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Fourth District Choirs to Perform at 53rd Annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration

Bring the whole family to L.A.’s biggest Emmy-nominated holiday show, the 53rd Annual Los Angeles County Holiday Celebration at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on Monday, December 24. More than 20 choirs, music ensembles and dance companies from the many neighborhoods and cultures of Los Angeles County to celebrate the season during this free three-hour extravaganza. Even the parking under the Music Center is free! See it live from 3:00pm-6:00pm at The Music Center downtown. Watch it live on KCET from 3:00pm-6:00pm, and again from 8:00pm-11:00pm. You can also listen to it live on 90.7 FM KPFK or stream it at www.kcet.org. The Holiday Celebration is a gift to the community from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

“I am proud of the Fourth District choirs that are participating in Los Angeles County’s Annual Holiday Celebration,” said Supervisor Knabe. “This holiday event is an incredible tradition filled with rich culture, eclectic sounds, and fun for the entire family.”

Among the groups performing three are based in the Fourth Supervisorial District:

  • Family Life Sanctuary Choir (Whittier)
  • Second Samoan Congregrational Church Choir (Long Beach)
  • South Bay Children’s Choir (El Segundo)

Holiday Celebration information is available online at www.holidaycelebration.org, Facebook.com/LAHolidayCelebration or by calling 213-972-3099.

Watch the Holiday Celebration video featuring some of the artists who will be performing in this year’s show http://youtu.be/9BxMG8yfScY.

Long Beach Awarded 2016 National Association of Counties Annual Convention

Los Angeles County and the City of Long Beach have been awarded the 2016 annual convention of the National Association of Counties (NACo), bringing in thousands of government leaders from across the nation, and several million dollars in local economic impact.

The convention will run from July 22-25, 2016, and will be based at the Long Beach Convention Center and several neighboring hotels. Nearly 3,000 county leaders are expected to attend, booking over 9,000 local hotel room nights, and contributing between $5-7 million to the local economy.

The 2016 event will mark NACo’s first return to the West Coast since the 2011 annual conference in Portland, Oregon.

“This is a tremendous win for Long Beach and the local economy, and an excellent opportunity to showcase the successes of Los Angeles County,” said Supervisor Don Knabe, who represents the Long Beach area on the Board of Supervisors, and serves as Los Angeles County’s representative to NACo.

NACo is the only national organization representing the nation’s 3,068 counties, parishes and boroughs. They range in area from 26 square miles (Arlington County, Virginia) to 87,860 square miles (North Slope Borough, Alaska). The population of counties varies from Loving County, Texas, with 84 residents, to Los Angeles County, home to more than 10 million people.

Metrolink to Buy Newest, Cleanest Locomotives

The Metrolink Board of Directors authorized the agency to enter into a contract to secure Tier 4 locomotives at its Dec. 14, 2012, meeting.

The revolutionary locomotives are expected to reduce emissions by 86 percent.

“This is a significant milestone in Metrolink’s efforts to operate the most efficient and environmentally friendly commuter rail system in the nation,” said Board Chair Richard Katz. “It demonstrates our commitment to our neighbors and to doing our part to clean up the air in Southern California.”

At this point, Metrolink is on pace to become the first in the country to achieve Tier 4 status in revenue service.

The procurement of the locomotives and the contract with Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) is contingent upon the securing of project funds, while Friday’s Board decision is the latest step of a lengthy process. The first three demonstration locomotives are scheduled to be complete in the fall of 2015.

The locomotive upgrades will have system wide benefits and help reduce emissions in the surrounding communities. In addition, these locomotives will have greater horsepower that can increase capacity by adding more train cars to a set.

The phased-approach contract includes a base order of 10 locomotives, plus an option to purchase up to 10 additional locomotives. Metrolink has allocated $129.4 million for the purchase of the locomotives.

The overall program will allow Metrolink to eventually secure 20 new Tier 4 locomotives. The Board’s decision also committed Metrolink to the testing of alternative fuel sources in future operations. Metrolink will make the first locomotives replaced by the new Tier 4s available to the South Coast Air Quality Management District for the purposes of experimentation with various alternative fuel technologies expected to be commercially available in the next decade.

These technologies include, but are not limited to, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and battery technology. Metrolink will continue to work collaboratively with its funding partners in this pursuit.

For additional details on Metrolink, please visit www.metrolinktrains.com.

Losing a child is incomprehensible

If you lose a spouse, you are a widow; if you lose a parent, you are an orphan. But what about when you lose a child? How do you name something you cannot comprehend?

Lisa Belkin, New York Times

There are no words to describe the incredible sadness and heartache our nation feels for the families in Newtown, Connecticut. This incredible sadness is only amplified by the holiday season: the time of year when we are supposed to enjoy special times, surrounded by our loved ones. We experienced another kind of tragedy in Los Angeles County last week when an abandoned, deceased newborn was found at a trash collection center in the City of Industry.

I am devastated and horrified to hear that this baby was left in a dumpster. Heartbreaking tragedies like this are a reminder to mothers that there is always an option for their baby. The Safe Surrender program was created to give a mother, no matter what the situation, a safe, secure and anonymous way to get her child into safe hands and to protect a baby from abandonment: No shame, No blame, and No names.

This tragedy is especially sad since we celebrated the 101st Safe Surrender two weeks ago. Though 101 lives have been saved by the Safe Surrender program, this shows we have a lot more work to do. We will continue expanding our use of social media and community meetings to increase our outreach efforts on the Safe Surrender program.

This holiday season, spend time with your loved ones and hold your children a little tighter.

Knabe Statement on Abandoned Newborn Found in City of Industry

Following yesterday’s discovery of an abandoned, deceased newborn at a trash collection center in the city of Industry, Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is reminding residents about the County’s Safe Surrender program.

“Heartbreaking tragedies like what occurred in the city of Industry are a reminder to mothers that there is always an option for their baby,” said Supervisor Knabe. “The Safe Surrender program was created to give a Mother, no matter what the situation, a safe, secure and anonymous way to get her child into safe hands and to protect a baby from abandonment: No shame, No blame, and No names. Though 101 lives have been saved by the Safe Surrender program, this tragedy shows we have a lot more work to do.”

Established by Supervisor Knabe in 2001, the Safe Surrender program allows a parent or legal guardian to confidentially handover an infant, three days old or younger, to any hospital emergency room or fire station in Los Angeles County. As long as the baby has not been abused or neglected, the person may surrender the baby without fear of arrest or prosecution for child abandonment.

Since the program began, 101 babies have been safely surrendered in Los Angeles County, including twelve this year. 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. Safe Surrender sites can also be found by calling the County helpline at 211 or by visiting www.babysafela.org.

To learn more about the Safe Surrender program, visit http://youtu.be/_EGoPXD23G0.

The 2012 state of Los Angeles County

Yesterday in Long Beach, I addressed the current state of Los Angeles County for a crowd of over 1,500 community and business leaders. I spoke about the ongoing challenges of the global economic crisis, and focused on the state and national issues that are impacting our county, including the “fiscal cliff” and the Affordable Care Act. Sweeping health care changes coming next year will transform how the County provides health care services to the over 10 million residents in Los Angeles County. I hoped to show a different view of government at the county level – one where budgets get balanced, infrastructure investments are made and government employees perform at the highest levels in challenging situations. Below, you will find my entire State of the County address, segmented by topic.

All county residents should have say on Clean Water, Clean Beaches Measure

Many county residents have been receiving letters in the mail regarding a Clean Water, Clean Beaches Measure. I am here to tell you that I strongly oppose this Measure, and believe that the way the process is being managed is a sneaky attempt to get it passed.

This is a two-step process.  What you received is the first step, a Notice of a Public Hearing and Protest Form, which was sent to all residential, business and public parcel owners in Los Angeles County.  If you oppose the Measure, please be sure to fill out and mail in the Protest Form that is attached to the Notice.  At the Public Hearing on January 15, 2013 if a majority protest of the parcel owners throughout the County has been received, then the item will be rejected.  If the protest fails, the Measure is currently scheduled to go to the second step, which could be a mail-in ballot next Spring.

The special election mail-in ballot would be sent only to property owners.  It is being done this way because polls show that if a ballot measure went to all registered voters, the initiative would be much less likely to pass.  While this process is in line with the letter of the law, it is not in the spirit of the law.  I see this as an underhanded attempt to pass this initiative and am strongly against this taxpayer rip-off.

This Measure is a proposed fee on parcel owners that will generate funding to complete projects that protect public health, and increase drinking water supplies, by cleaning up our rivers, lakes, bays, beaches and coastal waters.  I have consistently supported clean water projects throughout the County, and remain committed to improving water quality.   However, I believe that every voter in the County should have the opportunity to decide on this fee, through an open and transparent initiative process, which should be putting it before the voters and not in a mailing.

The Public Hearing for this Measure is scheduled for Tuesday, January 15, 2013 in the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room.  At that time, if there is no majority protest, then I will again push for a Regular Ballot on an election day.  I will not support the item if it is a Special Election by mail and only for property owners.

If you have any questions on the specifics of the Measure itself, please call (800) 218-0018 or visit www.lacountycleanwater.org.

Lost your notice of public hearing? Download a new copy.

Locate your Assessor ID Number

SURVEY: Will you protest the Clean Water, Clean Beaches Measure?

Remains of 1,656 Individuals to be Buried at County Grave

This holiday season many of us are reminded of how fortunate we are to be surrounded by our loved ones.  Sadly, not everyone shares this blessing.  On Wednesday, the County will bury the remains of 1,656 individuals in a mass grave.  These are individuals that, for one reason or another, have no one but the County to provide them with a respectful and dignified burial.  Some are homeless.  Many are poor.  Some have no families to grieve for them.  Regardless of what their status in life was, each one of their lives mattered.  It matters to us, their County family.

I requested a moment of silence in honor of these individuals at today’s Board of Supervisors meeting.

Service Details:

Wednesday, December 5; 10:00a.m.

LA County Crematory and Cemetery

3301 East 1st Street (corner of 1st and Lorena, adjacent to Evergreen Cemetery)

100 Newborns Saved By County’s Safe Surrender Program

Families, firefighters and hospital staff joined Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe at Grand Park yesterday evening for a ceremonial candle lighting to honor the 100 newborns who were given a chance at a happy and healthy life thanks to the Safe Surrender program.

“In 2001, the Safe Surrender program began in Los Angeles County.  Eleven years later, I am so proud that 100 infants have been saved and new families have been created,” said Supervisor Knabe.  “While it is difficult to ‘celebrate’ a baby being given up, when we consider what the alternative could have been, we recognize the courage it took for a mother, who found herself in a desperate situation, to make a better choice for her child.”

During the ceremony at downtown’s Grand Park, Supervisor Knabe and Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby invited families who have adopted safely surrendered babies and others who had a first-hand role in the program to light a candle in honor of the 100 infants safely surrendered in Los Angeles County. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Grand Park fountain was illuminated in blue light to build awareness of the Safe Surrender program.

“This year alone, 11 newborns have been given a second chance at life and hope for a bright future because of the Safe Surrender program,” said Supervisor Knabe. “As word spreads about the program, mothers in desperate situations can make the right choice for their babies because of Safe Surrender.”

As a way to increase awareness of the Safe Surrender program, Supervisor Knabe encouraged county residents to light a candle at home and post a photo of it to Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #100LivesSaved. Residents are also encouraged to follow Safe Surrender on Twitter @SurrenderSafe and on Facebook at Facebook.com/SafeSurrender.

Established in 2001, the Safe Surrender program allows a parent or legal guardian to confidentially hand over an infant, three days old or younger, to any hospital emergency room, fire station or other designated Safe Surrender site, as long as the baby has not been abused or neglected.  As of November 28, 100 newborns have been safely surrendered.

To learn more about the Safe Surrender program, visit http://youtu.be/_EGoPXD23G0.

County Public Works Teams Up to Promote Recycling, Raise Funds for Toys for Tots

The Los Angeles County Public Works Department has partnered with the County Library in a recycling campaign as part of the 15th Annual America Recycles Day celebrations.

Now through December 7, 2012, residents are encouraged to bring empty California Redemption Value (CRV) beverage containers to libraries in Compton, La Crescenta, South Gate, Malibu or Norwalk. The containers will then be collected and sold, with proceeds aiding the annual Toys for Tots program.

Residents are also encouraged to take a recycling pledge at www.CleanLA.com and enter a sweepstake to win prizes.

Sponsored by Keep America Beautiful,  LA County’s America Recycles Day is designed to raise environmental awareness and promote recycling Countywide while making the holidays a little brighter for kids in need.

Containers can also be dropped off at several Public Works facilities around the County. For a full list of locations and library addresses, visit www.CleanLA.com.