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Dear Friend:
One of my top priorities as your City Councilmember is to provide safer streets for all. Our Valley neighborhoods have lost too many lives to high speed crashes, taking the lives of seniors, pedestrians, cyclists, and other drivers and passengers. My “Operation Safe Streets” effort to curb speeding/street racing in the West Valley continues to deliver results. In addition to the Street Racing Task Force that has issued hundreds of citations so far, more speed humps and other mitigation efforts have been installed throughout the district.
To build on these efforts, the City is also advancing new technology-driven strategies to further reduce speeding and improve traffic safety. The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) recently published its report on the City’s speed safety camera program authorized under California Assembly Bill 645 (AB 645). Eight street segments in Council District 3 have been identified for possible camera installation based on state criteria such as collision history, roadway design, and proximity to schools. |
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The proposed locations in Council District Three include:
- Sherman Way from Vanalden Avenue to Calvin Avenue
- Vanowen Street from Corbin Avenue to Hatillo Avenue
- Reseda Boulevard from Victory Boulevard to Erwin Street
- Victory Boulevard from the LA River to Canby Avenue
- Reseda Boulevard from Valerio Street to Wyandotte Street
- Winnetka Avenue from Strathern Street to Arminta Street
- Ventura Boulevard from Chalk Hill to Winnetka Avenue
- Victory Boulevard from Tampa Avenue to Belmar Avenue
A 30-day public comment period is now underway, and residents are encouraged to review the report and provide feedback here. For additional information about the program, please visit LADOT’s Speed Safety System site. |
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Recognizing Friends of the Woodland Hills Library |
Councilmember Blumenfield was proud to recognize the Friends of the Woodland Hills Library to celebrate their 50th Anniversary. For five decades, the Friends have been champions of the library, raising funds to provide special and unique resources that fall outside the library’s regular budget, partnering with community members and City leaders to support the library’s renovation, and leading a successful campaign to preserve the trees in the library parking lot. In addition to their advocacy and fundraising efforts, the Friends provide additional programming to patrons, including weekly yoga, the Garden Club, and a Shakespeare program. Congratulations to the Friends of the Woodland Hills Library on fifty years of dedication, care, and unwavering commitment to both the library and the community. |
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Tackling the Challenges of Rising Temperatures |
To address the increasing extreme heat due to climate change, the LA City Council unanimously passed Councilmembers Bob Blumenfield, Eunisses Hernandez, and Adrin Nazarian’s motion to ensure renters are protected from the deadly impacts of extreme heat. The measure directs the City to adopt, and conform to LA County’s newly passed ordinance establishing a maximum indoor temperature standard of 82 degrees Fahrenheit for rental housing. Remedies may include building upgrades, installation of air conditioners, fans, or other cooling strategies to bring the temperature down. While it is currently law for property owners to provide heat in units, a cooling method is not. As summer brings 100 degree weather to our Valley neighborhoods, this is a life and death issue for many seniors and vulnerable people.
Blumenfield and Hernandez introduced amendments clarifying expectations for LADWP staff to expand and align incentive and efficiency programs across city agencies, allowing renters to access and install energy efficient AC equipment and report back on existing renewable energy-efficiency incentive programs available to apartment owners with recommendations for expanding support. The report will also consider opportunities to layer incentives for complementary improvements, such as solar generation, storage, and cool roofs on the same site. Stay tuned for more updates. |
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February is Spay Neuter Awareness Month |
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Unwanted “oops” litters of puppies and kittens often end up in our City shelters, which are already crowded and no fun for these young ones. Preventing them is a humane and healthy way to help reduce the shelter crisis and keep your animals safe at home. February is Spay and Neuter Awareness Month and LA Animal Services is offering pet owners free spay/neuter certificates and low-cost vouchers here or are available for pick up at any of the six LA Animal Services Centers located throughout the City. Each household is eligible to receive spay/neuter certificates or vouchers for up to three dogs and three cats per household. Community cats and stray dogs do not qualify for this program.
Blumenfield has been a big advocate for spay and neuter programs having shepherded legislation in Sacramento on the subject when in the Assembly and having championed maximum funding for it as a Councilmember. For more information on LA’s spay/neuter program, visit laanimalservices.com/spay-and-neuter.
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Call for Teen Musicians and Community Curators |
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The Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) is seeking ten (10) teen musicians to participate in a week-long internship this summer in Canoga Park where they will rehearse three (3) hours daily in the afternoon culminating in a Sunday evening performance with a professional ten piece band. In 2022, the Department of Cultural Affairs Performing Arts Division (DCA|PERF) launched the Soul of Music Project, now known as NextNote Pathways, a hands-on program designed for teenage musicians interested in exploring the realities of a professional career in music. The program is intended for students ready to move beyond school ensembles and engage in the collaborative, performance-driven environment of professional musicianship. Click here for more info and to apply.
In addition, DCA is inviting three (3) community curators to share the authentic experiences of the West Valley through a community event series titled “In My Neighborhood I See...” The selected community curators will share their deep knowledge and lived experience in the West Valley, helping others better understand its unique character through a self-produced one-day community event. This project will provide selected curators with full access to the Taxco Theatre for one (1) day, including support from one (1) dedicated technical staff member and promotion across all Taxco Theatre social media platforms. Curators will receive hands-on technical assistance to bring their creative vision to life and to reach a broad audience throughout the West Valley and beyond. Click here for more info and to apply. |
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Councilmember Blumenfield stood with SEIU Local121RN nurses at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center as they stand up for safe staffing, improved working condition, and respect. Blumenfield encouraged continued support for these frontline workers who work tirelessly to save lives.
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Community Events and Resources |
This week's photo from the Los Angeles Public Library's archives is from the Security Pacific National Bank Collection taken in 1914 of the Johnston and Organ & Piano Manufacturing Company on Owensmouth Boulevard 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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