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Dear Friend:
It’s been one year since the grand opening of the Taxco Theatre in Canoga Park and I am so proud that it has become a community gem for residents in the West Valley. This historic building, once a Masonic Lodge and later the Clyde Porter West Valley Playhouse Theater, was on the brink of being sold and turned into an office building or fast food restaurant. When I heard the community’s concerns about losing this local institution, my team and I stepped in to find a solution. With support from local organizations and the Department of Cultural Affairs, we were able to secure the funds to purchase and renovate the site, turning it into a thriving cultural hub for our community. |
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Throughout the year, the community enjoyed a wide range of cultural and educational events, including: dance battles and festivals, Day of the Dead community processions, Black History Month celebrations, a Silicosis Forum, and even my Holiday Party and Toy/Essentials Drive. These meaningful and educational programs would not have been possible without the leadership of Performing Arts Center Director Dolores Chavez from the Department of Cultural Affairs. If you’d like more information about the Taxco, please contact Dolores at dolores.chavez@lacity.org.
The Taxco Theatre is now a place where local artists, nonprofit organizations, and performing arts students can develop and showcase new work, and it's become the only publicly-owned venue offering such opportunities in our area. This project is just one part of my larger vision to create a Canoga Park Cultural Arts Hub. The ongoing renovations at the Madrid Theatre is another exciting part of this vision, and it will help further establish Canoga Park as a vibrant cultural destination. Stay tuned for more updates.
As always, if you have any questions for me or my staff, or would like to get in touch, please do not hesitate to write to us at c03.foryou@lacity.org or call my office at 818-774-4330. |
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Lighting Up City Hall in Memory of the Bibas Family |
Together with Consul Generals Israel Bachar and Héctor M. Monacci, Councilmember Blumenfield lit up City Hall in orange to honor the memories of four year-old Ariel, and eight month-old Kfir, who were taken hostage simply because they were Israeli Jews and then proudly displayed on stage by Hamas in a grotesque glorification of true evil. Their deaths were not a byproduct of war, their deaths were premeditated murder and the celebration of their deaths is pure depravity by a terrorist organization which hates Jews more than they love their own people. The lighting also honored their mother, Shiri, who was also murdered. Rabbi Bruce Raff from Temple Judea attended and offered some poignant words and prayer. |
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Apply to Serve on the City of Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission |
The Los Angeles City Council and Mayor Bass established the Charter Reform Commission in August 2024. The Commission is tasked with reviewing the City Charter and developing recommendations for amendments and revisions for consideration by the City Council and Mayor. It is a civilian board that will be comprised of 13 Commissioners.
The City Charter serves as the City’s constitution, outlining the structure and operations of its government. The Charter Reform Commission will review the Charter and among the subjects suggested for review are improving the delivery of City services, revising the City's contracting process, revising the City's budgeting process, establishing a consistent procedure for filling vacancies in elected offices, defining the rules for censure and suspension of elected officers, and exploring an increase in the number of Council districts. If you are interested in serving on the commission, apply here by March 28th. |
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Celebrating the 11th Anniversary of the California-Israel Strategic Partnership |
March marks the 11th anniversary of the California-Israel Economic and Research Cooperation Pact, a historic agreement that has strengthened economic, technological, and academic ties. Then Assemblymember Blumenfield, authored and successfully passed the legislative vehicle that called for this agreement. Once he was elected to the City Council, Blumenfield created the Los Angeles-Eilat Innovation and Cooperation Task Force. This partnership has led to remarkable advancements in areas such as water conservation, alternative energy, cybersecurity, and education. |
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Academic West Building Groundbreaking Ceremony at Los Angeles Pierce College |
Pierce College held the groundbreaking of its new Academic West Building, a cutting edge facility designed to elevate education in the arts, media and social sciences. When completed, the 34,900 square-foot building will include state-of-the-art classrooms, collaborative spaces, a dark room, suite, and radio station. Blumenfield Fellow and Pierce student, Matthew Stewart, spoke on behalf of Councilmember Blumenfield and shared how this addition will provide more educational opportunities for students like himself. |
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Each month, Councilmember Blumenfield conducts his monthly Small Businesses Outreach Program by visiting businesses in a different area of the 3rd District. This month he visited several businesses along Ventura Boulevard in Tarzana. These visits provide Blumenfield a chance to share information about City resources and programs to folks who can take advantage of the information to help grow their business. Equally important, it provides an opportunity for him to get direct feedback and learn how his office and the City can better serve our small business community.
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Pierce College Brahma Career Closet |
Help local students enter the workforce by donating your gently used professional clothing to the Pierce College Brahma Career Closet. Launched in 2022 in partnership with Councilmember Blumenfield and Pierce College, this is a resource for students who need professional attire for interviews, career fairs, and job placements. Your generous donations will allow job seekers to feel confident to successfully enter the workplace and launch their careers. Most Pierce College students and alumni are from the San Fernando Valley and nearby communities, and your donations will help them connect with employers to succeed in their job searches. For more information, please click here. |
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Home Burglary Prevention Tips |
Councilmember Blumenfield has heard from concerned neighbors worried about home burglaries. LAPD has been working diligently to arrest burglary crews as well as provide burglary prevention tips to residents. It is imperative to take the steps to keep your home safe and report suspicious activity, as well as, the importance of knowing your neighbors and Senior Lead Officers. The simple tip to “Lock it, Hide it, Keep it” remains true as some crimes of opportunity can be prevented by securely locking doors and windows. Click here to find your local LAPD contacts. |
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Maintaining our Tree Canopy |
Councilmember Blumenfield continues to work directly with community members to find solutions to improve and maintain trees throughout the district. Blumenfield allocated $110k in discretionary/overtime funding for Urban Forestry tree surgeons to preserve our urban tree canopy. |
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In celebration of Black History Month, Councilmember Blumenfield partnered with Shania Accius, Executive Director of Zawadi Cultural Collective and Founder of Black in the Valley to present the third annual Black Business Mixer. Black owned businesses had the opportunity to network amongst one another and learn from a selection of panelists including reps from the SFV Chamber of Commerce, West Valley Business Source Center, LA County, and OMG Consulting Group. Blumenfield kicked off the event where he acknowledged the importance of the month as well as encouraging businesses to take advantage of City based resources. |
Councilmember Blumenfield thanked the Tarzana Community and Cultural Center for hosting the annual Native Plant Fair where community members participated in free planting and watercolor workshops, plant sales and giveaways, and more. |
Councilmember Blumenfield congratulated the Boys and Girls Club West Valley Youths of the Year for their leadership, academic achievements and commitment to service. |
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This week's photo, taken in 1961, is from the Valley Times Collection, of the dedication ceremony of the Phase II addition to The Clarence W. Pierce School of Agriculture. Learn more about the photo here.
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Councilmember Bob Blumenfield 200 N Spring Street, Room 465, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Unsubscribe |
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