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Summer Movies
in the Park
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Saturday, Sept. 20
Despicable Me
North Hollywood Park
Tujunga and Magnolia
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Apply now for the fall internship program! Deadline is Sept. 30.
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Krekorian's Corner:
A Comprehensive Sidewalk
Repair Plan
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Dear Friend:
On Tuesday, Aug. 26, the City Council took the next step toward repairing our city's broken sidewalks by voting to approve the recommendations that I made with Councilmember Joe Buscaino. As chairs of the Budget and Finance and Public Works committees, respectively, we have made it our mission to craft a comprehensive solution to LA's sidewalk woes.
Here's a snapshot of what the city is doing right away:
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Creating a Sidewalk Repair Trust Fund to hold funds for future sidewalk repairs;
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Sending Neighborhood Councils a questionnaire to get feedback on the proposal;
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Developing a complaint-driven mapping and prioritization system to identify and coordinate repairs to the city's most dangerous sidewalks; and
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Reporting back in 60 days on repair program specifics, including a 50/50 cost sharing program for homeowners, a revolving loan program to help pay for repairs, a plan for fixing sidewalks next to parks and community centers this year, and much more.
After decades of attempts to tackle our sidewalk problems, I think everyone on the City Council believes that we must address this issue in a comprehensive way. This week's vote moved us in the right direction, but it is just the beginning of what promises to be a long journey.
I can assure you that our sidewalks will begin to get fixed soon. In fact, some are being repaired today. The city has allocated $27 million for sidewalk repair this year alone. What my colleagues and I are trying to do is create a program that will both allow us to spend that money on urgent sidewalk repairs now and also methodically continue the needed repairs in the years to come.
When we get the reports back in two months, the City Council will use the information to figure out the most efficient, cost effective and sustainable approach for resolving the city's sidewalk damage backlog.
It is a real opportunity to move beyond piecemeal solutions and create a complete program to make our sidewalks better and safer across Los Angeles.
Please continue to follow my sidewalk initiative by reading my weekly updates and following me on Facebook and Twitter. If you have friends who should follow me too, urge them to sign ups for my newsletter here.
Councilmember Paul Krekorian
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Making Our Valley a #NoTag Zone
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 LOS ANGELES - Councilmember Krekorian is proud to announce a new program, called #NoTag Our Valley, to remove graffiti from our communities and keep them clean, beautiful and safe.
Graffiti vandalism is all too common in our neighborhoods. It impacts businesses, billboards, schools, public places and our homes. Some vandals even deface beautiful murals and public art pieces. Removing graffiti improves our quality of life, prevents crime and does away with blight.
A constituent recently contacted Councilmember Krekorian with information about a graffiti vandal who had just tagged a building in North Hollywood. Because of the tip, the Councilmember's staff is taking action to have the graffiti removed.
To make #NoTag Our Valley work, we need your help. We need every resident to report graffiti whenever and wherever you see it in Council District 2.
What You Can Do
Here's how you can make our Valley a #NoTag Zone. When you see graffiti, contact the Office of Councilmember Krekorian immediately:
Call: 818-755-7676
Give us all of the following information:
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Day/time you saw it.
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Surface: wall, billboard, building, mural, bus bench, school, home.
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Location: address or intersection. If it's a billboard, note the billboard owner's name or number.
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Description: what the graffiti looks like.
Once we hear from you, the Councilmember Krekorian will take action to make sure the graffiti is removed as soon as possible. Keep an eye out for graffiti wherever you go. If you see it, report it immediately.
Read about Councilmember Krekorian's ongoing legislative efforts to stop graffiti vandalism here.
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VIDEO: The Great Wall of Los Angeles
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Earlier this month, Councilmember Krekorian joined volunteers from LA non-profit SPARC to clean the Great Wall of LA. Check out the video of the team in action.
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NoHo Will Be Crawling With Literature This Fall
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during last year's Lit Crawl in NoHo. | Photo: Lit Crawl LA
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NORTH HOLLYWOOD - The Lit Crawl LA is coming back to North Hollywood for round two.
After last year's successful debut in Los Angeles, Lit Crawl LA will host its second annual literary festival on Wednesday, Oct. 22, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the NoHo Arts District.
Attendees will quite literally experience the event's motto, "where literature hits the streets," as they make their way all across NoHo, visiting a wide array of community spaces, including bars, theaters, cafes, restaurants, galleries and more. Each unique venue will provide attendees with the opportunity to escape into new worlds with performances of poetry, theater and book readings.
The streets of the NoHo Arts District will come alive with a night of storytelling genius and adventure as local talents convene to show that Los Angeles truly has one of the world's most diverse and powerful literary scenes.
For more information about the event, including the schedule and how to get involved, visit the Lit Crawl LA NoHo website: litcrawl.org/la.
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Getting Around with Metro
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Photo: Metro
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LOS ANGELES - This September, Metro will implement fares changes for bus and rail riders. The new fare structure was approved by the Metro Board of Directors earlier this year.
Councilmember Krekorian is on the Board. One of his top priorities is increasing mobility and connectivity for pedestrians, cyclists and transit riders, especially in the San Fernando Valley. Here's information about the important upcoming Metro changes.
Fare Restructuring, Free Transfers
Beginning Sept. 15, Metro fares will change. Under the new fare structure, the regular fare will rise from $1.50 to $1.75. The cost of a day pass will increase from $5 to $7, the weekly pass from $20-$25, and 30-day pass from $75-$100 and the EZ pass from $84-$110. There are reduced fares for low income riders and seniors, disabled people and students. Apply for reduced fares at www.metro.net/riding/fares.
That's not the whole story. The new fares will include free transfers for two hours for riders with TAP cards. That's a very important benefit for many Valley Orange and Red line riders.
Bike Metro
Metro is leading a countywide effort to develop a user-friendly bikeshare system to increase transportation choices for people traveling to and from transit stations and making short trips. Bikeshare will help increase mobility in Los Angeles County by providing a fleet of bicycles that can be borrowed from strategically placed stations. For more information, see www.metro.net/bikes/bikes-metro/help-build-bikeshare
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Summer Interns Shine in Council District 2
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LOS ANGELES - Councilmember Krekorian's Internship Program is a great opportunity for college and high school students to explore the world of public service. Interns gain hands-on experience working in a fast paced environment while learning about local issues, the legislative process and the inner workings of a city government office.
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Councilmember Krekorian pictured with interns Kevork Kurdoghlian and Nancy Haldia. (Not pictured - Mina Saffarian and Kyle Sears) | Photo: CD2
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This past summer, four bright students participated in the internship program. Mina Saffarian and Kevork Kurdoghlian, who interned in City Hall, shared some insight about working at Councilmember Krekorian's office.
"I spent a lot of time working directly with individuals from every area of the office, stretching from policy, communications and event scheduling," said Saffarian, who is studying public policy as a senior at USC. "We were provided with a broad range of opportunities to learn different skills that are involved in everyday city work. One thing that I will definitely take away from the opportunity is my exposure to the process involved in creating, passing and implementing city ordinances."
Kevork Kurdoghlian, a sophomore at UCLA with a passion for politics, sought the internship position to gain a closer perspective about city government and policy issues.
"The policy research that you have to do as an intern covers topics that you may have never heard of. Yet, you have to absorb this new information quickly in order to understand it and transform it into valuable material," said Kurdoghlian. "It is great knowing that the research on local issues I participated in as a member of the office, such as transportation, is going to make transit more accessible for thousands of constituents. From now on, anytime I ride the light rail, I will feel proud and satisfied knowing that in some way I played a role."
Councilmember Krekorian's internship program is currently accepting applications for the fall. For more information about the Internship Program, contact Anita Avakian at (213) 473-7002 or email [email protected]. You can also apply online. Applications are due by Tuesday, Sept. 30.
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Living History
Looking Back at Los Angeles
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First Methodist Church in North Hollywood, then and now.
| Left photo: USC Digital Archives, right photo: CD2
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The First United Methodist Church of North Hollywood was originally founded in 1892 and has had four locations in the area. The church moved to its present site, 4832 Tujunga Ave., in the 1940s. According to the Museum of the San Fernando Valley, the church doorway was constructed in the Spanish-Moorish revival style of architecture, a very popular style in Los Angeles at the time.
Do you have a piece of Valley history to share? Send photos and comments to [email protected].
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Summer Carnival 2014
Aug. 29 - 31
5:00 p.m. North Hollywood Rec Center 11430 Chandler Blvd.
North Hollywood 90601
Join the Dept. of Recreation and Parks for the 2014 Summer Carnival during Labor Day weekend. The free family friendly event will feature food, games, entertainment and activities for all.
For more information, call 818-763-7651.
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PALS Community Meeting
Wednesday, Sept. 3
6:30 p.m. El Portal Theatre 5269 Lankershim Blvd.
North Hollywood 90601
The Police Activity Leagure Supports (PALS) will holds its quarterly community meeting with special guest Tom Girardi, one of the nation's top trial lawyers. The event is free and open to the public.
For more information, contact PALS: 818-623-4001.
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2014 Congress of Neighborhoods
Saturday, Sept. 20
7:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Los Angeles City Hall
200 N. Spring St.
Los Angeles 90012
Join the Dept. of Neighborhood Empowerment and LA's 95 Neighborhood Councils for their annual Congress of Neighborhoods. Event workshops are designed to share tips, tricks and how-to's about NC basics, outreach, and making a difference in the community.
For more information, call 213-978-1481. |
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With the help of local organization New Directions for Youth,
this Valley Glen walkway is free of debis and trash. | Photo: CD2
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Copyright � 2013. All Rights Reserved.
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