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Dear Friend:
One of my top priorities is to expand residents’ access to open spaces and improved recreational facilities in the West Valley. Recently I was joined by city, local leaders and residents for the groundbreaking of what will become Caballero Creek Park. Located just south of Victory Blvd. on Lindley Ave, this site will convert a 1.5-acre underutilized lot into a multiple-benefit park right at the convergence of the Los Angeles River and Caballero Creek in Tarzana. It will be the first self-sustaining park in Los Angeles- capturing water on-site and off-site, cleaning it with solar energy, and using it to nourish the plants at the park.
The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), Department of Recreation and Parks, Bureau of Sanitation, General Services Department, and Los Angeles County have joined forces to create Caballero Creek Park. Team Blumenfield conceived this idea a few years ago and we have secured seven different funding sources and cut through significant red tape to get shovels in the ground. Overall, it will cost about $5.5 million split between the city, county and state.
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Photo from left to right: Jimmy Kim, GM of Rec and Parks; Aura Garcia, President of the Board of Public Works; Barbara Romero, Director of Bureau of Sanitation; John Popoch, Deputy Chief of Staff for Councilmember Blumenfield; Joe Edmiston, Director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy; Councilmember Blumenfield; From the Tarzana Neighborhood Council Susan Lord, Susan Rogen, Terry Saucier, Iris Polonsky, Chris Ahuja; Susana Reyes, member of the Board of Public Works; Sarah Kevorkian, MRCA. |
The design utilizes innovative methods for watershed protection as nearby water will be captured on and off-site and by using solar, the water will be cleaned to irrigate the park. The new wetlands will create habitat, clean water and help connect Angelenos to California’s struggling riverine ecology. The site plan also includes a variety of offerings for the community including an outdoor fitness center, play and recreation, access to the LA River bike paths, and more. This new space will also serve as an outdoor classroom for nearby Reseda High School.
Caballero Creek Park is set to open next Spring. Watch a recap of the event here and stay tuned for more updates. |
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Virtual Public Safety Meeting Recap |
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In response to the recent high profile home burglaries in the hillside communities of the San Fernando Valley, Councilmembers Blumenfield and Raman hosted a virtual meeting with top brass from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) to discuss what they are doing to keep the community safe and what one can do to help prevent burglaries at their home. A recording of the meeting can be found here.
“There are few things that feel more invasive for a person or a family than a home invasion or being burglarized. Your home is your sanctuary, and if you don’t feel secure there you don’t feel secure period - it affects everything,” said Councilmember Blumenfield during the meeting.
Though the LAPD controls deployments of officers and overtime, Blumenfield has been working closely with LAPD leadership to ensure appropriate resources are dedicated where needed. LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton shared that a joint task force with the LAPD, FBI, CHP, and Sheriffs Department has been created and they are working diligently to arrest the perpetrators. Several have already been arrested. He also provided statistics to demonstrate that while the recent uptick in Encino is worrisome, it is not worthy of panic — he pointed out that burglaries in the West Valley are actually down year-to-date and he suggested that social media has distorted people’s perception about the severity of the problem.
LAPD Deputy Chiefs Ruby Flores and Emada Tinigiredes provided resourceful tips on how 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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Apply for Nonprofit Security Grants |
Concerned about the recent spike and escalation of anti-Semitism throughout the City of Los Angeles, Councilmembers Blumenfield and Yaroslavsky introduced a motion to use city funds as a stopgap measure to expedite the distribution of over $76M in Nonprofit Security Grants from the State. The state funding significantly improves safety at houses of worship and other sensitive sites. The motion was withdrawn as Governor Newsom expedited the state funding deployment, to help ensure that communities can gather and worship in peace. To apply and learn more about the CA State Nonprofit Security Grant Program, click here. |
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Join us at Brodyfest 2024 |
In 2021, Councilmember Blumenfield declared August 18 (818), Brody Stevens’ Day, in honor of the late comedian and San Fernando Valley native. Stevens was a legendary and unique standup comedian who was in many films and television shows from The Hangover to Late Night with Conan O’Brien. Beloved by his fans and fellow comedians, Stevens performed all over the world. But, regardless of where he was, he would always share his love for Reseda, the Valley and Los Angeles.
Since then, Blumenfield has joined Brody's family, friends, fellow comedians and fans for a yearly celebration, as well as raising awareness for suicide prevention and mental health services. Join us on August 17th at the Brody Stevens’ Festival of Friendship at Reseda Park for a walk, wellness events, and a softball game. More info can be found here. |
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New Business Accelerator Program |
Supporting local job creation and entrepreneurship, Councilmember Blumenfield has partnered with the West Valley BusinessSource Center to host another Business Accelerator Program. The free six-week course (in person or virtual) is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners. The program offers essential tools, resources, and expert guidance to thrive. Register here. |
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Join the Crisis Response Team |
The Mayor’s Crisis Response Team (CRT) was established in 1998 to assist the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) during critical incidents. CRT is committed to providing resources and support on scene to survivors of crime and crisis in the City of Los Angeles.
CRT is currently accepting applications for the upcoming Fall Training Academy that begins September 17th and is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays for nine weeks at LAPD Elysian Park. To fill out an application, visit https://lacrt.org/volunteer. |
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Councilmember Blumenfield was happy to join Liberty Tax Services in Winnetka during their Back to School Drive where they provided free backpacks, paper, notebooks, pencils, pens, and more miscellaneous school supplies to local students.
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Councilmember Bob Blumenfield celebrated this year’s National Night Out with police and community members. At Topanga Division, he thanked all the Senior Lead Officers for keeping the streets safe and building with the community. Blumenfield joined community members for the unveiling of West Valley's new division memorial. |
With the alarming increase in silicosis cases in the San Fernando Valley and across California, Councilmember Blumenfield is leading proactive measures to safeguard our most vulnerable workers from this debilitating disease. Team Blumenfield toured a local fabrication facility to gain firsthand insight into best practices for workplace safety in the industry. This visit provided a deeper understanding of the necessary precautions and protocols to prevent silicosis, a lung disease caused by inhaling respirable crystalline silica dust. |
Councilmember Blumenfield teamed up with West Valley PALS to give away school supplies to local youth participating in the PALs program. The Police Activities League Supporters is a youth crime prevention program that relies on educational, athletic, and other recreational activities to cement a bond between police officers and the youth in our community.
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Community Events and Resources |
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Councilmember Bob Blumenfield
200 N Spring Street, Room 465, Los Angeles, CA 90012
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