Councilman Tom LaBonge's Weekly Newsletter

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

MTA Board approves phase-1 of the Westside Subway Extension

Councilman LaBonge testified Thursday before the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors as it voted to approve plans for the first phase of a $5.6-billion dollar extension of the Purple Line Subway toward the westside of Los Angeles.  But MTA Directors put-off action on the next two segments of the subway extension to deal with objections raised by the City of Beverly Hills and its School District over plans to tunnel under Beverly Hills High School.  The Board approved a roughly 3.9-mile section of the so-called subway to the sea, from Wilshire Boulevard and Western Avenue to a new station at La Cienega and Wilshire Boulevards.  Beverly Hills city and school district officials asked for a formal hearing on plans to tunnel under Beverly Hills High School, so MTA Directors decided to postpone action on the extension of the subway to Century City and Westwood until that hearing can be held.  The Board heard a report on the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Westside Subway Extension. The approval of the EIR marks a milestone in the long effort to bring a subway to the sea.  After a huge methane explosion at a Ross Store on 3rd Street in 1985, federal funding and political will dried-up to dig a subway tunnel to the westside of Los Angeles.  But in 2004, Councilman LaBonge, as a member of the MTA Board, introduced a motion to lift the federal ban on Wilshire Subway tunneling and resume planning the so-called "Subway to the Sea".  The Daily News -- in an editorial -- scoffed that the Councilman's idea was a step backward, calling the plan a "subway to nowhere".  But the MTA Board passed the motion in 2005 and Councilman LaBonge got his colleagues on the City Council and the Mayor to support the plan.  In 2007, President George Bush lifted the federal ban on tunneling under Wilshire and, a year later, Measure R -- which funds the subway and other transportation projects -- passed by a two-thirds majority of voters.
On Thursday, Councilman LaBonge congratulated the Mayor and the rest of the MTA Board for taking a great leap forward in the effort to extend the Purple Line Subway.  "This is a significant leap forward in the effort to bring rapid-transit to a city that greatly needs it," said Councilman LaBonge, who quoted a Fleetwood Mac song as he eyed the future of the subway in Los Angeles.  "Don't stop thinking about tomorrow.  Don't stop ... it'll soon be here.  Just as Wilshire Boulevard is our busiest east-west thoroughfare, let's not forget Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles' most heavily-traveled north-south street.  So, today, it's the Subway to the Sea.  Tomorrow, it's the Subway to USC!"

Take a Free-Ride on the newly-opened Expo-Line

The first phase of the Expo Line opens this weekend. The 7.6-mile stretch travels from Downtown LA south to USC, then west to a stop at La Cienega and Jefferson boulevards. The Culver City station is the western end of the line only until the second phase opens to Santa Monica in 2015. The station will not be included in the initial opening. Officials hope to open the additional mile to the Culver City stop over the summer. LADOT executives toured the first phase of the Exposition Line, funded by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and built by the Exposition Construction Authority. LADOT was a partner to its sister agencies, reviewing temporary traffic control plans during construction, approving signal and striping plans, striping the adjacent streets as well as a new bike path, and implementing complex signal timing to safely accommodate trains, cars, cyclists, and pedestrians. Expo phase 1 opens Saturday, April 28, 2012 and the public rides for free on Saturday and Sunday.
check out the Expo Line route-map

Road Work scheduled for next week near Griffith Observatory

Crews will be fixing the badly damaged area of Griffith Park roadway just west of the tunnel (at the intersection of Vermont Canyon and Mt. Hollywood Drive, and just above the intersection of Western Canyon and West Observatory Road).  The road has been degraded by time, use, and erosion to the point where it needs to be fundamentally remade.  The crew was able to do some hillside clearance and prep work this past Monday, which will reduce the number of days needed next week.   The road crew will now begin this Monday morning, April 30, at 7:00 a.m. and expects to be finished late afternoon on Thursday, May 3.  While the work is going on, the tunnel will be completely closed to all vehicles, bikes, and pedestrians.  We expect the tunnel will reopen Friday morning, May 4.  All thru traffic will be diverted along/through the Observatory's roads and parking lots.  While this will create some congestion, the park's Traffic staff will work to keep everything flowing.  Visitor parking will not be affected, only the way people get to it.

LADWP to Hold Community Meetings to Discuss Proposed 2-Year Power and Water Rate Changes

Legal Mandates and Aging Infrastructure
Driving Need for Rate Increases;
Seven Regional Meetings Slated April 25-May 10

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) will hold a series of community meetings throughout the city beginning April 25 to educate and inform customers regarding proposed power and water rate changes needed over the next two years.
The proposed changes are necessary to meet a series of regulatory mandates that affect much of LADWP’s existing energy and water supplies, and to invest in replacing aging infrastructure to maintain reliability for LADWP’s 1.4 million electric customers and 657,000 water customers. 
General Manager Ronald O. Nichols and LADWP Senior Managers will present the proposed power and water rate changes during the upcoming meetings, answer questions and take comments. “We began a conversation last summer regarding the fundamental reasons why LADWP needs to increase water and power rates,” Nichols said. “A lot has happened in the past year; legal mandates that were unclear have come into focus. Aging equipment has gotten older and deferred costs are mounting. A ratepayer advocate has been appointed and is at work reviewing these proposals.” 
The proposed rate change is most critical for power. Legal mandates are driving the need to rebuild or replace over 70 percent of LADWP’s existing energy resources and generation. In the next 10 to 15 years, LADWP will need to expand renewable energy to 33 percent of the power provided to customers; transition out of coal generation and replace it with a mix of renewable energy, natural gas and expanded energy efficiency measures; and rebuild aging generating units at three coastal natural gas power plants. 
The power rate proposal requests a 4.6% increase beginning July 1, 2012 and 5.9% effective July 1, 2013 for a total of 10.5% over 2 years, an increase to the current average rate of 1.4 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh). For the typical residential customer, using 500 kWh, this would add $3.35 per month to their current $65.79 monthly bill. 
The proposed power rates will also fund new investments in energy efficiency programs, as a way to mitigate the potential bill impacts. Energy efficiency is also a cost-effective way to meet environmental mandates and improve reliability. 
On the water side, the Water Quality Factor adjustment approved earlier this year--$0.35 per billing unit (748 gallons) for mandated drinking water quality improvements--enables LADWP to defer consideration of an additional water rate action until later this year. 
In fiscal year 2012/13, customers will see an automatic adjustment for purchased water when the price is adjusted in late Spring. An additional increase of about ½ percent is planned, as part of rate adjustments that require Board of Water and Power Commissioners action only, to support continued development of local water supply programs. These include water conservation, recycled water, stormwater capture, and groundwater cleanup—all of which reduce reliance on imported and purchased water. 
For fiscal year 2013/14, LADWP is proposing a 4.6% water rate increase effective July 1, 2013, excluding the cost of purchased water, to invest further in pipeline and related infrastructure replacement, local water supply programs and additional water quality investments that are part of $1.1 billion required for water quality compliance. Nichols stressed that while action on the request was not needed immediately, the increase needs approval this year to allow time to approve the necessary construction and related water quality improvement contracts and hire and train pipeline replacement crew members. 
Following are the dates and locations for the regional meetings. In addition, LADWP is planning to hold additional online webinars and meetings that will be announced in the near future. 
RSVP’s for the community meeting are encouraged, but not required. To RSVP, please click on the link below each meeting, or call 213-367-1361.

Metro:
Saturday, April 28, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
LADWP John Ferraro Building Headquarters
111 N. Hope St., A Level
Los Angeles 90012
RSVP

South L.A.:
Monday, April 30, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
LADWP Crenshaw Service Center
4030 Crenshaw Blvd.
Los Angeles 90008
RSVP

East L.A.:
Wednesday, May 2, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Recreation and Parks Ramona Hall
4580 N. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles 90065
RSVP

East Valley:
Thursday, May 3, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
LADWP Van Nuys Service Center
14401 Saticoy St.
Van Nuys 91405
RSVP

West L.A.:
Thursday, May 10, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Stephen S. Wise Temple, South Taub Annex
15500 Stephen S. Wise Drive
Los Angeles 90077

Click here to see the current rate proposal

LA City Council honors the heritage of Asian Pacific Islanders in Los Angeles

The Los Angeles City Council on Friday honored Asian Pacific Islander Heritage month.  Olympic medal-winning and World Figure Skating champion Michelle Kwan, an LA native and Chinese American, was among the honorees.  Here she is with CouncilmanLaBonge, who's holding the Olympic torch he carried in the torch-relay in 1996.  In fact, Councilman LaBonge organized the Olympic torch-route through the City of Los Angeles before the Atlanta Games as a staffer for then-Mayor Richard Riordan.

Councilman LaBonge to lead the 2nd Annual Hike for the Homeless Planned by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul will host its 2ndAnnual “Hike for the Homeless” at 8:15 am on April 28 at Griffith Park (4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027) to raise funds for its New Family Housing Project for women and children near Hollywood (and) its Cardinal Manning Center (shelter) in Los Angeles’ Skid Row.

“We are very grateful to the hundreds of people who came out for our hike last April and look forward to raising more awareness and badly needed funding for our homeless services on Skid Row. We’re looking forward to a great morning of hiking on April 28 and encourage everyone to come out and hike with us at this great family event,” says David Fields, the Executive Director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

Los Angeles City Councilmember Tom LaBonge will again lead the hike through his beloved Griffith Park. “I grew up with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and attended it’s Circle V Ranch summer camp. They do great work and I’m proud to be part of their efforts to help people throughout Los Angeles during these tough challenging times,” says Mr. LaBonge.

Actor/Producer Vincent De Paul (Walk a Mile in My Pradas) will also be honoring the Society with a special award. Additional celebrities scheduled to appear include:Zach Callison (PrinceJames in Disney's new Sofia The First), Isabella Rae Thomas (ABC's Brothers and Sisters),Temera Melek (recording artist with Tarik Ellinger),Julianna Rose (Khumba), Jennessa Rose (Disney's Odd Life of Timothy Green), Misi Stomber (recording artist) and Zachary Rice(Jimmy Kimmel Live).

There will be a $1000 prize for the group or organization with the most paid hikers. Individuals and groupscan register or find more information at www.hike4thehomeless.comor by calling 213-229-9972.Those unable to hike are asked to signup as “Virtual Hikers” at the above web site to support the Society’s efforts to serve the needs of homeless families in Los Angeles.

About the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
For over 100 years, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Council of Los Angeles has provided programs and services for children, the homeless and the poor within the counties of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara that are free of charge regardless of religion, race, gender, sexual orientation, handicap or national origin. On any given night in Los Angeles, over 43,000 people are homeless. Almost 20% of these families include children - the highest homeless population for any major metropolitan area in the country. For more than 50 years, the Cardinal Manning Center, operated by the Society, has enabled homeless men and women with children to stabilize their life circumstances, regain their self-sufficiency and find permanent housing and employment. The Center provides its clients with countless services, including individual therapy, employment, budgeting and financial counseling, case-management and a computer learning center. 
Click here for more information 
Or Call Brian Pickering at 323.224.6273 or bpick@svdpla.org

Help Los Angeles Become the Water-Conservation Capital of the U.S. ... and perhaps the World!
The City of LA needs your help winning The Wyland's National Mayor's Challenge for Water Conservation, and if YOU take the pledge, Los Angeles can win.  
The challenge is a contest between US cities to see which City in the United States can generate the most pledges to conserve water. Pledging is easy.
Just click here and follow the prompts 

Already, Los Angeles's water conservation efforts have resulted in our demand for water staying the same for the last 30 years, despite adding 1.5 million people. Our per-capita water usage is the lowest of any large city in the U.S. The City has reduced overall water consumption by a rate of 19%, with 24% savings in single-family households. Although  Los Angeles has accomplished a whole lot on conserving water, we all can do more. Thanks for your help at work and at home. 

Help Los Angeles become the number one city in water conservation!

Upcoming Events

Los Angeles River Cleanup
Friends of the Los Angeles River is holding the Great Los Angeles River Cleanup or La Gran Limpieza on Saturday, April 28th, 2012 from 9am to Noon.
Volunteers are invited to clean the LA River at 15 locations across Los Angeles County.
Find out how to help

Hike for the Homeless
Saturday, April 28, 2012
815am
Griffith Park
4730 Crystal Springs Dr.
LA, CA 90027


6th annual LA Lineman Rodeo
Saturday April 28th
730am check-in
The Los Angeles Lineman’s Rodeo in conjunction with LADWP and IBEW Local 18 welcome you to attend and participate in the 2012 Lineman’s Rodeo.
11760 Truesdale Street, Sun Valley, CA 91352
Click here for more info


20th Anniversary of the Los Angeles Riots
Sunday April 29th
Various events around Los Angeles will commemorate the anniversary of the nation's deadliest urban riots. The six days of violence and looting were triggered by the acquittal of four police officers charged in the Rodney King beating. Hours later, violence and civil unrest filled the streets of South L.A. and spread north. 53 people died, nearly 2,000 were injured and property damage totaled about $1 billion.


Silver Lake Traffic Safety Community Meeting
Monday April 30, 2012
4:30pm-6:00pm
Ivanhoe Elementary School - Auditorium
2828 Herkimer Avenue
Silver Lake, CA 90039
Presentations from
LAPD Traffic
LA Dept. of Transportation
Dept. of Water and Power
Contract Administration
City Planning
and Sliver Lake Neighborhood Council
for more information, contact Mary Rodriguez atmary.d.rodriguez@lacity.org
or tracy.james@lacity.org
or call 818.766.7187


Los Angeles River Fun-Run
Sunday May 6th
730am
3216 Los Feliz Boulevard
Los Angeles
Los Angeles City Councilmember Tom LaBongewill host a 5K Fun Run on May 6, 2012 in celebration of the Los Angeles River. The route will take runners (and walkers!) along the banks of the river, in celebration of its beauty. Runners will start at the grassy knoll in front of the Par 3 golf course, where vendors and local businesses will have booths. The routegoes along the Los Angeles River bike path before turning around at Marsh Park at 2960 Marsh Street. Runners will then cross Sunnynook Bridge before they reach the finish. Cyclists should note the closure of the Los Angeles River bike path from 4 a.m. until 11 a.m. on May 6th. A $15 registration fee may be paid online atlariverfunrun.com or by visiting event sponsor A Runner’s Circle Running Shop at 3216 Los Feliz Boulevard. All proceeds from the event will benefit the revitalization of the Los Angeles River through the Friends of the Los Angeles River and the LA River Revitalization Corporation.


5th Anniversary of the Griffith Park Fire
May 7th 2012 marks the 5th anniversary of the Griffith Park Fire. CouncilmanLaBonge is sponsoring a lecture on the rehabilitation of the park on Tuesday, May 8th
4:30pm - 5:30pm
at the Greek Theater
2700 N. Vermont Avenue
with biologist Dan Cooper
followed by a Salute to the First Responders from
5:30pm - 7:30pm

SAVE the DATE
Sunday May 20, 2012
Cultural Day at the Grove
3rd and Fairfax
Los Angeles
12pm - 5pm
Five hours of music, dancing and culture from Sister Cities of Los Angeles

Title of the Event
This is there the details of the event will go. This is there the details of the event will go. Contact Patricia at 213-555-5555.

Stay connected with Hollywood Patch throughout the day on Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe to our free daily newsletter for email updates.