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November 3, 2014
In This Issue
#NoTag Our Valley
Learn how you can help keep our neighborhoods clean, and graffiti free. 
When you see graffiti, use #NoTag and contact our office. Click here for more information
San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission Family Thanksgiving Banquet
Nov. 25, 5:30 pm
The San Fernando Valley 
Rescue Mission will feed more than 500 people at its 15th annual Thanksgiving feastPlease click here to donate or call April Lindh at (818) 331-1145 for more information.
Hope of the Valley 
Rescue Mission Great Thanksgiving Banquet
Nov. 26, 1 p.m.

Hope of the Valley will host its annual event where the homeless can receive free sleeping bags, blankets, hygiene kits, clothing, services and Thanksgiving dinner.

The Mission is currently in need of table sponsors for the event! Go to 

www.hopeofthevalley.org 

or call 818-392-0020.

Krekorian's Corner:
A Landmark from Valley's Past Becomes Its Future
Photo: CD2
Dear Friend:

When the Lankershim Train Depot was built in 1896, it was the Southern Pacific Railroad's first rail line in the San Fernando Valley and quickly became the transit hub of this fast-developing area. 

 

The depot's history tells the story of the Valley's transformation. What started out as a high-platform station for loading trains with goods and produce from San Fernando Valley farms and packing plants, later became the transportation center for its growing population and the North Hollywood's Pacific Electric Red Car pedestrian station until the line closed in 1952.

 

The old depot is one of the few remaining wood-frame, 19th century railroad stations in Southern California. With this restored Lankershim Depot, Metro has led the way in preserving a vital part of our transportation heritage.

 

Photo: (right) CD2, (left) Metro

Metro first began the $3.6 million restoration work in 2010 with the removal of contaminated soils, roofing and lead-based paint throughout the structure, along with the stabilization of the historic exterior woodwork. Over the last year, the 118-year-old structure was given a new building foundation, electric and plumbing systems, platforms, signage and seismic upgrades. Metro contractors have also rehabilitated sidings, eaves, windows and doors.

 

Metro staff deserves a lot of credit for their work to restore this important station, as does my colleague, Councilmember Tom LaBonge, who spearheaded the effort to save it from the beginning. 

 

The Lankershim Depot is now a community jewel and a symbol of what NoHo has become. Soon, the depot will house a new business, bike hub, museum or something else for the neighborhood to enjoy. We'll know more about what's to come in the next few months. 

 

NoHo is a bustling center of art and commerce--a place where you can live well, shop at your favorite boutique, catch a movie, eat an excellent meal, and find any amenity you could ever want. The renovated Lankershim Depot is really going to improve the look of this neighborhood and contribute to its vitality.

 

It's all very exciting here in NoHo. Transit is improving, our cultural institutions are improving and our quality of life is improving. Metro is making a big difference in our San Fernando Valley. Our work with the community will ensure a bright future for North Hollywood.


Click here to view pictures from last week's celebration of the Lankershim Depot Restoration. 

Very truly yours, 

 

Councilmember Paul Krekorian, District 2 

 

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Council Committee Is Making LA More Film Friendly
City departments share reports on filming processes. | Photo: CD2
LOS ANGELES - With the expansion of California's Film and TV Tax Credit Program coming next year, the City of Los Angeles is taking steps to accommodate an increase in production. The Ad Hoc Committee on Film and TV Production Jobs, convened by Mayor Garcetti and chaired by Councilmember Paul Krekorian, held a special meeting last week to improve efficiency and better coordinate the film permitting process in LA.
 
The meeting--the fourth held by the committee this year--focused on the committee's legislative actions to keep the city film friendly and to encourage more production. City departments presented in-depth reports on changes to local permitting and film restrictions. The committee also voted in favor of an ordinance that extend a waiver of fees for shoots done on city-owned properties, which expired in June of this year.   
 
"We're making great strides in keeping TV production local, but there is clearly more work to be done," said Krekorian. "With the new film and TV production incentive set to take effect next year, we've got to do everything we can to encourage more local filming in our city."

Click here to read about the meeting in Variety. 

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The Cube is Coming to the Valley


LOS ANGELES - Discovery Cube is coming to LA! On Thursday, Nov. 13, the 71,000 square-foot facility will open its doors as the San Fernando Valley's first major museum.

The new interactive science center, modeled after its Orange County counterpart, is taking shape at the Valley's the Hansen Dam Recreational Area and expects to draw more than 180,000 yearly visitors. Many of the exhibits at the new Discovery Cube Los Angeles will focus on healthy living, environmental stewardship, early learners and STEM programs--science, technology, engineering and math.

The $22 million new science museum will feature exhibits catered to the Los Angeles community and will offer educational resources, including field trips, lesson plans and in-school programs that foster science-based discovery.

For information about the museum and admission, visit www.discoverycube.org/la.
 
Metro Connects LA Jobs
Metro Stock
LOS ANGELES - A new study ranks LA third in the United States for connecting people to jobs through public transit. 
 
The University of Minnesota study examined 46 metropolitan areas to determine their accessibility to jobs by transit, comparing the number of destinations reachable within a given travel time. According to the report, nearly six million jobs are reachable by public transportation within an hour's commute. 
 
"It's no surprise," said Councilmember and Metro Board Director Paul Krekorian. "Metro Los Angeles helps hardworking Angelenos get to and from work every day. The Valley's Red Line and Orange Line stations connect tens of thousands of people to their jobs, which is exactly why we need to continue pushing forward with more transit options, including more rail. We need to build infrastructure that fits the accessibility and connectivity needs of all residents"
 
Read more about the transit study on the Metro's blog.

#NoTag Campaign Takes on Graffiti
Sun Valley Graffiti Busters helped take down this 12-foot graffiti after constituents
reported the tag to the CD2 office. | Photo: CD2

LOS ANGELES - The #NoTag Our Valley campaign is keeping our communities clean, beautiful and graffiti free.

 

Since August 2014, when the graffiti removal program was first announced by Councilmember Krekorian, 30+ sites in Council District 2 are now free of tags and graffiti. It's a great success, but there is more work to be done. 

 

To make #NoTag Our Valley work, we need your continued help and support. Please report graffiti whenever and wherever you see it in Council District 2.

 

Make Our Valley a #NoTag Zone 

 

When you see graffiti, contact the Office of Councilmember Krekorian immediately:

 

Call: 818-755-7676

Tweet: @PaulKrekorian (use #NoTag)

Email: councilmember.krekorian@lacity.org 

 

Give us all of the following information:

  • Day/time you saw it.

  • Surface: wall, billboard, building, mural, bus bench, school, home.

  • Location: address or intersection. If it's a billboard, note the billboard owner's name or number.

  • 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. 

 

Living History
Looking Back at Los Angeles

 
In this 1952 snapshot, a long line of eager voters waits to enter the voting booth at the 39th Street School polling place on election day in Los Angeles. 

Remember to vote tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 4. Polls are open between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. In addition to the candidates for elected positions, six state propositions, one county measure, and 32 local measures will also appear on the ballot. For information about the candidates, measures, and to find your polling place, visit lavote.net.

Do you have a piece of Valley history to share? Send photos and comments to councilmember.krekorian@lacity.org. 

Community Events
Community Clean Up 

Saturday, Nov. 8
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Irvine Ave. and Chandler Blvd.
Valley Village

The office of Councilmember Krekorian in collaboration with the Oakwood School invites you to a community clean up in Valley Village.

Join community members and volunteers to help beautify the neighborhood.

 

For more information, call 818-755-7676. 

Valley Glen Community Cleanup  

Saturday, Nov. 15
9 a.m. to 12 noon
LA Valley College
Fulton Ave. and Oxnard St.
Valley Glen

Join Valley Glen Neighborhood Association in partnership with the office of Councilmember Krekorian and the LAPD North Hollywood and Van Nuys stations for a community cleanup effort. 


Volunteer to help beautify our streets and clean our neighborhood. For more information, call 818-785-5525.

NoHo Goes Native

Saturday, Nov. 15
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
MCC in the Valley
5730 Cahuenga Blvd.
North Hollywood

 

The Theodore Payne Foundations invites you to an in-depth workshop on the importance of water conservation and the area's native plants. 

 

Learn about water conservation and other sustainability resources. 

  

Click here for more information.

Around Town
This cement median on Vineland near the 101 on-ramp was badly
overgrown with tumbleweeds. Local organization New Direction for Youth
recently cleaned it. | Photo: CD2

The LAPD Foothill Station welcomed this new community mural
by artist Levi Ponce. | Photo: CD2

Add a description
Councilmember Krekorian honored Saint Anne Melkite Catholic Church in City Hall last week in celebration for its 50th anniversary. | Photo: CD2

Little trick-or-treaters visited City Hall last week for the annual
Joy Picus Halloween Walk. | Photo: CD2


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