Dear Friend:
Budget deliberations are underway and as Chair of the Budget and Finance and Innovation (BFI) Committee, I am taking the lead in reviewing, analyzing, and updating the Mayor’s Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2024-25. The Mayor’s Proposed Budget– totaling near $13 billion reflects critically important priorities.
Our challenges this year include addressing homelessness and ensuring public safety, maintaining infrastructure and protecting our environment while also grappling with the reality of doing more with less expected revenues and fewer workers. |
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As a City, we need to have a shared understanding of the priorities for the year. A budget is a statement of values. Decisions about what we fund and how we allocate public funds are decisions about our values as a City. As the Chair of BFI, I take this responsibility and role very seriously. We know that our decisions have very real impacts on the people who work for our great City and every Angeleno who lives here.
Public comment was taken earlier this week and we heard folks speak out in support of unarmed crisis response, domestic violence and human trafficking programming, increased Animal Services and LAFD funding, and more. Folks can still provide written testimony here for Council File #24-0600. As we go through the budget, all of these issues are matters which my fellow members and I take seriously especially during a budget such as this one which is trimmed to the bone.
As always, if you have any questions related to the budget process, please do not hesitate to write to me at c03.foryou@lacity.org. |
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Celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month |
May is Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM), created by Presidential decree in 2006. May was chosen due to the highly successful celebration organized by the Commission for Commemorating 350 Years of American Jewish History. In 2017, the City of Los Angeles began having an official celebration of JAHM highlighting Jewish Angelenos. Join us on Wednesday, May 8th at 10AM for a special presentation and ceremony at City Hall. RSVP here. |
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Reseda Rising Artwalk on May 18th |
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Join us on Saturday, May 18th for the annual Reseda Rising Art Walk, a free, all-ages daytime community celebration of the arts in Reseda. Friends, neighbors, and art enthusiasts of all ages are invited to join us for a day filled with live art, interactive projects, vendors, live music, food trucks, and more. This is a community event that welcomes everyone.
Presented by Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, the festival will activate the Great Streets Sherman Way corridor between Etiwanda and Lindley Avenue and aims to use art to re-energize the streets and engage local businesses to strengthen neighborhood pride.
Launched in 2019, this annual street fair featuring local visual and performing arts quickly became a staple of the community’s yearly festivities and is part of Blumenfield's Reseda Rising, a multi-front initiative to find, direct and coordinate over $100 million worth of transformative investment in our community. Blumenfield launched this effort to support the commercial activity that will make Reseda once again into a destination for commerce, art and culture.
This year, festival highlights include:
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Permanent Al Fresco Program Update |
Attention Al Fresco participants--businesses may lose the ability to continue their al fresco dining. All businesses operating with temporary permits issued during the COVID-19 emergency period MUST COMPLETE their transition to a permanent permit by July 31, 2024. If a business has temporary authorization on the public right of way, they will only qualify for fee subsidies if they apply prior to the deadline. For more information, please visit build.lacity.org/alfresco. |
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Our partners at LA2050 have launched voting in the 11th annual LA2050 Grants Challenge. Each year, LA2050 gives $1 million to nonprofits and other social impact organizations making LA better. It’s up to Angelenos to determine what issue areas will receive funding – from homelessness and income inequality to park access – through online voting. Voting is online through May 8th, open to all ages and available in 12 languages. Vote now here. |
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Apply Now-2nd Annual Camp ReadyLA
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The City of Los Angeles Emergency Management Department is hosting its second annual Camp ReadyLA: Emer-Gen-Z. Camp ReadyLA is a week-long program from July 29-August 2, 2024 for young adults aged 17-22, that provides a look into the life of an emergency manager. Campers will learn about disaster preparedness and participate in fun activities that will improve their team-building and leadership skills to pave the way for their professional success. Several careers in the Public Safety field will be showcased, highlighting emergency management coordination and capabilities for city response. Learn more here. |
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National Pet Month Adoption Weekend |
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There are currently more than 2,000 furry friends in our six LA Animal Services shelters who are available for adoption. To encourage the community to adopt a pet, Animal Services is offering reduced adoption fees for dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens on Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 5. Adoption fees for dogs will be $51 (not including $20 license); $75 for puppies; cats will be $12.50; and $25 for kittens. Check out canine buddies and feline friends available for adoption.
Pets adopted from LA Animal Services join their new families already spayed or neutered, vaccinated, licensed, and microchipped. Adopters also receive a Petco flyer with discounts to help make their pet adoption a success and a VCA Healthy Start Certificate, which provides up to $250 of follow up veterinary care within the first 14 days of adoption. In addition, canine buddies adopted from LA Animal Services are also eligible for free dog training classes at the Paws for Life K9 Rescue People & Pet Innovation Center in Mission Hills, CA. Contact info@pawsforlifecanine.org for more details. |
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Councilmember Blumenfield and his Deputy Chief of Staff John Popoch had a great time catching up with firefighters at Station 93 and thanking them for all they do to protect our community, day in and day out.
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Councilmember Blumenfield celebrated Earth Day at the 11th Annual Earth Day Celebration at Tarzana Rec Center and was glad to see so many community members participating in composting workshops, tree giveaways, and more. Blumenfield thanked City and community partners including the West Valley Warner Center Chamber and Tarzana Neighborhood Council for putting together a great event. |
Councilmember Blumenfield and Deputy Chief of Staff John Popoch welcomed Village Charter Academy's Student Leadership Class to City Hall Chambers. The 5th and 6th grade students listened in and learned about the City's budget process. |
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Community Events and Resources |
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This week's photo, taken in 1959, is from the Valley Times Collection of the site of the West Valley Police Station adjacent to the West Valley Municipal Building. Learn more about the photo here. |
Councilmember Bob Blumenfield
200 N Spring Street, Room 465, Los Angeles, CA 90012
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