CD2 News Vol. 4 Issue 17

City to Ban Plastic Bags

Plastic bags line the L.A. River in Van Nuys | Photo/CD2

LOS ANGELES - In an 11-1 vote last week, the City Council tentatively approved a ban on single-use plastic bags, making Los Angeles the largest city in the country to adopt such a policy.

Councilmember Krekorian, who introduced the motion to ban single-use bags in 2011 alongside Councilmember Paul Koretz, strongly supported limited the plastic bags that he called costly, environmental hazards.

"The city is spending millions of dollars cleaning up this garbage left behind by careless people, where instead it could be spent on parks and services for the city's constituents," Councilmember Paul Krekorian said. "The time to take action is today [to] get them off our streets and get them off our beaches."

An estimated 2.3 billion single-use plastic carryout bags and 400 million single-use paper bags are used annually in the city of Los Angeles, according to the Bureau of Sanitation. The bags contribute to a major component of litter on City streets and in waterways, impairing water bodies and marine habitats, creating significant environmental consequences, officials said.

The city spends about $40 million cleaning up plastic bags, a primary reason the city opted to action even as state leader continues to mull its own set of bag regulations.

"Enough waiting for the Legislature to someday act on this," Councilmember Krekorian said. "Let's take the lead."

Upon the ordinance's approval, and the Mayor's signature, large retailers will be banned from using plastic carryout bags starting January 2014. The ban extends to smaller stores on July 1, 2014. The ordinance also requires retailers to charge customers 10 cents for each paper bag used. Stores that fail to comply with the ordinance will be subject to fines up to $500 for each bag distributed to customers.

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Summer Tips Off This Weekend

LOS ANGELES - The city's police and fire departments are teaming up to kick off summer this weekend during the 4th annual Safe Summer Tip-off Youth Basketball Event at the University of Southern California's Galen Center.

The yearly community event aims to bring young people together to start summer with safe, community enriching activities. The free event starts at 10:30 a.m. with a "Festival on Figueroa" and continues throughout the day with a complimentary lunch, interactive games, and culminates with the main event: a 1 p.m. basketball game between members of the Los Angeles police and fire departments.

The event is free and open to the public. USC's Galen Center is located at 3400 S Figueroa St., Los Angeles, 90089. [map]

For more information about the event, call LAPD Officer Sara Faden, LAPD Media Relations Section at (213) 486-5919 or check www.facebook.com/safesummertipoff.

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A Brighter Future for Los Angeles

The above infograph shares facts about
L.A.'s streetlight replacement project.

LOS ANGELES - City officials recently completed an ambitious project to outfit more than 100,000 streetlights throughout Los Angeles with energy and cost reducing LED lights. When the final street light was switched this month, Los Angeles became the first city in the world to retrofit its aging fleet of lights to more energy efficient bulbs.

The Bureau of Street Lighting's LED conversion program, which began in 2009, retrofitted 140,000 streetlights with the more cost efficient LED - light-emitting diodes - variety. Before the program began, the city's streetlights consumed 168 gigawatt hours of electricity, costing taxpayers $15 million a year while emitting 110,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide. The new lights save Angelenos about $10 million a year, reduce energy use by 63.1 percent and slash carbon emissions by 47,000 metric tons a year.

Councilmember Krekorian, who got a first hand look last year as crews' retrofitted streetlights in North Hollywood, applauded the program's innovation in energy and cost savings for the city.

"Los Angeles is widely known as a center of innovation with a forward-looking commitment to sustainability, and this project is a great example of how we've earned that reputation," Councilmember Krekorian said.

"The Bureau of Street Lighting's LED conversion program will save taxpayers money and enhance public safety, providing better lighting at less cost, while at the same time significantly reducing our carbon footprint. What we have done will be a model for cities across the United States and around the world. It is an inspiring example of how, even in difficult times, we can find creative solutions that allow city government to provide better services while still reducing costs."

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Dentist Gives Veterans

Something to Smile About

Councilmember Krekorian with Dr. Jorge Montes

of Operation Smiles Uplifting Military | Photo/CD2

NORTH HOLLYWOOD - Dr. Jorge Montes has always been in the business of restoring smiles. But these days, the North Hollywood-based dentist is giving away his services to people like Andre Ezmirlian, a 92-year-old veteran of World War II in need of dentures, for whom the federal government long ago stopped providing dental care.

Sensing the growing need for dental services among veterans, Dr. Montes and business partner Dorothy Stringer officially started Operation Smiles Uplifting Military in June, offering free basic dental care to aging veterans.

Ezmirlian, from North Hollywood, was the first patient, ahead of about 150 former soldiers whose benefits from the Dept. of Veteran Affairs do not include dentistry.

Currently, the nerve center of Operation Smiles is Dr. Montes' North Hollywood office, at 6631 Laurel Canyon Blvd. They could move to a bigger location as the need from World War II, Korea and Vietnam veterans grows. Those returning from other conflict eras could eventually be added into the program, which aims to go nationwide.

A motivating force behind Operation Smiles is the still vivid proximity of horror Dr. Montes experienced nearly five decades ago when he and his brother were nearly sent to Vietnam. Fortunately, the war ended before they could ship off, but Dr. Montes, 58, vowed to help those who returned, co-founder Dorothy Stringer said.

Councilmember Krekorian speaks to the crowd

during the ribbon cutting of the

North Hollywood office on OSUM | Photo/CD2

"Since their lives were spared...they [the Montes'] knew that they were blessed and lucky and vowed to give back," she said. "It was a natural progression for him."

For years, Dr. Montes has served up free dental care to veterans here and there, but the cost of providing such services became prohibitive. He joined with Stringer about seven months ago to establish Operation Smiles as a nonprofit organization, buoyed, they hope, by grants, donations and other philanthropic contributions.

They also expect the organization to one day provide free dental care to all veterans, an especially salient need, Stringer said, given the growing number of homeless veterans and that the federal government provides limited dental care upon a soldiers' return.

"That's where the greatest need is," Stringer said.

That need could help Operation Smiles grow and that's enough to put a smile on a veteran's face.

For more information on Operation Smiles Uplifting Military or to qualify for an appointment, visit www.thisisosum.org.

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CD2 Community Bulletin Board

This note is from Jean Sinatra, Vice President of the East Valley Police Activity League Supporters:

The East Valley Police Activity League Supporters (PALS) is currently considering candidates for an Executive Board position to spearhead the membership efforts on behalf of the organization. This is a VOLUNTEER opportunity, but it comes with great satisfaction as you make a positive impact and further the collaborative relationship between the Los Angeles Police Department's North Hollywood Division and the Community at large.

PALS provides financial support for the LAPD's Youth Programs, the Officers, programs co-sponsored by LAPD and the Community, and the Station itself. This organization steps in to supplement what is NOT provided for within the City of Los Angeles' budget. A few examples of our support include: the purchase of uniform items for LAPD's Youth Programs members, the purchase of supplemental gear and equipment for the Officers, improvements to the station, support for additional training fees for the Officers, funding for special events benefiting the Community and LAPD and much, much more! We are a 501 � (3) and our supporters are business owners and other stakeholders who are predominantly located within the area surrounding North Hollywood (North Hollywood, Studio City, Valley Glen and Sun Valley). This encompasses the area LAPD's North Hollywood Division is responsible for "serving and protecting"! What PALS provides greatly enhances the overall partnership between law enforcement and the Community.

You will work closely with LAPD's Command Staff and all of the outstanding Officers who work specifically within the Community Relations Unit of LAPD. Terrific Executive Board members already established - this is the ONLY open position within the Executive Board. Responsibilities will be focused on the growth of the general membership of the organization in addition to community outreach.

Qualified candidates will have some related experience combined with strong organizational skills, a very positive attitude, a high level of professionalism and energy and a commitment to Public Safety. All final candidates must be able to pass a criminal background check as per LAPD policy for all volunteers.

Interested parties should submit resume to:
Jean Sinatra, Vice President - PALS - LAPD's North Hollywood Division [email protected] 818.982.1133

Do you want to list something in our CD2 Community Bulletin Board? Email [email protected] today!

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Photos From Around the District

Councilmember Krekorian recently toured St. Patrick Catholic School on June 20, in North Hollywood, visiting with teachers and students

Councilmember Krekorian congratulated Tyler Ganus on his 11th birthday for dedicating all of his gifts and raising more than $10,000 in donations for the Make-A-Wish Foundation | Photos/CD2

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Volume 4, Issue 17

June 24, 2013