Councilman LaBonge's Weekly Newsletter

[The information below was provided by the Office of Councilman Tom LaBonge.]

Creating a Coalition to Promote and Educate a greater awareness of Concussions in Youth Sports

Councilman Tom LaBonge this week convened a panel of experts on head trauma in sports, as well as Los Angeles schools and Recreation and Parks officials to begin the effort to get the latest training on concussions into city schools and parks sports programs.  The Councilman welcomed Dr. Gillian Hotz, who heads the Neurotrauma Outcome Research Center at the University of Miami Health System, who had just delivered a lecture at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.  The Councilman would like to create legislation to institute concussion education programs in the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks sports programs. One of the partners in the effort is the Sports Legacy Institute, based in Massachussetts is proposing a "hit-count" which would set limits on the number of times a child could be hit in the head in practice and games, similar to the "pitch-count" in baseball.  Another partner is Hall of Fame NFL Cornerback Mike Haynes, who played on the Super Bowl Champion Los Angeles Raiders.  The concussion awareness training proposals were well-received by LA school and Rec and Parks officials in attendance.

Finding the funds to fix the potholes on Wilshire Boulevard

Councilman LaBonge has been working to restore Wilshire Boulevard to a first-class condition.  The heavy bus-traffic on Wilshire has degraded the street to an axle-jarring, teeth-rattling experience for drivers and bikers.  The Councilman introduced a motion in City Council this week to use money from the city's Street Furniture Revenue Fund to fix the potholes and pock-marked pavement of Wilshire.  The Street Furniture Revenue Fund provides funds for transit related projects, sidewalk projects, curb and sidewalk improvements and beautification projects needed to improve conditions for public transit patrons, and covers any and all expenses relating or incidental thereto, as well as
on general services to the community in each Council District. (that's the legalese) There is an obvious need for additional funding to support pothole repair efforts on Wilshire Boulevard Between Fairfax and Wilton in Council District 4.  This effort is of special benefit for the residents of the City and for CD-4 and deserves financial assistance from the City. Sufficient funds are available in the Council District 4 portion of the Street Furniture Revenue Fund for this purpose. The Councilman has moved that $6,588 be transferred/appropriated from the Council District 4 portion of the Street Furniture Revenue Fund No. 43D, Department 50 to the Street Services Fund No. 100-86, Account No. 1090 (Salaries - Overtime) for services in connection with the repair of potholes on Wilshire Boulevard between Fairfax and Wilton in Council District 4. The motion also calls for the Bureau of Street Services to be authorized to make clarifications or technical corrections to the above fund transfer if need be.

Councilman LaBonge supports youth ball-fields in Griffith Park
America's largest inner-city public park has four golf courses, 27 tennis courts, 55 miles of equestrian trails, but no kids' baseball fields!  More than fifty years ago, construction of California's 'Golden State (5)' Freeway wiped out the kid's ballfields in Griffith Park--America's largest public park.  Councilman LaBonge supports two current proposals for improvements in Griffith Park.  He wants to see a stage for Symphony in the Glen and for Shakespeare at the Old Zoo, and he'd like to see kid's ballfields next to Pote Field in the Crystal Springs area of the park.  As the Councilman likes to say:  "Let's give Beethoven and Bill a stage in Griffith Park."  Mr. LaBonge also would like to install more picnic tables throughout the park so more people can enjoy it. Go to the "Let them Play LA" Facebook Page

Alaska Airlines opens a new terminal at LAX

Councilman LaBonge presents his traditional Pumpkin Bread and a congratulatory certificate to Alaska Airlines CEO Bill Ayer at the grand opening event for Alaska's rennovated terminal 6.  Mayor Villaraigosa and Councilman Bill Rosendahl were also on-hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.  The new terminal facelift is part of a larger $4-billion dollar modernization effort underway at the busy airport.  The project promises to create some 40,000 jobs over its seven-year duration.

Unveiling the new Thai Town Eastern Gateway, just in time for Thai New Year.

Councilman LaBonge helped the Thai Community Development Center unveil and dedicate one of the two beautiful bronze statues that will be the features of the Thai Town eastern gateway on Hollywood Boulevard.  The statue depicts an Apsonsi, a half woman half lion creature from Thai mythology that protects and brings good fortune to those around it.  Thai Town community leaders turned out for the unveiling ceremony, including John Choi, a Commissioner on the City of Los Angeles Board of Public Works.  Similar statues are part of the existing western gateway to Thai Town at Western Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard.  This new gateway will be erected on its eastern boudary, roughly at Hollywood and Winona, just west of Normandie.


Help Prevent Copper Wire Theft in your neighborhood
The City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works Bureau of Street Lighting is asking for your help to prevent copper wire theft from the street-lighting system.  There's been a significant increase in the theft of copper wire from streetlights as the price of the metal has risen in recent years.  That's left some streets in the dark and the City of Los Angeles struggling to keep up with the replacement of the wire and the securing of the street light from further theft.

*Call 9-1-1 immediately if you observe a wire theft in progress or see any suspicious activity around city streetlights.
-What to note if you see suspicious activity-   
*Is there a yellow street lighting maintenence vehicle on the street? - the vehicle has a city seal, the words "street lighting" on the driver and passenger doors and the word "exempt" on its license plate.
*Is there Street Lighting staff working on a street-light? - they can be identified by their orange vest, hard hat and city identification.
-The Bureau of Street Lighting has contractors who install new lighting.  The names of these companies would be identified on their vehicles.


Cherry Blossoms at the Los Angeles Convention Center
Councilman LaBonge this week dedicated a mini Friendship Grove of Flowering Cherry Trees that were a gift to the City from the Los Angeles Nagoya Sister Cities Affiliation.  LANSCA got the trees from the Huntington Library and the Japanese Consulate as part of the 100th anniversary of the historic gift of thousands of flowering cherry trees from the people of Japan to the people of the United States, which were planted in the Potomac River tidal basin in Washington DC and whose annual bloom is celebrated each spring with the Cherry Blossom Festival.  Convention Center officials are considering the best place to plant their new cherry trees so that they'll thrive and provide beauty for years to come.

Honoring 35-years of service to the people of the City of Los Angeles

Councilman LaBonge and LAPD Chief Charlie Beck honor 35-year police veteran Ramon "Rick" Alatorre as he landed his final flight in a police helicopter last week.  Rick was a patrol officer in Rampart and Southwest Division before being assigned to Southwest and South Bureau C.R.A.S.H. units.  He also served as a Self-Defense Instructor in Training Division before transferring to Air Support Division in 1983, where he was appointed the division's first Chief Observer in Air Support's history.  In that capacity, Officer Alatorre trained new observerfs, setting the standard of excellence for Air Support Division.  Alatorre received more than 340 commendations over the course of his 35 years of dedicated service and commitment to the citizens of Los Angeles.

An effective and well-loved DWP employee calls it a career

Linda Matute, Utility Executive Secretary at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, with 43 1/2 years with the City of Los Angeles (4 at the City, 39 1/2 at the Department of Water and Power).  She has worked with many senior managers over the years.  Her knowledge and skills regarding handling paperwork and Board packages, her attention to detail, and her understanding of protocol and procedures set her apart from the other staff.  She was a trusted confidante, and her loyalty and dedication to the Department of Water and Power was an inspiration to others.  Congratulations Linda!
 

CALENDAR ALERT
FRIENDS OF THE LOS ANGELES RIVER TO HOST 23rd ANNUAL LA GRAN LIMPIEZA: THE GREAT LOS ANGELES RIVER CLEANUP
Massive, Countywide Volunteer Effort to be Part of Keep America Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup™ Nationwide Day of Service April 28
WHAT:  Some 4,000 volunteers representing a broad cross-section of Los Angeles’ diverse population are expected to take part in the Friends of the Los Angeles River’s (FoLAR) 23rd Annual La Gran Limpieza: The Great Los Angeles River CleanUp happening April 28, 2012.  FoLAR estimates more than  25 tons of garbage will be pulled from the 15 river clean-up sites sprawling from the Sepulveda Basin to Tujunga Wash to Long Beach.
The Los Angeles event has been chosen as one of ten events taking part in Keep America Beautiful’s (KAB) nationwide Great American Cleanup™ day of service. 
This year, The Great Los Angeles River CleanUp brings the community together at the height of local enthusiasm and national attention to urban river revitalization.  The event will reveal a side of the river that volunteers likely have never seen, including fish and birds in their riparian habitat. Participants will be inspired to become stewards of this natural treasure of Los Angeles. College students will conduct a scientific trash sort at five locations, opening every fifth garbage bag and cataloging the contents. From the data gathered by the students, FoLAR will release a report to the community describing the types of trash found in the river.
The fun and festive “work party” atmosphere will be livened up with gift giveaways, raffle prizes, entertainment and refreshments at each site.
WHO: Elected officials and civic leaders; diverse community members representing societies, cultural associations, charities, Neighborhood Councils and stakeholders; families, youth, seniors, corporate teams, churches, eco groups, river enthusiasts and more.  
WHEN: Saturday, April 28, 2012, 9 a.m. to noon
WHERE:  15 sites, including current and future river park sites as well as some locations normally off limits to the general public.  Locations – Sepulveda Basin, Encino; Big Tujunga Wash, Sunland; Griffith Park; Atwater Village (2 sites); Glassell Park; Cypress Park (3 sites); Elysian Valley (3 sites); Compton 
Creek, Carson; and Long Beach (2 sites). Check FoLAR’s website for maps:  Click here for more information

Upcoming Events

Thai New Year Festival
Songkran Thai New Year Street Fair
The street fair is the biggest of the three Los Angeles events planned for Thai New Year. Dozens of vendor booths line a mile strip of Hollywood Boulevard. Multiple stages offer music and dance and the event includes the LA Curry Festival and the Miss Thai New Year Pageant.
When:Sunday,April 1, 2012, 9 am - 8 pm
Where:Hollywood Blvd will be blocked off between Western and Normandy
Cost:Free
More info?

Abilities Expo
Friday March 30-Sunday April 1st
Los Angeles Convention Center - West Hall
1201 S. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, Ca. 90015
Fri. and Sat. 11am-5pm
Sunday 11am-4pm
Info and Register online

Bangladeshi Day Parade
Sunday April First
at Shatto Park
Parade Assembly at 1pm
3rd Street from Vermont to Normandie

Hollywood Half-Marathon
Saturday April 7th
Starts at Universal City
There's still time to register for this new and Exciting Hollywood Themed Event! Run down the World Famous Hollywood Blvd with spectators cheering you on. Start & Finish near Universal Studios. $20,000 in Prize Money & Medals given at the Celebrity Style Award Ceremony at CityWalk Music Plaza. The Half Marathon is LIMITED to 5,000 participants and guaranteed to sell out, so don't delay - Register Today!
info and register

Dedication of N. Atwater Park
Thursday, April 12th
9:30am
The North Atwater Park Expansion project will provide an approximately 3-acre Los Angeles River-adjacent open space, including a park to
complement ongoing creek restoration efforts and an enhanced greenway.
The project is being coordinated with the North Atwater Creek Restoration
project W.O. SZW00031.  This project is located on Rec & Parks property,
which is between the creek and the Los Angeles River.  It provides a
passive park and a connection from the existing N. Atwater Park, across the creek and up to the banks of the River.
Funding in the amount of $2M is approved by the State of California,
California River Parkways Grant Program, Proposition 50, Chpt. 5