I've been reporting the development of the Hollywood Studio District Neighborhood Council online for two years now, and I'm pleased to announce that CD13's newest NC made it through its inaugural elections and has become a fully operating neighborhood council. Congratulations to newly elected President Bob Blue, Vice-President Samir Srivastava and the whole elected board. If you live between Hollywood on the north, Melrose on the south, El Centro on the west and the 101 freeway or Western Avenue on the east, please get involved with the council and bring your neighbors along. (.pdf link to map)
Monday, July 24, 2006
Tourist map
My friend Shane Green of The Map Network told me a long time ago of his interest in developing an interactive map of Los Angeles, and now it's up at USA Today. More importantly, Shane is working with LA, Inc., our tourist bureau, to develop a much more detailed tourist map of the whole region. In the meantime, check out the USA Today map, especially if you have a guest in town (or want to be a tourist in your own city).
Friday, July 21, 2006
Neighborhood Council Review Commission
I had the chance to address the inaugural meeting of the Neighborhood Council Review Commission, which gathered in the Tom Bradley Chamber atop City Hall. The 29 commissioners were sworn in by City Clerk Frank Martinez, and set about deciding on their meeting schedule, rules and protocols. I had the opportunity to address them and to watch the proceedings as a member of the public, and I look forward to bold action from the commission that advances the role of grassroots democracy in Los Angeles.
I was also pleased to see that my appointment, Rev. Altagracia Perez, was elected by the commissioners as Chair of the Commission, and CD13 local leader and Neighborhood Councilmember Jason Lyon (appointed by the Mayor) was elected First Vice-Chair.
I was also pleased to see that my appointment, Rev. Altagracia Perez, was elected by the commissioners as Chair of the Commission, and CD13 local leader and Neighborhood Councilmember Jason Lyon (appointed by the Mayor) was elected First Vice-Chair.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
LA City Nerd on Echo Park
Did you know that before the Lotus Festival, Echo Park was home to the "Becky Thatcher-Tom Sawyer Fishing Rodeo"? No, you didn't. But LA City Nerd did! Learn more about the lake and its park from the inimitable Nerd.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
$1B for housing
Angelenos hope for a future where working men and women can afford to rent or buy a home with the wages they earn. We hope for a future where housing rises next to jobs and commute times fall. We hope for a solution to the plight of the tens of thousands of people who have no home at all. The bond that advanced in council today is an investment in our hopes.
My colleagues voted unanimously today to instruct the City Attorney to prepare bond language for inclusion on the November 2006 ballot for a $1-billion housing bond. The bond would generate $100 million per year from 2007 through 2016, funds that could be used to help solve homelessness, build affordable workforce housing, and help first-time homebuyers. Passage of the bond would complement the strides that we've made together in turning around the housing crisis over the past five years, from passing and fully funding our $100-million Affordable Housing Trust Fund to streamlining our planning coded to accommodate new construction and conversions.
Details after the jump...
The bond would have minimum percentages of each year’s funds that would be spent on specific priorities:
• No less than 25% of the bond should be spent on creating affordable rental housing opportunities for extremely low income tenants, ranging from no income to 30% area median income (AMI), including the formerly homeless.
• No less than 25% of the bond should be spent on affordable rental housing opportunities for households at 60% or below or AMI
• No less than 10% of the bond should be spent on mixed-income developments providing affordable rental housing opportunities for individuals at 60% to 80% of AMI
• No less than 20% of the bond should be spent on first time homeownership assistance to households at or below 150% AMI. 15% of this 20% should be targeted to serve households at or below 80% of AMI, if feasible.
The bond would be repaid over a 20-year period by way of a tax assessment that would average $14.66 annually on each $100,000 of assessed property value.
The City Attorney will return with final language that must be approved by Council for placement on the November ballot by August 4th, 2006.
Gateways Housing
Affordabe housing developer A Community of Friends opened the long-awaited Gateways complex on Hoover at London Street, and I was proud to join the developer and the community at the grand opening.
The handsome $5 million project was envisioned in a real partnership between ACOF and the neighbors. With 90,000 people living on the streets throughout our county, we cannot afford to let the pace of developing new affordable housing slack even the slightest bit.
Permanent supportive housing facilities like Gateways elaborate our most successful model for ending homelessness. The New York Times recently reported success rates of 80% and higher for homeless individuals entering permanent supportive housing. Thanks to ACOF, 29 formerly homeless individuals can live at Gateways in an area with one of the fastest rising property values in the city.
ACOF has been steady and committed, keeping the project on schedule while navigating bureaucratic errors at the federal level and initial resistance from neighbors with questions about the project. The result—reached by responding to the community and incorporating its concerns—is part of the solution to the regional crisis of homelessness.
The handsome $5 million project was envisioned in a real partnership between ACOF and the neighbors. With 90,000 people living on the streets throughout our county, we cannot afford to let the pace of developing new affordable housing slack even the slightest bit.
Permanent supportive housing facilities like Gateways elaborate our most successful model for ending homelessness. The New York Times recently reported success rates of 80% and higher for homeless individuals entering permanent supportive housing. Thanks to ACOF, 29 formerly homeless individuals can live at Gateways in an area with one of the fastest rising property values in the city.
ACOF has been steady and committed, keeping the project on schedule while navigating bureaucratic errors at the federal level and initial resistance from neighbors with questions about the project. The result—reached by responding to the community and incorporating its concerns—is part of the solution to the regional crisis of homelessness.
CD13's first art opening: Clowns without Borders
You're invited to our first CD13 District Office art opening!
7:00 pm, Thursday, July 13
5500 Hollywood Boulevard, Fourth Floor
Photographs from Project Njabulo of Clowns Without Borders
Led by former Silver Lake resident Jamie McLaren Lachman, Project Njabulo of Clowns without Borders brings laughter to children throughout Southern Africa who have lost their parents to HIV/AIDS. Join Jamie at this reception for the work of photographer Ellen van den Bouwhuysen documenting Project Njabulo's expedition last year in KwaZulu-Natal. RSVP to Kabira Stokes at (323) 957-4500 or via email.
5500 Hollywood Boulevard, Fourth Floor
Photographs from Project Njabulo of Clowns Without Borders
Led by former Silver Lake resident Jamie McLaren Lachman, Project Njabulo of Clowns without Borders brings laughter to children throughout Southern Africa who have lost their parents to HIV/AIDS. Join Jamie at this reception for the work of photographer Ellen van den Bouwhuysen documenting Project Njabulo's expedition last year in KwaZulu-Natal. RSVP to Kabira Stokes at (323) 957-4500 or via email.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Well rowed, rowers
Congratulations are in order to the Becerra Bombers, whose furious rowing won them the top spot in the elected officials' category on Echo Park Lake this weekend. The crown passes to Washington, D.C. We'll get it back next year! Winning the day overall was the Department of Transporation's Valley Gators, led by CD13 hero Brian Gallagher.
My hat is also off to the team fielded (laked?) by blogging.la. Not bad for a nascent medium.
I also commend my council-neighbor Ed Reyes, whose team pulled to within one second's difference of CD13's own crew.
Lastly, hats off to the CD13 Pirates, who rowed bravely and fiercely in my absence. Three-hundred sixty-three practice days left until next year, friends.
And for everyone: keep in mind the three key principles of championship rowing:
My hat is also off to the team fielded (laked?) by blogging.la. Not bad for a nascent medium.
I also commend my council-neighbor Ed Reyes, whose team pulled to within one second's difference of CD13's own crew.
Lastly, hats off to the CD13 Pirates, who rowed bravely and fiercely in my absence. Three-hundred sixty-three practice days left until next year, friends.
And for everyone: keep in mind the three key principles of championship rowing:
- Take personal responsibility for the direction of the boat
- Always follow the oar in front of you
- Listen to your captain's voice
Friday, July 07, 2006
I'm back from Beirut!
And I've got a proclamation signed by Beirut's Mayor Abdel Mounimariss and Vice Mayor Twafik Kfuri. Councilmember Zine and I also had the privilege of meeting with Prime Minister Fouad Seiora and Minister of the Interior Ahmand Fatfa among others. See the rest of my pics at my Flickr page.
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