Los Angeles Department of Transportation Public Hearings

The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) will hold six public hearings to allow the public to voice its opinion on the proposed reductions to LADOT Transit services and increases in fares.

The public hearings will be held at the following six locations and times:

West Los Angeles
Tuesday, February 16, 2010, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Henry Medina West L.A Parking Enforcement Facility, Second Floor, Roll Call Room
11214 W. Exposition Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064

South Los Angeles
Wednesday, February 17, 2010, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
South Los Angeles Activity Center, Multipurpose Room
7020 South Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90003

Central Los Angeles
Tuesday, February 23, 2010, 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Caltrans Bldg., Community Center Conference Room
100 South Main St., Los Angeles, CA 90012

North and South Valley
Wednesday, February 24, 2010, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Marvin Braude Constituent Service Center, Room 1B
6262 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys, CA 91401

Harbor
Thursday February 25, 2010, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Cabrillo-Marina Community Center, Community Room
224 Whalers Walk, San Pedro, CA 90731

East
Wednesday, March 3, 2010, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Ramona Hall Community Center, Community Room
4580 North Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90065

Written and oral comments will be taken at the public hearings for consideration. If you are unable to attend one of the six hearings listed above, you can still submit testimony, comments or suggestions until March 3, 2010 in any of the following ways:

Online: ladotlbl.tmdinc.net
Telephone Message: 213-455-0880
Mail: Philip Aker, Hearing Officer, LADOT, 201 North Los Angeles St., #18B, Los Angeles, CA 90012
E-mail: hearingofficer@store.ladottransit.com

The State of Hollywood in 2010

This afternoon I'm giving my 9th State of Hollywood speech at a luncheon organized by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. This is one of my favorite annual events because it gives our Hollywood community an opportunity to pause and reflect on what we've been able to accomplish together, and what we still can and need to do.

Despite the economic recession, Hollywood chugging along in 2009. We saw the opening of more than 30 new shops and restaurants. We celebrated the arrival of hundreds of new housing opportunities. And we continued to prepare for the opening of major projects that are about to come online, such as the W Hotel and Residences and the long-anticipated repairs to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I'll be talking about these things and more.

I hope to see you there!

Get free help with your taxes

NOTE: This event has been moved to 1157 Lemoyne Avenue and the reception will begin at 11 a.m.

The 2010 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program for Los Angeles will officially launch on Thursday, January 28, at the brand new Echo Park FamilySource Center (located at El Centro Del Pueblo, 1824 Sunset Blvd.). There will be a program and reception from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and tours and services provided between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.

The City's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance site in Echo Park is one of many available throughout Los Angeles to provide local residents with free help preparing their income taxes. In particular, the city wants to ensure that those who qualify take advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit. PricewaterhouseCoopers has adopted the Echo Park site and is providing volunteer tax preparers.

The Echo Park FamilySource Center is a collaboration of community-based organizations and is a one-stop shop for counseling, case management, parenting classes, educational and employment resources, youth mentoring, computer literacy classes, and much more.

To RSVP for Thursday's event, please contact Maribel Cornejo at 213-483-6335, ext 111 or mcecdp@gmail.com. For more information, please contact Carlos Martinez, FamilySource Center Director, at 213-483-6335, ext 110 or cmecdp@pacbell.net.

Youth Mentoring Connection mentor recruitment

In September 2008, the Division of Adolescent Medicine at The Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) was awarded funding from the City of Los Angeles to establish a gang reduction and youth development program in the Northeast community that includes Cypress Park, Glassell Park, and Highland Park. In the past year, CHLA has established a successful mentor program in partnership with Youth Mentoring Connection (YMC).

If you are interested in joining this effort and becoming a mentor for young people ages 10-15, come to an informational session on Wednesday, January 20, at the Glassell Park Community and Senior Center (3750 Verdugo Road) from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. YMC will describe their program and their expectations for mentors.

Mentors must be 18 years old, commit 5 hours per month and are asked to make a 9-month commitment. Mentors will also get training and ongoing support from YMC. If you are unable to make a commitment at this time, but you know someone who can, invite them to participate in this informational session or distributing the flyer to any civic or faith organizations.

Glassel Park fruit tree giveaway

Tomorrow, January 16, a variety of free fruit trees including citrus trees, will be distributed at the Recreation Center parking lot area of Glassell Park (3650 Verdugo Road) starting at noon.

Fruit trees are provided by TreePeople and will be handed out on a first come, first served basis. Bring a bag or bucket to also receive mulch provided by the Bureau of Sanitation from the City of Los Angeles.

This event is sponsored by the Glassell Park Improvement Association (GPIA). To volunteer to pick up the trees at a TreePeople distribution center, please arrive at the Recreation Center at 7 a.m. To volunteer for set up, arrive at the Recreation Center shortly after 7 a.m.

Contact Alonso Calderon at acalceves@yahoo.com or GPIA president Jim Kiehl at jekiehl@earthlink.net for more information.

Los Angeles Housing Department Awarded $100 Million in Recovery Act finding

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced that the Los Angeles Housing Department was awarded $100 million in Recovery Act funding.

The second round of neighborhood revitalization grants is being competitively awarded to applicants who show the most innovative ideas to rebuild local communities. Grant recipients must also demonstrate that they can responsibly handle taxpayer dollars.

Funds from HUD's Neighborhood Stabilization Program will rehabilitate foreclosed or abandoned homes in Los Angeles while making them affordable for working class families.

Help for Haiti

Tonight I'm headed over to TiGeorge's Restaurant where owner George Laguerre, who hails from Port-de-Paix, is holding a fundraiser to help victims of the massive earthquake that struck this week. Laguerre is focused on helping to send doctors and get medical equipment for the doctors to take with them to Haiti.

Angelenos know better than many about the need for people to support each other during natural disasters such as major earthquakes, and I know we are all extending our thoughts and prayers to the people of Haiti.

Those who would like to do more may contact one of the organizations below:

THE AMERICAN RED CROSS

Phone: Donation Hotlines: (800) REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) or (800) 257-7575 (Español) Website: http://www.redcross.org/

UNICEF

Phone: (800) 4UNICEF (800) 486-4233;

Website: http://www.unicefusa.org/?gclid=CO6yofn0oZ8CFRT6agodI2E_mg

OPERATION USA

Phone: (310) 838-3455

Website: http://www.opusa.org/

THE WHITE HOUSE

Website: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/01/13/help-haiti

This site states that you can donate $10 to be charged to your cell phone bill by texting "HAITI" to "90999." Proceeds will be directed to the American Red Cross.

WORLD VISION

Phone: (888) 511-6548

Website: http://www.worldvision.org/

City Employee Spotlight: Ron Lorenzen

As the City of Los Angeles's Assistant Chief Forester, Ron Lorenzen helps keep our neighborhoods looking beautiful by working with the City Council, Department of Public Works, and neighborhood organizations to develop and oversee implementation of strategic plans to expand, maintain and protect the forest of trees throughout our city's communities. He is always quick to respond to the needs of CD13 constituents when it comes to tree trimming or other tree-related issues.

Ron has been working in the tree care profession for nearly 40 years. He owned a tree care company until he joined the City of Los Angeles as a Tree Surgeon in 1992. He has worked his way through the Urban Forestry Division ranks and became the Assistant Chief Forester in 2006.

Ron earned a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Environmental Studies from California State University Dominguez Hills, and is a Certified Arborist by the International Society of Arboriculture and a Certified Urban Forester by the California Urban Forest Council.

Ron lives in the Antelope Valley with his wife. He is the proud father of three girls and grandfather of five. He enjoys surfing, skiing, snowboarding, reading, and is an active member of the First Baptist Church Woodland Hills.

Echo Park fruit tree giveaway

On January 16, 2010, free fruit trees --including apple, peach, plum, apricot, nectarine and orange trees -- will be distributed at Delilah Bakery (1665 Echo Park Avenue) in Echo Park from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Trees can be reserved in advance, and need to be picked up by 4:30 p.m. Unreserved trees will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.

This event is coordinated by the Echo Park Improvement Association (EPIA), which is limiting the giveaway to Echo Park residents only.

Echo Park residents may reserve a tree by emailing EPIAmail@yahoo.com or by calling the EPIA Hotline at 323-882-4835. Please include your name, phone number and type of tree you would like.

Computer access and WiFi expansion coming to Los Angeles

The City of Los Angeles has won $7 million in federal economic recovery funds to expand computer and Internet access for Los Angeles families. The funds will allow us to install more than 2,600 public computer workstations, provide broadband connection at 72 computer center sites, expand WiFi networks at places such as parks and community centers, deploy portable wireless training stations, and upgrade networks used to connect thousands of computers to the Internet.

In these tough times, this project is particularly important for job seekers who are using computers at libraries and job source centers to look for job opportunities or prepare resumes. On a recent Sunday, I happened to pass by the Central Library in Downtown L.A. and saw a line of people waiting to use the computers there. This grant funding will allow us to significantly expand computer and Internet access, and hopefully that will help many job seekers find work.