CD2 News Vol. 4 Issue 28

City Financial Report Details

Economic "Turning Point"

LOS ANGELES - The city's financial outlook is brighter now that at any point since the Great Recession, according to a recent report by the City Administrative Officer. An improved national economic forecast, continued investment in city infrastructure, combined with greater pension reform measures and ongoing efforts to contain compensation growth, helped stabilize finances and reduce the projected structural deficit for 2014-15 by 53%.

L.A.'s budget also received a better than projected shot in the arm from its revenue, which was 2.6% higher last fiscal year while the city continued to maintain Mayor Bradley-era staffing levels even as the population increased significantly. The unexpected revenue also allowed the city to boost its reserve fund to 6.71% for the first time in the city's history, exceeding the 5% required.

Councilmember Krekorian, head of the Budget & Finance Committee, which helped implement these measures, praised the report while stressing caution at the road ahead. The City Administrative Officer did the same.

"Here in Los Angeles, the city has leveraged the improved economic conditions in the region to strengthen its own financial position," wrote CAO Miguel Santana, adding that "[t]here is no question that 2013-14 is a turning point in the city's financial standing,"

The city's financial prognosis is good, but a number of issues - labor negotiations, ongoing lawsuits, pension liabilities, and the ongoing effort to focus on delivering core services - will be key to reducing L.A.'s deficit to zero by 2017-18.

Read the First Financial Status Report of 2013-14 here

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Metro Approves Bridge Funding

NORTH HOLLYWOOD - The Metropolitan Transit Agency last week voted unanimously to move forward with a spending plan to build a pedestrian bridge in Universal City, connecting the Metro station in Studio City with the NBC lot and Universal Studios across from the busy transit center on Lankershim Boulevard.

Since its initial plans were formulated nearly two decades ago, the Universal City Station Pedestrian Bridge had been delayed by lawsuits, cost increases and ongoing stakeholder meetings to ensure the needs of the community were met.

Initially, a pedestrian tunnel was conceived in 1994 to connect the Metro Red Line Station with Universal Studios. As the tunnel's price tag rose, its plans were scrapped in favor of a bridge. In December 2008, NBCU sent a conceptual plan of the bridge to Metro but it would be another four years before the public was asked for their thoughts as engineering plans, cost estimates and legal wrangling laid the foundation for current plans.

Now, with funding from Metro and NBCUniversal and a dozen suggestions from the community and Councilmember Krekorian to improve public safety in place, plans for building the $27.3 million bridge can move forward.

At the Metro meeting, Councilmember Krekorian asked his fellow board members to add more disabled access near bridge stairways, graffiti abatement measures and signage to reflect the region's historical significance.

Along with the Councilmember, the bridge received broad support from a community that for years had been calling for action.

"Since cost has now made a tunnel impossible, we see the pedestrian bridge as the only way to provide safe crossing for the many thousands of tourists and Southern California patrons who visit Universal Studios every year," wrote Krista Michaels, Vice President of the
Cahuenga Pass Property Owners Association to Metro.

The Valley Industry and Commerce Association (VICA) also asked the MTA to approve the bridge while the Studio City Neighborhood Council, which had opposed the idea a year ago, offered suggestions that Councilmember Krekorian implemented.

NBCU and Metro will continue on the design path with the community's and Councilmember Krekorian's suggestions.

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Update on Street Resurfacing in CD2

The markings show streets that have

been resurfaced since March | Photo CD2

LOS ANGELES - Street resurfacing continues to progress at an impressive pace in Council District 2 with nearly 66 streets completed to date since March.

The Bureau of Street Services, led by Councilmember Krekorian, has resurfaced nearly 13 miles throughout CD2, adding to the list of streets that are now smoother, safer and ready for travel.

Roads from North Hollywood to Valley Village, Studio City and Sun Valley have been resurfaced. See where in this map: [CD2 Street Resurfacing Map].

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Literature Takes Center Stage

for Noho's Lit Crawl

Reading at The Federal Bar from The Rumpus

and Dirty Laundry Lit | Photo Lit Crawl LA

NORTH HOLLYWOOD - Bibliophiles united in the North Hollywood Arts District last Wednesday night to hear from acclaimed L.A. authors, poets and playwrights during the city's first lit crawl.

Red Hen Press reading, "Not the Lakers," at Gallery 800 at the Lankershim Arts Center--Nicelle Davis | Photo Lit Crawl LA

Pop-up stages amid the local restaurants, theaters and coffee shops in the NoHo Arts District became the focal point of literary discussions where poetry, stories and dialogue brought intrigue, laughter, and warmth to event-goers.

The L.A.-centric lit crawl represented a broad spectrum of thelocal literary scene. The lineup - nearly two dozen events spread out over two phases, beginning at 6 p.m. - included conversations with bestselling and award winning authors such as Gregg Hurwitz and Lisa Teasley on L.A. noir; scary stories with the QueerWise LGBT senior collective; a performance by an ensemble of actors showing a glimpse of 10 new plays in one hour by the L.A. Playwrights Collective; several showcases of poetry, like the Poetry of the People program and more.

You can read more about the featured events by visiting litcrawl.org/la.

Tongue & Groove Reading at The Republic

of Pie | Photo Lit Crawl LA

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Halloween Safety Guide

LOS ANGELES - With Halloween a few days away, Councilmember Paul Krekorian and the Los Angeles Police Department reminds families who plan on trick-or-treating to have a fun, but safe evening, following these tips:

Especially when in or near neighborhoods, never use your cell phone while driving;

Look for children walking on the street, running, and darting in between parked vehicles;

Be sure to keep your houses and driveways lit so children know it's all right to approach your homes;

When inspecting candy, if in doubt, throw it out;

Be sure to follow all traffic signals and laws and walk only on sidewalks, not the street;

Always escort your children, trick-or-treat in groups or have children be accompanied by a trust adult.

Finally, North Hollywood, Valley Plaza and Studio City are set to host an evening of fun, family-friendly events to treat the community to a spook-tacular Halloween. The recreation centers of North Hollywood, North Weddington, Studio City, Valley Plaza and Victory-Vineland will have games, snacks, contests, face painting costume parades and more for ghouls and ghost of all ages on Halloween night.

Here's where you can go:

North Hollywood Recreation Center, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

11430 Chandler Blvd, North Hollywood 91601

North Weddington Recreation Center, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

10844 Acama St., North Hollywood 91602

Studio City Recreation Center, from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

12621 Rye St., Studio City 91604

Valley Plaza Recreation Center, from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

12240 Archwood St., North Hollywood 91606

Victory Vineland Recreation Center, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

11117 Victory Blvd., North Hollywood 91606

Don't forget to send us your pictures as the Council District 2 community and beyond gathers to celebrate this tradition.

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New Multipurpose Center

to Open in North Hollywood

NORTH HOLLYWOOD - Tiara Street will soon be unveiled as the city's newest park and you are invited to the grand opening celebration. On Thursday, Councilmembers Paul Krekorian and Tom LaBonge, along with other city and community leaders, will unveil the newest in the 50 Parks Initiative, a citywide push to increase open space throughout Los Angeles.

Construction on the $2 million, Proposition K funded project started in 2011 and includes a multipurpose room, lobby, staff officer/ranger sub-station, storage area and break room. The one-and-a-half acre landscaped site also features a children's play area with rubberized surfacing, decomposed granite walking paths, a trellis, benches, gaming tables, solar-powered lighting, outdoor fitness exercise equipment stations, picnic tables, drinking fountains, shade structures and a new asphalt concrete parking structure.

Join Councilmembers Krekorian and LaBonge, Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian and community stakeholders this Thursday, Oct. 31 at 10:30 a.m. on 11480 Tiara St., North Hollywood [map].

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New Website Gives

Access to City's Financial Books

Screenshots of the new city financial data website

LOS ANGELES - The City Controller launched a new website last week, offering reams of financial data to Angelenos looking for more insight into their government.

ControlPanelLA reveals details of the city's transactions - with specifics on nearly 1,000 revenue sources, 600 expenditure accounts and biweekly payroll for nearly 50,000 city employees. The tool also opens up the City's "checkbook" via CheckbookLA, an application allowing users to search tens of thousands of payments to external vendors by department, vendor name, or expenditure type.

"This new website will help not only our staff in making the best decisions for Angelenos, but will allow all stakeholders to cut through City hall red tape and get the answers they need quickly and efficiently," Councilmember Krekorian said.

"As Budget Chair, I look forward to continuing to work closely with the Controller, the Mayor and my colleagues on the Council to develop more innovative ways to make information about the City's finances even more accessible to the people who have entrusted us with them."

Check out the website by visiting, controllerdata.lacity.org.

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Bidding a Fond Farewell to Maral

Councilmember Krekorian, some of his staff members and the community say goodbye to Maral, center, at NoHo's Bow &Truss

The office of Councilmember Krekorian said goodbye last week to a key member of its staff, Maral Habeshian.

Since joining the CD2 team in January as the Mid-Town North Hollywood and Sun Valley field deputy, Maral has been instrumental in building community relationships and taking the lead on several projects that have greatly revitalized our district.

From beautification projects and park openings, to helping alleviate homelessness in the region, and working to develop better transportation methods, Maral worked to make the city more accessible and work creatively to find solutions to stakeholders concerns.

"Maral's dedication and responsiveness to the needs of the constituents in bringing City services to the district have been outstanding," Councilmember Paul Krekorian said. "Thank you for your professionalism and great work ethic in all that you have done."

We wish Maral nothing but the best!

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Photos Around Town