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Officials, Community Urge FAA
to reduce Helicopter Noise
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Councilmember Krekorian testifies during
last weeks's FAA hearing on helicopter noise.
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SHERMAN OAKS - Community members, city officials, and members of Congress spoke before federal officials last week, urging adoption of a sustainable policy to reduce helicopter noise throughout Los Angeles.The Millikan Middle School auditorium, where the hearing took place, was packed with an estimated 250 attendees, including Councilmember Paul Krekorian, eager to offer the Federal Aviation Administration testimony about the seeming constant din of helicopter noise ringing through neighborhoods. The event was organized by Rep. Howard Berman and, in addition to the Councilmember, was also attended by Reps. Adam Schiff, Brad Sherman, Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky and hundreds of residents from neighborhood councils, community groups and others fed up with the choppers."For years and years we've seen our quality of life degrade and erode as the amount of helicopter noise has increased, with it the brazenness of operators," Councilmember Krekorian said during the hearing, offering his testimony to the representatives of the FAA. "We need your help. We need your aggressive, enforceable, real solutions to these problems; not more studying, but actual enforceable action. True enforceability." Complaints stemmed from the rising tide of paparazzi helicopters hovering over celebrity mansions, news media choppers creating disruptions in neighborhoods during police car chases and tour companies entering certain neighborhoods through the air."These combine to provide significant activity and noise pollution," said Bob Anderson, of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association. "Enforceable, legal restrictions are necessary."The FAA representatives promised to also speak with helicopter operators and aviation companies regarding the issue. Within a year, the testimony culled from the hearing will be used to generate a report, on methods to curtail the noise pollution. To submit comments to the FAA on helicopter noise pollution in Los Angeles, contact 9-awp-la0noise@faa.gov, or go to house.gov/berman.
You may also address letters to:
Mr. William C. Withycombe
Administrator, FAA Western-Pacific Region
P.O. Box 92007
Los Angeles, CA 90009
Officials ask that you include your full name and full address, describe a specific helicopter problem at your home and explain how often you hear helicopter noise.
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Council Approves Armenian
Language Ballots
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles City Council approved a motion from Councilmember Paul Krekorian to add the Armenian language to the city's election materials. Los Angeles is home to the most Armenian-Americans in the country and about 30,000 are registered to vote in the city.
Armenian is the third most commonly spoken language in Los Angeles but not one of the six languages now included on election materials.
"Throughout our history, America has been defined by its commitment to the right to vote, and it has been forged by the ongoing struggle to expand participation in democracy," Councilmember Paul Krekorian said. "In Los Angeles, the most diverse city in the country, our citizens speak nearly 100 languages. For many naturalized citizens who speak English as a second language, the language barrier can be an intimidating and daunting barrier to full and informed participation in the voting process that is their right.
Through this motion, voter outreach and poll worker recruitment will be required in Armenian (as well as Farsi and Russian). The Council also mandated that city staff members work collaboratively with representatives of Los Angeles County, as well as the cities of Glendale and Burbank and other local entities with similar language concerns, to develop a strategic approach to making Armenian language ballot materials available in future elections.
"These steps will make a real difference to thousands of citizens in Los Angeles who will now be able to more meaningfully participate in City elections," Councilmember Krekorian said.
"Our great American tradition of political inclusion requires that all citizens, regardless of their place of origin, can comfortably exercise the right to vote that is one of the very reasons many came to this country. By the Council's action today, the City will continue to be true to that tradition."
Language options currently on L.A.'s election materials and ballots include Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese, all required by the federal Voting Rights Act.
With the motion, the City Clerk will now plan for the implementation of full election language services in the Armenian language for the 2015 Municipal Elections.
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Community Unites for a Night Out 
NORTH HOLLYWOOD - In its 29th year of celebration, National Night Out once again drew thousands across the San Fernando Valley together to support safer streets and neighborhoods.
Amid the vendor booths, food tasting, and fanfare, local law enforcement and city leaders had an important message to share: keep an eye on crime in your community and take action by communicating with your local authorities. "People [should] not only look around them and be diligent in looking for criminal activity, they need to take it one step further; they need to do something about it, too," North Hollywood LAPD Police Capt. Peter Whittingham told Patch.
Councilmember Krekorian and crew spent time at North Hollywood Park, Valley Village Park and Van Nuys Civic Center. See a slideshow of our National Night Out evening on our brand new Tumblr page.
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In Valley Village, Community
Cheers Park Upgrades
VALLEY VILLAGE - Against a backdrop of sandwiches and lemonade, the community cut the ribbon improvements to Valley Village Park, which officials said would deliver long lasting change to the neighborhood.
The park dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony, which coincided with National Night Out, is a culmination of a months-long collaboration among the Dept. of Recreation and Parks, the Valley Village Homeowners Association the Neighborhood Council Valley Village and the office of Councilmember Paul Krekorian.
Equipped with new picnic tables, repaired lights near the playground's restrooms, a brand new chess and checkers tables, a new walking path, three park benches, three doggie bag stations, as well a new shade structure over the play area, Valley Village Park is ready to welcome visitors.
"These improvements will make Valley Village Park even more enjoyable and provide more recreational opportunities to the families of the area," Councilmember Krekorian said. "I'm very happy that my office helped bring these upgrades to fruition, working in close partnership with the Valley Village Homeowners Association, Neighborhood Council Valley Village and the Department of Recreation and Parks -- all of whom went above and beyond to make this park better than it's ever been."
Check out the revamped park for yourself, located on 5000 Westpark Dr., Valley Village, 91601 [map]. ------------------------- |
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Safe Routes Grant Approved
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The tragic 2010 death of 12-year-old Emely Aleman helped spur improvements to North Hollywood, such as this new traffic signal on Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Archwood Street. The Safe Routes to School grant will help ensure the continued safety of nearby neighbors and school children.
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LOS ANGELES - The California Dept. of Transportation recently announced [.pdf] a slew of grants to help improve pedestrian safety near schools throughout the state, including two projects in Council District 2.
One project, for which Councilmember Paul Krekorian's office applied and worked with state and local officials to bring to fruition, is in North Hollywood and will fund nearly $500,000 for a series of improvements on Archwood Street that will benefit Bellingham Primary Center and Roy Romer Middle School. Crews will construct sidewalks, curbs and gutters, curbs, as well as speed humps and signs.
The other project in Council District 2 is in Van Nuys and will benefit Van Nuys Elementary School. The $500,000 project will install road diets, speed humps, and safety lighting, as well as crosswalk upgrades.
"Every day, thousands of students walk and bike to and from Bellingham Primary Center, Roy Romer Middle School and Van Nuys Elementary School," Councilmember Krekorian said. "This award of a million dollar in Safe Routes to School grants will now make that journey much safer for these students and their families.
"After more than a year of sustained efforts by my office and others to secure this funding, we will soon be able to construct new sidewalks and curbs, install signage, lay new speed humps and more to protect students and the neighbors who live and work near those schools.
"Pedestrian safety has always been one of my top priorities throughout my service in the Council and in the Legislature, and I am very pleased that these state grants will now fund these vital projects in my district. At a time when public funding at all levels of government is being cut so severely, I am very proud that my office succeeded, through hard work and creativity, in finding alternative funding for these important public safety measures to benefit the children of the Valley."
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Now Introducing: CD2 News on Tumblr
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The above are screenshots of the CD2 Tumblr's many features.
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You've seen us tweet, you've seen us on Facebook, and now we're ready to tumble. We would like to welcome the newest addition to our council district media family: the CD2 News Tumblr, which you can visit by clicking cd2news.tumblr.com.
CD2's Tumblr, a microblogging and social networking site, will be your go-to place for district happenings and news. With its great shareability features and sleek design, the CD2 News Tumblr makes sharing district news easier and more convenient.
Unlike some aspects of Facebook and Twitter, you don't have to be a member of the site to gain full access to our page, though we will continue updating all other social networking portals. The CD2 News tumblr allows us greatly flexibility to bring you news every day while the handy comment feature is a great way for you to give us feedback and share your opinion on all of our latest headlines.
Head on over to cd2news.tumblr.com and bookmark the page. While you're at it, tell us what you think!
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Filing Period for Neighborhood
Council Elections Near
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In 2010, we held two neighborhood council workshops to improve community empowerment,
like the one above at USC.
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EAST VALLEY - The last day to register to qualify as a candidate for the Neighborhood Councils of Region 4 is quickly approaching. Before the Aug. 21 deadline, stakeholders in North Hollywood, Studio City, Valley Glen, Valley Village, Tarzana, Sherman Oaks, and Toluca Lake are encouraged to file papers for the Sept. 20 neighborhood council elections.
Eligible candidates must live, work or own property within the neighborhood council boundaries, be a member of an organization or declare a stake within the neighborhood council boundaries.
The Neighborhood Council network is part of the city's Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, whose goal is to increase civic engagement. Members of the NC boards participate in community planning, neighborhood safety, park and street improvements while working to support local schools and emergency planning and organize community events.
For additional information regarding other elections in different neighborhood council regions, as well as guidelines, dates, FAQs and other resources, visit the EmpowerLA wesite.
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How to Keep Cool in Hot Weather
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY - With temperatures quickly rising, heat advisories have been issued once again in the Valley. With that in mind, the LADWP has tips for your home and workplace on how to keep cool and conserve energy.
Tips for the Home:
- Adjust thermostat to 78 degrees to reduce energy usage during the hottest hours of the day when air conditioning systems have to work hardest to cool.
- Limit the use of appliances during peak hours of the day- use washing machines, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners and other heavy appliances during evening hours.
- Close draperies, shades or blinds during the heat of the day to reduce the extra heat from direct sunlight.
- Clean or replace air-conditioner filters every month to maintain efficiency and air flow.
- Regularly brush or vacuum the condenser coils at the bottom or rear of your refrigerator and check door gasket for tight fit and adjust if necessary.
Tips for the Workplace:
- Turn off your desk and overhead lights, and meeting room lights, if they are not needed, or install motion detector switches in each room.
- Turn off all computer equipment when you leave the office or when they are not in use for long periods of time.
- Go paperless when possible. Reduced printing and copying translates into reduced energy use.
The LAFD also reminds us to adjust your attire and activities to limit heat exposure, drink plenty of water before you become thirsty and rest in the shade before you become tired.
Don't forget, you can always beat the heat in a cooling center near you. The city's libraries, recreation and park facilities, and senior citizen centers are all cooling centers - designated city facilities the public can use to seek refuge from the heat. These facilities are always open to the public during regular business hours. And, public pools are another way to stay cool.
For more information and tips, you can check out Ready L.A. for extreme weather preparedness guides.
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Take a Walk Through NoHo History
NORTH HOLLYWOOD - The Museum of the San Fernando Valley wants to take you on a walking tour through North Hollywood's history during one of the museum's bi-monthly tour series.
The historic walking tour takes attendees through a variety of North Hollywood's landmarks, including Amelia Earhart's statue, Marilyn Monroe's elementary school, and the Southern Pacific Railroad Depot from 1886, all while teaching you about the area's cowboy past, pioneer families, movie, television, and recording stars, its connection to Spanish history and much more.
The next tour is slated for Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. and a ttendance is free with a suggested $10 donation, which participants can pay through the museum's website - www.themuseumsfv.org - or during the tour.
To RSVP for a walking tour, call (818) 347-9665; leave your name, email, phone number and how many attendees. You can also email the information to events@theMuseumSFV.org.
The North Hollywood tour meets at the Amelia Earhart Statue on the northwest corner of Tujunga Street & Magnolia Boulevard at 10 a.m [map]. Visit the museum's website for additional information regarding tour dates and times.
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The Great California
ShakeOut Earthquake Drill
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Image via ShakeOut.org
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LOS ANGELES - With a swarm of earthquakes recently hitting Southern California, the office of Councilmember Krekorian is going to drop, cover, and hold on for the largest earthquake drill in California, an annual event geared to prepare Californians and participants worldwide about earthquake safety and what to do in the event of a major earthquake.
This year, the ShakeOut Drill is scheduled for 10:18 a.m. on Oct. 18. More than 5.5 million participants are slated to partake and you can too. Whether you are in your home, at work, school, or anywhere else, drop, cover, and hold on as if a major earthquake is occurring at that very moment.
With recent reports of 4.4 scale earthquakes in Los Angeles and Orange County, the ShakeOut is an opportunity to practice taking appropriate actions in this emergency situation and learning how to protect ourselves during earthquakes.
Coordinated every year by the Earthquake Country Alliance, the 2008 effort was the largest earthquake drill in U.S. history at the time, with more than 5.4 million participants across southern California. Last year, the campaign garnered more than 9.5 million participants, the largest drawing thus far.
To be counted in this year's drill, click here to visit the
ShakeOut website and register. The website also features additional resources about the campaign and earthquake readiness and safety.
How earthquake ready are you? Take this Beat the Quake quiz and put your earthquake readiness knowledge to the test.
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Honorees Sought for
Deaf Awareness Month
LOS ANGELES - September is Deaf Awareness Month, and on Friday, Sept. 21, the Los Angeles City Council will recognize outstanding organizations and individuals that have contributed to the hearing-impaired community.
We are seeking nominations for an awardee from CD2 to be honored by Councilmember Krekorian at the event. Please send ideas to District Director Damian Carroll via damian.carroll@lacity.org or by calling him at (818) 755-7676.
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Volume 3, Issue 10
August 14, 2012
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cd2.lacity.org
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Important Announcement:
A public hearing on the NBC Evolution Plan is scheduled for Tuesday,
Aug. 14, 2012
at 9:30 a.m.
for detailed information.
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Are you receiving this newsletter from a friend?
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To see a complete list of neighborhood council and community meetings, please check out our
Community Calendar.
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Cooling centers in the San Fernando Valley:
Beeman Park (A.K.A. Studio City Recreation Center)
12621 Rye Street
Studio City, 91604 [map]
Fernangeles Pool 8851 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Sun Valley, 91352 [map] North Hollywood Senior Center 5301 Tujunga Ave
North Hollywood, 91601 [map] North Hollywood Recreation Center 11430 Chandler Blvd.
North Hollywood, 91601 [map] North Hollywood Pool 5301 Tujunga Ave.,
North Hollywood, 91601 [map] North Weddington Recreation Center 10844 Acama St.
North Hollywood, 91601 [map]
Studio City Recreation Center
12621 Rye Street
Studio City, CA 91604 [map] Sun Valley Pool
8123 Vineland Ave.,
Sun Valley, 91352 [map]
Valley Plaza Recreation Center
12240 Archwood St
North Hollywood, 91605 [map] Valley Plaza Pool 6715 Laurelgrove Ave.,
North Hollywood, 91606 [map]
Valley Therapeutic Recreation Center 11430 Chandler Blvd
North Hollywood, 91601 [map] Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks Senior Center 5040 Van Nuys Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, 91423 [map] Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Pool 14201 Huston St.,
Van Nuys, 91403 [map] Victory-Vineland Recreation Center 11117 Victory Blvd.
North Hollywood, 91606 [map] |
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