I have some big concerns regarding next week’s Public Hearing on the Clean Water, Clean Beaches Initiative. We are still being told countless times by the public that they never received a notice or that it was inadvertently thrown away. In 2013, it is astounding that we do not have an online or email protest option.  I asked several weeks ago and received validation just yesterday that it is actually a legal option for us to use during these proceedings.  We should provide an email response option immediately to the public so that they have a more convenient and reasonable way to protest. The ongoing Clean Water, Clean Beaches Initiative is the largest protest hearing process that Los Angeles County has ever undertaken.  We must be sure that we are doing everything we can to make the process as convenient, transparent and open as possible.  The public hearing is next week, and up to this point I do not believe that we have done that.  The County continues to receive significant correspondence from the public who do not understand the need for the fee, and are questioning the credibility of the way the process is being managed. We mailed a very important protest hearing notice that looks like junk mail to the public during the busiest mail season of the year.

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?

As we close the door on 2012, we take a moment to reflect on the past year, while looking ahead with anticipation to 2013.  At the national level, our country continues to face a sluggish economy, a looming “fiscal cliff,” and difficult times for many who are impacted by a stagnant job market.

Yet here in Los Angeles County, where we serve as the ultimate safety net, we are fortunate not to face many of the financial issues of other municipalities, which are forced to cut services just when they are needed most.  Thanks to the County’s ongoing fiscal responsibility, our credit rating was raised from AA- to AA, something virtually unheard of in government.  This allows us to meet the needs of our constituents and provide the quality-of-life services that our residents have come to expect.

The year 2012 was a year of new sights and opportunities for residents and visitors to Los Angeles County.  From the arrival of the 340-ton boulder known as the LACMA Rock, to the fly-over and transit of the space shuttle Endeavour, to the opening of downtown’s new Grand Park, LA County enjoyed plenty of new and exciting attractions. Here in the fourth district, we opened the new Diamond Bar Library and invested over $4 million in park upgrades and renovations.

New opportunities came to Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center as they received two ReWalk exoskeleton units that allow paralyzed patients to walk unassisted, as well as some new Paramobile chairs which give some patients a first chance to stand up, play golf, or do physical therapy. One of Rancho’s graduate patients inspired hope in all of us, when she competed in the Paralympic games in London this summer. Katy Sullivan, the only runner competing on two carbon-fiber legs, set a new American record in the 100 meter race.

Of course it was not all good news – but we did work hard to address issues facing the most vulnerable in our community.  We launched a public awareness campaign to inform residents about a horrific crime happening in our own neighborhoods and communities, the sexual exploitation and trafficking of young girls. We opened a dedicated courtroom to deal specifically with juvenile girls who are arrested on prostitution charges, and trained over 1,600 county staff to better identify victims.  We hosted a national conference on Empowerment that was attended by victims – and those who are most at risk of being victimized. Our efforts have helped Los Angeles County become a national leader in the fight to stop child sex trafficking.

Finally, in 2012 we celebrated an incredible milestone: our 100^th Safe Surrender. To celebrate the lives saved by this program, we had a candle lighting ceremony at Grand Park with former Safe Surrender babies and their families. Sadly, not more than two weeks after the celebration, we learned that a newborn was found deceased at a local trash facility. This was a heartbreaking and tragic realization that though 101 lives have been saved by the program, we still have much more work to do. We will continue to expand our efforts to spread the word about Safe Surrender as we move into 2013 so that any mother in a desperate situation knows that she has a better option for her baby … and for herself.

As I look ahead to 2013, I remain confident and optimistic about Los Angeles County.  We have many challenges ahead, most notably the January 2014 roll-out of the Affordable Care Act.  While we face many unknowns with this implementation, we are aggressively planning and preparing to ensure all of our residents receive the healthcare they need.

So a new year begins!  I pray that our men and women in the military are kept safe and are returned to us soon.  And I wish each of you and your families a safe and joyous new year!  See you in 2013!

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.

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.

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?

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

How Congestion Pricing Works:

Carpool Loyalty Program:

Rules of the Road:

When you look at your ballot on November 6, you will have the option to vote on a measure that promises accelerated transportation projects and decreased traffic congestion throughout Los Angeles County.   Measure J asks voters to extend a half-cent sales tax, originally approved in 2008 for 30 years, for an additional 30 years.

The voters of this region have increased their taxes three times, desperate for congestion relief.   Four years into the last increase, with a responsible and balanced plan that benefited all 88 cities in the County, MTA is asking for an extension.  Proponents suggest that now is the time to get cheaper money and lower construction costs – and most importantly, get people to work on these projects.

However, “accelerated” does not necessarily mean “completed.”  The projects require significant funding from outside sources, especially the federal government already struggling with its own budget.   Taxpayer protections guaranteed in 2008 have been removed and the debt we create now will have to be paid by future generations.

Los Angeles County needs honest, rational traffic relief – that is something we can all agree on.  The question is how we get there in a responsible way.

Today, District Attorney Steve Cooley announced the arrest of Assessor John Noguez and two others, alleging bribery, perjury, conspiracy and misappropriation by a public officer.  While we have a legal system based on innocent until proven guilty, in the court of public trust, Mr. Noguez has violated the confidence and expectations of the voters who elected him.  He should resign his position as Assessor, and allow our dedicated employees to move forward and work diligently to rebuild the trust of the people of Los Angeles County.

This week, I would like to talk about a crisis that is not happening “over there,” but happening right here in our streets, our neighborhoods and to our girls: Child sex-trafficking. Proposition 35–better known as the CASE Act, would be the toughest human trafficking law in the country.

Girls as young as 10 years-old are being coerced into prostitution in our local communities, and bought and sold on the internet.  California does not currently have laws to adequately protect our most vulnerable children.

Proposition 35 would increase prison terms for human traffickers, require convicted sex traffickers to register as sex offenders, mandate training for law enforcement officers, and require criminal fines from convicted human traffickers to pay for services to help victims.

Proposition 35 will also make it easier for a prosecutor to charge a trafficker who uses the internet to sell children for sex, while also providing services to help the young victims recover.

Under current law, it is the children themselves who are being prosecuted, as if any young girl would choose this life.  In fact, almost 500 juveniles are arrested for prostitution each year across California, 35 percent in Los Angeles County alone.

We must focus our efforts on the people responsible for exploiting these children so horribly and bring them to justice.