18
5:00 pm to 7:30 pm

St. Nicholas Greek Church.
9501 Balboa Blvd.
Northridge

Attendees can pay at the door and if you have any questions please call(818) 718-9498 or visit www.soliddevonshire.org

Northridge Family Art Fair

Councilmember Englander, the Calahan Community Center and the Northridge South Neighborhood Council are proud to sponsor the First Annual Northridge Family Art Fair. This free event will include live music, crafts for both children and adults, free face painting and much more!

Saturday, October 19
10:00 am to 3:00 pm

Calahan Community Charter School
18722 Knapp Street
Northridge

Chatsworth Library's Giant Book Sale

The Chatsworth Branch Library is having a Giant Book Sale. The Library is raising funds to support their day to day operations and gives them an opportunity to open up space to put new books and give their older books new homes.

Saturday, October 19
10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Chatsworth Branch Library
21052 Devonshire St.
Chatsworth

If you have any questions please call (818) 341-4276

Clash of the Canyon VEX "Toss up" Robotics competition

Spectators of all ages won't believe their eyes as they watch the robots that are completely designed and built by students, compete and perform against each other in the competition. Watch and support the Reseda High Robotics team compete against other schools and teams from around California and from the United Kingdom. The competition is based on the VEX Educational Robotic Design System.

Saturday, October 19
7:00 am – 5:30 pm

Viewpoint School
23620 Mulholland Highway
Calabasas

The event is free for spectators. If you have any questions please call Lance Rush at (818)340-2901

Open Arms Walkathon and 5K run

Open Arms Pregnancy Clinic is holding a Walkathon and 5K run at California State University, Northridge. By registering as a walker or runner, or by pledging support for a participant, you will be helping the Open Arms Pregnancy Clinic to offer practical help and hope to those facing an unexpected pregnancy.

Saturday, October 19
8:30 am – 11:30 am

California State University of Northridge
Corner of Lindley and N. University Dr.
Northridge

To register please visit http://www.withopenarms.org/events/
Highland Fest and College/Career Fair

Granada Hills Charter High School will be hosting the College/Career Fair and HighlanderFest at Granada Hills Charter High School. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about different careers and colleges.

Saturday, October 19
11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Granada Hills Charter High School
10535 Zelzah Ave.
Granada Hills

If you have any questions please email Carrie Boutros atcboutros@ghchs.com

Collaboration to Improve Children and Family Services Workshop

Valley Nonprofit Resources and Child Development Institute are bringing together children and family services nonprofits in the San Fernando Valley to brainstorm about how they can collaborate more effectively to meet the needs of children and families in the Valley. It will include time for participants to information about what services their nonprofit provides, what challenges they face (for instance, health care reform and education reform), and how nonprofits can collaborate more effectively.

Tuesday, October 22
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Valley Nonprofit Resources
5435 Balboa Blvd.
Encino

To attend the Workshop, please RSVP through the VNR Project. Please contact Julaine Konselman at 818/990-0176 or julainehiri@aol.com.

Building Community One Breakfast at a Time

Our Community School (OCS) invites local business owners and community members to its Community Building Breakfast series for a complimentary breakfast while they learn about Our Community School and how they can help build community involvement both on and off campus.

Thursday, October 24
7:00 am – 8:30 am

Assembly Hall at Our Community School
10045 Jumilla Ave.
Chatsworth

If you have any questions please contact Ilia Jauregui, Development and Communications Director, 818-350-5000 or atIlia.j@ourcommunityschool.org

Honor A Hero – Hire A Vet

The San Fernando Valley Veterans Employment Committee is having a Job and Resource fair to help our veterans that live in the San Fernando Valley.

Thursday, October 24
11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Airtel Plaza Hotel & Conference Center
7277 Valjean Ave
Van Nuys

To register please go to: www.thevalley.net/hahhav

LAPD Devonshire’s Salute to Kids

Join the LAPD’s Devonshire Division in celebrating “A Day for Children” at Petit Park. The event will kick off with a “Walk Against Crime” around Petit Park and will include face painting, great food and music.

Saturday, October 26
9:30 am to 2:00 pm

Granada Hills Recreation Center at Petit Park
16730 Chatsworth Street
Granada Hills

Reports From Our Staff

Our Field Deputy, Colin Crews wants to let you know that there is a fast and efficient way for you to report problems involving your streets. The Bureau of Street Services has an easy to complete online service request form for your use. By clicking this link, you can fill out a simple form to report various problems, from potholes to downed tree limbs. Once you submit your service request you will receive a confirmation email from the Bureau of Street Services. The email will include a service request number allowing you to track the status of your request. You can also use the website to apply for a variety of City permits like tree pruning and curb painting by clicking here

For more information about the Bureau of Street Service please visit their website at http://bss.lacity.org.


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