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Dear Friend:
Earlier this week, we welcomed about 500 hungry and adorable new friends to the West Valley to help with weed abatement and fire mitigation efforts. While utilizing goats in this way has been done by other cities, it’s relatively new in LA. We worked fast to partner with Fire Grazers Inc, LA Conservation Corps, the Audubon Society of the San Fernando Valley, and LA Rec and Parks to bring them directly from the Sepulveda Basin where they had just finished a demonstration project led by Mayor Karen Bass, Councilmember Imelda Padilla, and Audubon Society. |
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For numerous reasons Corbin Canyon Park was a great area to launch this city-funded pilot. It’s often an overgrown area that abuts homes and is a gateway to the Santa Monica Mountains and at a very high risk for fires. Following the operation in the Sepulveda Basin, we created a blueprint to enable goats at city sites and it’s my hope that other Councilmembers can replicate this in needed areas across the city. Over the next few months we will see if removing weeds encourages native plants and habitat improvements in the area, as well as reduces fire risk.
The goats will be in the canyon for the next two weeks and I will continue to post updates on social media as their important work continues. |
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Groundbreaking of Signal Lights and Crosswalks on Ventura Boulevard and Penfield Ave |
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Councilmember Bob Blumenfield led city/community leaders and residents for the groundbreaking of new traffic signals at Penfield Avenue and Ventura Boulevard.
This endeavor is part of the City’s Traffic Signal Backlog Reduction – Phase 2 & Traffic Signal Improvements Project, an initiative focused on improving safety and mobility for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists throughout the City of Los Angeles through the installation of protected left-turn phasing, new traffic signals, controlled crosswalks, and related civil infrastructure improvements. The project includes installation of a new traffic signal, four ADA-compliant curb ramps, three new marked crosswalks, sidewalk repairs, and associated traffic control devices. Construction is being managed by the LADOT Construction Management Team. Construction is anticipated to be completed in Fall 2026.
This high-volume corridor, which has experienced a history of traffic collisions, will benefit from these safety enhancements. Blumenfield thanked community leader John Ardalan and others for their dogged determination on this issue. The new signal is one of several ongoing efforts led by Blumenfield to improve pedestrian and roadway safety across the district. |
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Blumenfield Advocates for Better Mental Health Services for Unsheltered and Unhoused |
On March 17th, Team Blumenfield members Keith Banks and David Giron attended the County Board of Supervisors meeting and read Blumenfield’s letter of support for Supervisor Horvath and Barger’s motion, "Reforming and Integrating Mental Healthcare Within the County’s Homelessness Services System.”
In a letter submitted to the Board, Blumenfield said, "I am confronted every day by the heartbreaking reality of our fragmented system - witnessing the profound toll that untreated mental illness takes on people experiencing homelessness, on our streets and in our interim housing sites. For years, I have been publicly and privately complaining about, and raising issues about, the deficiencies of the County’s service delivery model. I have personally seen people I have helped on the streets of my district die because they were not coherent enough to take advantage of County services. I have also known constituents who have died in our interim and permanent supportive housing sites due to the lack of health and behavioral health services on-site. It has been and is heartbreaking. There are thousands of people grappling with serious mental illness and/or drug addiction living on our streets and in our interim sites in Los Angeles who have been referred to the Department of Mental Health, but are not yet receiving services.These barriers to access must be addressed."
For more information about Blumenfield's efforts to improve County service delivery in the West Valley, email Senior Homelessness Deputy Keith Banks at keith.banks@lacity.org. |
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LA Sanitation Passover Chometz Pickup |
In observance of Passover, LA Sanitation arranged for a special chometz (bread and leavened foods) collection on the morning of Erev Pesach, April 1. Constituents may request a free "Passover Pickup" online at Passover Pickup or by calling 800-773-2489 by March 25 to register. Once registered, residents will need to place all of their LA Sanitation bins out on April 1 by 6AM. They will need to sort items as they normally do: Green Bin (Food & Organics), Blue Bin (Recyclables), Black Bin (Trash). |
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Reseda Skate Facility Update |
Quick update on the Reseda Skate Rink Facility: installation of the exterior membrane roof is now complete and work is underway on the interior lighting and insulation. While there have been some unexpected delays, we’re making steady progress and getting closer to the grand opening. The Reseda Skate Facility will be the City’s first and only ice skating and hockey facility, owned by the Department of Recreation and Parks and operated in partnership with the LA Kings. |
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Warner Center Circuit Coming Soon |
Councilmember Blumenfield is a proud sponsor of the new Circuit micro transit pilot program in Warner Center. The pilot program was created as a partnership between Blumenfield and the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) to make public transportation options more widely available in the West Valley. Starting Monday, March 30 you can catch a ride for only $1 on any of Circuit’s electric vehicles. The on demand ride service will operate anywhere within Warner Center’s boundaries and runs 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. More info on Circuit services can be found here. |
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Request City Services through 3-1-1 |
3-1-1 is your one-stop connection to hundreds of City services, all from your phone or computer. Over the years, Councilmember Blumenfield has spearheaded multiple efforts to improve 311 and increase the number of services that are accessible. You can use 311 to help get City services to where they're needed most. From requesting bulky item pickups to reporting graffiti on bus shelters, dial 311 or visit LACity.gov/MyLA311 to file a report, or even better, download the MyLA311 app to your smartphone.
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Pet Poison Prevention Month |
March is Pet Poison Prevention Month, and LA Animal Services provides helpful tips for pet owners about common toxic items in their homes and yards, such as alcohol, chocolate, and certain garden plants. Please see the image above. |
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Community Events and Resources |
This week's photo, taken by legendary photographer Gary Leonard in 2005, is from the Los Angeles Public Library's archive Los Angeles Neighborhoods Collection of goats grazing at Pierce College. Learn more about the photo here. |
Councilmember Bob Blumenfield 200 N Spring Street, Room 465, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Unsubscribe |
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