Issues

Reward Established For Information Related To Shooting Deaths Of Five Homeless Persons In Long Beach

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $20,000 reward this week, at the request of Supervisor Don Knabe, for information related to shooting incidents that led to the death of five homeless persons in the City of Long Beach.

On November 2, 2008, a quintuple murder occurred in the City of Long Beach in a homeless encampment. The investigation started with an anonymous caller who reported the crime. The caller gave a brief description of the location which led California Highway Patrol officers to the crime scene. Arriving officers found 5 people dead from gun shot wounds inside of a homeless encampment along the south bound side of the 405 freeway at the Santa Fe Avenue off-ramp.

The following residents of Los Angeles County were identified as the victims of the murder: Katherine Lynn Verdun – 24 years old, Long Beach resident; Vanessa Malaepule – 34 years old, Carson resident; Jose Lorenzo Villicana – 44 years old, Long Beach resident; Frederick Doyle Neumeier – 53 years old, Long Beach resident; and Hamid Shraifat – 41 years old, Signal Hill resident.

It is important for the County of Los Angeles to display its resolve in protecting innocent citizens from appalling crimes, said Supervisor Knabe. In order to bring these suspects to justice, and demonstrate our intolerance to such deplorable crimes, I believe these reward should be established, hoping someone will come forward so that we can bring these suspects to justice.

Any person having any information related to the November 2 incident is asked to contact Detectives Mark McGuire or Hugo Cortes of the Long Beach Police Department – Homicide Division at (562) 570-7244.

Supervisors Oppose City Of Los Angeles Sewer Project In Marina Del Rey

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voiced unanimous opposition today to a City of Los Angeles sewer expansion project that would have significant negative impacts to the residents and businesses in Marina del Rey.

The letter of opposition, authored by Supervisor Don Knabe, is over the Venice Dual Force Main Sewer Line Project, a planned expansion of the City of Los Angeles sewage system capacity by building a redundant sewer line in the Venice area that would transport sewage south to the Hyperion Treatment Plant. Although there are three possible routes for the sewer line, the City’s preferred route is by digging up streets in unincorporated Marina del Rey, going south down Marquesas Way and Via Marina.

The easiest and cheapest route is to run the expanded sewer line directly under Venice Beach, where the existing sewer line currently runs. The third route is down the middle of Pacific Avenue in Venice, inside the City limits.

The City of Los Angeles prefers the sewer route inside Marina del Rey because it impacts City residents the least. Never mind that this construction route benefits City residents at the expense of our residents in the Marina, said Supervisor Knabe. Our opposition to this route and the impact it would have on Marina del Rey is steadfast. I am pleased to have the unanimous support of the Board of Supervisors.

County Celebrates National Adoption Day

The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) will co-host the 10th Annual Adoption Saturday with 200 children adopted into permanent families.

A news conference will be held on November 15, 2008, at 8:30 a.m. in the first floor conference room of the Edmund D. Edelman Children’s Court, 201 Centre Plaza Drive in Monterey Park. Speakers at the event include DCFS Director Patricia Ploehn, Presiding Children’s Court Judge Michael Nash, actress and UNICEF ambassador Lucy Liu and dignitaries from other organizations including the Children’s Law Center and the Alliance for Children’s Rights.

Los Angeles County founded "Adoption Saturday" which led to the creation of National Adoption Day. Since Adoption Saturday began 10 years ago, more than 10,000 adoptions have been completed. On November 15th, Judge Michael Nash and approximately 15 judicial officers will volunteer their time to finalize almost 200 adoptions. They will be joined by dozens of pro bono law firms and their attorneys representing the adoptive families.

This event is made possible each year through the collaboration of DCFS, the Los Angeles Juvenile Court, the Alliance for Children’s Rights, and Public Counsel Law Center. For more information about adopting through Los Angeles County, please call 1-888-811-1121, or log on to the DCFS website at www.lacdcfs.org and click on to the adoptions link at the top of the page.

Veterans To Receive Half Off Green Fees

In honor of Veterans Day, all veterans with proper military identification will receive a fifty percent discount on green fees (excluding tournament play) all day on Tuesday, November 11.

Click here for a map of Golf Courses

As Veterans Day approaches, it is important that we recognize the many contributions that Veterans have made for our great County over the years, said Supervisor Knabe. We owe them many freedoms that we have today and they truly deserve the honor and respect of their fellow Americans.

For more information on Veterans Appreciation Day contact your local County golf course.

Los Angeles County Golf Courses

Alondra Golf Course
(310) 217-9919

Altadena Golf Course
(626) 797-3821

Diamond Bar Golf Course
(909) 861-8282

Eaton Canyon Golf Course
(626) 794-6773

El Cariso Golf Course
(818) 367-6157

Maggie Hathaway Golf Course
(323) 755-6285

Knollwood Golf Course
(818) 363-1810

Lakewood Golf Course
(562) 429-9711

La Mirada Golf Course
(562) 943-7123

Los Amigos Golf Course
(562) 869-0302

Los Verdes Golf Course
(310) 377-7370

Marshall Canyon Golf Course
(909) 593-8211

Mountain Meadows Golf Course
(909) 623-3704

Santa Anita Golf Course
(626) 447-2331

Victoria Golf Course
(310) 323-4174

Chester Washington Golf Course
(323) 756-6975

Whittier Narrows Golf Course
(626) 288-1044

6th Street Off-Ramp Over Shoreline Drive In Long Beach To Be Retrofitted

The 6th Street off-ramp over Shoreline Drive will be seismically retrofit, after the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $2.7 million construction contract to strengthen the bridge in the City of Long Beach, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today.

This $2,708,671 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 1 B funds. Additional funding for this project is 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.

Construction on the project should begin in December 2007, and the estimated completion dated is July 2009.

It’s Time For Your Flu Shot LA County

Los Angeles County Health Officer Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, would like to remind everyone that a yearly flu vaccine is the most important step in protecting against influenza. Flu vaccination is the best way for people to protect themselves and the ones they care about from influenza.

Public Health will be hosting a number of free flu vaccine clinics at schools, churches, and other community sites. We encourage everyone who wants a flu vaccine to get one, said Dr. Fielding. The time to get a flu vaccine begins in October and extends into March because we sometimes see flu cases as late as May.

The flu vaccine clinic schedule and the listing of LA County Public Health Center locations and hours of operation can be found on the Public Health website at: www.publichealth.lacounty.gov. People who do not have access to the Internet can call the LA County information and referral line by dialing 2-1-1 from any landline or cell phone. Operators can assist people in locating a flu vaccine clinic or a Public Health Center near them.

Parents should know that recommendations for flu vaccinations have recently changed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all children six months through 18 years of age receive a flu vaccine against influenza every year, unless they have a serious egg allergy. s

When people, especially school-aged children, receive a flu vaccine, they not only protect themselves, they also protect people around them who are susceptible to getting sick, said Dr. Fielding. Flu can easily spread from child-to-child in school settings.

The best way to prevent the spread of flu is to wash your hands often, especially after visiting the restroom, or coming into contact with someone who has flu-like symptoms; cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze; avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes; stay home if you are sick or keep your children out of school if they are sick; and get vaccinated against the flu, added Dr. Fielding.

Many pharmacies are also administering the flu vaccine. For these and

Los Angeles County Golf Club 2009 Schedule

Supervisor Knabe invites you to experience the wonders of the Los Angeles County Golf System; an affordable, quality and accessible recreational activity for the residents of Los Angeles County.

The Los Angeles County Golf Club (LACGC) visits and conducts tournaments at a different County golf course each month. In 2009, the LACGC will visit four Fourth District golf courses; Lakewood Golf Course on January 25, La Mirada Golf Course on February 22, Diamond Bar Golf Course on June 28, and Los Verdes Golf Course on December 13. Additionally, in 2009 we have added two new tournament events to our schedule, LA County Club Championship, and the LA County / PLGA Partners Cup.

Dust your clubs off and join the fun! Log onto www.lacountygolfclub.com or call (626) 254-8533 for more information. See below for the full 2009 schedule for the LACGC.

Hours Extended This Weekend For Early Voting

Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC) Dean Logan reported that extended hours will be offered this weekend for voters wishing to vote early.

Early voting activity in L.A. County reflects high interest by voters wishing to cast their ballots prior to Election Day, said Logan. They are flocking to the RR/CC in record breaking numbers. The weekend of October 25-26, we began a ‘seven day a week cycle’ open to the public for early voting. During that weekend alone over 2,600 voters came into the office, with another 1,300+ the following Monday.

To accommodate the growing number of voters wishing to vote early, office hours at RR/CC Headquarters will be extended this Friday and Saturday. Hours of operation on Friday, October 31 and Saturday, November 1 will be 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Early voting will also be available Sunday, November 2, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Hours on Wednesday and Thursday, October 29 and 30 and Monday, November 3 will remain 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The RR/CC office is located at 12400 Imperial Highway in the City of Norwalk.

To date, over 977,000 voters have requested vote by mail ballots, and more than 329,500 have returned their voted ballot by mail or in-person to the RR/CC.

The number of vote by mail ballots requested has surpassed the prior record from the November 2004 General Election, where with the same number of days remaining before the election, 740,000 requests had been made. The total vote by mail ballots cast in that election was 701,693 representing approximately 22 percent of the total votes cast, Logan said.

Further information, regarding early voting and vote by mail services, can be obtained by going online at
www.lavote.net or by calling the RR/CC at (800) 815-2666.

Department Of Children And Family Services Looking For New Hires

The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) will host a Job Fair on Saturday, October 25, 2008, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at its Torrance Office, 2325 Park Del Amo Street. The Job Fair is open to the public. Anyone committed to changing the lives of children by working as a Children’s Social Worker or in a supportive clerical role is invited to attend.

DCFS offers multiple positions in a variety of fields including clerical, nursing and social work. A Children’s Social Worker II can earn as much as $66,068 annually and Children’s Social Workers Trainees can earn up to $41,140 annually. Additionally, the County of Los Angeles offers an excellent benefits package, retirement plan and 10 paid holidays per year. At the Job Fair, free educational workshops will touch on topics such as the Education and Licensure Program and A Day in the Life of a Social Worker.

DCFS uses leading-edge social work practices that are family-strength based. The department’s three key goals of increased permanency, increased safety for children and reduced reliance on foster care are aimed at improving the lives of children and families in both the Santa Clarita area and greater Los Angeles County.

Applications and information regarding minimum requirements for available positions can be found online at www.lacdcfs.org in the careers link, by calling the DCFS Job Hotline at (213) 351-6417 or by visiting DCFS Headquarters at 425 Shatto Place, Room 105, in Los Angeles. Applications and information will also be available at the Job Fair, along with technical assistance in completing the necessary forms.

Marina del Rey Maintenance Dredging To Begin Soon

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Los Angeles District, awarded a $1.8 million contract to CJW Construction, a small business firm from Santa Ana, to dredge material from the South Entrance Channel at Marina del Rey.

CJW Construction will remove approximately 50,000 cubic meters of material in and around the South Entrance Channel. Material will be hydraulically pumped down the beach to Parking Lot 3 on Dockweiler State Beach where the contractor will separate the clean sand from the chemically challenged fine grained material.

The process incorporates hydocyclone technology to produce high quality beach sand that can be used to nourish down coast beaches. Dredged material from this location is typically unsuitable for open water placement or beach disposal, hence the need for a cost effective treatment process. The hydrocyclone technology was produced over several years by a team of state, federal and local agencies, including Heal the Bay. The team was led by USACE and Anchor Environmental, an architect/engineer firm with headquarters in Seattle, Washington.

The application of this technology could change the dredging industry throughout the world, so we’ll be monitoring this project closely, said Jim Fields, Corps project manager.

The Marina del Rey harbor is vital to the safety and security of Los Angeles International Airport and the region with supporting elements of the United States Coast Guard, Los Angeles Sheriffs’ Harbor Department, and the Los Angeles County Lifeguards. Marina del Rey is also home to over 5,000 boaters with everything from recreational boating to commercial fishing and charter operations.

"The County of Los Angeles is excited about the opportunities this project offers in finding a long term solution for removing contaminated sediments in the Marina del Rey harbor south entrance as well as in converting much of that material into clean sand that can be placed on our beaches," said Supervisor Knabe.

Dredging is scheduled to start in late October; project completion is expected in February 2009. For information on other Corps of Engineers projects or to learn more about the Los Angeles District visit our website at www.spl.usace.army.mil