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Deadline to Request Absentee Ballot Approaching

Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC) Conny McCormack is reminding voters who wish to vote by mail that the deadline to request absentee ballots for the August 21, 2007, 37th Congressional District Special General Election is Tuesday, August 14, 2007.

Registered voters who would like to obtain an absentee ballot must send a written request containing the voter’s name, residence address and address to which the ballot is to be mailed. The signature of each person asking for an absentee ballot is required in order to verify the legitimacy of the application. Absentee ballots may be requested in the following ways:

– By filling out the Vote-By-Mail Application on the back cover of the Official Sample Ballot booklet sent by the RR/CC to each registered voter; or

– By letter addressed to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, Absentee Voter Section, P.O. Box 30450, Los Angeles, CA 90030; or

– By accessing the RR/CC website at http://www.lavote.net and clicking on the Absentee Voting page under "Registrar of Voters Operations" and filling out an Absentee Ballot Application online; or

– In person at the RR/CC’s Office, 12400 Imperial Highway, 3rd floor, Room 3002, Norwalk, CA 90650.

If a voter has applied for an absentee ballot and has not received it within a week after sending in the application, the voter should call the RR/CC’s Office at (800) 815-2666. The range of remedies available to the voter includes: 1) requesting a replacement absentee ballot to be mailed; 2) voting at the RR/CC’s Norwalk Office through Election Day; or 3) going to the designated neighborhood precinct polling place to vote on Election Day.

To be counted, the voted absentee ballot must either be returned in person to the Registrar’s Office, delivered to any polling place conducting this election on election day during poll hours 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., or mailed in time to be in the Registrar’s Office by 8:00 p.m. on August 21st (postmarks are not acceptable). Additionally, the voter may authorize a designated family member to return the voted ballot to any polling place conducting this election or to the Registrar’s Office in accordance with the procedures outlined on the absentee ballot return envelope.

Under special circumstances from August 15 – August 21 a voter may request an emergency absentee ballot by applying in person or by sending a designee to the RR/CC Headquarters, 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650.

Additional information regarding this service or any questions regarding absentee voting can be obtained by calling the RR/CC Absentee Voter Section at (562) 466-1323, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. weekdays, or accessing the RR/CC website at
http://www.lavote.net. Persons requiring multilingual assistance in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog/Filipino, or Vietnamese regarding information in the press release, may call (800) 481-8683.

Knabe Provides City of Long Beach With $5 Million For Significant Environmental Projects Along L.A. River

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe today presented to Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster $5 million in Proposition A funds to restore dozens of acres of historic wetlands, acquire land to be developed into greenspace linking existing parks, and develop other areas into park space.

My vision for the Los Angeles River is to make it an asset for all, so that anyone that comes in contact with the River and the neighborhoods around it benefit from the resources that we have invested right here, said Supervisor Knabe. With this $5 million contribution we will be making another important commitment to the Los Angeles River in the form of much-needed additional and improved green space throughout this part of Long Beach.

"Today is a big step in restoring our wetlands, preserving our natural open areas and developing community parks on the Westside of Long Beach," said Mayor Bob Foster.

The $5 million will be earmarked for the following four projects in Long Beach:

Drake/Chavez Greenbelt Land Acquisition ($1 million)

Land along the lower Los Angeles River will be acquired to begin to connect Chavez and Drake Parks to 16 acres of recently acquired land to form a 46-acre greenway and parkland area on the east bank of the Los Angeles River. This project will link downtown Long Beach with the LA River. This land will be developed into a greenway with: wetlands, trails, open space, and a wildlife habitat along a biologically significant and unique area of the Los Angeles River where salt water meets freshwater.

DeForest Wetlands Development
($2.5 million)

In the middle of an urban area and running along the Los Angles River next to the 710 Freeway, this project is part of a larger lower Los Angeles River parkway plan that will implement multipurpose wetlands in several Los Angeles County river flood detention basins. The project is a joint project among the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, the City of Long Beach, the California Coastal Conservancy and the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy. This development will include: the re-creation of 34 acres of historic wetlands, scrub and woodland habitat; providing water quality improvement; Passive recreational amenities; and retaining flood control properties to create a river parkway along the lower Los Angeles River.

Wrigley Greenbelt Development
($1 million)

Covering nearly eight acres of land, this development is located along the east bank of the lower Los Angeles River, between Willow and 34th Streets. The proposed project will enhance the site and complete the park with: native plants, a multipurpose trail, a drinking fountain, a storm water runoff swale, and a rest area with bike racks for bikers riding along the Los Angeles River bike trail.

Baker Mini-Park Development
($500,000)

This project will develop a 1.34-acre neighborhood mini-park in the Wrigley Heights area of Long Beach near the Los Angeles River and the 405 Freeway. The project consists of installation of: irrigation, playground equipment, turf and trees, and picnic tables.

Supervisor Knabe Unveils Military Recognition Banner Program

To honor the dedicated service of Hacienda Heights and Rowland Heights residents who are proudly serving in the United States Armed Forces, Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe and the San Gabriel Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce will soon begin displaying recognition banners along major streets in those communities.

The Heights Military Recognition Banner Program seeks to honor active military personnel by having a banner in their name prominently displayed on utility and light poles in Hacienda Heights and Rowland Heights. Residents of Hacienda Heights and Rowland Heights who are on active duty are eligible to participate in the program and receive a banner.

The first group of approximately 54 banners is scheduled to be put up during the week of July 16, and they will be left up indefinitely. In Hacienda Heights the banners will be displayed on Hacienda Boulevard, Haliburton Road, and Colima Road; and in Rowland Heights they can be found on Fullerton Road, Nogales Avenue, Pathfinder Road, and on Colima Road.

A recommended sponsorship donation of $150 per banner is requested. For more information on the Heights Military Recognition Banner Program please contact Supervisor Knabe’s Rowland Heights Field Office at (909) 594-6561.

Construction and Improvements Continue At Cerritos Regional Park

After a significant investment in improvements and new facilities, the renovation of Cerritos Regional County Park is scheduled to be completed later this summer.

When finished, the construction crews will have replaced 35 acres of park grass and planted 200 new trees. The new park turf is a specialized type of grass that will grow well with the elevated levels of salt in the park’s ground. The growth of grass in the park has historically been a unique challenge because of high alkaline and salt levels in the soil of the former dairy lots the park is built on. Due to the park’s size, the turf renovation was separated into two phases. Phase I, along Bloomfield Avenue, was opened to the public last winter and Phase II has been seeded and will open in late-July with project activities being completed by mid-August. The County is also planning on implementing a customized maintenance program, which should keep the new grass healthy for years to come.

In addition to replacing the turf, many other facilities at Cerritos Regional Park are also being improved as part of the project, including renovating the pool, improving the five park restrooms, repaving existing parking lots, constructing a new parking area, and installing new park lighting.

The community swimming pool facility re-opened last week. The adult and children’s pool were replastered; the pool piping was replaced; and handicapped access lift, diving boards, new deck, and other accessories were installed. Additionally, the pool’s mechanical systems were replaced and the bathhouse dressing rooms, showers, and restrooms were completely renovated.

Five restrooms throughout the park are getting a makeover as well. The restroom renovation includes new wall tile, partitions, fixtures, ceiling finishing, floor coating, and exterior paint; the restrooms are scheduled to be done by the end of July.

The park has four primary parking areas that needed renovation. The project replaced the asphalt in these existing parking areas, improving their appearance and added a new parking area. The new parking area created 65 additional parking spaces improving the community’s access to the park.

To improve park lighting and increase public safety, over 150 additional park lights are being installed. The installation of the lights will be completed by mid-August.

Improving our County parks is a top priority for me, said Supervisor Knabe. I am working very closely with our Departments of Public Works and Parks & Recreation, to ensure that this project is not only done as quickly as possible, but that it is also done right. With so many challenges dealing with this old dairy soil, we need to take every precaution to guarantee that this new grass thrives, and opening the park too soon could damage or kill the new grass.

Los Angeles County Seeks To Counter Graffiti Vandals During Summer Months

While school is out and the long days of summer turn into hot nights, graffiti vandals can become more active. The County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works wants County residents to know that it continues to offer graffiti removal services in unincorporated areas throughout the County.

To report graffiti in unincorporated areas, call the County’s Graffiti Hotline at (800) 675-4357, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or go online to http://dpw.lacounty.gov

and click on the Stop Graffiti link under featured items on the right side of the homepage. When graffiti is reported online, you can even upload photos and check the progress of your request. Once a graffiti removal request is submitted, Public Works strives to meet a 48-hour turnaround for street graffiti removal and 72-hour turnaround for flood channel graffiti removal. In the last year alone, Public Works has received nearly 40,000 reports of graffiti removal throughout the County.

In the event that a graffiti removal request is reported that may not be the responsibility of Public Works, you will be directed to the appropriate agency to report your request. Other agencies that deal with graffiti removal are: Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, Caltrans, Metropolitan Transit Authority, Metrolink, United States Post Office, Southern California Edison, or one of the 88 Cities within Los Angeles County.

Graffiti removal is a constant problem throughout particular hotspots areas throughout the County, especially during the summer months. Many efforts are being made to help deter youngsters from contributing to the graffiti problem.

Totally Against Graffiti (T.A.G.) is an initiative of the Department of Public Works Graffiti Abatement Program, and sponsored by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. The objective of the program is to educate students and their parents of the cost and consequences of graffiti, increasing apprehension of offenders and reducing the visibility of graffiti in neighborhoods. Prevention and timely removal of graffiti addresses urban blight, which enhances the quality and attractiveness of neighborhoods for residents and businesses. Public Works contracted with KCBS Marketing and Viacom to design this very aggressive community outreach and educational program to help combat graffiti. In 2003 T.A.G. was named one of the most successful public works programs in the nation, state and county by the National Association of Counties. To get more information about T.A.G. go to
www.4tagla.com/best.htm

Los Angeles County Embarks On Massive Child Welfare Reform Plan

The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), the largest child welfare agency in the country, has begun a historic child welfare reform plan that will focus on preventative services to help families and keep children out of the foster care system. The plan will also broaden the search for more permanent homes for children already in the system and build on the Department’s core mandate of ensuring all children can grow up in safe, loving and permanent families.

Dubbed the Title IV-E Waiver Demonstration Project, the five-year plan was approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and subsequently accepted by the California Department of Social Services. The plan provides for the flexible use of funding for Los Angeles County to further develop proactive up-front preventative services for children and families to prevent children from entering the foster care system. The waiver will also provide the ability to use funding for additional intensive services to support more timely reunifications with family or alternate permanent plans of adoption or legal guardianship for children currently in foster care.

Historically, Los Angeles County has been limited by strict federal funding guidelines to only spend its money on children in out-of-home care rather than having the ability to spend money on keeping children safely in their own homes and communities. This resulted in an over reliance on removing children from their home to ensure their safety.

Under the waiver, DCFS will be able use the IV-E funds to ensure the safety and well-being of all children, whether or not the child is removed from the home. In addition, the waiver will allow for flexibility to use the funds to provide direct services not currently funded by IV-E based on each family’s individual needs to ensure that children remain safely in their family of origin, are reunified sooner, or an alternative permanency plan is achieved timely. Flexible IV-E funding is expected to result in a shift in thinking and practices away from removal from the home as the safest and best alternative for children. With additional community based resources available with this flexible funding, more children will be able to stay safe in their own homes and, for those who cannot, a new family though adoption or legal guardianship will be available.

Using a very comprehensive and inclusive planning process, over 200 strategies and ideas of how and where to best start on using the funding were discussed and debated. Based on best practice research and extensive feedback, it was decided to start with eight major areas of focus.

The eight major areas include the following:

1. Implementation of a Countywide Prevention Initiative focusing on locally based prevention services and supports;

2. Expansion of Family Team Decision-Making;

3. Expansion of Family Finding, including expanding the use of technology such as U.S. Search to find family members;

4. Establishment of up-front mental health, domestic violence and substance abuse assessment system;

5. Expansion of Family Preservation Services;

6. Recruitment, development and use of community-based placements;

7. Enhancement of parent-child visitation, including plans to bring in more staff to serve as trained monitors to assist social workers with visits; and

8. Use of aftercare support services.

The first sequence of the waiver project includes the following:

– Expanding Family Team Decision-Making with initial attention on children in group homes;

– Contracting with agencies to conduct up-front assessments to identify domestic violence, substance abuse and mental health issues; and

– Expanding Family Finding to two additional offices.

More information about the Title IV-E Waiver Demonstration Project can be found on the DCFS website at
www.lacdcfs.org

Proposal Will Speed Catalina Island Fire Recovery

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe called today for County agencies to expedite permits needed to begin repairs to critical infrastructure that was damaged or destroyed during the wildfire on Catalina Island in early May.

Although the 4,750 acre fire claimed only a single home and several small outbuildings, the fire still destroyed several miles of fencing, nearly 100 utility poles, and caused extensive damage to roads used to access the unincorporated interior of the Island. Additionally, the fire left significant ecologic damage to the island habitat that could lead to flooding, mudslides and erosion.

Any repairs or rehabilitation to fire-damaged areas will require standard permitting by numerous County agencies. Supervisor Knabe’s proposal will require the County to expedite permit processing and allow for swift approval of repair and recovery projects in the Island’s interior. The proposal will also examine having temporary housing placed on Catalina Island to accommodate repair crews that may otherwise struggle to find housing in Avalon’s limited housing market.

Normally, permitting can be an extended process that involves a number of County agencies, but in the case of Catalina Island recovery, I want a coordinated system so that all departments work together, said Supervisor Knabe. We need to get Catalina on the road to recovery and we need to stabilize it against any further ecological damage as a result of this fire.

Knabe Names New Planning Deputy

Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the appointment of Julie Moore as the new Planning Deputy for the Fourth District.

Julie Moore has more than 17 years of experience in urban and regional planning with the County of Los Angeles. She spent over 15 years with the Department of Regional Planning leading housing policy and community planning efforts in various urban unincorporated communities and serving as staff to the Regional Planning Commission and the County’s Airport Land Use Commission.

Moore received her Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of California, Berkeley, and also has a Bachelor’s Degree in History from the University of California, Los Angeles. She is a member of both the American Planning Association and the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Moore is a native of Los Angeles County. She is a former longtime resident of Hacienda Heights and is a product of the local schools there. She currently resides in the City of Glendale with her family.

I’m excited to have Julie join our staff, said Supervisor Knabe. Her experience in urban and regional planning and her extensive knowledge of the issues across the County will be a wonderful asset to our office and the entire Fourth District.

Seventh Season of Free Marina del Rey Summer Concerts Opens July 12

The 2007 season of Marina del Rey Summer Concerts opens Thursday, July 12 at 7:00 p.m., waterside at Burton Chace Park in Marina del Rey, Supervisor Don Knabe announced recently.

Presented by Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water, both classical and pop series run concurrently throughout the summer, on alternate weeks: classical every other Thursday, and pop on alternate Saturdays. All concerts begin at 7:00 p.m. and are presented free to the public. Host for the series is Rich Capparela, popular personality on FM station KUSC 91.5.

The classical series, on Thursday evenings, July 12, July 26, August 9, and August 23, presents the 75-member Marina del Rey Summer Symphony, conducted by its Music Director Frank Fetta, with guest soloists. Highlights of the 2007 season are the July 12 appearance of the 86-voice Southern California Master Chorale presenting Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana; the stellar young violinist Lindsay Deutsch performing works by Prokofiev and Gershwin; a musical preview of the Los Angeles Opera’s 2008 season; and the brilliant pianist, Xin Xin, performing works by von Dohnanyi and Rachmaninoff.

The Saturday evening pop series on
July 21, August 4, August 18 and September 1 features an exciting star lineup including singer/songwriter Amanda McBroom, singer Lorna Luft appearing with the Marina del Rey Summer Symphony, one of the founders of the Bossa Nova movement Oscar Castro-Neves and Friends, and the legendary performers Dame Cleo Laine and Sir John Dankworth.

Sponsors of the Marina del Rey Summer Concerts are Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, the Department of Beaches and Harbors, media sponsor KUSC classical FM 91.5, and The Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey.

For more information visit the Beaches and Harbors web site
www.marinadelrey.lacounty.gov or call (310) 305-9545.

Los Angeles County Launches Unprecedented Media Campaign to Fight Sexually Transmitted Diseases

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has launched an innovative campaign to reverse the increase in cases of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia in the County. The public education campaign, funded by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, repeatedly and strongly urges young, sexually-active African American women and Latinas, gay and bi-sexual men to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) every six months.

The rates of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia are all alarmingly high and rising in our community, said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, Public Health Director and County Health Officer. Last year alone, nearly 18,000 cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea were recorded among African American and Latina women younger than 25 years of age in LA County. Gay and bi-sexual men represented at least 1,000 cases of syphilis in 2006.

It is obvious we need a new way to tackle this situation. In conjunction with members of affected communities and with other stakeholders, we developed a campaign with the goal in mind to reduce the toll of these preventable diseases. There is no reason for anyone to suffer the devastating health consequences of these curable STDs when regular testing and treatment is easily available.

Gay and bi-sexual men in the County continue to face a serious problem with syphilis. In 2005, 85% of the recorded syphilis cases were among this group. Six out of 10 of those cases occurred among HIV-positive men. Untreated syphilis can have devastating health consequences, including impairment of the ability to walk, permanent vision loss, permanent hearing loss, and brain damage. Public Health identifies patients with these health outcomes every year.

There are more than 30,000 cases of chlamydia and more than 5,000 cases of gonorrhea in women alone every year in the County. African American and Latina women make up the largest number of those reported cases out of any other group.

Gonorrhea and chlamydia are often asymptomatic, so that infected individuals do not know they are infected, and do not seek medical care, said Peter R. Kerndt, MD, MPH, Director of the Sexually Transmitted Disease Program, Department of Public Health. However, these diseases can have serious consequences, including complications during pregnancy, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility.

The campaign uses guerilla marketing tactics such as graffiti murals, sidewalk drawings, printed drink coasters and mirror stickers in night clubs and gyms, along with traditional media such as posters and billboards. Women who are most at risk of contracting gonorrhea and chlamydia will see the message I Know or Yo S. The posters and other media feature confident African American and Latina women who say they know they can prevent serious health problems by getting tested, and if need be, cured. The Check Yourself portion of the campaign reminds gay and bi-sexual men to get regular testing for syphilis, and outlines the possible health consequences related to the disease.

The process that Public Health engaged in to develop these campaigns was unprecedented in the recent history of public health in LA County. The media campaigns were developed using an evidence-based approach – as is done in the commercial sector to develop campaigns – and extensive research, including reviewing the scientific literature, the department’s public health data, and focus groups with the affected populations, including working closely with community organizations, service providers, Public Health’s own scientific staff, and marketing professionals.

The campaign itself was conceptualized and developed by Fraser Communications in Santa Monica.

The campaign is part of a comprehensive public health strategy that includes augmented Public Health Investigator field staff to follow-up on treatment with patients; additional field staff placed at community agencies that have rapport with gay and bi-sexual men, and have detected large numbers of syphilis cases in their clients; and enhanced testing in the LA County jail system, where high rates of syphilis were previously detected.

Custom Web sites have been created to deliver the message to these difficult-to-reach audiences:
www.reallycheckyourself.org
www.dontthinkknow.org

People who don’t have access to the Internet or who want to speak with someone can call the toll-free number set up for this campaign: 1-800-758-0880. Health educators are available at the number Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. They are able to talk with people about STD risk factors, symptoms, treatment options and where to find medical care throughout LA County. Information and health educators will be available in both Spanish and English.

The Department of Public Health is committed to protecting and improving the health of the nearly 10 million residents of Los Angeles County. Through a variety of programs, community partnerships and services, Public Health overseas environmental health, disease control, and community and family health. Public Health comprises more than 4,000 employees and an annual budget exceeding $700 million. For more information on Public Health and the work we do, please visit:
www.lapublichealth.org