Yearly Archives: 2010

Disasters Happen. Prepare Today. Learn Here,

In less than a year, Los Angeles County residents have faced earthquakes, floods, wild fires, debris and mud flows, mudslides, winter storms, pandemic flu, and the effects of a tsunami.

Los Angeles County has prepared a comprehensive guide to emergency preparedness intended to help the residents of Los Angeles County better prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.

The Emergency Survival Guide has 100 color pages of helpful tips and information for residents to prepare for fires, floods, earthquakes, pandemic flu, terrorism, extreme weather, and tsunamis. There is space to record household emergency plans including out-of-state contacts, family evacuation gathering points, and the location of utility shut-offs. The Emergency Survival Guide also includes checklists for gathering emergency supplies that will help individuals, families, pet owners, businesses and communities survive and recover after a major disaster.

The Emergency Survival Guide is available online at http://lacounty.gov. Additional information on preparing for disasters is also available on-line at www.espfocus.org.

Residents and business owners, including persons with access and functional needs may also call 211 LA County for emergency preparedness information and other referral services. The toll-free 2-1-1 number is available 24 hours a day and seven days a week. 211 LA County services can also be accessed by visiting http://211la.org.

Blue Butterfly Release Planned For Palos Verdes This Weekend

Tomorrow morning, Supervisor Don Knabe will join community leaders for the release of endangered Palos Verdes blue butterflies into restored coastal sage scrub habitat at Deane Dana Friendship Community Regional Park and Nature Center (Friendship Park) in San Pedro.

The Palos Verdes blue butterfly is a small, colorful, thumbnail-sized butterfly that was federally listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1980. The release of endangered Palos Verdes blue butterflies at Deane Dana Friendship Park is one component of ongoing multiple partnership efforts to recover this endangered native species in southern California.

Recovery actions include the restoration of the butterfly’s habitat by the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy at Friendship Park, and captive-rearing at Defense Fuel Support Point San Pedro and The Urban Wildlands Group and America’s Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College.

Deane Dana Friendship Community Regional Park and Nature Center is located at 1805 W. 9th Street, San Pedro, CA 90732. The event begins at 8:30 a.m. and admission is free. In the event of rain, the butterflies will not be released but will be available on display inside the Nature Center.

Statement On Abandoned Newborn In Redondo Beach

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe issued the following statement regarding today’s discovery of an abandoned, deceased newborn in a trash can in Redondo Beach:

Tragedies like this do not have to happen in this County and in our communities. Since 2001, we have had a successful alternative in the Safe Surrender Program, which is designed to prevent abandonments and save precious lives. It provides a way for desperate parents to safely surrender their baby without fear of prosecution. Parents or family members can safely surrender their baby at any hospital and every fire station in Los Angeles County. The babies are given medical treatment and immediately placed in a loving foster or pre-adoptive home.

There is no shame, no blame, and no names. Don’t abandon your baby. You have a confidential choice. Bring your baby to any emergency room or fire station. Get your baby into safe hands. We will take care of the rest. No questions asked. The multilingual Safe Surrender Hotline, 1-877-BABY-SAFE, is available 24-hours a day for more information and the location of the nearest Safe Surrender site. Surrender sites can also be found by calling the County helpline at 211 or by visiting www.babysafela.org.

76 Safe Surrenders have occurred Safe Surrender since the program began in 2001. The last surrender occurred in Pasadena in October 2009, and a total of seven newborns were surrendered last year. The last abandoned, deceased newborn was discovered in Pomona in April 2009. A total of two abandonments were discovered in Los Angeles County in 2009, down from a high of 14 the year the program was launched.

The program was initiated by Supervisor Knabe and approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors in 2001. It allows someone to surrender an infant that is no more than three days old, as long as the infant shows no signs of abuse.

Moderate Tsunami Damage Reported In Marina del Rey

The Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors announced today moderate damage in connection with the tsunami activity on Saturday, February 27, as a result of the 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile.

A series of tidal surges impacted many Southern California harbors including Marina del Rey, with moderate dock damage reported at the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors’ public docks.

At approximately 3:00 p.m., Beaches and Harbors’ Marina Maintenance staff responded to slip G-200 when a dock finger pulled away from the main walkway. Work crews secured the broken finger to the other boat slips to prevent it from entering the main channel. Utility lines on the dock were also secured and turned off.

To reduce damage to adjacent boat slips and vessels, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Marina Station relocated six vessels ranging in length from 30′-55′ within the anchorage with all vessels reported secured by 9:30 p.m.

Damage assessments are currently underway to determine the cost of replacing the eight Beaches and Harbors’ public docks affected by the February 27th tsunami. There were no reports of vessels damaged in Marina del Rey by the series of tidal surges.

L.A. County Animal Care And Control Will Host Adoption Kick-Off Event On March 7

To celebrate the Department’s new extended public hours, the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control will host seven simultaneous adoption events on Sunday, March 7, 2010. This day marks the first Sunday that the Department will be open to the public. Each of the six shelters is now open seven days a week, Monday-Thursday, 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., and Friday-Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The Department wants to ensure it is using every opportunity to increase pet adoptions. Opening on Sundays gives us an additional opportunity to showcase the many wonderful animals at our shelters, said Director, Marcia Mayeda.

For the March 7th kick-off event, the Found Animals Foundation (www.foundanimals.org) will generously donate $10 towards every adoption. This will reduce the adoption fee for individuals who adopt on this day only.

Be sure to visit one of the seven locations on Sunday, March 7, 2010. Shelter locations will be open 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. The Antelope Valley Pet Stop is open between 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. The adoption event will be held at the following locations:

Downey Animal Shelter – 11258 South Garfield Avenue, Downey 90242

Carson Animal Shelter – 216 West Victoria Street, Gardena 90248

Baldwin Park Animal Shelter – 4275 North Elton Street, Baldwin Park 91706

Lancaster Animal Shelter – 5210 West Avenue I, Lancaster 93536

Castaic Animal Shelter – 31044 North Charlie Canyon Road, Castaic 91384

Agoura Animal Shelter – 29525 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills 91301

Antelope Valley Pet Stop* – 42116 4th Street East, Lancaster 93535

*This facility only houses dogs immediately available for adoption and is not a shelter.

Each location has a wonderful selection of animals just waiting for a new home. For more information, visit our website,
http://animalcare.lacounty.gov or stop by your local animal shelter.

Reward Sought After Swastika Carved Into Putting Green At County Golf Course

Supervisor Don Knabe will be introducing a $5,000 reward for information on the vandals responsible for carving a large swastika into a putting green at Lakewood Country Club over the weekend.

Sometime in the early morning hours of Sunday, February 28, vandals broke into the County-owned golf course and carved an approximately eight foot by eight foot swastika into the putting green on Hole #1. Vandals also dug several deep holes into the green near the swastika.

The damage was discovered by an employee at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday morning and reported to the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station. The investigation into the vandalism is ongoing.

Crews have already repaired the damage to the golf course, and the swastika is no longer visible. In response, Supervisor Knabe will be asking his colleagues to approve an urgency motion at tomorrow’s Board of Supervisors meeting to establish a $5,000 reward for information about this vandalism or those responsible.

The physical damage to the golf course may be repaired already, but the lasting damage that crimes like this leave on a community can be far more devastating, said Supervisor Knabe. This vandalism is simple and unacceptable hatred. The residents of Lakewood will not tolerate it, and the County will not tolerate it at our publically-owned golf courses.

Questions or information can be directed to Detective Theo Gekas of the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station at (562) 623-3500. The damage has been repaired, but a photo from when the vandalism was first discovered is attached to this press release.

County Animal Shelters To Be Open On Sundays

The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control is pleased to announce an enhancement to its goal of finding homes for all adoptable animals. Beginning March 1, 2010 the Department will begin opening its animal shelters on Sundays so adopters have an additional day to find a new pet.

Opening on Sundays gives us an additional opportunity to showcase the many wonderful animals in our shelters, said Department Director Marcia Mayeda. Weekends are a popular time to find a new family member at the local animal shelter, and we want to ensure we are using every opportunity to increase pet adoptions. In addition to increasing adoption opportunities, by opening Sundays the Department hopes to reunite lost pets with their owners a day sooner.

The Department has been able to achieve this goal by realigning staff schedules and without incurring any additional operating cost. Local government budgets are particularly challenged during these difficult economic times, and we are happy to have found creative solutions to enhance services without additional costs to taxpayers, said Mayeda. The Department also hopes to see an increase in revenue generated by the additional business day, thereby providing more resources to help homeless animals.

The six Los Angeles County animal shelters, located in Downey, Baldwin Park, Carson, Castaic, Lancaster and Agoura Hills will be open seven days a week beginning March 1. Operating hours will be as follows:

Monday – Thursday: 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Friday – Sunday: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The Department’s Pet Shop adoption center in Lancaster will be open on Sundays as well. Please note that the Pet Shop only houses dogs immediately available for adoption and does not accept animals from the public. Operating hours will be as follows:

Tuesday – Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Sunday: 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

For more information about the new hours, please click here or stop by your local County animal shelter.

Over $9 Million Collected From Child Support Evaders

Over $9 million in unpaid child support has been collected in the past two years from Los Angeles County’s worst local child support evaders – a small group of parents who go to great lengths to avoid the law and avoid caring for their children by not paying their child support obligations. In March 2008, Supervisor Don Knabe unveiled a new partnership between the County’s Child Support Services Department (CSSD) and the District Attorney’s Office (DA) to criminally prosecute parents who spend years avoiding child support payments. Next month is also the two year anniversary of the County launching the Most Wanted Delinquent Parents website.

In the short time that has passed since partnership was formed between CSSD and the DA, a total of $9,114,669 in unpaid child support has been collected from the most delinquent parents and fully passed on to children and families. Additionally, the court has imposed jail time on 95 child support evaders. Collectively, the jail sentences imposed on these parents add up to 10,195 days behind bars. In virtually every case, these are parents who were given multiple opportunities to comply with criminal court orders but who repeatedly failed to live up to the terms of probation they accepted after conviction or after entering pleas of no contest.

The County uses a team of law enforcement personnel to pursue arrest warrants issued for parents who have been charged with crimes for failing to support their children. Since the program began, prosecutors have referred 2,680 child support arrest and bench warrants to the investigations team for follow up. Investigators have cleared 1,778 warrants by arresting or citing defendants or convincing them to surrender voluntarily in court to avoid arrest. An additional 188 warrants have been cleared by other law enforcement agencies.

In the two years since the County’s Most Wanted Delinquent Parents
website was launched, 33 men and women have been featured on the Most Wanted website, 15 of these 33 defendants have been arrested, 6 more have surrendered to court, and 12 are currently the subjects of active investigation.

The joint CSSD/DA Child Support Arrest Warrant Project was made possible through funding provided by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, on an initiative of Supervisor Knabe. The County’s investment, matched 2 for 1 with funding from the Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement, fully underwrites the costs of the law enforcement team.

Fourth District Teachers Named As Finalists For The Music Center’s BRAVO Awards

The Music Center of Los Angeles County, a national leader in arts education, announced the fourteen teachers and six schools named as finalists for the 28th Annual BRAVO Awards, including three teachers from the Fourth District. The BRAVO Awards honor teachers and schools for exemplary arts education, and are an integral part of the Music Center’s leadership in supporting quality arts education for all students.

BRAVO Awards nominations were made by principals, faculty committees, superintendents, and parents. Finalists were chosen from 38 candidates who participated in an extensive review process including site visits and feedback by the judging committee.

Awards are given in four categories: Generalist Teacher, Arts Specialist Teacher, School Recognition and School Program, and are accompanied by a cash prize. The teacher awards are made possible, in part, by generous gifts from Club 100 members Lanie Bernhard, Marilyn Prewoznik, and Elinor Turner.

All candidates will be recognized and honored on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 in the Grand Hall of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Recipients will receive a cash award to be used to supplement their arts programs.

The Music Center Bravo Awards program was established in 1982 to recognize teachers and schools for innovation and excellence in arts education. It honors educators who use the arts to revitalize teaching, enhance student achievement and foster self-esteem, teamwork and cross-cultural communication and understanding.

Fourth District 2010 BRAVO Award Finalists

Arts Specialist Teacher

Janna Lindenberg – Diamond Bar High School, Walnut Valley Unified School District

Lisa Ruiz – Fairgrove Academy, Hacienda La Puente Unified School District

Generalist Teacher

Dennis McGonagle – Longfellow Elementary School, Whittier City School District

Southern California Residents To Benefit From New Program For First-Time Homebuyers

The Southern California Home Financing Authority (SCHFA), a joint powers authority between Los Angeles and Orange Counties, recently issued mortgage revenue bonds for the purpose of assisting low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers in obtaining below-market rate first-mortgage loans. SCHFA issued $25 million in bonds to fund its First Home Program, and it is anticipated that 80-100 loans will be originated under this bond issuance.

The Program offers qualified first-time homebuyers one of two options: (1) a 4.70% interest rate without a grant for down payment and closing assistance; or (2) a 5.125% interest rate with a grant for down payment and closing cost assistance equal to 3% of the first loan amount. The Program will also be used to purchase foreclosed properties in conjunction with the Community Development Commission’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) and Housing Economic Recovery Ownership Program (HERO). Qualified veterans (even those who are not first-time homebuyers) may also use either of the two program options described above.

The First Home Program offers the opportunity for homeowners with an adjustable rate loan made between 2002 through 2007, to refinance their existing loan with a 30-year fixed-rate loan at 4.70%. Other restrictions apply.

The First Home Program provides valuable assistance through grants and loans to families who might otherwise be unable to afford a home, said Sean Rogan, Executive Director of the Community Development Commission. To date, working with participating private lenders, SCHFA has helped over 5,000 families in Los Angeles County purchase a home through its homebuyer programs, he added.

Under the Program, the maximum annual family income cannot exceed $84,480 in Los Angeles County, and $103,320 in Orange County. The maximum home price is $708,495 for a new or existing home in both counties. These limits are subject to change under federal guidelines. Eligible homebuyers cannot have owned a home in the last three years, except in specified target areas.

Additional information about the program and a list of participating lenders can be obtained by
clicking here or by calling the Information Line at (323) 890-7249.