Hollywood Central Park feasibility study is available online

The Hollywood Central Park feasibility study is now available online here.

Aardvark Letterpress celebrates 40 years

Last night we celebrated the installation of the Los Angeles Loteria Series currently on display in the third floor bridge that connects City Hall and City Hall East.

The series was printed by Aardvark Letterpress Fine Art Editions, whose owners Brooks and Cary Ocon worked closely with art director/designer Rick von Dehl and co-curator Lisa Jane Persky to create a 40th Anniversary project that would represent the full scope of the Aardvark Letterpress business.

The Los Angeles Loteria Series I is a museum quality edition that includes the following artists: Greg Colson, Richard Duardo, Angel Gonzalez, Daniel Gonzalez, Sammy Harkham, Karen Kimmel, Claudia Laub, Dave Lefner, Mel Lim, Marc Lumer, Dan McCleary, Andre Miripolsky, Cristina Padron, Somsara Rielly, Casey Ryder, Rick von Dehl, Ed Wexler and Ernesto Yerena.

Comprehensive Solar Plan

Solar
Originally uploaded by CD-13

Today I joined the Mayor, my colleagues on the city council, labor and environmental leaders to announce the most aggressive comprehensive solar plan in the nation. Building on our efforts to provide clean and reliable energy for the residents of Los Angeles, this venture will provide 10% of our energy from our most abundant resource, the sun, by the year 2020. Not only will this provide clean energy, but because solar panels work best at the hottest time of the day when energy demand in highest, it will reduce strain on our infrastructure.

We announced this initiative at Solar Integrated Technologies; a manufacturing firm located in South Los Angeles that produces flexible, thin-film technology that allows solar cells to cover almost any surface and provides 160 local, good-paying jobs. As we ramp up our solar demand, more businesses like Solar Integrated will come to Los Angeles and spur economic growth in the region. These firms are making our economy stronger and our environment cleaner, leading to a healthier and stronger Los Angeles.

Happy 20th Birthday, LA's BEST!

This morning we celebrated the 20th birthday of the City of Los Angeles's nationally-recognized LA's BEST after school program. For two decades, this program has given thousands of students a safe, educational place to go after the bell rings. It's also provided enrichment programs in dance, computers, science, drama, music, cooking, and so much more to children who otherwise might not ever have these experiences.

With more than 90 percent of its budget going to serve children directly, LA's BEST is one of the city's best investments in our future. And the results are proven... a UCLA study showed that students who participate in LA's BEST score better on tests and (perhaps more importantly) like school more, laying the foundation for a life-long love of learning.

There are many, many people to thank for the success of LA's BEST including the Board, staff, corporate and individual supporters, parents, and students. But I want to extend special kudos to LA's BEST CEO Carla Sanger (pictured in the middle) who is the program's heart and soul.

Congratulations, LA's BEST! Here's to the next 20 years!

Vermont Triangle improvements

This morning I joined Councilmember Tom LaBonge, Community Redevelopment Agency officials, business leaders, and community leaders to celebrate the completion of the Vermont Triangle, which brought landscaping, seating and lighting to the busy intersection of Hollywood Blvd. and Vermont Ave.

This project was managed and funded by the Community Redevelopment Agency, and the Los Feliz Business Improvement District has committed to maintaining it as a gateway to Los Feliz Village.

As a community, we are placing a high value on making our neighborhoods walkable. These improvements have transformed a gray cement triangle median into a nice place for pedestrians. The project is the result of the community working in partnership with city government and demonstrates how we can improve our city, corner-by-corner, block-by-block, neighborhood-by-neighborhood.

City Resource Center now open at Belmont High School

Since I've served on the City Council I've worked to engage community members in their own neighborhoods and bring government closer to them.

I'm proud to announce that my office has partnered with Belmont High School to open a City Resource Center on campus. The center is open Monday through Wednesday from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. and is operated by members of of my staff.

My hope is that having a resource center on the Belmont High campus will make it more convenient for students, parents, teachers, and others in the neighborhood to connect with city services. There may be a student who is interested in getting blue recycling bins for her apartment or a parent who wants to know more about the Cash for College program – now there will be someone on campus who can help connect them with these resources.

I want to thank Belmont High School principal Mr. Gary Yoshinobu for being a great partner in opening the City Resource Center.

Are you prepared?

With wild fires whipping their way through the Southland, it's good for all of us to refresh our fire safety knowledge.

The Los Angeles Fire Department has a number of educational videos that it has reposted to its blog. There is also more information available on the Fire Department's website.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families whose homes have been lost or damaged, and with the brave men and women who are helping to fight these fires.

Weekend Metro Red Line hours extended for the holidays

Metro Red Line trains will run until 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights (technically, that's Saturday and Sunday mornings) beginning this coming Friday through December 27.

The goal of this pilot program is to give shoppers, party-goers, theater-goers, employees, and others an alternative to driving their car to the Valley, Hollywood, Downtown, or other neighborhoods along the Red Line.

At a press conference this morning, my colleague Councilmember Wendy Greuel talked about her experience taking the Red Line from the Valley to Hollywood for an event and then having to hitch a ride when she and her husband were there longer than planned.

Now, everyone can take the Red Line and not have to worry about traffic, parking, or getting stranded (at least before 3 a.m.)!

A Day at the L.A. River

On Saturday, my office hosted A Day at the River. About 100 community members came out to support our Los Angeles River, including representatives from North East Trees, Friends of the Los Angeles River, and the Los Angeles Conservation Corps' Riverkeepers (pictured with me at right).

Many cyclists and neighbors out for a stroll stopped by on their morning journey to check out the information booths and renderings of our upcoming projects along the river. You can check them out, along with a lot of other information about our efforts to green the river on the L.A. River Master Plan website.

Aircraft fly-bys in Hollywood will kick off L.A. Air Force Week

As Air Force Week fast approaches, I want to remind everyone about the upcoming events hosted by our men and women in blue. This Friday, November 14, the Week will officially begin with aircraft fly-bys over the Hollywood area. At about 11:15 a.m., two F-16 Fighting Falcons will depart from the Silver Lake reservoir, followed by four other aircrafts at two minute intervals. The procession will fly westward over Hollywood toward the 405 freeway to a landing area in the northwest and should end at approximately 11:30 a.m.

While the display is certain to be impressive, it may also be loud because of the rising terrain in the northwest area of Los Angeles. Please keep this in mind and let your friends and neighbors know that the noise is simply due to the Air Force display.

Enjoy the show and check out more Air Force Week events on the website!