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Knabe Seeks to Create Concierge to Assist Small Businesses

Los Angeles County will create a one-stop-shop Small Business Concierge to assist small business owners navigate the County’s permitting and contracting processes, thanks to a motion put forth by Chairman Supervisor Don Knabe.

“Small businesses are a vital sector of the Los Angeles County economy, and we need to continue to look at innovative ways to offer support and guidance towards their development and success,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Starting a small business, as well as keeping one in business, can be an incredibly challenging endeavor and with the help of this Small Business Concierge, we can help them thrive right here in our community.”

Under the proposal, the Office of Small Business will be consolidated within the Department of Consumer Affairs, which will expand the Office’s ability to help owners get their business up-and-running. A report back by the Chief Executive Officer is expected in 90 days to determine the feasibility and fiscal impact of this migration.

“Small businesses have created over 60% of the new jobs in this country,” said Supervisor Knabe. “We need to be sure we are doing whatever we can do to make it easy for them to get started.”

Knabe Calls for Reforms to Ensure Long-Term Fiscal Stability for L.A. County

To help ensure the County’s unparalleled standard of fiscal prudence remains long-term, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today approved amending its “Budget Policies and Priorities,” due to a motion made by Chairman Don Knabe. The revisions will help position the County financially to meet future economic challenges, while protecting public services and programs.

Over the past decades, Los Angeles County has established itself as a national model of fiscal responsibility. The Board has enacted numerous reforms to curtail growing pension costs and retiree healthcare spending, and created a sizable “rainy day” fund to help the County weather the Great Recession. In turn, the County’s conservative budgetary practices have been rewarded with significant credit and bond rating increases, allowing for more investment back into the communities.

“As the Board of Supervisors prepares to undergo its biggest changes in decades, we have an obligation to ensure that the County can continue providing the safety net services our 10 million residents depend on,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Los Angeles County saved in the good times to prepare for the bad times, leaving us in better shape than other municipalities that can no longer fix their streets and sidewalks. More reforms are still necessary to keep the Board’s policies and priorities relevant in the current and future economic environment.”

The revisions to the Board of Supervisors’ “Budget Policies and Priorities include:

  • Setting aside funds to buy down retiree health care costs, address deferred maintenance on County property, fund low income housing and other critical capital projects, and to pay debt service requirements on future infrastructure projects.
  • Requiring a four/fifths requirement by the Board of Supervisor on any revisions to the “Budget and Fiscal Policies,” as well as labor agreements that impact salaries and employee benefit cost increases.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors’ “Budget Policies and Priorities” can be found here: http://countypolicy.co.la.ca.us/BOSPolicyFrame.htm

Following today’s approval, the proposed policies will be reviewed by the Chief Executive Officer, Auditor-Controller, Treasurer-Tax Collector and County Counsel and a report will be issued on September 30 with necessary recommendations.

No civilian oversight commission of Sheriff’s Department established at this time

Earlier today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors decided not to establish a civilian oversight commission to monitor the Sheriff’s Department at this time.

The Board of Supervisors is absolutely committed to ensuring our Sheriff’s department operates with responsibility and integrity. After much frustration, this Board, took an aggressive stance on problems in the Sheriff’s Department.  We created a Citizens’ Jail Commission, which did an outstanding job. Their work has already had a huge impact under interim Sheriff Scott.  One of their recommendations was to establish an Inspector General, which we need to move ahead with now.

This Office of Inspector General (OIG) will help us continue on the path of reform.  Adding another Commission on top of it, with no control or power, will get us nowhere.  In fact, layering oversight on top of oversight only leads to meetings after meetings and reports after reports. We seem to have a habit of “Create a Commission” every time there is an issue within the County.  And it slows us down.

Let’s focus on action and get the Office of Inspector General up and running, and put our attention and efforts into supporting an OIG that can provide us with valuable information, and aggressively move forward on reform.  Let’s have the structure in place for our new Sheriff, who will benefit from the insights of the OIG, rather than establishing a whole other entity before this one even starts.

Let’s help the vast majority, the thousands of men and women of our Sheriff’s department who risk their lives every day, operate under clear lines of responsibility and accountability, and be proud of the work they do and the community they serve.

Sheriff’s commission will create redundancy in oversight

Tomorrow morning, the Board of Supervisors is set to discuss creating a civilian commission to oversee and monitor the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

At this time, I do not see a need to create an entirely new oversight commission to serve as the public’s watchdog over the Sheriff’s Department. Doing so now would only slow down the implementation of the Citizens’ Commission on Jail Violence recommendations and create a redundancy in oversight that our Office of Inspector General is just beginning to provide.

One of the dozens of recommendations made by the CCJV last year was to create an Office of Inspector General to provide oversight and monitoring of the Sheriff’s Department. In December, the Board of Supervisors appointed Deputy District Attorney Max Huntsman to lead this new agency.

At the time, the Department was in crisis–drowning in federal indictments and claims of physical abuse by deputies in our jails. Since then, Sheriff John Scott and Max Huntsman have been instrumental in reforming the county’s jail system and changing the Department’s archaic culture.

Let’s give Sheriff Scott, Max Huntsman and the next Sheriff an opportunity to continue implementing the reforms and fostering change in the Department before we consider adding another level of bureaucracy.

Six Major Projects Approved on Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center Campus

The Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center campus in Downey will undergo a massive reconstruction, with the approval of six projects aimed at improving the hospital’s facilities and infrastructure. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved the final Environmental Impact Report for the projects at this week’s Board meeting, paving the way for one of the country’s top rehabilitative hospitals to enhance its ability to serve patients.

The upgrades to Rancho Los Amigos include an accessible gymnasium and aquatic therapy center, seismic retrofitting, a new outpatient facility, and renovations to the support services annex and Harriman building. The scope of the overall project also includes demolition of numerous structures and the installation of interim facilities which will allow the hospital to remain fully functional while construction is underway.

“Rancho Los Amigos is the County’s “Hospital of Miracles,” and our doctors and nurses will now have the 21st century capabilities to change the lives of their patients,” said Chairman Supervisor Don Knabe. “Many of Rancho’s patients do not know the sense of freedom that comes from leaving the confines of their wheelchairs to rehabilitate in water and other types of therapy. Rancho Los Amigos is consistently named one of country’s best rehabilitation centers and with these upgrades—it will have the means and infrastructure needed to continue performing miracles.”

Funding for diversion programs must fit alongside other priorities

Last week, the Los Angeles County Assessor’s office announced an over 5% increase in property values. After years of decline following the great recession, this is the fourth consecutive year that property values have increased. These numbers show a more stable economy and allow the county to continue providing the services and programs our residents expect.

Los Angeles County weathered the recession better than most other municipalities because we set aside funding during the good times. While we are seeing growth, we must remain prudent in how we spend our money. We need to look at the big picture and concentrate our efforts on outlining our priorities and responsibilities.

One area I have received calls and emails about is the diversion program services for individuals with mental illness who are arrested or currently residing in our jails.

Let me be clear–I absolutely support diversion programs and any efforts we can make to reduce recidivism. But we cannot look at this issue in isolation. I’m not clear where the proposed $20 million funding figure came from or how it fits alongside our other priorities.

After months of study, District Attorney Jackie Lacey will be coming to the Board in September to provide her recommendations. With this information and associated costs, we can arrive at an informed decision.

Knabe Calls for Aggressive Water Conservation Measures

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today unanimously approved a measure by Chairman Don Knabe to adopt the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) emergency regulations for water conservation.

The motion calls for the implementation of the State’s regulations by August 1, 2014.

On July 15, 2014, the SWRCB adopted a resolution of emergency regulations, including:

  • Prohibiting certain water uses, including washing down driveways and sidewalks, using a hose to wash a car unless it is fitted with a shut-off nozzle, and using potable water in a fountain, unless the water is recirculated
  • Limiting outdoor watering to two days a week
  • Requiring suppliers to report per capita usage

Further information about the SWRCB’s regulations is available here:  http://goo.gl/No83bm

“Eighty percent of California is suffering from extreme drought conditions with no relief in sight,” said Supervisor Knabe. “As the largest employer in Los Angeles County, we maintain and operate over 5,000 buildings and facilities.  We need to ensure our house is in order and not only do our part in our unincorporated areas, but also set an example for the 88 cities in the County.”

The Department of Public Works will report back in 30 days on the status of implementation and any changes that need to be made to the County’s Water Wasting Ordinance to ensure compliance with the SWRCB regulations.

Fifteen Fourth District Arts Organizations Awarded Grants

The Los Angeles County Arts Commission has announced $4,518,000 in two-year grants to 180 nonprofit arts organizations through its Organizational Grant Program (OGP). For the second year in a row, the current allocation represents a $200,000 increase in funding from the previous grant cycle and provides support to ensure arts organizations continue to provide cultural services to the diverse population that comprises Los Angeles County.

Grant amounts range from $3,600 to $233,300. Grantee organizations are spread throughout LA County with offices located in over 39 of the County’s 88 municipalities. 11% of the organizations funded are receiving County arts grants for the first time and 50% have applied for funding to pay for salaries or job creation. Over 80 knowledgeable panelists from the arts community, including artists, nonprofit arts administrators and members of the academic community, reviewed and scored the applications.

“Although the economic climate is shifting, we know that organizations continue to struggle with staffing concerns,” said Los Angeles County Arts Commission President Araceli Ruano. “We are pleased to offer funding to pay for salaries and job creation. The residents of Los Angeles County will be impacted through increased job opportunities and continued access to a diverse range of cultural services.”

Fourth District Grantees:

  • Arts & Services for Disabled
  • Beach Cities Symphony
  • Camerata Singers of Long Beach
  • Coeurage Theatre Company
  • Dream A World Education, Inc
  • Grand Vision Foundation
  • Jazz Angel, Inc.
  • Kenneth Walker Dance Project
  • Museum of Latin American Art
  • Norris Center for the Performing Arts
  • Palos Verdes Art Center
  • Peninsula Symphony Association
  • Rio Hondo Symphony Association
  • South Coast Chorale Inc.
  • The Concert Singers

Second Newborn Baby Safely Surrendered This Week

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the second time this week with the report of a safely surrendered newborn baby boy. This most recent safe surrender occurred on July 9th, 2014 at a fire station in Pico Rivera. A newborn baby girl was safely surrendered on July 6 at a hospital in Lynwood.

As is standard practice, the newborn is in protective custody and will be placed with families approved for adoption by the Department of Children and Family Services.

“It’s incredible that we have had two Safe Surrenders in one week,” said Supervisor Knabe.  “As word continues to spread about the program, mothers in a desperate situation learn that they have a better option.  Because of their courageous decisions, these babies have a chance at a new life with a loving family.”

This is the ninth Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2014, and the 122nd since the program began nearly 13 years ago. 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.

To learn more about the Safe Surrender Program, visit BabySafeLA.org.

Baby Girl Safely Surrendered Over Fourth of July Weekend

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the eighth time this year with the report of a safely surrendered newborn baby girl. This most recent safe surrender occurred on July 6, 2014 at a hospital in Lynwood.

As is standard practice, the newborn is in protective custody and will be placed with families approved for adoption by the Department of Children and Family Services.

“It’s hard to imagine anyone wanting to give up a child, but this mother bravely made the better choice for her baby girl—No shame. No blame. No names,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Thanks to the Safe Surrender program, this little girl has been blessed with the gift of life and now has the opportunity to grow up as part of a loving family. Though we’ve been able to save the lives of 121 babies so far, we need to continue spreading the word that there is a safe, secure and anonymous way for mothers, who find themselves in a desperate situation, to get their baby into safe hands—at any fire station or hospital, any time—and protect them from abandonment. ”

This is the eighth Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2014, and the 121st since the program began nearly 13 years ago. 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.

To learn more about the Safe Surrender Program, visit BabySafeLA.org.