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Funding Approved for Fourth District Paratransit Shuttle Service

Supervisor Don Knabe recently announced Board approval of $660,000 in funding for the continuation of paratransit shuttle service for eligible patrons in the unincorporated areas of the Fourth District for Fiscal Year 2007-2008.

The program will include the following paratransit shuttle services: La Rambla, Marina del Rey, Rancho Los Amigos, Teen Mother, and the Whittier Islands.

I am pleased to be able to secure the funds for this service, said Supervisor Knabe. Many of our transit dependent residents utilize public transportation and these shuttle services are a vital component of their livelihood.

The County will provide funding through the Fourth District’s Proposition A Local Return Transit Program. The financing continues the successful shuttle service for eligible patrons of the unincorporated areas of the Fourth District, improving mobility for transit dependant patrons.

Statement By Supervisor Knabe on Reassignment of Paris Hilton

The Los Angeles County Sheriff is an elected official in his own right. As a result, The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has no control over sentencing, release dates or medical assessments of prisoners. That said, I am adamant that if Paris Hilton has been reassigned to house arrest and placed on electronic monitoring, it is imperative that the Sheriff makes every minute of that sentence stick. Paris Hilton needs to serve all 40 days of her full sentence on electronic monitoring.

This incident with Paris Hilton is just the most recent that highlights the problems our criminal justice system has with making sure sentences stick, whether it is in a County jail or under electronic monitoring.

Under current state law, many convicted criminals are allowed to choose between a jail sentence and electronic monitoring by law enforcement. Many criminals are choosing jail time instead of the electronic monitoring option because they know that under the current statistics of the Sheriff’s Department Early Release Program, if they enter the County jail system, they will likely only serve 10-percent of the time they were actually sentenced with, as opposed to serving 100-percent of their sentence on electronic monitoring. The Paris Hilton case is a perfect example of an inmate only serving a fraction of their sentence in jail.

That is why I authored and State Senator Gloria Romero is carrying Senate Bill 959, which will revise the state law to ensure that the decision between electronic monitoring and a jail term is left to the law enforcement community and not in the hands of lawbreakers. If serving a full-sentence through electronic monitoring becomes mandatory for certain non-violent offenders, it will free up much-needed beds in County jails for the very worst offenders, who need to remain behind bars for more than just a fraction of their sentences.

If a criminal receives a 30-day sentence, then why would they agree to be electronically monitored that entire time if they know the loopholes of Early Release mean a 30-day sentence translates into only a few days behind bars?

The choice between the two should not be an option in the hands of convicted criminals. Criminals should not get to choose their punishment simply because one takes less time to complete. Length of punishment belongs in the hands of our judges and when a judge imposes a sentence, that sentence needs to stick.

– Supervisor Don Knabe

County of Los Angeles, Fourth District

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 June 5, 2007 Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District Special Election is Tuesday, May 29, 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 90030-0450; or

– By accessing the RR/CC website at 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.

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 1-800-815-2666. 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 a.m. to 8 p.m., or mailed in time to be in the Registrar’s Office by 8:00 p.m. on June 5th (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 May 30th thru June 5th a voter may request an emergency absentee ballot by applying in person or by sending a designee to

the RR/CC Headquarters, 12400 Imperial Hwy., Norwalk. 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 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays, or accessing the RR/CC website at 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.

Funding Continues for the Palos Verdes Peninsula Transit Authority Shuttle Service

The Board of Supervisors approved the disbursement of $408,200 to the Palos Verdes Peninsula Transit Authority to continue public transit services for the Fiscal Year 2007-2008, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today.

The funds for the disbursement come from the Fourth Supervisorial District’s allocation of Proposition A Local Return Transit Program funds.

"This shuttle service on the Palos Verdes Peninsula has been very successful throughout the years, said Supervisor Knabe. The allocation of these funds will aid many students and seniors on the Peninsula who need an effective way of getting around."

The shuttle will continue to operate Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The fare is $2 per person, per one-way trip. A $560 annual pass, a $80 monthly pass and a $280 semester student pass are also available.

Early Warning Loudspeaker Systems to be Tested in Marina del Rey

The Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors will test several different early warning loudspeaker systems at Burton Chace Park in Marina del Rey, Supervisor Don Knabe announced recently.

Several companies are competing for the County’s use of their device. The equipment is being considered as part of a mass notification warning system for residents and visitors in Marina del Rey in the event of impending danger from either a natural or human-made disaster. Beginning at 11:30 a.m., each vendor will give a brief presentation, and at 12:00 p.m. the actual tests of the devices will commence.

Three or four different devices will be tested; each device will be tested for approximately 30-45 seconds. The tests will include both siren tones (hi-low and wail) and voice broadcasts. For people in and around Burton Chace park the devices will be quite loud, but well within OSHA safety limits. The effective audible range of the devices will be an approximate 3,000 foot radius. Sheriff’s Deputies will be deployed in the park during the testing to maintain a distance between the devices and the public and to advise patrons.

If you have questions please contact Marina del Rey’s Sheriff’s Station Harbor Operations, Sergeant Mike Carriles, at 310-482-6033.

Study Reveals Women Living in Los Angeles County Experience Health Disparities on a Large Scale

To coincide with Women’s Health Month and the Women’s Health Policy Summit, County health officials released the first ever report, Health Indicators for Women in Los Angeles County: Highlighting Disparities by Ethnicity and Insurance Status. The report showed that compared to men, women have higher rates of many serious chronic diseases and depression, and that women differ greatly in disease and death rates by race and ethnicity.
African American women had the highest overall mortality rate including the highest mortality rate for coronary heart disease, stroke, and cancer. More than half of African American women were found to be at risk for developing heart disease, compared to 38% of Latinas, 36% of white women, and 27% of Asian/Pacific Islander women. In addition, more African American women were smoking cigarettes in 2005 compared to 1999.
The report also highlights disparities experienced by Latina women in the county. A higher percentage of Central American women are living in poverty, are uninsured, and lack a regular source of health care compared to Mexican, South American women, and women of other racial/ethnic groups. Latina women overall, along with African American women, have notably higher rates of overweight and obesity compared to white and Asian/Pacific Islander women. Among Latina subgroups, overweight and obesity rates are higher among Mexican (66%) and Central American women (60%) compared to South American women (47%).
Among Asian/Pacific Islander women, Vietnamese women were found to have higher rates of poverty (68%). Korean women are the least likely to report having a regular source of health care (63%) and have much lower rates of breast and cervical cancer screening compared to Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamese women. These findings are unacceptable and as a community we clearly need to do more to address the underlying yet complex issues that contribute to these disparate health outcomes, said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, Public Health Director and County Health Officer. The health care needs of women are unique, reflecting the influence of complex and challenging economic, social and biological factors. In addition, women are often the primary caretakers and health care decision makers for the entire family; therefore the health and well-being of women are important factors in the health of the entire family.
Other key findings on the overall health of women include:
– Rates of obesity among women have increased from 15% in 1997 to 20% in 2005,
– Compared to men, women have higher rates of diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol, arthritis, asthma and depression,
– Diabetes mortality rates have increased by 13% among women from 1995 to 2004, and
– The report also highlights the important role of social and economic factors as determinants of health disparities. Many factors contribute to health disparities, including poverty, gender, race/ethnicity, lack of health insurance, access to care, and environmental and lifestyle factors. For example, a key contributor to poor health among many women is the fact that almost 50% are living in poverty.

Multi-faceted strategies are needed to eliminate the health disparities identified by this report, said Ellen Eidem, program director, Office of Women’s Health. We need to continue promoting prevention and quality health care at every level as well as support research efforts and community-based interventions that can help make an impact on the women identified in this report.
The indicators are described for both women and men in the county and for women alone to emphasize gender differences. The indicators are also compared to Healthy People 2010 targets which represent the health standards our nation is trying to achieve within this decade. The data sources for the report included the 2005 LA County Health Survey, other Los Angeles Public Health Department programs, the California Health Interview Survey, and the California Department of Education. The full report will be available on the Department of Public Health Web site at:
www.lapublichealth.org/owh
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.

More Than One-Third of County Residents Are Not Prepared For An Emergency: Natural or Man-Made

A new report from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reveals that many people living in Los Angeles County are not prepared for an emergency event such as an earthquake or a terrorist attack. The risk of a natural or man-made disaster occurring here remains high, yet more than 35% of county residents who responded to the 2005 LA County Health Survey say their households are not prepared to deal with a large-scale disaster.
The report shows that differences in age, ethnicity, education, and income levels are associated with varying levels of preparedness:
– More than one-third of respondents reported they would not immediately follow instructions from a government official until they received more information. Those with higher educational backgrounds and greater income were less likely to follow immediate instructions. – Only 57% of respondents said they would immediately follow local government officials’ instructions to go to the nearest public school in the event of a terrorist attack. 4% said they would not follow such instructions at all.
– Over half of those adults living below the federal poverty level (household income of $18,700 for a family of four in 2003) reported their household is not prepared for an emergency.
– 55% of those with less than a high school education felt unprepared compared to only 28% of those with a college or graduate degree.
– 45% of Latinos and Asian/Pacific Islanders reported their households are not prepared compared to 35% of African Americans and 23% of whites.
– More older adults and seniors said they feel prepared compared to those in other age groups.
The report also focused on those who may need additional assistance during a disaster. Vulnerable populations include the poor, the elderly, families with children, individuals who are chronically ill or disabled, and those who do not speak English. The report shows these populations are concentrated in certain areas of Los Angeles County, including the geographic region known as Service Planning Area (SPA) 6, which extends from South Los Angeles to Compton.
As we have seen from Hurricane Katrina’s effects on Louisiana’s Ninth Ward, it is imperative that the residents of Los Angeles County prepare themselves for the likelihood of a disaster, natural or man-made. Residents can take basic steps as outlined in Public Health’s emergency campaign Just Be Ready; Prepare Together. These include setting aside food, water, flashlights, batteries, a first aid kit, any necessary medications, a radio, toiletries, utility shut-off tools, cash and important documents in emergency storage containers or backpacks in order to mitigate the damage that comes from such disasters, said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, Director of Public Health and Health Officer, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. In 2005, more than 20% of county households did not have emergency supplies. In addition, only 41% of residents said they had a family emergency plan, such as the phone number of a friend or relative outside the area through which family members could communicate, or a location for family members to meet in the event of a disaster. The full report, entitled How Prepared Are Los Angeles County Residents for an Emergency?, provides tips for individuals, families and communities on ways they can prepare for a disaster. It can be accessed via the Department of Public Health Web site at
http://www.lapublichealth.org/ha.
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. To learn more about Public Health and the work we do, visit
www.lapublichealth.org.

Knabe Expresses Disappointment in the Conclusion of LAX Runway Studies

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe today announced his disappointment in the conclusions reached by studies commissioned by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) that called for moving the northernmost runway at LAX at least 340 feet north into the communities of Westchester and Playa del Rey.

"While I expressed cautious optimism at the settlement agreement we reached with the City of Los Angeles over its previous expansion plans, the move to push the north runway 340 feet further north at the expense of the Westchester and Playa del Rey communities puts that agreement in jeopardy and puts us back at square one."

Supervisor Knabe noted that each report came to the same conclusion with little, if any, discussion of available alternatives.

"Without discussion of a range of alternatives, the sole purpose of these reports appears to be an attempt to justify the expansion of flight operations for larger aircraft to land on the north runways rather than addressing a current safety issue, especially since the reports show that over 80% of incursion hazards have occurred on the south runways. Moreover, the studies show that current runway safety controls on the northside sufficiently mitigate existing risks."

As a result, Supervisor Knabe called for further consideration of all alternatives and a review of the reports by incoming LAWA Executive Director Gina Marie Lindsey.

"I continue to be strongly opposed to the movement of the north runways unless it can be shown to fix a proven safety hazard. Movement of the north runways by 340 feet would do irreparable harm to the communities of Westchester and Playa del Rey which I cannot support and which goes against the spirit of the settlement agreement. LAWA can and must find better alternatives that we all can live with."

More Information

www.laxmasterplan.org

LAX North Airfield Proposed Runway Configurations – Safety Risk Assessment
Analysis of LAX North Airfield Alternative
North Airfield Assessment
LAX Modernization – Tomorrow Is Now LAX North Airfield Special Peer Review

Irrigation Overhaul Planned at Los Verdes Golf Course

More than $2.6 million will be invested in renovating the irrigation system at the County’s Los Verdes Golf Course on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Supervisor Don Knabe announced this week.

The existing irrigation system is more than 30 years old and has exhausted its useful life. The new system will include a weather station and computer system to fully automate irrigation of the golf course. In addition to gauging water needs, the new system will also be capable of injecting fertilizer into the turf. The funding will provide for a more efficient system that will be able to determine the optimal times for irrigation to be conducted.

The project budget is $2,627,000, which will be funded with $2.1 million in State Proposition 40 funds, $327,000 from the Los Verdes Golf Course Capital Improvement Project Fund, and $200,000 in net costs to the County.

"Los Verdes is a wonderful asset to affordable public golf in our region, said Supervisor Knabe. "This new irrigation system will help update and maintain the stunning grounds for golfers."

Los Verdes Golf Course will remain open during construction as there is no anticipated impact on play or anticipated closure of any part of the golf course.

Los Angeles County to Fund New Street Lights in Downtown Long Beach

The County of Los Angeles will fund a major portion of a project designed to improve pedestrian safety through enhanced street lighting in parts of downtown Long Beach, Supervisor Don Knabe announced recently.

The street lighting replacement project will occur on both Broadway and 3rd Street between Pacific Avenue and Long Beach Boulevard. The existing City-owned high pressure sodium lights will be replaced with brighter metal halide lights. The total project cost is $41,000, of which $25,000 will be financed by the County’s Fourth Supervisorial District Public Ways/Public Utilities Fund.

These upgrades will be the second phase of upgrades to street lighting in the downtown area. Local business owners and the Downtown Long Beach Associated worked with the City of Long Beach to make similar upgrades to street lights along Pine Avenue in February 2007.

The goal of this project is to improve lighting and pedestrian safety along the east and west access routes to the nearby Blue Line stations, said Supervisor Knabe. It is a project the County is happy to be a part of.