September 22, 2023

In October 2019, the Saddleridge Fire burned approximately 8,799 acres from Sylmar to Porter Ranch, with 19 structures destroyed and 88 damaged. As we approach brush fire season and as wildfires are beginning to burn earlier than before, I urge every resident in Council District 12 to be prepared in more ways than one. If you live in or near a high fire severity zone (which you can find by clicking here) it is imperative to be knowledgeable of the dangers of brush fires and how you can stay prepared and help prevent fires from starting.

First, it is important to understand the regulations regarding brush clearance and ‘hardening your home’, especially if you live near the hillsides with native brush and vegetation. With proper planning, and taking certain measures like clearing brush near your home, the safety of your residence can be significantly improved. Learn more about what you can do for your property by visiting https://www.lafd.org/home-hardening.

Additionally, you can also stay prepared by signing up for the city of Los Angeles’ notification system called Notify LA. This system is designed to alert Los Angeles residents of any natural disaster that is happening in real time from brush fires to earthquakes, and more. You can sign up through this link to receive alerts.

When we each do our part, we can ensure that we are not only protecting our homes and families but our communities as a whole.

CD12 COMMUNITY UPDATES

United to House Los Angeles Emergency Renter Assistance Program

The City of Los Angeles’ United to House Los Angeles (ULA) Emergency Renters Assistance Program is now accepting applications. To be eligible, applicants must be residents of the City of Los Angeles, have unpaid rent due to their current landlord for any month between April 2020 and now, have a household income that is at or below the area median income, and have one more individual in the household who has experienced a loss of employment, reduction of income, incurred significant costs or any other financial hardship between March 2020 and present. Click here to find out more information and to apply.

Small Business Webinar Series

The City of Los Angeles Office of Procurement is organizing a small business webinar series to guide small businesses on how to do business with the City of Los Angeles. The six-part Small Business Webinar Series will focus on small business initiatives and procurements the City of LA is maintaining to create accessible contracts and opportunities for small, emerging, and micro businesses looking to participate in government contracting. The first webinar - focused on a Citywide overview of procurement - will be held virtually on Thursday, October 5, 2023, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PST. Click here to register.

Business Emergency Resource Webinar

The Los Angeles Mayor's Office of Business and Economic Development invites you to join experts from City Departments and Partners to learn how businesses can prepare for and manage unexpected emergencies. The webinar will cover information on financial coverage, emergency response, resources, and legal responsibilities. There will be Q&A sessions between panels where you can ask direct questions. Click HERE to RSVP today.

LAHD Homeownership Programs

The Los Angeles Housing Department continues offering assistance programs to first-time, low and moderate-income homebuyers in the City of Los Angeles. Requirements vary by income level and participants are required to participate in an 8-hour education course that provides an overview of the home-buying process.

Follow this link to learn more about the Low Income Purchase Assistance Program.

Click here to learn more about the Moderate Income Purchase Assistance Program.

LADWP Student Engineer Program

LADWP is currently accepting applications for its Summer 2024 Student Engineer Program (SEP). The goal of the SEP is to provide college engineering students with experiential job training opportunities, including career mentoring, theoretical and technical instruction, and project-related infrastructure work tasks. Student Engineers will be paired with LADWP engineers and work in technical teams within the organization’s Water, Power, and Joint systems. The SEP eligibility requirements and employment application are available at: http://www.ladwp.com/sep. The deadline to submit a completed application is January 8, 2024.

Metro Youth Council

As part of its mission to improve transit for everyone, Metro is creating a Youth Council to serve as a platform that welcomes young people to share their perspectives on Metro. To qualify, applicants must be 14-17 years old, commit to a one-year term during which they will complete an “Introduction to Metro” training, be motivated, and participate in meaningful dialogue with Metro on the organization’s projects and initiatives. If you or someone you know may be interested, please follow this link to read more about the initiative and to apply.

LA Al Fresco Dining Application Portal Update

Since the beginning of this temporary program in May of 2020, the Outdoor Al Fresco Dining Program has had over 3,000 participants. Due to its success, the city is now working to make this program permanent. As the transition from the temporary application portal to a more permanent location is made, LADOT will temporarily close the current application portal on September 30th. If you do not want to wait to apply under the new application portal, please click here to apply for sidewalk and/or private property dining authorization or click here to apply for a curbside or parking lane dining authorization.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

The Change Reaction + CSUN’s DREAM Center

Two years ago, my office initiated a program with our partners at The Change Reaction to bring meaningful assistance to students at CSUN. Together, and with the guidance of the administrators at CSUN’s DREAM Center, The Change Reaction committed significant funding to cover the cost of the renewal fee for students under the Deferred Action for Childhood Dreamers program or as most people know it, DACA.

As we approach the second anniversary of this program’s existence, we recently had the privilege of inviting representatives from both The Change Reaction and the DREAM Center to share words with the City Council about the importance of initiatives like this one and to shine a light on how we can better serve students who are pursuing their educational dreams and work every day to make our country a better place. Throughout this program, The Change Reaction has helped 139 individuals with application and legal fees, with 52 having already graduated and the remainder slated to graduate in the near future.

Follow this link to watch the full presentation in council and learn more about this important initiative.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

UPCOMING

9/23 - VCC All Street Clean-Up Event
Volunteers Cleaning Communities invites you to help pick up litter along Nordhoff Street. They are aiming to clean 11+ miles in 2 hours.

9/23 - New Horizons 14th Annual Walk-a-Thon

Support New Horizons and join them for their walk-a-thon this weekend. This event will feature free giveaways and an exhibition fair. Click here to read all of the details.

9/23 - 9/24 - Fall CSUN Food Pantry Drive
First Presbyterian Church of Granada Hills is sponsoring a Fall CSUN Food Pantry on Saturday, Sept. 23, 10am - 1 pm, and Sunday, Sept. 24, 8:30 am - 11:00 am. To help food-challenged CSUN students, they are asking for canned or boxed food items and toiletries. Please no glass containers or expired items. Checks made payable to CSUN Food Pantry are also welcome. The address is 10400 Zelzah Ave., Northridge, CA 91326

9/24 - Volunteers for Beautification
Join the Kiwanis Club of Chatsworth, the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council, and Volunteers Cleaning Communities for beautification near the historic Olive Trees on Lassen.

9/25 - Chatsworth Coordinating Council Meeting

The Chatsworth Community Coordinating Council will hold its first meeting following the summer break at Chatsworth West United Methodist Church. Click here for more information.

9/28 - Free Movie Matinee at the Chatsworth Library

On Thursday, September 28, 2023, at 1:30 PM there will be a free showing of the movie Cyrano at the Chatsworth Library. Light refreshments will be available. For more information call (818) 341-4276.

9/30 - NVRCC Oktober Festival

North Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce welcomes you to join them for live music, food, drinks, and local merchants at their Oktober Festival! Follow this link for more information.

9/30 - Free Community Resource Fair

Magnolia Public Schools invites you to join them for a free community resource fair. Click here for more information.

10/1 - Chatsworth Historical Society’s Pioneer Day

The Chatsworth Historical Society invites you to join them for a day of old-time fun for everyone! Click here to view the flyer for this event.

10/6 - S.O.L.I.D.’S 26th Annual “All You Can Eat Pasta Dinner”

Supporters of Law Enforcement in Devonshire invite you to join them in support of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Devonshire Division. Click here to learn more.

10/7 - Valley Hive’s 5th Annual Honey Competition and Dessert Contest

Join the Valley Hive in a day of drinks, food, and fun to benefit the LA County Beekeepers Association! Follow this link to find out more.

10/14 - Kiwanis Oktoberfest

The Kiwanis Club of Chatsworth welcomes you to come by the Chatsworth Junior Baseball League Field to celebrate a classic October tradition. Follow this link to see the flyer.

10/21 - Giant Used Book Sale Book at Chatsworth Library

The Friends of Chatsworth Library are holding their quarterly book sale. Go to laplchatsworthfriends.org or call (818) 341-4276 for more information.

THROUGHOUT SEPTEMBER

Wilkinson Senior Center’s New Phone Number
The Wilkinson Senior Center would like to share that it has recently changed its phone number. The new number is (818) 654-8376. Click here for more information.
September is National Preparedness Month
The focus of this year's National Preparedness Month is preparing older adults for disasters. The City of Los Angeles' Emergency Management Department has compiled a list of ways to prepare yourself or family members in case disaster strikes. You can click here to read the department's newsletter.
Free U.S. Citizenship Exam Preparation Classes
Los Angeles Public Library locations citywide are offering free Citizenship Classes throughout the fall to assist individuals currently working towards obtaining U.S. citizenship. Click here to view the class schedule.
Community Investment for Families Department Seeks Input
To better understand the childcare needs of families and what support they want from the City, the Community Investment for Families Department has launched a childcare family survey here.
LAHD Webinars for Tenants and Landlords
If you are interested in learning about Los Angeles' current rules regarding tenant protections, follow this link to register for one of LAHD's upcoming sessions.

WEEK IN REVIEW

TOP LEFT: The Bureau of Engineering recently completed the Balboa Bulkhead Project which we initiated after an erosion gully was found at the site. This project restored lateral support to the sidewalk and pedestrian accessibility.

TOP RIGHT: Council District 12, alongside our partners at the Canoga Park - South WorkSource Center successfully hosted the 2nd Annual CD12 Job Fair. Thank you to everyone who came out and to all of our partners who were in attendance. The full list of employers can be found by clicking here.

BOTTOM: Thanks to the efforts of LAPD Devonshire narcotics unit officers, the department was able to serve a search warrant and arrest multiple individuals near Calahan Street Elementary School. This operation allowed officers to recover a stolen motorcycle and impound two pick-up trucks, an additional motorcycle, a fifth-wheel travel trailer and a motorhome.

My office is ensuring that the remaining abandoned items will be cleaned in the coming weeks.

COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER
By appointment only. Please call or email.
9207 Oakdale Avenue, Suite 200
Chatsworth, CA 91311
Phone: (818) 882-1212
Fax: (818) 701-5254

LOS ANGELES CITY HALL
By appointment only. Please call or email.
200 North Spring Street, Room 405
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 473-7012
Fax: (213) 473-6925

Copyright © 2023 Councilmember John S. Lee, All rights reserved.
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Chatsworth, CA 91311
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