Politics & Government

Councilman Garcetti's Weekly Newsletter

An update from Los Angeles City Councilman Eric Garcetti on June 21, 2012.

[The information below was provided by the Office of Councilman Eric Garcetti.]

GARCETTI LAUNCHES 9TH YEAR OF UNTAG ANTI-GRAFFITI PROGRAM 

More than 100 community members joined L.A. City Councilmember Eric Garcetti to kick off the 9th year of UNTAG, Garcetti's program that trains local residents to fight graffiti and has helped to reduce graffiti in his council district by more than 80 percent.

"The City has crews and equipment ready to go.  UNTAG volunteers help us know where to send them," said Councilmember Garcetti.  "It's been a huge success thanks to the hundreds of volunteer Block Captains reporting graffiti."

Garcetti started Uniting Neighborhoods to Abolish Graffiti (UNTAG) in 2004 in response to constituent concerns about tagging in their neighborhoods.  Through UNTAG, local residents and business owners volunteer as Block Captains who monitor one block or one hot spot for graffiti. When they find graffiti, they report it via phone or online to the City’s Department of Public Works for removal. 

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For more information about UNTAG or to sign up to be a Block Captain, please click here.

GARCETTI DECLARES VINCENT CHIN REMEMBRANCE DAY IN LOS ANGELES 

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Councilmember Eric Garcetti joined Asian Pacific American community leaders to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Vincent Chin’s death and declare June 23, 2012 as Vincent Chin Remembrance Day in the City of Los Angeles.

“Thirty years later, we remember the lessons of Chin’s death – as important today as they were those many years ago.  We must continue working to stop hate crimes, stereotyping, discrimination, and bullying.  And we must continue to promote education and tolerance as crucial resources in creating a more just nation,” said Garcetti.

Chin was a Chinese American man who was beaten to death by two men who mistakenly thought he was Japanese and blamed him for the loss of American auto manufacturing jobs.  Both men pled guilty to manslaughter and were fined $3,000 and sentenced to three years probation.  This infamous hate crime and the ensuing civil trials became a catalyst for a pan-ethnic Asian American movement for a more just and tolerant nation.

Garcetti was joined by Curtis Chin, President of Asian Pacific Americans for Progress, an organization that is coordinating Town Hall meetings in cities across the country on Saturday, June 23, to discuss civil rights in America.  In Los Angeles, a Town Hall will be held at 11 a.m. at the Japanese American National Museum.  More information about the Town Hall meetings is available here:  http://www.apaforprogress.org/vc30.

“Thanks to Councilmember Garcetti and the rest of the L.A. City Council for recognizing the significance of this event. Even though the murder happened in Detroit, the Vincent Chin story is really one that affects Asian Americans all across the country,” said Curtis Chin.


UPCOMING EVENTS

  • On Friday, June 22, join PATH for There’s No Place Like Home, an original musical parody of the Wizard of Oz.  The event will include a one-night only performance of the show, as well as a VIP reception, silent auctions, raffles, a post-party with the cast, and more.  For sponsorship opportunities and to buy tickets, please click here.  

  • On Saturday, June 23, those who are considering buying their first home can check out the Home Expo and Housing Fair.  This free event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature workshops on buying a home and information about financial assistance programs available to first-time home buyers.  The meeting will take place at Roosevelt High School (456 S. Mathews St.).  Register in advance by calling the Montebello Housing Development Corporation at 323/722-3955 or by visitingwww.montebellohousing.org.
  • On Saturday, June 23, and Sunday, 24, The Gabriella Foundation’s everybody dance!will present Alice in Wonderland at the USC Bing Theatre (corner of Jefferson Blvd. and McClintock Ave.).  Show times are Saturday at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.  Please RSVP to jlafferty@gabri.org with a show date and time.
  • On Saturday, June 23, the Hollywood Community Housing Corporation is hosting Flavors of Hollywood, a carnival-themed fundraiser at Playhouse Hollywood (6506 Hollywood Blvd.) from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.  Come for an evening of cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and entertainment.  All proceeds will go towards supporting affordable housing for low-income families and disabled individuals. For ticket and sponsorship information, please contact Linda Huggins at 323/454-6205 or emailllhuggins@hollywoodhousing.org.
  • On Sunday, June 24, check out the Hollywood Fringe Festival's FREE family days.  Fringe Family will take place at Fringe Central Station (6314 Santa Monica Blvd) from 11 a.m.  to 4 p.m.  The event will include puppet shows, magic, face painting, craft tables, balloon art and so much more fun for kids of all ages.  All shows are family-friendly with experienced performers and all are free.  To RSVP and for more information on the festival and its shows, please click here

  • On Sunday, June 24, hang out with L.A.’s biggest rock star when the Los Angeles County Museum of Art celebrates the opening of Michael Heizer’s rock sculpture,Levitated Mass, at a public dedication ceremony.  The event begins at 11:00 a.m. As a special thank-you to the communities through which the megalith traveled, LACMA is offering free admission from June 24 to July 1 for residents of select zip codes from along the route. Proof of residence must be provided and a list of eligible zip codes is available here:   www.lacma.org/levitatedmass.

  • On Sunday, June 24, celebrate the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust's 10th anniversary at its annual Garden Party.  Tickets are $100 and all proceeds support the organization’s efforts to bring parks to under-served Los Angeles neighborhoods.  Join the fun by contacting  Barnaby Murff at 213-572-0188, x203, or purchase tickets online at www.lanlt.org.

  • On Tuesday, June 26, join the Echo Park community for a Town Hall meeting to discuss the incident in which Echo Park residents where attacked and stabbed after perpetrators yelled anti-gay slurs.  LAPD has categorized the incident as a hate crime.  Community organizers are coordinating this meeting as a show of support for acceptance, tolerance and education. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at El Centro Del Pueblo (1157 Lemoyne St.).  Please RSVP to Conrado Terrazas at conradoterrazas@roadrunner.com or 213/200-6161.
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