CD4 Wrap-Up: Protecting LA's Tenants

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NEXTDOOR

Since taking office, we’ve been providing regular updates about the goings on in City Hall and across the district on social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, on our website’s blog, and in this weekly newsletter, but we’re excited to be up and running on NextDoor as well!

The fact that so many people use this platform speaks to how engaged CD4’s constituents are in their neighborhoods, and how much they want to build and better our communities and our city as a whole. That level of engagement fills me with hope, and I look forward to staying in regular touch there about how we can go about making our city better, together.

PROTECTING LA'S TENANTS

This week, the Housing Committee considered a new ordinance protecting tenants against harassment, as well as a set of amendments our office proposed to ensure that the law reflects the many forms of harassment that we regularly hear about from tenants and tenants groups.

Prior to the hearing this Wednesday, Councilmember Raman was joined by tenants lawyer and LA Tenants Union Solidarity Attorney Claudia Medina to help break down some of the many ways tenant harassment occurs.

The ordinance was passed out of committee, and our amendments referred to the City Attorney to incorporate into the draft. We extend our thanks to Councilmember Gil Cedillo for shepherding this ordinance through his committee, to everyone who called in to share their stories, and to all the organizations who supported our amendments as an extension of their advocacy for tenants. We look forward to when the draft ordinance comes before the City Council, and will let you know when that happens and how you can make your voices heard on behalf of tenants.

A NEW LOOK FOR OUR BUS SHELTERS

Our city’s bus system plays a critical role in supporting the lives of so many working Angelenos. Through a collaboration of StreetsLA, transit furniture provider OutFront, and arts and mentorship nonprofit Las Fotos, bus shelters along the Wilshire line in CD4 were outfitted with art from Las Fotos’ Age of Change campaign.

These bus shelter installations will bring vibrancy to public transportation in our district — and allow residents who frequent these stops to see their stories reflected and celebrated on a large public stage. We’re incredibly excited to have the talent, perspective, and spirit of a decade of Las Fotos on display for our residents to enjoy!

LAUREL CANYON HELPS WITH PRESERVATION

Congratulations to the Laurel Canyon Land Trust for their eleventh acquisition project — an environmentally significant parcel of approximately 9 acres! The lot provides valuable habitat for rare, threatened and endangered species and is home to an extensive walnut woodland mapped by the National Park Service.

The Land Trust has received a $1 million grant from the California Natural Resources Agency to acquire the parcel through the Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program. However, there are still some outstanding out-of-pocket expenses associated with this acquisition, and they need to raise $20,000 by May 7, 2021 to cover the initial deposit. If you’d like to help contribute, you can make a donation here.