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Dear Friend:
You may have seen the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) 2025 Homeless Count results, and while I’m happy to see continued progress and programs that are getting people off the streets, I want to be realistic about the challenges we continue to face.
The good news is that there was a 10% drop in homelessness in LA County with a 8.5% increase in people being sheltered. There was a 2.5% increase in permanent housing placements with almost 28,000 people transitioning from shelter to actual apartments last year.
Even with this progress and hundreds of millions being spent, there remain over 72,000 people on the streets in the County, 43,000 people in our City. The Count is a snapshot of a moment in time, and its projections are less accurate at the local level. After many years of revised data and questionable formulas, I take the LAHSA numbers with some doubts. Even so, it’s great to see the continued trend of people moving out of homelessness.
The homeless count numbers this year are positive and reflect an immense level of effort and unprecedented funding to make this progress. But, again, the bang for your buck ratio is not nearly enough. We must find ways to scale up successful, cost effective programs and services for the unhoused, and ensure that our sidewalks, parks, and other public facilities remain accessible for everyone. Read more about my thoughts about LAHSA here.
There is still much work to do and 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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Major Façade Renovations in Reseda |
Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, and the LA County Department of Economic Opportunity celebrated the completion of major façade renovations for three small businesses located along the Sherman Way commercial corridor in Reseda. These improvements are a partnership between the County’s RENOVATE Façade Improvement Program to stimulate inclusive economic growth with the office of Councilmember Blumenfield which contributed $1.5M to this program that revitalizes Reseda’s storefronts and helps make the area more welcoming and vibrant. |
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Protecting our Communities |
Councilmember Blumenfield along with his colleague, Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, introduced two motions to protect public safety, safeguard civil rights, and address widespread fear among communities related to repeated and unverified federal immigration enforcement actions. To ensure the safety of the community, Blumenfield believes that verifying the identity of anyone claiming to be a law enforcement agent, while ensuring appropriate fines and consequences, is essential to ensure public safety.
Recently, the Committee on Civil Rights, Equity, Immigration, Aging & Disability voted to approve the motions directing City departments to author a report back on the City’s legal jurisdiction. Stay tuned for more updates. |
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The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) has begun implementing Phase I of a citywide initiative to improve safety and increase street parking by removing peak-hour travel lanes in low-traffic corridors. Peak-hour lane removals and restriping are scheduled on Ventura Blvd (between Farralone Ave and Tampa Ave) from August 8th-12th and on Nordhoff St westbound (between Corbin and Canoga) from August 18th –21st, with temporary parking restrictions posted in advance. This effort is expected to enhance visibility, reduce speeding and collisions, and improve pedestrian and bike safety, while maintaining travel times and supporting local businesses. |
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Stay Cool and Comfortable with Cool LA |
Cool LA is a LADWP initiative to help older adults, low-income neighborhoods, and those living in communities with a lack of applicable programs to better manage the impacts of extreme heat caused by climate change. Initiatives include cooling rebates on various types of energy-efficient cooling units and Level Pay, to help customers smooth out their summer bills across 12 monthly payments. For more information and other programs, please visit ladwp.com/cool-la. |
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Vision Lab - AI Essentials for Local Business Owners Workshop |
On August 6th at the Canoga Park Community Center Foundation, The Vision Lab – a program that offers free tech training and resources for youth, entrepreneurs, and local business owners in Los Angeles, is providing a free AI Essentials Workshop designed specifically for entrepreneurs and small business owners in the West Valley. This workshop is a crucial opportunity to gain insights on using AI and digital tools ethically, strengthening your enterprise for the future. Secure your spot and receive the workshop location by clicking this link: Vision Lab Artificial Intelligence Essentials Workshop. |
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Overnight Lane Closures Along the 405 through Sepulveda Pass for Pavement Rehabilitation Project |
From August 4th-9th after 9pm, Caltrans will be closing lanes to conduct median barrier work through the Sepulveda Pass. This work is part of the 405 Pavement Rehabilitation Project between the Los Angeles communities of Van Nuys and Westwood along the Sepulveda Pass. This project will apply $143.7 million toward improving the safety and mobility along I-405 between Van Nuys and Westwood as well as sustainably extending pavement life. For more information on the project visit the Caltrans Current Projects Website. |
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Cleaning and Greening the West Valley |
Councilmember Blumenfield’s partnership with the Los Angeles Conservation Corps (LACC) continues to deliver results for the West Valley. Young Corpsmembers work hard each day to keep our communities clean. A few years ago, Blumenfield provided office space for the LACC within his district office building, and he regularly allocates district specific funds to LACC to specifically address needs in the local communities and he's always grateful to see their continued progress. He views this local team as a potent local clean-up strike force to help remove weeds, trash and other nuisances.
If you see bulky items, excess trash, graffiti, etc, call 818.774.4330 or email c03.foryou@lacity.org and we'll send a team out. |
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Team Blumenfield visited the Bureau of Street Lighting's exhibit presenting the history of street lighting in Los Angeles featuring early decade street lamps in their original glow and design up close. The Street Lighting Museum is accessible via scheduled monthly tour or by appointment. More information can be found here. |
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This week's photo, taken in 1965 from the Valley Times Collection, shows youngsters from Co-op Nursery School at Reseda Park at a field trip to Giacopuzzi Dairy in Canoga Park. Learn more about the photo here. |
Councilmember Bob Blumenfield 200 N Spring Street, Room 465, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Unsubscribe |
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