Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council November 2020: Issue #9
Closer look:
November 3rd, VOTE

Miss SONC's inaugural Speaker Series? Watch the REPLAY

Miss the CD4 Candidate Forum? Watch the REPLAY

SONC Committee Updates

And more!
Ballot Box @ Sherman Oaks Library
New Whole Foods on Tyrone Ave. & Ventura Blvd.
SONC Monthly Meetings
for November 2020

Nov 04, 2020 6:30 PM*

Nov 05, 2020 6:30 PM

Nov 09, 2020 6:30 PM

Nov 11, 2020 6:30 PM

Nov 12, 2020 7:00 PM
To view webinar details,
please visit the calendar.

Nov 17, 2020 7:00 PM

Nov 18, 2020 6:30 PM

Nov 19, 2020 6:30 PM

Nov 24, 2020 7:00 PM

Please visit the committee
pages for agendas.

*=Visit Committee page to confirm time.
Message from the President
Jeffrey Hartsough
Welcome to the Ziff Flyer, the newsletter for the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC), your neighborhood council. There’s a new look and we’re working to provide information that you will find useful and that will en-
courage you to be an active member of your community. 
We hope you become a routine and avid reader of the Ziff Flyer. Please forward it to your friends and neighbors.
Just in Case – And some other thoughts

MOST IMPORTANT
I’m hoping everyone has voted BUT JUST IN CASE

Election day is November 3rd, if you haven’t already voted or sent in your mail-in ballot, DO IT NOW.

Put VOTING as number one on your To Do List. You know it’s important. Here’s some help:
Jeffrey Hartsough
President of SONC
Community Interest 2
1) The addresses for the four Vote Center locations in Sherman Oaks.
Millikan Middle School Gymnasium
5041 Sunnyslope Ave, Sherman Oaks 91423

Sherman Oaks Elementary Charter
Multi-Purpose Room
14755 Greenleaf St, Sherman Oaks 91403

Van Nuys Middle School Gymnasium
5435 Vesper Ave, Van Nuys 91411

Westfield Fashion Square Space #62
14006 Riverside Dr, Sherman Oaks 91423

2) Vote Center locations are open for in person voting
Monday, November 2nd – open 10 AM – 7 PM
Tuesday, November 3rd – open 7 AM – 8 PM

3) If you haven’t mailed your mail-in ballot, please take it to one of the Vote Center locations and drop it off by November 3rd. If you plan to mail it, make sure it is postmarked November 3rd or before.

Some other things—

Halloween was different this year. I hope the Great Pumpkin treated you and your family well.

2020 Census is over. Hope you were counted.

COVID-19 and the pandemic continue to be an ongoing health concern. It’s making our day-to-day lives, jobs, shopping, businesses, schools, and socializing challenging. Please continue to stay safe and be respectful of others. Don’t forget to 1) cover your face in public, 2) keep your distance, 3) practice good hygiene, 4) monitor your health, and 5) stay informed. We all need to work together to keep all of us safer.

November Holidays include November 11, Veterans Day, and November 26, Thanksgiving. We typically spend time with family, friends, and neighbors during the November and December holidays. It will be different this year. We are in the eighth month and, with the winter months, a surge is expected. Please take a moment to reach out to your neighbors to touch base. Make sure everyone is okay. Help if you can safely. Be kind and thoughtful while initiating some of that social interaction that we miss.

A special thank you to our first responders, healthcare workers, and essential workers. They continue to make it possible to survive during these challenging and difficult pandemic times.

And this last item offers something free and informative.
 
FREE SONC Speaker Series – Sunday, December 6th, 2:30 PM. Join us for a look at how issues of institutional inequity have generated disparities in the quality of education offered our children and underserved communities. Dr. Martinique Starnes, an academic leader with extensive experience in social justice initiatives, will be the speaker.
 
Please save the date, Sunday, December 6, 2:30 PM. This is a virtual webinar event. The link to join the webinar is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87305291381; the Webinar ID: 873 0529 1381. 

Please stay safe and VOTE. Voting is important.  

--Jeffrey Hartsough
President of SONC
Community Interest 2

Did you miss SONC's CD4 Candidates Forum
on Wednesday, Sept 23rd?

No problem! Check out the REPLAY here: SONC's CD4 Candidates Forum Sept. 23 Recording

Special thanks to all those who attended. We had 229 attendees and panelists! Thank you to Nithya Raman and David Ryu. Thank you to our moderators, Pamela Harris and Gil Imber. Thank you to SONC's Outreach Committee for organizing & promoting. And finally, thank you to our constituents who submitted questions for this debate.

Join Madeleine, a 12-year old student from Buckley School, in remembering those who have died of Covid-19.

MAIL 8 inch x 8 inch MEMORIAL SQUARES to:

COVID QUILT
3940 Laurel Canyon Blvd #443
Studio City, CA 91604

Visit CovidQuilt2020.com for more info.
If you are interested in volunteering with the
LA Regional Food Bank, please visit this link.  

Other opportunities are found here.

Questions, concerns, please email: 
Did you miss SONC's Speaker Series
Housings Patterns in LA:
Current & Historic with Dr. Lipsitz?

Not to worry, catch the replay here.

Please note we experienced technical difficulties. Webinar begins right away with introductory presentation slides. Stay tuned for an additional introduction.


Dear Community - Sherman Oaks and Beyond, 

We were so thrilled to welcome Dr. George Lipsitz as our inaugural speaker for our virtual zoom series addressing racial issues in our country. Dr. Lipsitz is a dynamic speaker who has expertise and deep appreciation for housing disparities, historically and currently. His presentation was illuminating and engendering of opening lines and communication and building bridges within and across communities. Thank you, Dr. Lipsitz! 

My tremendous gratitude extends also to all involved in launching this event. Jeffrey Hartsough, SONC Board President, for supporting our convictions and efforts. Joe Cappelletti, SONC Education Chair, whose vision set this in motion. Alexandria Naseef and Sarah Mirman with whom I closely collaborated on every detail of this project. Alexandria, who also was our engaging moderator and Sarah Mirman, who worked behind the scenes managing all technological aspects of the event. 
I’m grateful to the SONC Board for their support and to Betty Wong and Elise Ruden who were instrumental in setting the parameters of the program. 
Thank you so very much! 

My heartfelt gratitude extends to all of you who took time out of your day to join us and spread the word about our anti-racism speaker series. Your presence and support make this all worthwhile. 

Please mark your calendars for our next speaker event when Dr. Martinique Starnes will present on disparities in education on Sunday, December 6th @ 2:30pm. Save the date! 

With Gratitude, 
Lisa Cappelletti
Education Committee

SONC Speaker Series
Disparities in Public Education
Sunday, December 6th, 2020, 2:30pm

Zoom Webinar ID: 873 0529 1381
Telephone: 1-669-900-6833, enter 873 0529 1381#
Join us as we explore the relationship between systemic and structural inequality and race, how the effects of these inequities manifest in our public education system, the lasting impact they have on postsecondary success, and recommendations for future change.
Guest Speaker:
Martinique Starnes, Ed.D. is the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Westside Neighborhood School (WNS). In this role, she works to ensure that WNS remains a diverse and inclusive community - one that welcomes and values diverse identities, traditions, perspectives, and contributions. She is a champion for equity and inclusion and works tirelessly to ensure that diverse voices are included at all levels of the education space. Prior to her role at WNS, she served as Manager of Diversity, Outreach and Community Development for the Southern California and Bay Area regions of the California Charter Schools Association and, prior to that, as Dean of Counseling and Student Affairs at Verbum Dei High School. She also serves as an adjunct professor of Communication Studies at Long Beach City College.

Stay tuned for more information!


Virtual SONC Meetings – Join Us

On March 12th the City, in response to the pandemic, suspended all meetings, activities, and events of SONC. We missed the annual Spring Tree Giveaway. We missed you at our meetings. Recently SONC began to hold “virtual” meetings. These “virtual” meetings are held by way of teleconferences and video conferences. Not as personal as in-person gatherings but virtual meetings are a beginning and likely to be the way we will be meeting for at least the next several months. 

Information about the meetings and how to “join in” is available on the SONC website: www.shermanoaksnc.org. We will be adding additional information on the website about virtual meetings as we become more familiar with the best way to hold virtual meetings. Please give us your feedback and comments. And please be patient as we all learn what works and what doesn’t work. 

The next SONC Board meeting is on November 9th, 2020. We hope you join us.

Webinar ID: 962 1563 9741
Cut and Paste: https://zoom.us/j/96215639741
Telephone: 1-669-900-6833, enter 962 1563 9741 #
SONC - Board Meeting August 10th, 2020
Zoom Credentials -- SONC Board Meeting

The agenda will be available on November 6th, 2020 on the SONC website, www.shermanoaksnc.org

The Access information for SONC meetings is unique for each meeting.

To join SONC's virtual board meeting on
November 9th, 2020 at 6:30 pm.


By Telephone:
1-669-900-6833, enter 962 1563 9741 #

By the Internet:
(2) Press “Enter”

Or from a Zoom “Enter the Meeting” Screen:
(1) Enter the Webinar ID: 962 1563 9741
(2) Press “Enter”
(3) Enter your Email Address and Your Name, and
(4) Press “Enter”

Should you have technical questions or issues, please email Gil.Imber.SONC@gmail.com.
Volunteer with NHIFP

The season for giving is here! Take advantage of helping out your community.

North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry is looking
for volunteers for many dates including:

Nov 20th, Dec 18th & more!

For more information, please visit: https://nhifp.org/volunteering/
How can I help my community?

If you live, work, own property, own a business or belong to a non-profit organization, school or religious institution in Sherman Oaks, you are a stakeholder in Sherman Oaks. We hold monthly Board of Directors and various committee meetings which you are invited to attend to learn about and participate in your community.

Start with the ShermanOaksNC.org website and learn more!

To access our schedule of meetings, times, and locations, visit our " Calendar " page.

To access detailed committee information, including agendas, minutes, and documents, visit our Committees page.

To view the rules of the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council, visit the Bylaws page.

To subscribe & sign up to receive e-mailed agendas, visit the City of Los Angeles' Early Notification System.

For a list of motions and voting history for SONC, view the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council Motions page.

Please continue to scroll down to see SONC Committee Updates and FAQ about your Neighborhood Council.

Subscribe to SONC's 
Electronic Notification System via Department of Neighborhood Empowerment to receive all agendas for both board meetings and committee meetings.
Volunteer with The Valley of Change

The Valley of Change presents "Feed our friends in need" on the Second Saturday of the month from 8:30 - 11:30 AM.

Drop-off food, drinks, citrus & other donations at the Galleria by Friday at 6pm.

For more information please visit,

Stay connected:
IG: @TheValleyofChange
Twitter: @ValleyChange
Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council
Frequently Asked Questions


Who can join the
Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council?

Whether you are a stakeholder in Sherman Oaks, or simply an interested party, you can receive our newsletter and special bulletins by signing up for our mailing list. You are encouraged to join a committee and join the effort.


What is SONC's mission?

-To bridge the gap between our stakeholders and local government.

-To engage the broad spectrum of SONC stakeholders for collaboration and deliberation on matters affecting the community including events, issues and projects.

-To work to achieve the objectives or projects that the SONC desires to support.

-To monitor and promote the delivery of City services within Sherman Oaks.

-To promote SONC stakeholder participation and advocacy in City government decision-making processes and to promote greater awareness of and achieve maximum utilization of available resources.

-To be an advocate for the Sherman Oaks community to government and private agencies.

- To present to the Mayor and the City Council a list of SONC priorities for the City budget as per LAAC ordinance #172728 section 1, div. 22.

- To take any other action that is, or may be, authorized for neighborhood councils of the City of Los Angeles.


What are the boundaries
of SONC's jurisdiction?

Mulholland Drive on the South, Burbank Blvd. on the North, 405 FWY on the West, Coldwater Canyon Blvd. on the East to the 101, then the zip code boundary between Studio City and Sherman Oaks on the East.


What is SONC's mailing address?

Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council PO Box 5721 Sherman Oaks, California 91413


Who voted for the independent
Neighborhood Councils to start?

The voters of Los Angeles passed a new City Charter in 1999 which calls for a citywide system of independent neighborhood councils, chosen by the people of the neighborhoods themselves.


What is the purpose of the
Neighborhood Council?

The purpose of neighborhood councils is to promote public participation in City governance and decision-making process so that government is more responsive to local needs and requests. Neighborhood Councils will advise the Mayor, City Council and City Departments on the City budget and will give local residents greater say over the decisions that affect our lives.


What is SONC's purpose?

To promote public participation in City governance and decision-making processes so that government is more responsive to local needs.
SONC COMMITTEE UPDATES
VISION & PLUM Committee -- Jeff Kalban, Chair
The SONC Planning and Land Use Committee (PLUM) reviews projects going through the City’s planning process that need discretionary approval. Our next meeting is 6:30pm Thursday November 19th, join us and participate in the review of Whole Foods’
request for a Conditional Use Permit Application for the continued sale of alcoholic beverages at their store located at 12905 Riverside Dr., Sherman Oaks. and may be some other interesting proposals.

Speaking of Whole Foods, their beautiful new store at Ventura and Tyrone (Beverly Glen) includes a wonderful dining plaza at the corner that is the result of the Vision Committee’s study of that intersection as well as a dog park on Moorpark, another community benefit requested by our PLUM Committee.

The SONC Vision Committee looks forward to future planning issues that may impact Sherman Oaks. At our next meeting, 6:30 November 5, we will continue our discussion of what the future of the Ventura-Cahuenga Boulevard Corridor Specific Plan Update could be. Join us and share your ideas on landscaping, mass transit, density, open space, etc. along Ventura Blvd in Sherman Oaks.
EDUCATION Committee-- Joe Cappelletti, Chair
The SONC Education Committee is dedicated to establishing and supporting programs and volunteer resources related to education. We are committed to supporting our educators, our families and our community leaders. Monthly meetings provide an open, welcoming forum for stakeholders to get involved in helping us to make a positive impact and to build stronger connections between us.  
Speaker Series Update:

We welcomed our first distinguished guest, Dr. George Lipsitz, to the inaugural Education Committee Speaker Series. It was a wonderful and informative presentation followed by Q & A with questions from our community. We look forward to many such future events in which we feature esteemed experts to share their research and critical perspectives on the issue of race in our country. We hope to stimulate lively discussion by creating a forum for our community to come together with empathy and understanding with respect to racial inequalities. We plan to continue these events and welcome and encourage your participation and support. Please spread the word. Save the date: December 6th @ 2:30pm, Dr. Martinique Starnes.

We have started our book series associated with the speaker series on anti-racism. We’ll highlight a book or other form of media every 2 months in order to gain a deeper perspective and to stimulate conversation among the community. Our first suggested title is Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates.

Tutoring Program Update:

As we are now in the 11th week of school, many Ulysses S. Grant High School students are starting to feel that they could use a little extra help with their classwork and a guiding hand to navigate their academic and extracurricular endeavors. That's where SONC's Education Committee, and in particular Fran Kerzner, Chris Wiggins, and Marcus Zimmerman, has stepped up to address this need: by creating a program that offers free one-on-one tutoring and mentoring to kids who are struggling. SONC's All Aboard Mentorship Peer Tutoring has "rolled out" at Grant High and is being extended to Notre Dame High School and HighTech LA Middle School. The program aims to pair struggling students with high-achieving and academically accomplished upper-division students. So far, the demand has been significant, and we expect to reach even more students in the coming weeks and months. If you have a student who would like to participate in this program, please contact Marcus Zimmerman or Chris Wiggins.

We are always interested in welcoming interested community members to attend our events and monthly meetings. Get involved! We’d love to hear your ideas and to work together to address the needs of Sherman Oaks and our LA neighbors.

We have several exciting new projects in the works. Come see us at our next meeting on November 12th at 7p.m. and find out how you can join our efforts.

Committee: Joe Cappelletti, Lisa Cappelletti, Fran Kerzner, Alexandria Naseef, Sarah Mirman, Marcus Zimmerman, Chris Wiggins, Owen Cappelletti

To access the next Virtual Meeting on the Zoom Platform,
please see Education Committee page for updates and agendas.

For parents who are teaching their kids at home. Please check out this Education Resource Guide put together by the Education Committee.
Please click on the button below.
Government Affairs Committee-- Gil Imber, Chair
Government Affairs studies, researches, and reports on matters of citywide concern, such as laws, statutes, ordinances, bills, plans, programs, and proposals by governing bodies of the City of Los Angeles, such as the City Council. 
The Government Affairs Committee recently adopted a position of support for the entirety of the Southern San Fernando Valley Airplane Noise Task Force, an endorsement subsequently approved by the full Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council board, and which ultimately spurred Los Angeles World Airports to issue a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration regarding proposed modifications to aircraft departure operations at Van Nuys Airport with the intent of alleviating noise and pollution hazards for the Sherman Oaks community.

In the interest of public health and safety, Government Affairs Committee also considered proposed ordinances regarding face covering/mask wearing requirements relative to the COVID-19 pandemic, which have since been referred by the City Council to the City Attorney's Office for draft and review.

The Government Affairs Committee generally meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Confirm meeting times, dates, and locations (including Zoom/webinar information) via the SONC website at Government Affairs Committee Page.
OUTREACH Committee-- Sarah Manuel, Chair
Please join the Outreach Committee for our next meeting on Tuesday, November 17th, 2020 at 7pm. We will be discussing our 2021 Community Programming as well as preparing for our upcoming SONC Elections in May 2021. Registration to run starts the first of the year. Stay tuned for more!
Want real-time information and updates? Take advantage of being informed and participate in your community. We will continue to post information about volunteering, resources and more, so please "Like" us on FB and follow us on IG.

Just in case you missed it, did you know all our meetings are on the Zoom webinar platform? It is super easy to attend via computer, cell phone or landline. I encourage you to take the opportunity to use your voice and participate in the SONC meetings by making public comments. The City of LA has brought the 1st level of government to your finger tips. Don't delay, subscribe to ENS to receive agenda and meeting reminders today!

To access the next Virtual Meeting on the Zoom platform: please see Outreach Committee Page for agendas and webinar info.

PUBLIC SAFETY Committee--
Christy Adair, co-Chair &
Jenna Lewis, co-Chair
The Public Safety Committee was pleased to support the Valley Disaster Preparedness Fair which was held Virtually on October 10th. Please visit www.valleydisasterfair.com to see what resources were shared. There will be a library of lectures and video vignettes covering a wide range of preparedness topics.

To access this Virtual Meeting on the Zoom Platform: please see Public Safety Committee page for agendas and webinar info.
A few reminders:

  • In order to be more aware of local police and fire events near you - download the PulsePoint app to see real-time Agency responses and activity in your area.
  • Also, the www.LAFD.org website has a tab labeled. "Alerts" that specifically lists LAFD Responses and activity throughout the City.
TRAFFIC & TRANSPORTATION Committee
-- AVO BABIAN, Chair
Traffic and Transportation Committee meets the 2nd Wednesday of every month. In the past, the committee has worked on improving traffic in the hillside streets of Sherman Oaks, helped alleviate cut through traffic, studied and has taken a strong stand on the future Sepulveda Metro Project. 
We have worked to promote the LA DASH and taken a stand on ideas for bike lanes to help alleviate traffic. We have also discussed the merits of Specified Drop Off spots for Ride Share.

If you are interested in learning more about alternative methods of transportation including DASH, riding a bike or learning about the future of the Sepulveda Metro Project, consider attending a Traffic & Transportation meeting. 

To access this Virtual Meeting on the Zoom Platform: please see Traffic & Transportation Committee page for agendas and webinar info.


BUDGET ADVOCATES-- Howard Katchen
Howard wants to hear from you! If you are reading this, you are indeed a Sherman Oaks stakeholder -- your input on the city budget and city services is important. Please contact Howard with questions, for further information or to provide input.
He is here to help you understand the Budget Advocates and what they do to help our community. If you want a copy of Budget Advocates Reports & Updates, please email Howard at Hkatchen@shermanoaksnc.org or please visit www.NCBALA.com for more information.
Subscribe to SONC's 
Electronic Notification System via Department of Neighborhood Empowerment to receive all agendas for both board meetings and committee meetings.
New feature!
Growing Up in the Oaks

Alex Quinn, son of screen legend & two-time Oscar winner Anthony Quinn grew up in Beverly Hills, then moved to Sherman Oaks at the age of 19 where he has loved living in ever since. Now as a father, to his 3 year old son River, and husband to wife Kristine, he has no plans to relocate and enjoys the convenience of having all his favorite businesses & eateries just blocks away. Alex just launched a website dedicated to Southern California sites & activities called Best Guide LA; www.bestguidela.com. Drop him a line anytime for best recommendations!







Interested in joining the LAPD Volunteer program?

Please contact Alan Scher for more information.

Do you have questions?
The chairs have answers.
Click direct on each hyperlink to send an email.
Animal Welfare Committee
Email -- ivalarie@me.com

Board & Executive Committee

Education Committee

Finance Committee

Government Affairs Committee

Green & Sustainability Committee

Homeless Outreach Committee

Outreach Committee

Planning and Land Use (PLUM) and
Vision Sub-Committee

Public Safety Committee

Traffic & Transportation

General questions regarding committees?
Please email Howard Katchen at hkatchen@shermanoaksnc.org
Get Involved!
What interests you?

If you live, work, own property, own a business or belong to a non-profit organization, school or religious institution in Sherman Oaks, you are a stakeholder in Sherman Oaks. We hold monthly Board of Directors and various committee meetings which you are invited to attend to learn about and participate in your community. Join SONC's Mailing List today.