Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council February 2021: Issue #2
Closer look:
Save the Date: SONC Board Meeting February 8th

Next SONC Speaker Series on Saturday, February 27th

SONC Committee Updates

SONC Election Registration last day to register is February 23rd, 5pm

And more!

SONC Monthly Meetings
for February 2021

February 2nd, 2021, 6pm

February 3rd, 2021, 7:30pm

February 4th, 2021, 6:30pm

February 8th, 2021, 6:30pm

February 9th, 2021, 6:30pm

February 10th, 2021, 7:30pm
To view webinar details,
please visit the calendar.

February 15th, 2021, 7pm

February 16th, 2021, 7pm

February 18th, 2021, 6:30pm

February 23rd, 2021, 7pm

February 24th, 2021, 6:30pm



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).

Thank you for being an interested and involved member of the Sherman Oaks community.

Elections in
Sherman Oaks? 
We need you.

On May 11, 2021, elections will be held for the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC). To have elections, we need candidates running for office. That’s where you come in.

Think about your name on the ballot. OK, you aren’t there yet. We understand. You have questions. Don’t know much about SONC – what it does, how it works. That’s OK.
Jeffrey Hartsough
President of SONC
Community Interest 2
Here’s some background information about Neighborhood Councils (NCs):
  • NCs represent the community and advocate for their communities in City Hall.
  • NC boards are elected members of the community, the community they care about.
  • NC elections are held every two years – the next elections are this Spring 2021.
  • The last date to file to be a candidate is February 23, 2021.
  • 14 seats on the SONC board are up for election – you could run for one of those.

Candidate Information Sessions – February 12, 13, 14
Get your questions answered. 

Information Sessions will be held on:
Friday, February 12, at 7:00pm
Saturday, February 13, at 2:00pm
Sunday, February 14, at 4:00pm

The Candidate Information Sessions will be held on the Zoom virtual video conferencing platform,
Webinar ID: 876 9420 5330.
To access these information sessions:
By PC/smartphone – Click or Cut and Paste: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87694205330
By Telephone: 1-833-548-0282 enter 876 9420 5330 #

Mark your calendar. Attend. Ask questions. Learn. And then, think again about your name on the ballot.

Thanks for getting involved and helping make Sherman Oaks a better community.

Here are some additional links for you to explore to learn more about the NC Elections.

Candidate Info Video: 
 
Candidate Info Brochure: 
 
EmpowerLA Candidate Info Session:

NC Elections are administered by the LA City Clerk, The City Clerk’s site provides details about eligibility and how to file to be a candidate. See those details here: https://clerk.lacity.org/elections/neighborhood-council-election 

If you have other questions? Please email SONC:

SONC Map and Seats Open for Election
This map shows the SONC boundaries. There are 3 open seats up for election in each of Areas 1, 3, 5, and 7 and 1 open seat up for election in both Areas 2 and 6. If you need help determining eligibility or defining which area you live in -- please email us!

Thank you for considering running for a seat! If you can think of a friend or neighbor who might be interested -- please pass this newsletter along.

Thank you for being part of our
Sherman Oaks community.

Please stay safe.  

Jeffrey Hartsough 
Next SONC Speaker Series
Disparities in the Workplace
Saturday, February 27th, 2021 2:00pm

How to Join:
Zoom Webinar ID: 873 0529 1381
Telephone: 1-669-900-6833,
enter 873 0529 1381#

Join SONC with guest speakers from UCLA Labor Relations including Janna Shadduck-Hernández, Ed.D., Project Director, Victor Narro- Project Director for the UCLA Labor Center and Dr. Gaspar Rivera-Salgado- Project Director at UCLA Center for Labor Research and Education.

The lecture will address racial disparity in the workplace with respect to securing employment, advancement and general opportunities.

Guest Speakers:

Janna Shadduck Hernandez, Ed.D- Project Director at the UCLA Labor Center. Dr. Shadduck Hernandez teaches for the UCLA Labor Studies major and the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies. Her research and teaching focus on developing culturally relevant, participatory educational models with first- and second-generation university students, community members, and youth. 

Victor Narro- Project Director at the UCLA Labor Center. Victor is a nationally known expert on immigrant rights and low-wage workers. His focus is to provide leadership programs for Los Angeles' immigrant workers, policy, legal and organizing campaign planning for unions and worker centers, and internship opportunities for UCLA students. 

Dr. Gaspar Rivera-Salgado- Project Director at UCLA Center for Labor Research and Education. Dr. Rivera Salgado teaches classes on Work, Labor and Social Justice in the US and immigration issues. 

Janna Shadduck-Hernández, Ed.D. Project Director
UCLA Labor Center
Victor Narro
Project Director
UCLA Labor Center

Dr. Gaspar Rivera-Salgado
Project Director
UCLA Center for
Labor Research and Education


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 here.


Questions, concerns, please email: 
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 February 8th, 2021.
We hope you join us.

Webinar ID: 85140543942
Telephone: 1-669-900-6833, enter 85140543942 #
SONC Board Meeting November 9th, 2020
Zoom Credentials -- SONC Board Meeting

The agenda will be available on February 5th, 2021 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
February 8th, 2021 at 6:30 pm.


By Telephone:
1-669-900-6833, enter 85140543942 #

By the Internet:
(1) Follow link:
(2) Press “Enter”

Or from a Zoom “Enter the Meeting” Screen:
(1) Enter the Webinar ID: 85140543942
(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 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.

Elections for the Sherman Oaks
Neighborhood Council (SONC)

Fourteen (14) SONC Board seats will be up for election on May 11, 2021. Voting for this election will be done with Vote-By-Mail ballots.

Starting now, over the next few months, is a great time for you to learn not only about SONC and Los Angeles City Neighborhood Councils in general but also to think about how you might want to become an active participant in your Neighborhood Council. One of those ways is for you to become a candidate for one of the 14 open seats. Please note these fast approaching deadline dates:

Candidate Filing Period Begins: January 9, 2021
Candidate Filing Period Ends: February 23, 2021  
Election Day: May 11, 2021

Information about the Neighborhood Council elections will be addressed in detail during the coming months. Please explore the possibilities by visiting the City Clerk’s website at: https://clerk.lacity.org/elections/neighborhood-council-election

Please click on this link SONC Candidate Resource Guide or the image below.

And if you still need a little bit more inspiration, please follow this link to SONC's Youtube channel to view testimonials from SONC Board members. Your community needs you. Run for office!
Subscribe to SONC's 
Early 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 -- December Updates
VISION & PLUM Committee -- Jeff Kalban, Chair
Our Planning and Land Use Committee (PLUM) and our Vision Committee are fighting to save our community. Currently the Department of City Planning has cut Sherman Oaks into three parts for their Community Plan Updates; the Southeast Valley Community Plan, the North Sherman Oaks-Van Nuys Community Plan and the Ventura Cahuenga Boulevard Specific Plan Update. These Updates will establish our zoning for the next 20 years, yet there is no coordination. This is unconscionable.
The Southeast Valley and Sherman Oaks-Van Nuys planning teams are independently up-zoning our neighborhoods with the goal of adding density without the ability to look at our commercial corridors within the Ventura Cahuenga Specific Plan. The Specific Plan has massive amounts of untapped capacity for housing and commercial development. These are serious urban planning issues that you should be aware of. Our committees have studied our community for the past eight years and published our Vision 2020 that prescribes means to achieve increased density, housing equality and commercial growth while enhancing the quality of life in a greener Sherman Oaks. As a community we must demand a unified approach. Good urban planning is not a piecemeal process. A link to our Vision 2020: https://www.shermanoaksnc.org/docs/34483599-7325.pdf
 
 
Please join us and attend our virtual meetings. Vision meets at 6:30 on the first Thursday of the month and PLUM at 6:30 on the third Thursday. Coming up that’s February 4 and 18.
 
We have come a long way in the last 20 years. We cannot let bureaucratic trifurcating ruin Sherman Oaks!
 
To access the next Virtual Meeting on the Zoom Platform,
please see Vision and PLUM Committee page for updates and agendas.

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.

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 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
The Government Affairs Committee generally meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month and reviews matters of citywide concern, such as city council activity, legislation, and other items involving governing bodies and departments. 
At its October meeting, the Government Affairs Committee adopted a motion in support of LA's Green New Deal relative to healthy soil strategies, carbon sequestration, water capture, and composting.

At its November meeting, the Government Affairs Committee began a long-term discussion of the upcoming LA City Council Redistricting process, which is based on 2020 decennial United States Census data. At issue relative to Sherman Oaks is our community's status relative to representation at the City Council level in Council District 4, as well as representation at the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education in Board District 3.

To further our discussion and prepare for potential recommendations relative to redistricting, we will discuss Los Angeles City Council's redistricting history, including the most recent redrawing of the City Council boundaries, which occurred in 2011, at which time Sherman Oaks was removed from Council District 5 (south of Ventura Blvd) and Council District 2 (north of Ventura Blvd), and placed into Council District 4 (entirety of Sherman Oaks). At the time of this 2011 redistricting, the Councilmember for District 11 deemed the redrawing of the map an "outrageous case of gerrymandering."

The incoming Councilmember for District 4 has similarly expressed concern about the District's boundaries, and made a campaign promise to prioritize redistricting as "a change I'll fight for if I'm elected."

Thus, the Government Affairs Committee will analyze Sherman Oaks' place in the upcoming redistricting discussion and welcomes the community to take part in this important process.

To access the next Virtual Meeting on the Zoom platform: please see Government Affairs Committee Page for agendas and webinar info.
OUTREACH Committee-- Sarah Manuel, Chair
Please join the Outreach Committee for our next meeting on Tuesday, February 16th, 2021 at 7pm. We will be continuing the discussion of our 2021 Community Programming as well as preparing for our upcoming SONC Elections in May 2021.
Stay tuned for more opportunities to get involved with YOUR community. We may be apart but we are still working together. 

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.

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
January is a perfect month to start the year with Preparedness! Every January I personally dig out my emergency kits to check for expiration dates and to make sure the kits represent the correct & current items I might need to respond to an emergency - - remember the 2020 power outages or the scare of wildfire evacuations?


In the spirit of wanting all of Sherman Oaks to be better prepared, the SONC Public Safety Committee invited Jeff Edelstein of SOS Products to remind us about basic items that should be in every Emergency Kit. 
The day after the meeting, a neighbor who heard Jeff speak asked me for help with her kits. Minding social distancing rules, I went to her home where she had dumped out the contents of all her kits onto the kitchen table. First we sorted by category (first aid, tools, water/food, comfort and pet) then we looked at the expiration dates. Because a “Shelter At Home” kit is different than an “Evacuation Kit” we considered her needs for both and created 5 specific light-weight bags she could carry (all labeled with her name and phone number).

In each kit, we included baby wipes, hand sanitizer, water packets, small first aid kit, multi-tool, mylar blanket, rain pouch and light sticks. Each kit also has her personal protective equipment (“PPE”) such as leather gloves, medical gloves, N95 masks, a whistle and eye protection.

1. Personal kit – PPE, medicine, extra glasses, small cash bills, flashlight and comfort items (food, candy, book, magazines, puzzles). This kit also holds a flash drive for important documents.

2. Pet & Tools Kit – PPE, pet food, treats, dog photo, toys for a small dog & leashes. Tools include small crowbar, multi-tool, canned food opener, mini-first aid kit, nail file kit and small magnifying glass. This bag also holds her cell phone chargers, solar charger and cords.

3. Personal Hygiene Kit – PPE, expired water packets, tooth care, adult diapers and pads

4. First Aid Kit – PPE, this is the “owies and booboos” kit. Basic medical first aid that will help with small cuts, splinters, tummy issues, aches and pains.

5. Under the Bed Kit – PPE, slip-on shoes, light sticks, flashlight, whistle, pants, long-sleeve shirt & a Walkie Talkie radio with its batteries in a separate pouch.
Because sheltering is different than evacuating, we created a list of specific items she’d have to also grab if she evacuated. Specifically for her, she’ll need a walker, 1 photo album, a pet carrier, her purse with ID and her phone in addition to 3 of the above kits (Personal, Pet & Tool, Personal Hygiene). She can leave the First Aid kit at home because most shelters have basic first aid.

Note, her home has many other items she’ll need to use post disaster – an outside cook stove, cooking utensils, canned food, a well-stocked pile of bottled water. Those will serve her should she need to shelter at home after a disaster.

Emergency Kits and Go-Bags are unique to every individual and family – please take this time to update your kits and if you haven’t already - make a plan if you have to evacuate.

In the February SONC Public Safety meeting we will discuss “what happens post disaster”. Do you have a plan if you get separated? Do any neighbors need special care? Where will you go if you need help?

Next meeting will be Feb 9th, 2021, 6:30pm.

By Telephone: Dial 1-669-900-6833, Enter Webinar ID 842 7040 8817, and Press #
Online: Cut and Paste https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84270408817 
Press “Enter”
Or on Zoom join meeting screen enter
Webinar ID: 8427040 8817   

To view TONS of resources and to access Virtual Meeting on the Zoom Platform: please see Public Safety Committee page for agendas and webinar info.


A few other 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
Our Traffic and Transportation committee is currently working hard to improve traffic issues in Sherman Oaks. We are working to balance the needs of our residential lifestyle with the needs of a large Metropolitan City that requires large amounts of transportation for work, business and overall lifestyle needs. 
The Sepulveda Transit Corridor, which is the funnel between the valley and Westside, is a large contributor to our traffic issues. Currently, METRO, which is a county wide organization, is planning a $10 Billion dollar project to alleviate this traffic choke point. There are 4 major plans being studied.  On Jan 28th a possible plan will be chosen at the METRO Board meeting, and we will have our time for public comment, before their next meeting. The solution they will implement will affect Sherman Oaks for many years in the future. Therefore a solution that includes what is best for Sherman Oaks should be considered

Our committee meets on the 2nd Wed of every month.
So Please Join us on Feb 10th at 7:30 pm for our next Virtual meeting. we will provide updates on the METRO Sepulveda Project. We will also be working on ways to improve our parking situations, and promoting our local DASH and improving our biking infrastructure.

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 
Early Notification System via Department of Neighborhood Empowerment to receive all agendas for both board meetings and committee meetings.






Interested in joining the LAPD Volunteer program?

Please contact Alan Scher for more information.

For more information about Van Nuys Neighborhood Watch News please visit this link.
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.