All posts by admin

Full Freeway Closures Continue This Weekend

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will conduct an extended closure this weekend on the northbound and southbound Long Beach Freeway (I-710) from the Artesia Freeway (State Route 91) to the San Diego Freeway (I-405). The work is part of the Long Life Pavement Rehabilitation Project from the I-405 to Firestone Boulevard. Twice this weekend, I-710 will fully close to motorists as follows:

FULL FREEWAY CLOSURE
Northbound and Southbound I-710 from SR-91 to I-405

Saturday, June 6, 2009, 12:01 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.

Sunday, June 7, 2009, 11:00 p.m. to Monday, June 8, 2009, 5:00 a.m.

CLOSED RAMPS
All on-ramps and off-ramps on I-710 at Long Beach Boulevard, Del Amo Boulevard and Artesia Boulevard will be closed.

CLOSED FREEWAY CONNECTORS

Northbound and southbound I-405 to northbound I-710

Eastbound and westbound SR-91 to southbound I-710

Beginning Saturday 6:00 a.m. until Sunday 11:00 p.m., a reduced number of lanes on northbound I-710 will be available to motorists: two lanes for northbound flow and three lanes for southbound flow. All traffic will flow in the northbound I-710 lanes while construction work continues in the southbound I-710 lanes throughout the weekend.

Vehicle speeds will be reduced to 45 mph. Oversized loads are not permitted throughout the weekend due to narrower lane widths. To decrease delay time, motorists are advised to use alternate routes around the project area.

The work involves rehabilitating aging pavement to provide a roadway with several decades of service life, improved pavement performance and a smoother ride for the traveling public. Nine miles of pavement is being replaced with 10″ inches of Long Life Asphalt Concrete. Roadway widening will occur where possible to provide standard lanes and shoulder widths. Caltrans has completed pavement replacement on the northbound and southbound I-710 between SR-91 and I-105, which began late October, 2008.

More information on the Long Life Pavement Rehabilitation Project is available on the Caltrans District 7 website at www.dot.ca.gov/dist07

State Proposal Threatens 10,000 Local Jobs Program

A program designed to create 10,000 temporary jobs across Los Angles County using President Obama’s stimulus funding is now at risk because of a State proposal to eliminate the CalWORKs welfare program.

On March 3, Supervisor Don Knabe introduced the program, which would utilize over $159 million in federal stimulus funding to create temporary subsidized employment opportunities for CalWORKs welfare recipients in County departments, private sector employers, non-profit organizations, and in cities across Los Angeles County.

CalWORKs is a welfare-to-work program that uses federal funding to provide temporary financial assistance and employment focused services to families. Most parents are also required to participate in employment services programs with the goal of finding work and getting off welfare permanently. The 10-thousand jobs effort is an expansion of this program. This portion of stimulus dollars must be used towards benefitting welfare recipients – so the goal of the 10,000 jobs program is to use it to create thousands of job opportunities – lifting people off of the welfare rolls and from being a burden on taxpayers – and putting them into temporary jobs that may lead to permanent employment.

The program is now in jeopardy, because when State leaders proposed ending CalWORKs last week, it threatened the cutoff of federal funding for welfare coming to California, including the $159 million in stimulus funding needed to make this program a reality.

There is a limited timeframe for when this federal funding is available, so we have no time to waste to make sure our unemployed residents can benefit from the thousands of jobs we can create with these funds. Our local unemployment rate is hovering around 11-percent and we have a major opportunity to do something about it, said Supervisor Knabe. This program is a win-win situation, and we intend to make the most of it. The problem is that Sacramento is once again about to screw up a good thing. If the threat of cutting CalWORKs continues, it jeopardizes these 10-thousand jobs and all the other "work" in welfare-to-work. Washington has the money, and Los Angeles County has the means. It’s time to make the 10,000 jobs initiative a reality.

Under the program and the rules of the federal funding, 80-percent of the cost of a subsidized worker will be covered by federal funds, and the employer will only be responsible for 20-percent of the overall cost. The 20-percent can be further reduced by an employer’s supervision and training costs. Even though the jobs can be anywhere in the County, the South Bay Workforce Investment Board acts as the employer of record. They perform payroll functions, pre-screen candidates, and absorb Workers Compensation liability. All sectors are being targeted, the public sector – including County departments and other public agencies, nonprofits (including community and faith-based organizations) and the private sector. A chief requirement for all employers wishing to participate is that subsidized workers cannot displace existing employees.

Two resources are available for employers looking to hire workers or welfare recipients looking for a job. The first is the County’s telephone hotline, 211. The second is a dedicated website, www.employmentstimulus.org

Long Beach To Host Regional Water Summit

Supervisor Don Knabe, Chairman of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and the Southern California Water Committee are partnering together to host the Los Angeles County Water Summit on Wednesday, June 3, 2009, at the Queen Mary in the City of Long Beach.

The event, which will be held between 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., will focus on the state of water in Southern California. The summit is sponsored by the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Castaic Lake Water Agency, Central Basin Water District, County Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, MWH, Water Replenishment District of Southern California, West Basin Water District, and Building Industry Association of Southern California.

Make no mistake about it, we stand at a crossroads in California’s water history, said Supervisor Knabe. I am an optimist by nature so, for my part, I predict that we will step outside of the box and we will develop aggressive water conservation and recycling programs that will reshape demand in Southern California.

For more information on the Los Angeles County Water Summit please contact the Southern California Water Committee at (909) 980-4700.

Seismic Retrofit Of Imperial Highway Bridge Now Complete In Downey And Norwalk

The Imperial Highway Bridge over the San Gabriel River has been seismically retrofit in the Cities of Downey and Norwalk, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today.

This $812,040 project is a part of the Federal Highway Bridge Program. Under this program, Federal funds are allocated to local agencies and are used to finance 88.53 percent of the eligible costs of bridge seismic retrofit projects. The remaining 11.47 percent of the cost of the project will be financed with State Proposition 1B funds. Additional funding for the project was provided by the Fourth Supervisorial District’s Road Construction Program.

By retrofitting this bridge, both the drivers and pedestrians who use the bridge will benefit by crossing a safer bridge, said Supervisor Knabe.

Water Restrictions Take Effect In Marina Del Rey

Supervisor Don Knabe, Chairman of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, announced that all customers of the Marina del Rey Water System will be required to reduce their water usage by 15 percent, effective July 2009. Based on a number of factors that have significantly reduced the water supply available to Southern California, West Basin Municipal Water District, a wholesale water supplier, will reduce the amount of water it provides to the Marina del Rey Water System by 15 percent.

"This means that all the customers in Marina del Rey will have to do their part to manage with limited water," said Supervisor Knabe. "The substantial surcharges for excessive usage will have to be passed through to those customers who do not cut back by 15 percent."

Both 2007 and 2008 were record-breaking dry years in California with very little rainfall. This required water agencies throughout the State to draw down the water stored in reservoirs to meet customer demand. In addition, a Court decision to prohibit pumping water from the Sacramento Delta to protect an endangered species of fish reduced available water supplies even further. In June 2008 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a drought and Supervisor Knabe introduced a motion to take immediate steps to conserve water in Los Angeles County.

"Although the measures the County has already taken have produced good results, the situation continues to worsen," said Supervisor Knabe. "Reduced supplies and increased costs are going to be a fact of life this summer at least."

"Now is the time for customers to take advantage of our free conservation programs," said Melinda Barrett, Water Conservation Manager for the Marina del Rey Water System. "We offer on-site water-use evaluations and rebates for water-saving devices that can make it easier for customers to stay within their target."

The cutbacks will require customers to use no more than 85 percent of the water used during previous billing periods or face surcharges. The charges are 2 times the normal rate on water used up to 15 percent over the target and 3 times the normal rate for any water used beyond that. If the water situation worsens, the Marina del Rey Water System could advance to a Phase III Shortage, which would require customers to reduce by 20 percent.

The Marina del Rey Water System is operated by the County of Los Angeles Waterworks Districts and serves all customers in the Marina. For more information about the water restrictions or to find out about conservation programs, call Melinda Barrett, Water Conservation Manager at (626) 300-3362 or visit
www.lacwaterworks.org

Property Tax Savings From Assessor’s Valuation Review

Los Angeles County Assessor Rick Auerbach announced completion of a decline in value review of 473,000 homes and condominiums in Los Angeles County. Auerbach stressed that due to the declining real estate market, it was his responsibility to review values to make sure homes are properly assessed.

We have begun mailing results of the review to owners of single-family residences and condominiums purchased between July 1, 2003 and June 30, 2008, and, in some hard-hit areas, as far back as 2000, said Auerbach. Our review will result in lower assessments on 333,000 homes and will be reflected on the tax bills issued in October.

The average value reduction for single family residences is about $126,000, he added, amounting to an average property tax savings of approximately $1,400. The average value reduction for condos is about $96,000 amounting to an average property tax savings of approximately $1,100.

Our free, proactive review also eliminated the need for most taxpayers to go through the application process, and hopefully will curtail the scam mailers from private companies offering to submit a review application for a hefty fee, Auerbach said.

Homeowners whose property was reviewed will be notified of the results in writing by June 30. If they disagree with the decision, they should contact the nearest Assessor’s District Office and discuss the results. If owners still disagree with the value, they may file an appeal with the county’s Assessment Appeals Board. The deadline for filing an assessment appeal is November 30.

Owners whose property was not reviewed, including property other than single-family residences or condos, and who believe that their property is assessed above its actual value as of January 1, 2009, should file the simple, one-page Decline-in-Value application. The form can be downloaded from the Assessor’s Website at
http://assessor.lacounty.gov or an application can be requested by calling 888-807-2111.

Full Freeway Closures This Weekend

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will conduct an extended closure this weekend on the northbound and southbound Long Beach Freeway (I-710) from the Artesia Freeway (State Route 91) to the San Diego Freeway (I-405). The work is part of the Long Life Pavement Rehabilitation Project from the I-405 to Firestone Boulevard. Twice this weekend, I-710 will fully close to motorists as follows:

FULL FREEWAY CLOSURE:
Northbound and Southbound I-710 from SR-91 to I-405

1) Saturday, May 30, 2009, 12:01 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.

2) Sunday, May 31, 2009, 11:00 p.m. to Monday, June 1, 2009, 5:00 a.m.

CLOSED RAMPS:
All on-ramps and off-ramps on I-710 at Long Beach Boulevard, Del Amo Boulevard and Artesia Boulevard will be closed.

CLOSED FREEWAY CONNECTORS:

Northbound and southbound I-405 to northbound I-710

Eastbound and westbound SR-91 to southbound I-710

Beginning Saturday 6:00 a.m. until Sunday 11:00 p.m., a reduced number of lanes on northbound I-710 will be available to motorists: two lanes for northbound flow and three lanes for southbound flow. All traffic will flow in the northbound I-710 lanes while construction work continues in the southbound I-710 lanes throughout the weekend.

Vehicle speeds will be reduced to 45 mph. Oversized loads are not permitted throughout the weekend due to narrower lane widths. To decrease delay time, motorists are advised to use alternate routes around the project area.

The work involves rehabilitating aging pavement to provide a roadway with several decades of service life, improved pavement performance and a smoother ride for the traveling public. Nine miles of pavement is being replaced with 10″ inches of Long Life Asphalt Concrete. Roadway widening will occur where possible to provide standard lanes and shoulder widths. Caltrans has completed pavement replacement on the northbound and southbound I-710 between SR-91 and I-105, which began late October, 2008.

More information on the Long Life Pavement Rehabilitation Project is available on the Caltrans District 7 website at www.dot.ca.gov/dist07

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 2009 Cerritos Kids Fishing Derby at Cerritos Regional Park on Saturday, May 30. 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.

South Whittier First To Benefit From Stimulus Projects

Unincorporated South Whittier will be the location of the very first federal stimulus transportation projects anywhere in the Los Angeles region, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today. The two separate road resurfacing projects in South Whittier are part of a larger $2.3 million series of projects, which are the first to be funded before any other local city or government agency in the area.

The projects include resurfacing and improvements on Meyer Road from Leffingwell Road to north of Imperial Highway, and Valley View Avenue from Telegraph Road to north of Imperial Highway. Other resurfacing projects will be completed with the $2.3 million in federal funding from the Federal Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) in the Florence-Firestone area. A total of 68 jobs are expected to be created as part of these projects.

ARRA is intended to not only save existing jobs and create new ones, but also to improve our local infrastructure with projects exactly like these. We will be using these stimulus funds not to grow government, but instead to grow our local businesses that we will be contracting with to complete these projects, said Supervisor Knabe.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works will deliver 19 transportation infrastructure projects throughout the County using over $46 million of ARRA funds. Public Works is actively seeking small businesses and community based enterprises to bid on contracts for this and future ARRA Stimulus projects. County businesses seeking more information regarding these and future ARRA Stimulus projects may visit the Public Works Business Outreach website

at http://dpw.lacounty.gov/PRG/business

This project will be advertised for construction bids early next month.

Annual Taste Of The Heights Returns To Pathfinder Park

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, in conjunction with The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, The County Arts Commission, Hacienda Heights Chamber, Rowland Heights Chamber, Friends of Steinmetz Senior Center, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, and local community groups and businesses, will celebrate the Sixth Annual Taste of the Heights on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The annual event will be held at Pathfinder Regional Park in Rowland Heights, with more than 1,500 participants and more than a dozen restaurants. The night will feature a live band, The HoDads, with dancing, wine tasting, and great food.

Pathfinder Regional Park is a hidden beauty atop the hill overlooking the city lights. Ticket prices are $10.00 per person in advance and $12.00 at the door. This includes a taste from each of the sponsored restaurants. In addition, a Kid’s Zone for youth 5-12 years will have special taste food, jumper, arts and crafts, and fun. Children’s tickets are available for $3.00 each. For information and advance tickets please call (626) 333-1369.