On Saturday, President Mohamed Morsi officially took office as Egypt’s first democratically elected president. This week, here in the U.S., we celebrate our independence in the midst of our own presidential election season. While some people may complain about the process, the tone, the seemingly endless ads and accusations, the fact remains that for over 230 years, we have had a peaceful transition of power to a president our citizens choose. Many people in the world are still battling for the experience of democracy, one we sometimes take for granted.
Of course, this freedom has always come at a price – in the lives of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our independence. From the first vagabond group of revolutionaries in the years leading up to 1776 who had the courage and bravery to take on the world’s most professional armed forces, to today, when our young men and women in uniform continue to risk their lives in the name of democracy.
As we enjoy our July 4th parades, fireworks, barbeques and special time with family and friends, let us pause and reflect on the great fortune we have for living in a country founded on freedom. And may we take a moment to pray for those who are in harm’s way, who risk their lives so that we may enjoy this freedom.
Two hundred and thirty-six years on, may God continue to bless the United States of America!
Last week, after great anticipation, the Supreme Court upheld the individual insurance requirement, a major component of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) often referred to as “ObamaCare.”
While party leaders on both sides either celebrated or updated their campaign strategies, here in LA County, things still remain a bit of a mystery.
What we do know is that Los Angeles County has the largest uninsured population in the nation – over 2 million people. That is not sustainable for our system, particularly as health care costs continue to rise.
What we do not know is a whole lot! There are many unknowns when it comes to the State’s participation in Medicaid expansion, the overall funding and infrastructure impacts, and the introduction of more competition into our system. I believe competition is a good thing and it should provide people with more choices and control over their healthcare.
We have been preparing for the ACA and will continue to ready ourselves, while ensuring we can meet the healthcare needs of those who depend on our hospitals and clinics as the ultimate safety net.
Director, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services
Supreme Court Ruling a Victory for Los Angeles County’s Uninsured Population
As a result of today’s decision by the Supreme Court to uphold the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), over 80% of the 2.2 million people who are currently uninsured in Los Angeles County stand to gain access to affordable insurance coverage.
Over half of these individuals are eligible to receive coverage through Medi-Cal in 2014. This coverage will be contingent on the State of California’s participation in the Medicaid expansion component of the legislation. In anticipation of this expansion of Medicaid, the Department of Health Services (DHS) has already enrolled over 200,000 low-income County residents into Healthy Way L.A., the County’s coverage program known as the “Bridge to Reform.” While the ultimate decision on California’s participation is yet to be determined, the Supreme Court’s decision preserves a path for enrollment into Medi-Cal on January 1, 2014 for these individuals, as well as for three-quarters of a million other low-income Los Angeles County residents.
In addition to those who will be newly eligible for Medi-Cal, three-quarters of a million additional County residents will be able to purchase affordable health insurance through the state’s health insurance exchange, take control of their health, and reduce pressure on our strained County-run health care system. With a sustained commitment to serve as the safety net for low-income Los Angeles County residents, over the coming 18 months DHS will continue to transform our clinics and hospitals into a system of choice for these newly insured.
Beyond the impact of the ACA’s coverage components, DHS will continue to contend with the effects of other aspects of the legislation. Notably, this will include efforts to advocate for fair allocation of the Disproportionate Share Hospital funding cuts which were included in the legislation. These funds are an important revenue stream for Los Angeles County in that they provide a mechanism to reimburse hospitals for provision of uncompensated care. On this issue, DHS will advocate for a fair level and allocation of DSH funding. Finally, in recognition of ongoing fiscal challenges at the federal level, DHS will closely monitor the political environment and advocate for fiscal policies that safeguard DHS’ ongoing ability to serve as a safety net provider in Los Angeles County.
Over the coming weeks to months, DHS will continue to assess the full impact of the Supreme Court’s decision and take the steps necessary to secure a robust health care safety net for Los Angeles County residents.
At today’s Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) meeting, the Board of Directors approved requesting that Los Angeles County put an ordinance on the November 6, 2012 ballot which would extend the Measure R sales tax. Originally passed by the voters in 2008, this ordinance would extend the one-half cent sales tax for an additional 30-years. Supervisor Knabe, who voted against extending the sales tax, issued the following statement:
“While the vision that is driving the current effort to make the Measure R sales tax permanent is well-intentioned, it is disingenuous to the voters to give a blank check to the MTA. The sales tax currently does not expire until 2039, so there is no reason to extend it unless we want to spend the next generation’s money today.
Measure R was the MTA’s promise to the voters, in all 88 cities and the County of Los Angeles, that transit and highway projects would be delivered on time and within budget over 30 years. Now, only four years later, the MTA is looking to revise that promise because their financial assumptions underlying Measure R are not being realized as originally planned, and additional sources of funding are needed to deliver these same projects.
While the people of Los Angeles County are desperate for congestion relief, I cannot support asking for yet another commitment from future generations, especially when there are no guarantees that the additional funding will go toward implementing a fair and balanced transportation program in Los Angeles County. Let’s show the voters that we can live up to their expectations before we make promises we cannot keep.”
The new Diamond Bar Library will open July 28, 2012. The current library located at 1061 S. Grand Ave will close Saturday, June 30 and will re-open at its new location on Saturday, July 28, 2012.
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver-certified Diamond Bar Library will be situated on the first floor of the new Diamond Bar City Hall located at 21800 E. Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765. County of Los Angeles Supervisor Knabe provided $5 million dollars towards the library project.
The library will increase in size almost 100 percent from 9,935 square feet to 18,245 square feet and offer ample parking, spacious reading areas, a new community meeting room, two group study rooms, teen center and
children’s area. The outdoor reading garden featuring a fountain, beautiful landscaping, comfortable seating and furniture was made possible in part by a very generous $80,000 donation by the Friends of the Diamond Bar Library. There will be separate adult and children’s sections featuring state-of-the-art technology, online computer terminals, free WiFi access for laptops and other mobile devices.
The building will also include a bookstore operated by the Friends of the Diamond Bar Library.
The Diamond Bar Library is part of the County of Los Angeles Public Library. For additional information, please call (562) 940-8559 or visit the County Library Web site at colapublib.org.
The Marina del Rey Fourth of July Fireworks Show is bursting back to life this year with help from local sponsors, Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe announced today. The traditional fireworks extravaganza, cancelled in 2011 due to budget curtailments, will take place over the main channel in Marina del Rey on Wednesday evening, July 4th, starting promptly at 9 p.m. and lasting approximately 20 minutes.
“I would like to extend a special thank you to the generous sponsors who stepped up to help bring this holiday tradition back to Marina del Rey,” said Knabe. “Families from all over Los Angeles County will be able to spend their Fourth of July holiday watching a spectacular fireworks show light up our beautiful coastline.”
The display this year is presented by the famed Zambelli Fireworks Internationale. The fireworks are choreographed to patriotic music, which will be broadcast in sync with the display over FM radio KXLU, 88.9 on the dial. Those watching may tune their radios to listen to the simulcast. The music will be relayed over loudspeakers in Burton Chace Park for onlookers.
Burton Chace Park, located at 13650 Mindanao Way, and Fisherman’s Village, located at 13755 Fiji Way, as well as the beaches in Marina del Rey and Playa del Rey, are premiere viewing locations for the pyrotechnic extravaganza. Parking is available in County lots throughout the Marina for a $7.00 – $10.00 entrance fee and at Fisherman’s Village for $1.00 per every 20 minutes, $10.00 maximum.
Marina del Rey WaterBus service will operate on July 4th from 11 a.m. – midnight for a fare of $1.00 per person, one way. Boarding passes are available for purchase at seven conveniently located boarding locations. The free summer weekend Beach Shuttle will provide service from Playa Vista to Marina del Rey and the Venice Pier on July 4th from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Both forms of transportation offer an alternative way to travel around the Marina during the holiday. To download WaterBus and Beach Shuttle schedules, visit the Department of Beaches and Harbors’ website at www.marinadelrey.lacounty.gov<http://www.marinadelrey.lacounty.gov>.
The spectacular fireworks display is hosted by the Department of Beaches and Harbors and made possible in part by funds from the community and local business sponsors such as the Marina del Rey Convention and Visitors Bureau; Marina Del Rey Lessees Association; Fisherman’s Village; E&S Ring Management Corporation; Marina Marketplace; FantaSea Yachts & Yacht Club; LEGADO, a JAN/EMC family of companies; G&K Management Co., Inc.; Shanghai Red’s Restaurant; Villa del Mar Apartments and Marina; Marina del Rey Marriott Hotel; and media sponsor HomeTown News.
For additional information about the 2012 Marina del Rey Fourth of July Fireworks Show, visit www.marinadelrey.lacounty.gov or check the Department of Beaches and Harbors’ Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/lacdbh and Twitter site at www.Twitter.com/lacdbh. For phone inquiries, call the Marina del Rey Visitors Center at (310) 305-9545.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe announced the return of the Marina del Rey WaterBus summer weekend service, launching Friday, June 22ndthrough September 3th.
Hours
General: Fridays 5p.m.-midnight, Saturdays 11a.m.-midnight and Sundays from 11a.m.-9p.m.
Holiday: 4th of July, 11a.m.-9p.m.; Labor Day, September 5 from 11a.m.-9p.m.
Concerts: 5p.m.-midnight during the Marina del Rey Summer Concerts on July 7 and 21, as well as August 4 and 18.
Boarding Locations
Riders can access the WaterBus by heading to any boarding location where a dock attendant will radio the next available WaterBus. There are seven Marina boarding locations (see map at http://knabe.com/communities/marina-del-rey/):
Fisherman’s Village at 13755 Fiji Way
Burton Chace Park at 13650 Mindanao Way
Waterfront Walk/Fire Station #110 at 4433 Admiralty Way
Mother’s Beach at 4101 Admiralty Way
Dolphin Marina at 13900 Panay Way, Dock Gate #C-200
Esprit I at 13900 Marquesas Way, Dock Gate #B-401
Del Rey Landing at 13800 Bora Bora Way, Fuel Dock Gate
All boarding locations are fully ADA compliant except Fisherman’s Village.
Tickets are available for purchase at all boarding locations for $1.00 per person, one-way. Season passes are available for purchase at Fisherman’s Village for $30.00.
Parking is available at Los Angeles County lots located throughout Marina del Rey for a minimal fee.
In addition to WaterBus service, the free, clean fuel, landside Beach Shuttles will circulate between Playa Vista, Marina del Rey and the Venice Beach Pier on summer weekends and during the Marina del Rey Summer Concert Series.
Supervisor Don Knabe today announced the approval of a $26,000 contract to continue efforts to rid several unincorporated communities in the Fourth District of graffiti.
“Graffiti negatively impacts our neighborhoods by reducing quality of life, property values, business growth and development and it will not be tolerated,” Supervisor Knabe said.
The contract renewal, awarded to Urban Graffiti Enterprises, Inc., will enable graffiti removal services in West Whittier and a new area ofSouth Whittier. Supervisor Knabe said the ongoing effort is part of a comprehensive Countywide graffiti abatement program that incorporates education, eradication and enforcement.
“Our efforts focus on responding to graffiti removal requests within 48 hours and by patrolling County unincorporated areas and our flood control channels,” he said. “While the program itself is managed by our Public Works Department, we have found that this type of swift response can best be performed by independent contractors.”
“Public Works continues to work with law enforcement to provide information and pictures of graffiti to assist in the apprehension and conviction of graffiti vandals,” he added.
The County urges residents to report graffiti via the Graffiti Hotline at (800) 675-4357, or at the Public Works Department website at www.ladpw.org. Residents can also use their iPhones to report graffiti by downloading “TheWorks” app. Smartphone users can also report graffiti through the Public Works mobile website at www.m.ladpw.org.
Last week, I had the great privilege of participating in a fundraising event for UpRising Yoga. For the last several months, Jill Weiss, the head of UpRising Yoga, and her team of volunteers have been going to our Probation Halls to offer yoga classes to our young people. In this short time, we have already seen a decrease in fights and altercations. While I am not much of a yogi myself, I am thrilled about the impact they are having at our Probation Halls!
I think that the most important part of my job as a County Supervisor is to protect the most vulnerable in our community. That is why I am absolutely committed to ending the child sex trafficking that is occurring right here on our streets in Los Angeles County.
I think of it like I do the Safe Surrender program, which I have been working on for 10 years. Through this program, 91 babies have been safely surrendered, giving a baby who might have ended up in a trash bin or the ocean a chance at a happy and productive life. Similarly, a new path forward is what we are trying to do for the victims of child sex trafficking.
What can we do to end this horrific crime? First, make people aware. I can’t tell you the number of people I talk to about this issue who can’t believe it is happening right here in our streets and neighborhoods. It is not a problem “over there.”
A few weeks ago, we publicly launched a new outreach campaign in collaboration with Metro and Clear Channel. All buses, trains and stations will have posters and fliers about child sex trafficking. Clear Channel generously provided over 65 billboards to be shown across the County. This is a great example of the public and private sectors coming together to address a community issue.
In addition to raising public awareness of this crime, our Probation Department is developing a comprehensive prevention and healing program which I am confident will be a model for other cities and counties across the nation. Because of the great success that UpRising Yoga is already having at our Halls, Probation has decided to make it a part of the healing for these victims. We hope yoga will be a big part of the physical and emotional process for these girls to move on to a better life.
Sadly, during last week’s event, we learned that a 10 year-old girl had been picked up for prostitution that evening. This was the youngest girl we have had enter our system for prostitution and a sickening example of the depravity of those behind this crime.
I would like to thank Jill and her team for their extraordinary commitment to be there for our kids, week in and week out. These incredible volunteers are spending a lot of their own time to help the most vulnerable in our community. This is not an easy topic to confront, but I know they can have a profound impact on a young person’s life, by giving them a chance for empowerment and control over their own bodies and lives.
Nearly 1,000 children will be angling for a prize catch at the 2012 Cerritos Kids Fishing Derby at Cerritos Regional Park on Saturday, June 2. The annual event is sponsored by Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, along with the City ofCerritos, the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation and the Cerritos Rod and Gun Club.
“This fishing derby is always a fantastic event that children and families look forward to every year,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Even if a child has never fished before, there will be volunteers on-hand to show them the art of fishing.”
The event begins at 7:00 a.m. with a free pancake breakfast, followed by the fishing derby from 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Children can participate in free fishing and angler safety lessons. Each child will also receive a free t-shirt and be eligible to compete for prizes in other categories.
Approximately 1,000 children attend the fishing derby annually, including nearly 200 foster children and over 100 children being transported in from parks throughout Supervisor Knabe’s District.
Cerritos Regional Park is located at19700 Bloomfield Avenuein the City ofCerritos. For more information, call (562) 924-5144.
