"I'm honored to have been reappointed as Chair of the Council's Budget and Finance Committee," Councilmember Krekorian said. "And I'm thrilled that my new colleagues Bob Blumenfield and Mike Bonin will join returning members Mitchell Englander and Paul Koretz on the committee. This is a very capable group, and I feel privileged to lead the committee during these times of continuing budget challenges."

The L.A. City Council meets every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday at 10 a.m. in the John Ferraro Council Chamber, Room 340, City Hall. For committee meeting times, visit the council calendar on the lacity.org website.

Photo via lahsa.org

LOS ANGELES - Homelessness in L.A. County jumped 16 percent as federal funds traditionally used to help the neediest continue to dwindle, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) recently reported. Yet federal dollars used to help veterans drove down the number of homeless ex-soldiers across the County as officials continue to look for ways to alleviate the plight of those most in need.

Officials said the spike in homeless men, women and children - from 50,214 in 2011 to 58,423 this year - is directly proportional to declining federal dollars; a converse increase in spending by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs may have contributed to a drop in homeless vets throughout L.A. County. The latest results follow LAHSA's Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count in January, a biennial study on the region's homeless population.

"Over the past year, we've seen a significant reduction in federal resources available to fight homelessness," said Michael Arnold, Executive Director of LAHSA. "The increase we see today in our homeless population demonstrates the direct relationship between resources to address the problem and our ability to have an impact." 

"For example, the Department of Veterans Affairs has significantly increased federal funding to end veteran's homelessness. Because of that investment, we are seeing a 23 percent decrease in the number of homeless vets in Los Angeles," said Arnold. "The response to the veteran's crisis was swift and decisive and had bi-partisan support. This clearly demonstrates how the right resources, effectively targeted, can prevent and end homelessness."

The organization is set to release detailed breakdowns of the homeless count data, including numbers for the city of Los Angeles in the coming weeks. For more information about the homeless count, check www.lahsa.org.

Carlos Rios, a Department of Transportation Traffic Engineer, celebrated the project's completion.

LOS ANGELES - The L.A. City Council recognized World Day of International Justice last week, citing the city's role as a refuge for those fleeing global strife now and throughout history. 

The presentation centered on the International Criminal Court Alliance, a local research and educational group advocating American participation in the ICC.  

"As we all know, our city is home to many who have fled countries rife with horrific violence," Councilmember Paul Krekorian said during the City Council meeting. "My own ancestors arrived here before the 1915 Armenian Genocide... A short time later, so many from Europe fled here and made their new home here in the wake of the Holocaust. While many continue around the world continue to be racked by violence, the people of those countries continue to find refuge here in the city of Los Angeles.  

"We'll always continue to welcome those who are yearning for freedom, yearning for justice yearning just to be free from violence and abuse of their human rights."

International Justice Day is celebrated throughout the world on July 17, commemorating the 1998 anniversary when the global community adopted the Rome Statute, which served as the legal basis for establishing the permanent International Criminal Court. The day is part of an effort to recognize the development and achievements of international criminal justice institutions and their contributions to international criminal justice.

LOS ANGELES - With summer in full swing and temperatures are on the rise, the LADWP advises Angelenos to follow a few energy saving measures to help cut down costs, stay cool and help conserve energy: 

• Adjust your 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;
• Give air conditioners a rest for an hour or two every day, as to not overload the equipment;
• Limit appliance usage during peak hours of the day- use washing machines, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners and other heavy appliances during evening hours;
• Try to avoid using your stove or oven during peak hours of the day since it will add to the heat inside the home;
• Ventilate your home at night and early morning by opening windows and doors to clear out the heat and allow cooler air to circulate;
• Turn off lights and equipment when they are not in use;
• Close draperies, shades or blinds during the heat of the day to reduce the extra heat from direct sunlight;
• Unplug "energy vampires" like cell phone chargers, DVD players, microwave ovens and other appliances that use energy even when turned off or in sleep mode.