Heal the Bay's Annual Beach Report Card was released on Wednesday, revealing some concerning figures. The group's "Honor Roll," which includes beaches that maintain excellent water quality throughout the year, fell from 51 sites last year to just two this year. As the councilwoman representing our coastline, I will do everything to reverse this trend in the coming years.
According to the report, the dramatic pollution readings are primarily due to the heavy winter rains and a series of sewage spills in Santa Monica Bay. Rainfall in Los Angeles County spiked 143% over the previous year, and the downpours channeled unhealthy substances directly into the ocean. There were also 95 sewage spills across LA County over the past year, which discharged a staggering 330,000 gallons of waste into our waterways.
My staff and I have been hard at work protecting our vital ecosystems. For example, we secured funding for the Ballona Creek Water Quality Monitoring Program, a critical initiative to boost the Ballona Creek Watershed, which consists of about 130 square miles of highly urbanized storm drains and tributaries that feed into the nine-mile-long Ballona Creek flood protection channel. As stormwater runs off homes, buildings, streets, and freeways into waterways, it picks up pollutants such as trash, metal objects, bacteria, and pesticides, which flow to the ocean.
Our project will protect downstream wetlands, the ocean, and the local ecosystem by diverting polluted urban runoff to be treated and recycled at the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant.
We are also excited to move forward with our Green Streets Project on La Cienega Boulevard in Ladera Heights, funded by Measure W. This is another stormwater management system that incorporates vegetation and engineered systems to capture, filter, and cleanse stormwater instead of directing it into our watershed and out to the ocean.
The Westside is also home to the Ballona Creek Trash Interceptor 007. This inventive contraption has stopped nearly 155,000 pounds of garbage from reaching the ocean via Ballona Creek.
We have similar water and green infrastructure projects in the pipeline in locations all over the district and look forward to continuing to invest in protecting our ocean and the overall health of our environment.
I am also proud to serve as Vice Chair on the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission, which focuses on restoring and enhancing Santa Monica Bay, improving water quality, conserving and rehabilitating our natural resources, and mitigating the impacts of climate change and sea level rise.
CD11 is also actively teaming up with organizations like Heal the Bay and the Surfrider Foundation to reduce single-use plastics, clean up our beaches, protect our coastline, restore our waterways, and advocate for clean water policies across our watersheds.
Learn more with this video from Earth Day.
Observing Juneteenth
On Monday, we observe Juneteenth, an annual commemoration marking the day that enslaved people in Galveston, Texas were finally made aware of their freedom upon the arrival of federal troops on June 19, 1865, a full two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation and two months after the Civil War had ended.
In the district, a Juneteenth event will be held Saturday, June 17 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Oakwood Park. Here are the details:
Moving GRYD Forward
This week in the Public Safety Committee, we voted to approve a $12 million increase to the Gang Reduction and Youth Development's (GRYD) $30 million budget. GRYD was established in 2007 to comprehensively address gang violence throughout the city. Today, GRYD provides gang and violence intervention, prevention services, and community programming in 23 zones across Los Angeles. We were proud to have the Helper Foundation, our GRYD Partner in Venice and Mar Vista, and Moms Demand Action join us at the committee meeting for this important vote.
With violent crime and gun violence on the rise, our investment in GRYD aligns with the work I am already doing to get guns off the streets and out of the hands of violent criminals.
Welcome. U.S. Open!
As chair of Trade, Travel and Tourism, it is my great pleasure to welcome all the players of the 2023 US Open to this remarkable event that is taking place in our own backyard. The 123rd U.S. Open, hosted at Los Angeles Country Club, brings together the world's finest golfers for the season's third major championship. Wishing the players the best of luck!
LADWP Community Partnerships
Here's an exciting opportunity for nonprofits in CD11! The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)’s Community Partnership Outreach Grants Program is looking to assist nonprofits in advancing sustainability efforts in Los Angeles. The grant application process, which reopens every 12 to 18 months, consists of two phases. Click here if you are involved with a nonprofit or know of one that might benefit.
Saving Your Savings
The LADWP offers a Comprehensive Affordable Multifamily Retrofits (CAMR) program to help eligible families save money. CAMR provides no-cost property assessments to low-income multifamily property owners in Los Angeles and identifies efficiency opportunities for energy savings and cost reduction. Qualified property owners can also receive assistance with work-scope development and contractor procurement. To learn more about the program, click here.
Happy Father’s Day!
To all the fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, and father figures, thank you for being a guiding light in our lives. Today and every day, we celebrate you. Happy Father's Day!
Park’s Pick
I Heart Mac and Cheese in Westchester is my Park's Pick of the week! This charming restaurant in Westchester opened about a month ago and has been a wonderful supporter of our community since day one. Their presence adds a delightful touch to the neighborhood, and we are pleased to have them in the district.
Adopt-A-Pet
Introducing the adorable Oreo as our pet of the week! Oreo is a 2-year-old pup who shines in playgroups! With a gentle and graceful play style, Oreo gets along well with other dogs. You can meet Oreo at our Chesterfield Square/South LA Center.
