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Public Invited To Share Ideas On Transportation Study To Reconnect Los Angeles And Orange Counties

In an effort to collect community ideas about ways to reconnect Los Angeles and Orange counties, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) will hold a series of community meetings this month. The public meetings are part of a 22-month long transportation study to explore the re-use of the West Santa Ana Branch of the existing–but unused –20 mile-long Pacific Electric (PE) railroad right-of-way.

Sponsored by SCAG in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) and the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), the aim of the study is to identify new transportation options, station locations, and recreational and economic development opportunities. The study, will also examine tradeoffs associated with different types of transportation, including light rail, street cars, dedicated bus lanes, commuter rail and high speed rail options. Community input is central to the study.

Community Meeting Schedule

  • Tuesday, June 15, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Garden Grove Community Meeting Center, 11300 Stanford Avenue, Garden Grove, CA 92840
  • Wednesday, June 16, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Huntington Park Community Center, 6925 Salt Lake Avenue, Huntington Park, CA 90255
  • Thursday, June 17, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Cypress Community Center, 5700 Orange Avenue, Cypress, CA 90630
  • Saturday, June 19, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Cerritos Park East Community Center, 13234 East 166th Street, Cerritos, CA 90703
  • Tuesday, June 22, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Progress Park Plaza, West Auditorium, 15500 Downey Avenue, Paramount, CA 90723
  • Wednesday, June 23, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Stanton Council Chambers, 7800 Katella Avenue, Stanton, CA 90680

Community input received in these meetings will lead to identification of an initial set of alternative transportation strategies, and the criteria for evaluating these strategies as part of the technical analysis. A second round of community meetings is slated for fall 2010 to present a recommended set of possible transportation alternatives, including station locations. A technical assessment of the alternatives will be performed and the resulting information, such as engineering viability, estimated capital costs and environmental issues will also be presented. In fall 2011, a third set of community meetings will solicit input on the “preferred alternative.”

Councilmember Diane DuBois of Lakewood, Co-chair of the Steering Committee for the study, says, “We urge everyone to join us at these public workshops. We want to encourage the community to look at this resource with new eyes and realize that the possibilities are significant – access to more jobs, along with recreational, educational, and economic development opportunities when cities need it most.”

Steering Committee Co-chair, Mayor Art Brown of Buena Park, adds, “If we can come up with a regional solution to relieve traffic congestion, meet the travel demands of residents, and serve as a catalyst for economic development for cities spanning from Santa Ana to Union Station in LA, we will have met our charge and more.”

For more information, visit the project website at www.scag.ca.gov/perow or call Philip Law, SCAG Corridors Program Manager, at (213) 236-1841.

Public Invited To Share Ideas On Transportation Study To Reconnect Los Angeles And Orange Counties

In an effort to collect community ideas about ways to reconnect Los Angeles and Orange counties, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) will hold a series of community meetings this month. The public meetings are part of a 22-month long transportation study to explore the re-use of the West Santa Ana Branch of the existing-but unused -20 mile-long Pacific Electric (PE) railroad right-of-way.

Sponsored by SCAG in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) and the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), the aim of the study is to identify new transportation options, station locations, and recreational and economic development opportunities. The study, will also examine tradeoffs associated with different types of transportation, including light rail, street cars, dedicated bus lanes, commuter rail and high speed rail options. Community input is central to the study.

Community Meeting Schedule

Tuesday, June 15, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Garden Grove Community Meeting Center, 11300 Stanford Avenue, Garden Grove, CA 92840

Wednesday, June 16, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Huntington Park Community Center, 6925 Salt Lake Avenue, Huntington Park, CA 90255

Thursday, June 17, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Cypress Community Center, 5700 Orange Avenue, Cypress, CA 90630

Saturday, June 19, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Cerritos Park East Community Center, 13234 East 166th Street, Cerritos, CA 90703

Tuesday, June 22, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Progress Park Plaza, West Auditorium, 15500 Downey Avenue, Paramount, CA 90723

Wednesday, June 23, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Stanton Council Chambers, 7800 Katella Avenue, Stanton, CA 90680

Community input received in these meetings will lead to identification of an initial set of alternative transportation strategies, and the criteria for evaluating these strategies as part of the technical analysis. A second round of community meetings is slated for fall 2010 to present a recommended set of possible transportation alternatives, including station locations. A technical assessment of the alternatives will be performed and the resulting information, such as engineering viability, estimated capital costs and environmental issues will also be presented. In fall 2011, a third set of community meetings will solicit input on the preferred alternative.

Councilmember Diane DuBois of Lakewood, Co-chair of the Steering Committee for the study, says, We urge everyone to join us at these public workshops. We want to encourage the community to look at this resource with new eyes and realize that the possibilities are significant – access to more jobs, along with recreational, educational, and economic development opportunities when cities need it most.

Steering Committee Co-chair, Mayor Art Brown of Buena Park, adds, If we can come up with a regional solution to relieve traffic congestion, meet the travel demands of residents, and serve as a catalyst for economic development for cities spanning from Santa Ana to Union Station in LA, we will have met our charge and more.

For more information, visit the project website at www.scag.ca.gov/perow or call Philip Law, SCAG Corridors Program Manager, at (213) 236-1841.

Nominations Now Being Accepted For 29th Annual Music Center Bravo Awards

The Music Center of Los Angeles County, a national leader in arts education, is seeking nominations for its Annual Bravo Award, honoring teachers and schools for exemplary arts education. The nomination acknowledges the hard work and dedication these educators have given to their students, their profession and their communities.

Teachers and schools can be nominated in four categories: School, School Arts Program, Generalist Teacher, and Arts Specialist Teacher. The Bravo Awards is a two-step process involving the completion of a nomination form and an application form. In order to be considered for a Bravo Award, arts educators must first be nominated by principals, faculty committees, superintendents, parents or through self-nomination.

Nominations are open to Los Angeles County educators and schools who deliver arts education programs during the regular school day. Nomination forms are available at www.musiccenter.org/education or by calling (213) 972-3387.

All those nominated will be invited to attend an information meeting offered to assist in the completion of the applications which will be reviewed by a judging committee of educators and artists. Nomination deadline is October 15, 2010. Completed applications are due November 1, 2010.

Upon completing an application, teachers and schools will participate in an extensive review process including site visits and feedback by the judging committee, as well as an invitation to participate in a winter forum addressing key topics in arts education. All Bravo Awards applicants will be recognized at an event to be held at the Music Center in spring 2011.

The Music Center Bravo Awards program was established in 1982 to recognize teachers and schools for innovation and excellence in arts education. It honors educators who use the arts to revitalize teaching, enhance student achievement and foster self-esteem, teamwork and cross-cultural communication and understanding.

Public Invited To Termino Avenue Storm Drain Project Update

On Saturday, June 5, 2010, The County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works and City of Long Beach Department of Public Works will hold a project update and information exchange on the Termino Avenue Storm Drain Project.

The meeting is open to the public and will take place at 8:30 a.m. at Fire Station No.14, located at Eliot St. and Colorado Ave., Long Beach, CA 90814, near Rogers Park and Colorado Lagoon.

For more information on this event or to RSVP, call (213) 321-5100 or (562) 256-1920.

Knabe Will Not Support Motion To Boycott Arizona

The Board of Supervisors today will consider a motion by Supervisors Gloria Molina and Zev Yaroslavsky to boycott the State of Arizona. In response to the motion, Supervisor Don Knabe issued the following statement.

While I agree with my colleagues on the Board that our national immigration system is broken and in desperate need of repair, I do not agree with their response to Arizona’s recent legislation (SB 1070), and I will not support their motion on Tuesday. To simply call for a boycott of an entire state is a rash and misguided reaction to what they view as a bad law.

Los Angeles County is currently facing tremendous fiscal challenges with our own dysfunctional State government, which we are attempting to work through. This motion takes away from these efforts, and will distract from what we are elected to do for the residents of this County. This motion will not put one more Sheriff’s Deputy or Firefighter on the street, or keep open one more library, park, or health clinic. That is our elected responsibility – not to tell Arizona or any other State how to run their government. I would not want them to tell us how to run Los Angeles County.

This motion will come and go, and we will still have a State with a $20 Billion hole, which they are trying to fill with dollars from Cities and Counties due to their inability to balance California’s budget.

Marina del Rey Fuel Dock Reopens

The Department of Beaches and Harbors announced recently that the fuel dock located at 13800 Bora Bora Way (Basin A), Marina del Rey, reopened Thursday, May 27.

Construction on the dock and convenience store is continuing, however, a brand-new fueling system is operable and available to the boating community offering diesel, regular and premium fuel for sale.

The hours of operation for the new fuel dock are 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., seven days a week. For additional information about the Marina del Rey fuel dock, call (310) 574-4443.

Newborn Girl Safely Surrendered At County Fire Station 41 In Unincorporated Los Angeles

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success again yesterday with the report of another safely surrendered newborn. This most recent safe surrender occurred at County Fire Station #41 in unincorporated Los Angeles.

The newborn female was surrendered at 4:58 p.m. on Thursday, May 27 at Fire Station #41, and is reported to be in good health. As is standard practice, the baby girl is in protective custody and will be placed with a family approved for adoption by the Department of Children and Family Services.

This case could have ended in tragedy, but because of the Safe Surrender program, this baby girl has a long life ahead of her, said Supervisor Knabe. I am happy this mother made the right choice for her baby.

This is the second Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2010, and the 78th since the program began nine 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.

Child Support Arrest Warrant Project Reaches Another Milestone

A special effort by Los Angeles County to target parents who fail to pay court-ordered child support has reached another milestone achievement. The Los Angeles County Child Support Services Department reports that investigators assigned to the County’s Child Support Arrest Warrant Project have cleared more than 2,000 arrest and bench warrants since the Project’s inception in December 2007.

The Child Support Arrest Warrant Project is a joint collaboration between the Criminal Prosecution Unit of the Los Angeles County Child Support Services Department and the Office of District Attorney. A team of eight District Attorney Investigators is assigned full-time to locating and arresting or citing non-custodial parents who have failed to appear in court or failed to comply with terms of court-ordered probation after conviction for failing to pay support.

In addition to clearing the 2,000 arrest and bench warrants, the project also has resulted in dramatic increases in the amount of support paid by defendants charged with criminal non-support. Since December 2007, more than $11 million in support has been collected from parents who were paying nothing before being charged.

Our goal is not to put parents in jail; rather, it is to ensure that they do the right thing for their children, said Steven J. Golightly, Director of L.A. County CSSD. But if a parent with resources fails to abide by court orders, we will not shy away from doing whatever it takes to ensure compliance.

The joint Child Support Arrest Warrant Project was made possible through funding provided by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, on an initiative of Supervisor Knabe. The County’s investment, matched 2 for 1 with funding from the Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement, fully underwrites the costs of the law enforcement team.

In the last year, the Child Support Arrest Warrant Project has received public recognition for its achievements. In September, 2009, the Project won the LA County STARS award for Service Excellence. In October, it received recognition from the County’s Quality and Productivity Commission at its annual awards ceremony, held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion of the Music Center.

Young Anglers Get Ready For Fishing Derby At Cerritos Regional County Park

Nearly 1,000 children will be angling for a prize catch at the 2010 Cerritos Kids Fishing Derby at Cerritos Regional Park on Saturday, June 5. The annual event is sponsored by Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, along with the City of Cerritos, 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 at 19700 Bloomfield Avenue in the City of Cerritos. For more information, call (562) 924-5144.

County Shuts Down Marijuana Dispensary In Unincorporated South Whittier

A medical marijuana dispensary operating illegally in unincorporated South Whittier was forced to close last week, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today.

County officials shut down the dispensary in the unincorporated Whittier area on Friday because it didn’t have the proper County permits and licenses. The dispensary, located at 11331 La Mirada Boulevard near Leffingwell Road, was discovered to be operating illegally in late April by County officials who initiated immediate action to close it down.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted the County’s medical marijuana ordinances in 2006, which allow medical marijuana dispensaries to operate within most commercial and manufacturing zones in the unincorporated areas of the County with a conditional use permit and a business license. Dispensaries cannot be located within a 1,000-foot radius of sensitive uses, such as schools, playgrounds, parks, libraries, places of religious worship, child care facilities, etc., and they may not be located within a 1,000-foot radius of other dispensaries unless a variance is obtained from the Regional Planning Commission. The County requires dispensary operators to have all required permits and licenses prior to opening their doors for business.

Representatives of the County Departments of Regional Planning and Treasurer and Tax Collector conducted on-site inspections of the dispensary in late April and issued notices of violation to the dispensary operators for not having the proper permits and licenses. The dispensary closed its doors after County Counsel contacted both the dispensary operators and the property owners, and told them that civil action may be pursued against them if the dispensary did not cease operations immediately.

This is a big victory for the County, said Supervisor Knabe. This is not about whether medical marijuana is right or wrong – the voters have already answered that question. What is most important is ensuring the safety of our children and our communities, and ensuring that properly-permitted dispensaries operate within the law. Closing this dispensary was a high priority and ensures we are keeping our neighborhoods safe.