L.A. Neighborhood Initiative: SAVE THE DATE!

Once again we’re bringing the community together for the
LOS ANGELES NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATIVE SIXTH ANNUAL COMMUNITY FORUM!

Thursday • May 15, 2008 • 8 am - 2:30 pm
USC Davidson Conference Center
3415 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90089
www.lani.org

Everyone is invited to this FREE event!
Drawing on Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative's unparalleled track record of revitalizing diverse areas, this exciting event gathers and trains neighborhood leaders and community stakeholders, providing a critical opportunity for dialogue and information sharing.

POTENTIAL WORKSHOP TOPICS:
• How to Bring a Grocery Store to Your Community
• California Friendly Landscape and Irrigation
• Bike Paths in Los Angeles
• CALots and Neighborhood Mapping
• Historic Preservation: Revitalizing Broadway
• Cleaning Up or Closing Down Nuisance Businesses

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
• LANI Community Steering Committees • Neighborhood Councils • CAC’s, PAC’s & Planning Committees • Business Improvement Districts • Merchant Associations • Community Based Organizations • Nonprofits • Public Officials • City & County Agencies • Community Members • Consultants • Students • Anyone interested in Neighborhood Revitalization

Register now at www.lani.org or call 213 627-1822 ext. 20

NC Input Requested

Commission Seeks Neighborhood Council Input
on Preservation Ordinance

The Office of Historic Resources and the Cultural Heritage Commission (CHC) invite Certified Neighborhood Councils to participate in two upcoming public hearings - on Thursday, March 20 (after 11:30 a.m.) and on Thursday, April 17 (after 10:00 a.m.) to provide input on a significant overhaul of the City's historic preservation ordinance.

The staff of the Office of Historic Resources (OHR) is proposing important changes aimed at strengthening demolition review procedures, clarifying criteria for historic designation, and enhancing notification of private property owners. The City of Los Angeles' Cultural Heritage Ordinance, originally approved by the City Council in 1962, created the procedures for the designation and protection of significant Los Angeles buildings and sites as Historic-Cultural Monuments. While the Ordinance has undergone several minor, procedural modifications, it has never been comprehensively updated to give our City a state-of-the-art historic preservation program.

The Cultural Heritage Commission held an initial public workshop on these ordinance amendments in February, and will be holding these two additional hearings on the proposed changes in the coming weeks, at City Hall, 200 N. Spring St., Rm. 1010 (10th Floor). We encourage you to participate, but if you cannot attend, we welcome your written comments and suggestions on these proposals as the OHR and Commission finalize a draft ordinance for submission to the City Council later this year.

The OHR has now made available the text of the proposed ordinance changes. To review the draft ordinance and a summary of the recommendations under review by the Commission, click on the attachment at the bottom of the OHR's web site article on the hearing, at: www.preservation.lacity.org/node/94

You may also review the existing ordinance by clicking on the attachment "Cultural Heritage Ordinance" at: www.preservation.lacity.org/commission

2008 Arbor Day L.A.

It's spring time! Put on those gardening gloves and pick up that shovel. Don that party hat and join the City of Los Angeles at the 2008 Arbor Day LA -- a fun-filled and educational activity with information booths, treats, surprise guests, entertainment, tree adoptions and tree planting workshops for all Angelenos. Learn about how you can pitch in to grow Los Angeles' urban forest.

Saturday, May 17, 2008
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Griffith Park, Park Center Area
4730 Crystal Springs Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90027

Admission is FREE! Feel free to forward this information to all interested parties.

For more information, email milliontree@lacity.org, call (213) 473-9950, or
visit www.milliontreesla.org or www.arbordayla.blogspot.com.

This event is presented by Million Trees LA, the Department of Public Works, and the Department of Recreation and Parks.

Southern California Youth Music Competition

WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE:

WHAT: Southern California Youth Music Competition
WHEN: April 19, 2008
WHERE: Church of Congregational Fellowship (UCC)
2085 South Hobart Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90018
WHO: Bradley Baker, Music Director
DEADLINE: April 12, 2008

The competition is open to high school vocalists and instrumentalists who live in Southern California.

The goal of this music competition is to have a positive impact on the youth who spend time learning their musical craft.

For more information: Fax Mr. Bradley Baker at 323.731.0851

Or by email (preferred): bradleybaker@earthlink.net

Entrants are asked to prepare two contrasting selections based on the following:

Baroque
Romantic
Impressionist
Gospel
Contemporary
Broadway Show
Jazz
Pop
Original Composition

There are two categories - vocal and instrumental.

Each category pays as follows:
First Prize is $500
Second Prize is $250
Third Prize is $125
Honorable Mention
Special Mention

If you know someone who is interested, talented or just wants the experience, please have them Enter today!

Community Workshop: City of Los Angeles Clean Money Programs

April 19, 2008, 10 a.m. to Noon
Little Tokyo Library
203 S Los Angeles St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

In November 2007, the Los Angeles City Council passed a resolution instructing the City’s Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA) to generate a Clean Money proposal for the City of Los Angeles. The adopted resolution additionally instructed the CLA to consult with the California Clean Money Campaign, the City Ethics Commission, City Clerk, City Administrative Office and Mayor Antonio Villara igoisa, in crafting this proposal.

The Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (DONE) has ben requested to assist in soliciting feedback, as requested by the LA City Council Rules and and Elections Committee on proposals for voluntary full public funding of city elections.

In order to raise public awareness & understanding of Clean Money Programs and give you an opportunity to weigh in with your thoughts and ideas, the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council is hosting an informational workshop on the topic.

For more information contact Tobi Dragert (tdragert@gmail.com) or Ginny Case (ginny@ginnycase.com or 213.248.0698)

Empowering Black Women to be Tomorrow's Health Advocats

Advocate Training Program 2008: Empowering Black Women to be Tomorrow's Health Activists

CABWHP will soon begin training a new group of Los Angeles health advocates through our innovative Advocate Training Program (ATP). The 2008 ATP will have a special cohort for young women ages 18-24. However, applications from sisters of all ages are welcome. The ATP is designed to train women from the grassroots community to become effective health policy activists and advocates. Since 2002, the Advocate Training Program has produced sixty-five women's health advocates trained in Black women's health issues, media advocacy, community organizing, strategy development and policy advocacy. In 2006, we trained our inaugural Northern California class of advocates in the East Bay.

The 2008 ATP will empower a new set of health advocates to enrich our advocacy, activism and dialogue with policy makers. Applications are available now! Space is limited so submit your application as early as possible!

Apply Now! Space is Limited!

Young women who complete our program will each receive a $250 college scholarship for the 2008-2009 academic year!

For more information, contact us at?310 412-1828 x15 or adrienne@cabwhp.org.

Student Science and Technology Day

STUDENTS TO EXPLORE ENGINEERING, SCIENCE WITH PROS AT FIFTH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AWARENESS DAY

City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works staff are playing a major part in planning the fifth annual Science and Technology Awareness Day on May 10, where “Energy for the Future” will be the theme. The event will take place from noon to 4 p.m., at the Expo Community Center, 3990 S. Menlo Avenue in Los Angeles, said City of Los Angeles Board of Public Works President Cynthia Ruiz.

More than 200 South Los Angeles area students, elementary to high school, are expected to participate in engineering and scientific activities lead by Engineering professionals. The Los Angeles African American Engineers and Professional Employees Association (AAEPEA) is the sponsor.

“Displays, exhibits and experiments as well as giveaways for participating students will be offered,” said Bureau of Sanitation Chief Industrial Waste Inspector and AAEPEA President Sunny Owairu. “AAEPEA sponsors Awareness Day each year to generate interest in science, technology, and engineering in young people who are generally underrepresented in these fields of study,” Owairu said. “By conducting fun, hands-on activities like these, AAEPEA believes it can motivate youth to study math and science and pursue Engineering-related majors in college.”

Among organizations contributing to the event with the Bureaus of
Sanitation and Engineering are:

The Gas Company
Southern California Edison Company
College Prep Kids
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
AIAA (Boeing Corporation)
National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
Metropolitan Water District
Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)
Los Angeles Trade Technical College
MWH
Parsons
American Society of Civil Engineers
GC Tech
AAEPEA LA County Public Works
Society of Women Engineers
British Petroleum
MAC Tech
Shell Oil Company
UCLA NANO Outreach
Southern California American Chemical Society
California Earthquake Center

For more information, contact Owairu at (323) 342-6044 or (323)
342-6200. The Public Works Department is the third largest municipal
agency in the City. DPW has more than 5,700 employees and an annual
budget of more than $1 billion. DPW is responsible for construction,
renovation and operation of public facilities and infrastructure,
including: municipal buildings and treatment facilities; streets, street
lights, and urban forest; bridges and sidewalks; sewers and storm
drains; integrated solid waste management and recycling; graffiti
removal and beautification grants.

L.A. County Second Supervisorial District Arts Internships

Los Angeles County, through its Arts Commission, has given grants totaling $496,000 to 87 performing, literary, media and municipal arts organizations throughout Los Angeles County to support paid internships for college undergraduates in summer 2008.

Descriptions of and contacts for the 124 internship positions are posted on the Arts Commission’s web site. Go to www.lacountyarts.org, click on Internships, then 2008 Internship Positions. Or click HERE.

Interested undergraduates should apply directly to the organization offering the internship, not the Arts Commission. College undergraduates either resident in or attending school in Los Angeles County are eligible for the internships.

Interns are paid $350 per week for ten weeks and take part in educational and arts networking activities. Through the program, interns gain a deeper understanding of the work involved in nonprofit arts administration and the role of the arts in a community, and develop business skills that can be put to use in their future careers. Internship host organizations help mold and shape potential new workers in the arts field who may go on to arts leadership positions on staffs, boards or as volunteers.

Organizations in the County’s Second Supervisorial District offering arts internships include:
* Actors' Gang
* Association for the Advancement of Filipino American Arts & Culture
* City of Culver City
* Contra-tiempo, Inc.
* L.A. Commons
* Odyssey Theatre Foundation
* Outfest
* P.S. ARTS
* PEN Center USA
* The Unusual Suspects Theatre Company
* Yiddishkayt Los Angeles

Examples of County internship experiences include:

- A literary programs intern to work at PEN Center USA to support program development and administration, including community-based creative writing programs, curriculum development, program research, and program evaluation. The intern will also implement writing programs and work with literary professionals to enhance the literary community of Los Angeles.

- An assistant to the publicity director/marketing director to work at Odyssey Theatre Ensemble to assist in strategizing and implementing promotion campaigns for the two productions opening during the internship. Responsibilities will include reviewing the ensemble’s archive/publicity files and assisting in fundraising and publicity efforts for its 40th Anniversary.

- A festival director assistant to work at the Association for the Advancement of Filipino American Arts & Culture to support the overall operations of the festival, including production logistics, marketing, team coordination, and program wrap-up. The intern will work closely with the Festival Co-Directors and Festival Builder Committee in production while actively collaborating with community organizations, government officials, vendors, businesses, artists, and volunteers.

New Universally Accessible Park

Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa,
Councilmember Bernard C. Parks
&
The Department of Recreation and Parks

Invite you to join the dedication of
South Los Angeles' First
Universally Accessible Playground (UAP)
[Disabled Access Playground]

Grand Opening and Dedication
at
Martin Luther King Therapeutic Center

April 19, 2008 at 12:30 p.m.
3916 S. Western
Los Angeles, CA 90062

_________________________

Background on Universal Access Playgrounds (UAP)

The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks has three universally accessible playgrounds where children of all abilities can play side-by-side. The City's goal is to have six large regional playgrounds as well as 15 smaller ones throughout the city.

Universally Accessible Playground Locations:
Shane's Inspiration
Griffith Park
4800 Crystal Springs Dr.
Los Angeles, CA
90027

Aidan's Place
Westwood Park
1350 S. Sepulveda
Los Angeles, CA
90024

Lincoln Park
3600 N. Mission Rd.
Los Angeles, CA
90031

History

The first west coast playground began with one mother. In March of 1997 Catherine Curry-Williams gave birth to a son, Shane, who died two weeks later of spinal muscular atrophy (a disorder that would have left him severely disabled had he survived). Catherine's sister-in-law sent her an article from an East Coast paper about another family who also lost a child. They had turned their grief into action by creating a playground.

Inspired by the story, Catherine and her husband Scott did their research and learned that there were no wheelchair-accessible playgrounds on the west coast. They decided to take action. Catherine joined with a friend, Tiffany Harris, and together they created a non-profit organization called SHANE'S INSPIRATION.

Their mission: To create a truly unique recreational environment in Los Angeles that provides an opportunity for children with disabilities to play at their highest level, enhancing their emotional, physical and social development, as well as teaching compassion and acceptance.

Public/Private Partnership. Catherine and Tiffany raised $1 million for their playground. Former Councilman Mike Feuer learned of their desire to build the playground in Griffith Park. He presented the motion to the City Council, which voted unanimously to allocate two acres of prime land in Griffith Park to the project.

According to Catherine, "Department staff worked with Shane's Inspiration (the organization) on a daily basis, in a seamless public/private partnership - cutting through obstacles and red tape. In many ways it was the best of both worlds. Our private funding made it possible for us to choose our contractors. The partnership with Recreation and Parks and former Councilman Feuer removed all bureaucratic obstacles. If we had to do this on our own, we would be years away from completion." Shane's Inspiration opened on September 21, 2000.

The Shane's Inspiration founders established Playground Resource Center West to assist other community groups with the development of these special playgrounds. They were contacted by the Gaffney family whose son, Aidan James, had been born with a progressive disease that left him ventilator dependent and wheelchair bound. Once again in partnership with the Department of Recreation and Parks, a second west coast playground, AIDAN'S PLACE, was established at the Department's Westwood Park. Aidan died on June 26, 2001 and didn't see the opening of the playground, but his spirit was present at the opening on December 5, 2001 which would have been his sixth
birthday.

The Future. With over 160,000 special education students in Los Angeles County, there is a great demand for more fully-integrated play facilities. The department has a goal of developing six regional playgrounds, and has identified Hansen Dam and Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park as the next sites.

In addition, the Department hopes to identify 15 parks citywide which could accommodate the enlargement of an existing play pit or installation of a mid-sized playground (75'x90'). California Assembly Bill 716 approved in September of 2002 allocates $9 million in Proposition 40 funds for universally accessible playgrounds, which will help this vision become a reality.

Improve L.A. Area Airports

The Mayor and Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) invite you to participate in a survey to evaluate various aspects of the operations of LAWA, which include Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Ontario International Airport, Van Nuys Airport and Palmdale Regional Airport.

The City of Los Angeles has retained KH Consulting Group (KH) to conduct this study. KH will treat your individual responses confidentially. The survey will take 5 to10 minutes to complete. The survey deadline is April 6, 2008.

To complete the survey in English, use this link.

Para completar la encuesta en español, haga clic aqui.

Public Works Open Houses

BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS ANNOUNCES "SIX" CITYWIDE BUREAU OF SANITATION OPEN HOUSES TO PROMOTE RECYCLING AND CITY SERVICES

City Invites Children, Families and Residents of All Ages to Join the Fun and Excitement with Trash Truck Demonstrations, Yard Tours, Educational Games and Prizes

The City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works Bureau of Sanitation is hosting its 6th annual open house events offered free to the public. Each of the city's six sanitation yards, in Sun Valley, Northridge, Lincoln Heights/Cypress Park, South Los Angeles, San Pedro and West Los Angeles, will promote recycling fun while providing hands-on educational experiences and informational material on city programs.

The open houses are designed to display the city's recycling program, increase recycling awareness and improve access to city services delivered by the Bureau of Sanitation. Last year, more than 3,200 residents visited the open houses and more than 300 city employees volunteered their time to conduct the weekend events for the public.

Visitors will be treated to trash truck and equipment demonstrations in addition to yard tours and educational booths. Visitors of all ages will have an opportunity to meet the city's recycling mascots. The blue characters "Mr. Recycle" and "Robo Blue" will promote the cause of recycling to the next generation of residents by engaging the imagination of children. As a bonus, Million Trees L.A. will provide tree adoption opportunities and the Bureau of Sanitation will distribute free mulch from its green waste program.

The open house dates, times and locations are:

Saturday, MAY 3, 2008 - 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
EAST VALLEY District Yard, 11050 Pendleton Street, Sun Valley, CA 91352

Saturday, MAY 17, 2008 - 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
WEST VALLEY District Yard, 8840 Vanalden Avenue, Northridge, CA 91324

Saturday, MAY 31, 2008 - 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
NORTH CENTRAL District Yard, 452 N. San Fernando Road, Los Angeles, CA 90031

Saturday, JUNE 7, 2008 - 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
SOUTH LOS ANGELES District Yard, 786 S. Mission Road, Los Angeles, CA 90023

Saturday, JUNE 21, 2008 - 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
HARBOR District Yard, 1400 N. Gaffey Street, San Pedro, CA 90731

Saturday, JUNE 28, 2008 - 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
WEST LOS ANGELES District Yard, 2027 Stoner Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90025

For more information on 2008 Bureau of Sanitation Open Houses, please call (800) 773-2489 or visit www.lacity.org/SAN/. To learn more about the city moving toward "Zero Waste" and the future of solid waste management, please visit www.zerowaste.lacity.org.

About Board of Public Works
The five-commissioner Board of Public Works manages the Department of Public Works, the City's third largest municipal division focused on the essential needs of residents for a better quality of life and environmental protection. With a $559 million operating budget, the department awards more than $500 million in public service contracts annually that provide for the construction, renovation, and operation of public programs and services including: municipal buildings and treatment facilities; streets, street lights, and urban forest; bridges and sidewalks; sewers and storm drains; integrated solid waste management and recycling; graffiti removal and beautification grants. The Board is committed to the delivery of quality customer service, to help neighborhoods thrive and benefit from healthier living and working environments. For more information, visit www.lacity.org/bpw.

Intern with Congressman Becerra

Friends and Neighbors,

I wanted to make you aware of the exciting summer internship opportunities available for college students in my offices in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Although unpaid, interns walk away from what I hope is a rewarding and fun experience with a wealth of knowledge about how our nation's political system works.

Rep. Becerra (center) with 2007 summer interns
Amy (left) and Salvador (right).
Summer internship positions at my offices require a full-time commitment, and are highly competitive. Strong organizational skills and the ability to work as part of a team and under pressure are essential.

You can learn more about the internship program by visiting the Internship Page on my Web site. You can also apply now by filling out this application form and returning it, along with the required documents, to the appropriate office. The deadline to apply for internships in the Los Angeles office has been extended to Friday, April 4. Applications for internships in the Washington, D.C., office are accepted on a rolling basis.

Please feel free to contact my District Office at 213.483.1425, or Capitol Office at 202.225.6235 if you have any questions about the internship program, or application process. I look forward to working with you this summer!

Sincerely,

XAVIER BECERRA
Member of Congress