City of LA Legacy Business Program

The City of Los Angeles is proud to launch the Legacy Business Program, an ongoing initiative to celebrate and support the visibility and sustainability of long-standing Legacy Businesses with tangible benefits, including technical assistance, promotional support, and access to grants and loans.

A “Legacy Business” is defined as a business open to the public that has been in operation for 20 or more years within the same community and which meets three of the following four criteria:

• It contributes significantly to its community's history or identity.

• It sustains and cultivates distinctive cultural traditions or practices.

• The business is not franchised or affiliated with a national corporate chain.

• It provides vital goods and services in a language and manner that is culturally accessible to the community

The Legacy Business Program aims to foster economic empowerment by encouraging patronage of participating legacy businesses throughout Los Angeles. Key Highlights of the Legacy Business Program include access to grants & loans, technical assistance, and promotional activities.

Businesses are encouraged to learn more and apply today at: bit.ly/LAlegacy.

FREE Tax Prep Event at LAPD Devonshire PALS

The Office of Councilmember John Lee and the Community Investment for Families Department, invite you to come get your taxes done, completely free of charge. Taking place on February 24th from 9am-2pm, this event will connect you with a professional tax preparer and help you get the most out of your taxes. Appointments are limited and required for this event. Please click here or call (818) 887-3872 Ext 444 to register!

Registration for Spring PlayLA

Thanks to the LA28 Olympics and Paralympic Games commitment, the PlayLA Youth and Adaptive Youth Sports Program provides affordable and accessible sports programming to kids of all abilities through Los Angeles. For qualifying families, the program is offered for $10.00. From baseball to surfing, these leagues and clinics offer a fantastic opportunity for children to learn new skills, make friends, and stay active in a fun and supportive environment. To learn about all the PlayLA Spring Sports Leagues and Clinics, please visit www.laparks.org/play-la.

ExpandLA

ExpandLA is excited to announce the Expanded Learning Professional Trainer Network (PTN)! The PTN builds the capacity of youth-serving community-based organizations and strengthens the quality of programs by investing in the professional development of expanded learning staff. Their aim is to create an equitable system of access to high-quality out-of-school time programs for children and youth throughout Los Angeles County. The deadline to apply to the Professional Trainer Network is February 22nd. For more information, please visit https://expandla.org/events.html.

L.A. Zoo’s Paid Internship Program

The Los Angeles Zoo’s 10-week paid internship program is returning for Summer 2024! The Zoo is recruiting enrolled college students interested in animals, conservation, and/or the communities of L.A. to participate in the 2024 Paid Internship Program. Candidates must be at least 18 years old, reside in the City of Los Angeles, enrolled in the spring semester in college, and self-identify as a member of a historically excluded community from the zoo, science, and conservation fields. More information on the Paid Internship Program can be found on the Zoo’s website at https://lazoo.org/join-our-community/internships/.

Misfortune and Calamity Tax Relief

You may be eligible for tax relief if your property is damaged or destroyed by a calamity, such as fire or flooding. To qualify, you must file an application for reassessment: property damaged or destroyed by misfortune or calamity with the Assessor’s Office within 12 months from the date the property was damaged or destroyed. The loss must exceed $10,000 of current market value. Click here to visit the County Assessor’s website and learn more about potential relief.

LAFD’s Nine Steps of Flood Recovery

The Los Angeles Fire Department has created a nine-step guide for Angelenos to recover their homes and belongings from the recent inclement weather. To learn more about these steps and how to prepare for any future flooding, please click on this link.

Councilmember John Lee's Year in Review Volume III

Over the last year, we have made significant progress on the many subjects that impact Council District 12’s day-to-day quality of life.

Please click here to read the review.

Join the North Hills West Neighborhood Council

The North Hills West Neighborhood Council is looking for North Hills West stakeholders who want to help shape the future of their community. You can join the board or attend the monthly meetings to find out what's happening in your community and weigh in on local decision-making. Monthly meetings: 3rd Thursday of each month at 6 PM / New Horizons 15725 Parthenia St, North Hills. If you would like more information and a Board member application, click the link: https://www.nhwnc.net/.

Join the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council

Candidate filing for the Chatsworth NC Selection is now closed. Voting will take place on March 16. Stakeholders eligible to vote in the 2024 Selection have until March 9 to pre-register! Follow this link for more information, follow this link.

Permanent L.A. Al Fresco Dining Program

The Permanent Al Fresco Program has arrived! Because of the success of the temporary L.A. Al Fresco program, the City has established a new, permanent program. Both new applicants and Temporary Use Authorization holders must apply to offer outdoor dining. Current Temporary Use Authorizations are only valid until July 31, 2024. Businesses that are interested in applying, click here to learn more about requirements, ask questions, get help, and where to apply.

THROUGHOUT FEBRUARY

• Los Angeles Microgrant Program
  The Nextdoor Kind Foundation launched an LA County program that will award $500 grants to individuals making a difference in their neighborhoods and communities. The application takes less than 10 minutes. Apply here.
  
  

• Traffic Officer Job Openings

  The City of Los Angeles is currently accepting applications for traffic officers. If you are interested in becoming a public servant, click here to find out the qualifications and other job information.
  
  

• Bulky Item Drop-Off Events

  LA Sanitation will be accepting bulky items at five locations around the City each month throughout 2024. Furniture, carpet, yard trimmings, shelving, and wood will be accepted. To find out more information, click here.
  
  

• Granada Hills Branch Library Closure

  The Granada Hills Branch Library is scheduled to undergo facility renovations and maintenance from February 5, 2024, to March 4th, 2024. During this period, the library will remain closed. Frequent visitors of the Granada Hills Branch Library are encouraged to visit this website to find the nearest library available to them while the renovations are taking place.
  
  

• LAHD Seminars for Landlords and Tenants

  The Los Angeles Housing Department is hosting webinars to inform landlords and tenants about the current renter protection laws. If you are interested in learning about the City of LA Renter Protections click here to register for a webinar.

WEEK IN REVIEW

TOP LEFT: I was pleased to join the North Hills West Neighborhood Council for their 21st Anniversary Celebration to discuss some of my office’s recent work and honor the board’s president, Madlena Minasian for her dedication to the council.

TOP RIGHT: Sat down with the Vice President of External Affairs at The Valley Economic Alliance, Greg Martayan, to discuss a path forward that will bring economic vitality and prosperity to people and businesses in the San Fernando Valley.

BOTTOM LEFT: Honored to join the students at Pomelo Community Charter School to announce my office’s support of their robotics program.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Happy to once again join Northridge All Girls Softball for its opening day activities!