New Council Districts in Place
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The newly drawn Council District 2, in blue, flanked by areas
that had been in its domain and its new councilmembers.
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LOS ANGELES - As of July 1, all 15 of the city's council districts shifted boundaries, following a months-long process to reflect population changes throughout Los Angeles.
The redistricting process, based on the Census, mandates that all districts are required to maintain an approximately equal number of residents. Taking into account the divergent viewpoints of changing City Council districts, the redistricting process included months of deliberations and dozens of public meetings by an independent Redistricting Commission, which prepared draft district maps based on feedback elicited from as many stakeholders as possible.
The process was impacted by many important legal principles, including an emphasis on respecting "communities of interest" and geographical barriers and avoiding disenfranchising groups protected under the Voting Rights Act and similar laws.
The new Council District 2 largely reflects the will of many in the Valley. One of the sentiments most consistently expressed by residents was the strong desire to unite communities that have too frequently been arbitrarily divided. Under the new, council-approved maps, the number of neighborhood councils united within a single council rather than divided will be three times what it is now.
"The existing boundaries of my district were among the most illogically gerrymandered in the city, but the new district lines reflect a far more sensible shape that encompasses related neighborhoods," Councilmember Paul Krekorian said.
CD2 will now welcome nearly all of North Hollywood, Studio City and Valley Village, in addition to the NoHo Arts District, and portions of the historic Campo de Cahuenga and the Universal City Metro station.
It will no longer include Sunland-Tujunga, La Tuna Canyon, Lakeview Terrace, Shadow Hills and Sherman Oaks.
"All of these communities are places that my staff and I have worked very hard to serve to the best of our ability, and we will always cherish the relationships we have built with the residents and neighborhood leaders and institutions in those areas," Councilmember Krekorian said. "Personally, I will very much miss serving as the councilmember representing those neighborhoods, but I will always remain mindful of their issues and concerns and will continue to be committed to serving their interests."
As of today, the North Valley City Hall will be staffed by Council District 7. If you need anything there, you are encouraged to continue calling (818) 352-3287.
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The New (Sur)Face of Commerce Avenue
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Paul, flanked by Terry Hake-Church and Elaine Brown, leaders of the Commerce Owners & Business Restoration Association
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SUNLAND-TUJUNGA - Councilmember Krekorian, community leaders, local business owners and city officials gathered last week to celebrate the final phase of the Commerce Avenue restoration.
The dedication ceremony marked the culmination of a decade-long effort led by community members and city officials to help restore Commerce Avenue to its past glory. The North Valley community rejoiced the avenue's long-awaited facelift and the role it will play in revitalizing the community.
[See photos of the restoration event by clicking here.]
"I moved here in 1983 because I drove up this street and saw the potential and today is a culmination of that," said Elaine Brown, a local property owner and President of the Commerce Owners & Business Restoration Association, known as COBRA.
"It has been a long hard project. We are hoping [the restoration] will raise our local economy."
Jerry Hovsepian, a local business owner and resident, agreed.
"The street's facade has changed and will help our local shops," he said. "It is once more a pleasant place to walk and drive through."
In 2005, property and business owners created COBRA in a unified bid to preserve the past while maintaining the retail nature of Commerce Avenue. They reached out to the office of Council District 2 and the Bureau of Street Services. The collaborative effort helped identify funding opportunities, leading to $900,000 in federal American Recovery Act of 2009 (ARRA) funds to repair sidewalks and tree wells. Another $200,000 was allocated from the council office to pave and restripe the street while $280,000 in federal Community Development Block Grants funded 17 street lights, as well as planters, benches and a clock reminiscent of the region's historic past.
"We are really glad to see this project completed and all the wonderful improvements that have been done," said Sherri Smith, President of Bolton Hall Museum and the Little Landers Historical Society. "It gives [people] a real sense of coming into 'Old Town' Tujunga."
Part of the aim of the project, Councilmember Paul Krekorian said, is to also expand the region's presence and act as a calling card for those throughout Southern California.
"The newly restored Commerce Avenue is once again a destination for the community and is a welcoming environment for people across Los Angeles to stroll this beautifully redone stretch of Tujunga," he said. "This was a concerted effort by many in the community and I want to thank them all for their perseverance and dedication to restoring the neighborhood's luster."
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City Moves to Waive TV Pilot Fees
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LOS ANGELES - Fees for television pilot filmed in the city of Los Angeles could be waived if a motion by councilmembers Eric Garcetti and Paul Krekorian is approved.
The drive to waive fees comes as television pilot production within city limits has been dramatically reduced.
A recent report by the nonprofit organization FilmL.A., which coordinates filming in Los Angeles, found that 51% of television pilots were filmed within city limits last year, down from 81% a few years ago. Pilot production accounted for $262 million in local dollars spent.
Even one loss of a television production amounts to thousands of lost jobs and tens of millions of production dollars spending over several viewing seasons of the series, the report found.
"This...is in an alarming trend," the motion states. "Much as we saw the loss of feature film production, we are witnessing the loss of television production as well."
In introducing the motion, the councilmembers said that waiving production fees and incentives will keep production in the city and encourage growth in the entertainment industry to create long-term jobs.
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Independence Day
LOS ANGELES - This Fourth of July, there are three opportunities to watch fireworks in the east and northeast San Fernando Valley, where residents in Studio City, Valley Village and Sunland-Tujunga will take part in Independence Day festivities.
In the North Valley, the Sunland-Tujunga/Shadow Hills Rotary Club is once again sponsoring an Independence Day Parade along Foothill Boulevard. The parade begins at 10 a.m. and travels from Mount Gleason Avenue to Sherman Grove Avenue, near Sunland Park.
The Sunland-Tujunga Independence Day Family Fireworks event takes place at Verdugo Hills High School, 10625 Plainview Ave. and gates open at 5 p.m. with fireworks slated for 9 p.m. The event is free and will feature food, music, games and more. For more information, visit the Community Calendar section of www.stchamber.com.
In Valley Village, the July 4th Parade begins at Colfax Elementary School and ends at Valley Village Park, lasting from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Be advised that guests usually begin lining up close to 9:30 a.m. in front of Colfax Elementary, 11724 Addison St. The parade usually takes about 40 minutes from start to finish and everyone is invited to relax in the park afterward. Visit www.myvalleyvillage.com for more information.
Studio City's 14th Annual Fourth of July Fireworks Festival, hosted by the Studio City Chamber of Commerce, begins at 4:30 p.m. at the CBS Studio Center, 4024 Radford Ave.
The event will feature Petty Theft, a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers tribute band. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children age six to 12. VIP admission - $100 for adults and $50 for kids - includes a gourmet dinner, preferred parking and rooftop fireworks viewing. Parking for everyone is free in the studio's Radford Avenue parking structure. For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit www.studiocitychamber.com.
Whether you celebrate with the community or with your family, please be safe and remember that unsanctioned fireworks in the city of Los Angeles are illegal. For a host of 4th of July safety tips, visit http://1.usa.gov/MVK5e1.
Finally, don't forget about the four-legged members of your family this Independence Day. The Los Angeles Department of Animal Services reminds us that if you plan on brining your dog or cat to the festivities, plan ahead and make sure they're wearing a license tag. If you're staying at home, they suggest creating a calming environment and keep pets indoors and away from fireworks. For more information, visit www.laanimalservices.com.
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New Valley Glen Playground
to Open by August
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Councilmember Krekorian and community leaders
break ground on the new playground
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VALLEY GLEN - Officials broke ground this week on a new playground that, by the end of summer, will significantly upgrade Valley Glen Community Park, they said.
For years, residents complained that the nearly one-acre park - now a green expanse with rolling hills and a baseball backstop, yet no playground - was underutilized and ignored by the city. By the end of August, the northwest section of the park will feature a western-themed playground, with balancing logs, sand tables, slides and more, all beneath shade canopies.
"For far too long, Valley Glen Community park has been an underutilized open space in our community," Councilmember Paul Krekorian said at the groundbreaking. "As a result of sustained efforts by my office and the Greater Valley Glen Neighborhood Council, we will soon be able to enjoy a new playground, a jogging path and new trees, transforming the park into an attractive neighborhood destination for adults and children of all abilities. This has been a long journey and I thank everyone who spent years working so hard to make these plans a reality."
While the new playground will be open to all, it was specifically designed for children with special needs in conjunction with the advocacy group Shane's Inspiration, an international nonprofit organization. Other new amenities at the park will include a walking track and new trees lining the exterior of the playground.
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Search is on for the 2012 Pioneer Woman
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| Paul with Valley Glen resident, Asta Criss, CD2's 2011 Pioneer Woman |
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LOS ANGELES - The search for Council District 2's 2012 California Pioneer Woman of the Year is on and Councilmember Paul Krekorian needs your help.
The annual event, led by the Commission on the Status of Women, pays tribute to the extraordinary women who have made significant contributions to their communities in Los Angeles. Councilmember Krekorian is seeking submissions for honorees who have gone above and beyond their call of duty.
In the past, the award has honored architects, engineers, computer programmers, fire fighters, clergy, machinists, truck drivers, aircraft pilots, construction workers and other women in the forefront of their fields.
Last year, Councilmember Krekorian presented the award to long-time community organizer and Valley Glen resident, Asta Criss. Following her career as a professional ballet dancer in New York City, Asta returned to Los Angeles in 1960 and began what would be decades of service to help shape her community. She played a vital role in forming the Valley Glen Neighborhood Association and the Greater Valley Glen Neighborhood Council, empowering her community and leading to the award.
"This is a tremendous our opportunity to recognize and thank some remarkable women throughout our city who've played significant roles to uplift their communities," Councilmember Krekorian said.
The deadline to submit nominations for the 2012 California Pioneer Woman of the Year award is July 6th. Community members are highly encouraged to send in the names of their nominees, along with a brief description, via email to Councilmember.Krekorian@lacity.org.
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Council Honors Historic Achievement of
Local High School Basketball Team
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles City Council, led by councilmembers Paul Krekorian and Paul Koretz, honored on Friday the Holy Martyrs Ferrahian Armenian High School, California's first Armenian-American private school to win a high school basketball championship.
The Encino-based school won the 2012 CIF Southern Section Division 5A Boys Basketball Champions March 3, defeating the favored Providence Pioneers in overtime 65-62.
In accepting the honor, Nshan Kenjoian, the team's captain, reflected on the championship.
"Achieving such an accomplishment never crossed our minds," he said, "but the team had each other and the support of the community."
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As he Moves on, Council Honors
FilmL.A.'s Todd Lindgren
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Paul, donning a FilmWorks L.A. cap, with Todd,
who helped create the campaign
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LOS ANGELES - Councilmembers Paul Krekorian and Eric Garcetti on Friday honored FilmL.A.'s Todd Lindgren, who is moving on from his job as vice president of communications and public affairs for the nonprofit organization to serve as the new Director of Pepperdine University's Lausanne, Switzerland program.
At FilmL.A., Lindgren spearheaded an integrated communications program to build and enhance relationships between the organization, which coordinates filming in the city of Los Angeles, and its government clients, entertainment industry customers and community stakeholders.
"We've had great many partners in the effort to keep production in L.A. and one of them is FilmL.A.," Councilmember Paul Krekorian said. "Todd spearheaded the communication of bringing partners together and implementing the Film Works L.A. program, which made it visible for the world to see what a big boost productions gives to the economy."
Lindgren is credited with helping to launch FilmWorks L.A., a stakeholder-driven marketing campaign designed to promote filming in Los Angeles.
Before FilmL.A., Lindgren previously served as government affairs director and senior vice president for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, where he helped lead the Chamber's economic development initiatives. While at the Chamber, Lindgren also stepped into the role of executive producer for the Hollywood Christmas Parade.
He also served as executive director of the East Hollywood Business Improvement District (BID) and worked in the adminisatrion of then-Mayor James K. Hahn.
"This is nice surprise," Lindgren said, during a City Council ceremony. "I got to work with amazing people and work to make L.A. a better place. I thank you for this honor."
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Volume 3, Issue 6
July 2, 2012
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cd2.lacity.org
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Are you receiving this newsletter from a friend?
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To see a complete list of neighborhood council and community meetings, please check out our
Community Calendar.
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Summer Night Lights is set to begin July 7 and will last through September Wednesdays through Saturday from 7 p.m. to 12 midnight. For more information, see bit.ly/S_N_L
SNL Parks in the San Fernando Valley:
Valley Plaza (map)
12240 Archwood St., Los Angeles, 91606 Hubert Humphrey Pacoima, 91331
Delano (map)
15110 Erwin St., Van Nuys, 91411 Sepulveda (map) 8801 Kester Ave., Panorama City, 91402
Sun Valley Park (map) 8133 Vineland Ave.,
Sun Valley, 91352
Lanark Park (map)
21816 Lanark St.,
Canoga Park, 91304 |
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