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December 8, 2023

For some time my office has received calls of concern from community members regarding instances that have caused concerns for the safety of the community. I want to make it clear that public safety is one of my top priorities as your Councilmember. My office has worked closely with residents and LAPD to ensure officers are aware of areas of concern.

LAPD is currently short nearly 1,200 officers, with 44 vacant spots in our district's division. I have set aside funding for overtime to increase patrols throughout the community in an effort to combat this issue.

In addition to my overtime funding efforts, my office is launching a community safety initiative that will utilize technology to help us catch criminals as well as recognize patterns so that we can stop these thefts before they happen. If you would like to report non-emergency suspicious activity please call 1 (877) 275-5273. If you feel you are in danger, please do not hesitate to call 911. For more information on LAPD's various hotlines, please visit this link.

LEGISTLATIVE UPDATES

Protecting the Equestrian Community

This week, a motion instructing the City Attorney to draft an ordinance that would ban rodeo shows in the City of Los Angeles was introduced by Councilmember Bob Blumenfield.

While I support the intention of this motion of moving us towards ending animal cruelty, the potential impact this ordinance may have on the equestrian community is concerning to me.

When this ordinance is drafted and is heard by the Neighborhoods and Community Enrichment Committee, of which I serve as the Vice Chair, I will ensure that the voices and opinions of our equestrian stakeholders in CD12 and through Los Angeles are heard and thoroughly considered.

CD12 COMMUNITY UPDATES

Holiday Safety Tips

Our friends over at Channel 35 and the Los Angeles Police Department would like to share a few tips to keep you and your loved ones safe during these festive weeks.

40th Annual Granada Hills Holiday Parade

This past week, I was happy to participate in the 40th Annual Granada Hills Holiday Parade. Check out this video that captures the fun this yearly anticipated community event brings to the attendees.

Community Spotlight

STARS Academy

STARS Academy, a K-Secondary, fully-accredited (WASC), well-rounded, and premier educational institution dedicated to nurturing young minds and fostering all-around development, is located in the heart of West Hills, CA. STARS has revolutionized the way education is imparted, offering a wide array of dynamic programs designed to inspire, challenge, and empower students of all ages while addressing their social-emotional well-being.

As a smaller school with a low student-teacher ratio (7:1), they pride themselves on truly getting to know their students and their families. They foster a sense of belonging and safety that makes every one of their students excited to come to school every day. In addition to studying traditional literary texts, STARS integrates the study of musicals into their curriculum as they apply to the units being taught. For example, students this year are engaging in 10 unique units of U.S. History and will be studying musicals such as Hamilton, Annie, and Ragtime, among others.  Through the study of the script, songs, plot, and characters, students connect to the curriculum in a non-traditional way that fosters an appreciation for the arts.

STARS is committed to the belief that every child possesses unique strengths and unlimited potential. Their mission is to ignite the spark of curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking within each student, guiding them on a journey of exploration and growth. They have meticulously crafted an environment that cultivates intellectual curiosity while providing a safe, nurturing, and stimulating space for students to excel.

I am so honored to have such an institution within Council District 12 that not only strives to enrich the next generation academically but also develop them into compassionate, ethical, and resilient leaders of tomorrow. 

CD 12’S RAPID RESPONSE TEAM + ILLEGAL DUMPING +  FREE DUMP DAY

My office has always placed a focus on ensuring that residents in the community are provided with rapid services that help our residential neighborhoods stay clean and free from illegally dumped items.

To ensure that we are meeting this need, our office maintains a Rapid Response Team that is focused on addressing issues of illegal dumping around the district. 

The Council District 12 Rapid Response Team travels around the district Monday through Friday during normal business hours visiting locations where bulky items have been illegally dumped and abandoned. Our office utilizes this tool to ensure that our communities remain clean and safe. As well as maintain safe and accessible sidewalks and roadways for residents to utilize. 

The team is available to address numerous items, including mattresses, couches, recliner chairs, refrigerators, bed frames, and more.

On the flip side, the Rapid Response Team is unable to take items that are on private property, items belonging to unhoused individuals, and dead animals/roadkill. 

Our team has noticed an increase in illegal dumping activity around the district, and we need the community’s help! 

The City provides free bulky item pickup for residents on regular collection days. To utilize this service, please use the following tips to properly dispose of unwanted bulky items:

1. Recycle, donate, or exchange usable items.

2. If you need to dispose of bulky items, please call LASAN Customer Care Center at 1-800-773-2489 or submit a request through the MYLA311 app at least one business day before your regular collection day. Be sure to have an itemized list of your unwanted items ready when calling or submitting your request. Once your request is submitted, you may leave your bulky item in the location specified in your request the day before your regular collection day.  

Additionally and importantly, the work of the Rapid Response Team is to address illegal dumping and is not meant to be used as a free bulky-item pick-up service. Illegal dumping is a violation of Los Angeles’ Municipal Code and carries with it fines.

As illegal dumping remains a considerable issue in certain parts of Los Angeles, Caltrans and the Los Angeles Department of Sanitation have teamed up to bring a FREE Dumping Day to the City of Los Angeles. On December 9th, LA residents are invited to bring their bulky items to one of the five specified locations to have them disposed of free of charge. To get the details of this event, follow this link. 

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

UPCOMING

12/10 - 39th Annual Chatsworth Holiday Parade
The Chatsworth Holiday Parade welcomes you to keep the good times rollin’ and come enjoy a parade hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Chatsworth and the Chatsworth - Porter Ranch Chamber of Commerce.

12/9 - LADWP Customer Support Saturday

Come on down and get the chance to receive a one-on-one consultation with a LADWP staff member to find ways to save money on your bill. To find out what to bring and where to go, click here.

12/9 - Hollywood and the Movies of the Fifties

The friends of Oakridge invite you to come meet author Foster Hirsch in celebration of the launch of his new book. Follow this link to register for this special event.

12/10 - Gift of Care
Shades of Motherhood, in partnership with Paul Mitchell Academy, is offering complimentary beauty services to special needs caregivers and mothers. Click here to view the flyer.

12/12 - Unity Chanukah Celebration

Come celebrate the eternal flame of Judaism at the intersection of Devonshire and Etiwanda, in front of the LAPD Devonshire Station. Click here for more information.

12/13 - Sensory Storytimes

You are invited to enjoy this program designed for children on the Autism Spectrum or with sensory processing disorder at the Porter Ranch Library. Click here to find out more.

12/17 - Valley Youth Philharmonic Orchestra's 15th Winter Concert

Bring the family to enjoy some of the valley's finest youth musicians for their 15th Annual Winter Concert. Follow this link to view the flyer.

WEEK IN REVIEW

TOP: I was honored to attend the annual lighting of Rita’s tree in Granada Hills. This beautiful tree adds to the charm and holiday magic in Granada Hills.

BOTTOM LEFT: A huge shoutout to Terrell Edwards for his continued to commitment to the Council District 12 community and serving as the star for the 2nd Annual California Christmas concert!

BOTTOM RIGHT: The 40th Annual Granada Hills Holiday Parade was a success once again! Four decades of excellence is no easy feat. Relive the magic by watching the full procession here!