Politics & Government

Councilman LaBonge's Weekly Newsletter

An update from Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge on May 4, 2012.

[The information below was provided by the Office of Councilman Tom LaBonge. It has been edited for brevity.]

Rowena Avenue Traffic Safety Meeting

Councilman LaBonge hosted a Rowena Avenue Traffic Safety Meeting  at Ivanhoe School in Silver Lake on Monday, April 30th.  Here's a brief review:  Many issues were discussed at the meeting, but the over-arching theme was safety. 

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More than a dozen City of Los Angeles employees from the LAPD, the DWP, the Dept. of Transportation and the Planning Department were on-hand to provide answers and perspective. 

Some of the traffic-challenges raised include:

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  • speeding traffic on Rowena Avenue needs to be slowed-down;
  • the construction detours are confusing, ineffective and need to be reviewed and improved;
  • more traffic officers and "flagmen" are needed to help control traffic flow
  • improved crosswalks along Rowena Avenue are needed for pedestrian safety;
  • additional street-signage identifying the "safe streets" is needed;
  • street-lighting on Rowena Avenue needs to be upgraded;
  • there's a need for more LAPD traffic enforcement in the construction areas.

Councilman LaBonge has been working on these and other traffic and safety issues for the past several months.  Council staff conduct daily inspections of the detour area.

The following actions have been taken:

  • traffic engineers have re-evaluated the DWP detour;
  • speed-limits in the construction zone are being reduced from 35 mph to 25 mph;
  • new and additional traffic message board signage has been added;
  • additional "flagmen" and traffic control personnel have been added to the project.

Longer term improvements include:

  • additional and improved street-lighting;
  • more traffic signals;
  • completion of the DWP project work on Rowena Avenue;
  • proposed "Road Diet" on Rowena Avenue.

There may indeed be additional issues, ideas and solutions which could make the area safer.  Councilman LaBonge is open to considering any and all of these as well.  Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Silver Lake area Field Deputy Mary Rodriguez by phone at 818.766.7187 or via email at mary.d.rodriguez@lacity.org.  You can always reach the Councilman at City Hall at 213.485.3337.

Councilman LaBonge introduces a motion on traffic and pedestrian safety

Recognizing the need for additional measure to improve traffic and pedestrian on Rowena Avenue in the Silver Lake area, Councilman LaBonge introduced a motion in City Council this week for the Los Angeles Department of Transportation to install speed feedback signs on Rowena.  The motion calls for using a portion of CD 4's AB 1290 funds to pay for the design and installation of two speed feedback signs near Ivanhoe Elementary School on Rowena Avenue, between Glendale Boulevard and Hyperion Avenue.  The motion was seconded by Councilman Eric Garcetti on Friday, May 4th.

7th Annual "Hike for Health" a rousing success

Councilman LaBonge hosted hundreds of fith and sxith grade students from several Council District 4 elementary schools for the annual "Hike for Health" from the Griffith Observatory to the peak of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park on May 3rd.  The students enjoyed the hike and a chance to get out and enjoy the beauty of Griffith Park.  But that wasn't all that the Councilman had planned for them. Read more about the "Hike for Health" at tomlabonge.comSee more photos of the "Hike for Health"

Saving Los Angeles' Park-Space from Budget Cuts

Councilman LaBonge joined Councilman Eric Garcetti and developer/philanthropist Steve Soboroff to work with a coalition of community groups, labor unions and conservationists to protect funding for Los Angeles Parks.  Budget challenges have led to steep cuts in park funding in recent years, and the parks system faces further reductions.  The Councilmembers called on lawmakers to pledge to protect park programs from the budget axe.  Parks Save is a coalition of organizations that includes the Sierra Club, the Trust for Public Land, the Weingart Foundation and two City of Los Angeles Employee Unions.   


What's in the Trash?
As the City of Los Angeles contemplates a ban of plastic and paper single-use carryout bags, Councilman LaBonge wants to get a better look at the composition of exactly what makes up the city's trash.  Similar studies have been conducted in San Francisco, LA County and the Los Angeles River ... but no such study has been undertaken in the City of Los Angeles.  Councilman LaBonge has introduced a motion calling on the Bureau of Sanitation to conduct a comprehensive litter composition study to assess the extent of the need to regulate and/or completely ban single-use bags.  The Councilman's motion further instructs the Chief Legislative Analyst to complete a review of Senate Bill 1219 on the recycling of plastic bags to assess the potential impact that this pending legislation might have on any current City of Los Angeles initiatives to regulate or ban single-use plastic and paper bags. 

Brush Inspection Season
If your property is located within what is known as the "Very High Fire Severity Zone", it's time to make sure you're in compliance with brush clearance requirements in the City of Los Angeles.  A team of fire inspectors usually conducts brush inspections during the months of May and June.  The initial inspection fee is $23, but if you are willing to conduct a self-inspection and provide assurance to the LAFD that your property has been properly cleared of dangerous brush, you can avoid the inspection fee.  If your property is within the "Very High Fire Severity Zone", you have likely received a notice from the Fire Department about brush clearance.  

Click here for more information about Brush Clearance

Upcoming Events

Los Angeles Historical Survey
May 10, 2012
6:30pm - 7:45pm
SurveyLA, the Los Angeles Historic Resources Survey, will be holding a community workshop at the Westwood Branch of the LA Public Library (1246 Glendon Ave.) the evening of May 10th from 6:30pm - 7:45. The workshop is focused on areas in CD4 around Wilshire Boulevard.
Workshop #3 (Mid City - West Side - LAX) will focus on the communities of 
the LAX area, Venice, Westwood and Wilshire.
Thursday, May 10th, 2012
6:30pm - 7:45
Westwood Branch, Los Angeles Public Library
1246 Glendon Ave., Los Angeles, 90024
Library Website
Workshop #4 (Northeast Los Angeles) will focus on the communities of 
Atwater Village, Eagle Rock, El Sereno, Highland Park, Lincoln Heights and 
Mt. Washington.
Thursday, May 24th, 2012
6:30pm - 7:45
Arroyo Seco Regional Branch, Los Angeles Public Library
6145 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, 90042
Library Website

Fire Service Day in Los Angeles
Your Los Angeles Fire Department will be opening its doors to the community on Fire Service Day 2012 for Open House events on Saturday
May 12, 2012.
A pancake breakfast is planned at Fire Station 86 at 4305 Vineland Avenue in Toluca Lake.
A big event is also planned for the same time at Fire Station 27 in Hollywood at 1327 North Cole Avenue.  heck with your neighborhood fire house to find out about other open house events on Fire Service Day.

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