HiFi clean-up postponed!

We're postponing this weekend's Historic Filipinotown community clean-up because of the impending rain.

We'll let you know when it gets rescheduled!

Give back to our community this holiday season

Looking for a way to give back to the community during the holidays?

Each year, Big Sunday produces a list of volunteer opportunities submitted by local non-profit agencies. The list is available by clicking here and the options abound -- underprivileged children, homeless people of all ages, veterans, HIV/AIDS patients, and so many more need our help. If you have time, this is a great way to make the holidays a little brighter for some of our neighbors.

Help us find one of America's Most Wanted

The Los Angeles Police Department is seeking the public's assistance in helping to find Jesus Catalan (also known as Brian Nanes or Luis Santiago) who is a person of interest in the homicide of an East Hollywood woman that occurred in August. He is a 24 year-old Hispanic male with a tattoo on his right arm (pictured at right). He is believed to be homeless, but often frequents the Hollywood and Rampart areas.

Mr. Catalan is considered armed and dangerous. He will be featured on an episode of America's Most Wanted that will air this Saturday, December 12, 2009, at 8:00 p.m. on KTTV (Fox Channel 11).

Anyone with information about his whereabouts should contact the LAPD Rampart Division Homicide Unit at (213) 484-3650. Information can also be provided by calling 877-LAPD-24-7.

HiFi community clean-up this Saturday!

This weekend, my office is hosting a community clean-up in Historic Filipinotown and we need volunteers!

If you can spare some time this holiday season, please consider spending Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. -- or anytime in between -- helping to beautify this great neighborhood. We'll be gathering at Our Lady of Loretto Church (258 Union Ave at Beverly). Our office will provide trash bags, work gloves, brooms, and other equipment.

Even if you don't live in HiFi, come check out this treasure of a neighborhood and meet some fellow Angelenos (we had a great time planting trees in the neighborhood earlier this year... see photo above).

Let Billie Jean in my office know if you have questions or can help out. Hope to see you there!

Mr. President, please give us job tax credits

Unemployment is Los Angeles’s largest challenge in turning around our economy, and creating new jobs must be a core component of our regional economic recovery.

As President Obama moves forward with his focus on creating more jobs to help pull us out of this recession, I have asked him to consider expanding job tax credits for cities with high unemployment rates.

Specifically, these areas where the unemployment rate is above the national average (such as Los Angeles) could be helped by making businesses in them eligible for the same employment tax credits currently available to businesses in Empowerment Zones.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Los Angeles’s unemployment rate is currently 13.9 percent, not including those who are chronically unemployed or have simply given up their efforts to find a job. The national unemployment rate is 10 percent.

Two employment tax credits are currently administered through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Empowerment Zone Program. That the program already exists and would need to be expanded rather than developed from scratch would allow federal dollars to quickly begin making an impact in areas where job creation is most needed.

Support the Hollywood Studio District Neighborhood Council's holiday toy drive

On Tuesday, December 15, you can support the Hollywood Studio District Neighborhood Council's toy drive by simply catching a show at the Music Box @ Fonda.

Maripat Donovan (a Council District 13 resident) will donate the proceeds of a special one-night performance of her show Sister's Christmas Catechism to help provide hundreds of local children with toys at the neighborhood council's annual holiday party.

The show is like CSI: Bethlehem with selected audience members participating in a nativity/crime scene. The Los Angeles Times promises Christmas Catechism will "amuse, regardless of your faith."

All tickets are $25 and audience members are urged to bring an unwrapped toy for a child aged 1 through 12 years. For tickets, please call 323-817-7000. You can click on the flyer above for more information.

Announcing the Southern California Regional Plug-in Electric Vehicle Collaboration

Yesterday I joined Mayor Villaraigosa and representatives from local cities, environmental organizations and auto manufacturers to announce the plans for an Electric Vehicle infrastructure that will prepare Los Angeles for the new wave of plug-in vehicles expected to hit roads over the next few years.

This initiative will bring together regional stakeholders to coordinate efforts that will streamline charging station installations at homes, business, and multi-family residential buildings, explore and expand public charging options, and create incentives for EV drivers.

As somebody who has driven an EV for more than a decade, I am very excited about developing a comprehensive EV plan for the region.

To find out more information about the city's electric vehicle plan please click here.

Enjoy a Breakfast with Santa on December 19

On Saturday, December 19 from 9am-11:30am, the Echo Park Recreation Center (1632 Bellevue Ave.) will host a fun-filled Breakfast with Santa.

Breakfast will include pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, and your choice of OJ or coffee. Tickets are $3 for youth and $5 for adults. The first 100 kids will receive a FREE stocking with goodies!

There will also be a toy give-away. Tickets for the toy give-away will be given first come, first served to kids who are under 15 years-old and have a Breakfast with Santa ticket.

For more information, click on the flyer at right or contact the Echo Park Recreation Center at (213) 250-3578 or (213) 250-8946.

Playgroup's Rummage and Bake Sale - Saturday, December 5

Playgroup was started in 1970 by Echo Park and Silver Lake residents who needed access to quality, affordable child care. A few years later, the group was incorporated into the Echo Park/Silverlake People Child Care Center as a non-profit organization and it's been serving neighborhood children ever since.

This weekend, Playgroup will host a Rummage and Bake Sale with all proceeds going to support the child care center. The event will be held on Saturday, December 5, from 9 .m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Vons Market on Alvarado (1342 N Alvarado St).

Atwater Village tree lighting - Friday, December 4

Check out the annual Atwater Village tree lighting ceremony and festivities, which will be held on Friday, December 4, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. along Glendale Boulevard (the tree is near the Wells Fargo located at 3250 Glendale Blvd.). The evening will include music, treats, and a visit from Santa -- perfect for children of all ages.

This event is organized by the Atwater Village Chamber of Commerce and gets bigger and better every year. I'm proud to help sponsor this year's event, along with the Chamber and the Atwater Village Neighborhood Council.