Issues

New Senior Services Website Launched

The County and City of Los Angeles have partnered to create a user-friendly website, Los Angeles Network of Care, at: http://losangeles.networkofcare.org/aging

This website helps seniors, disabled, and their caregivers quickly locate services they need.

Los Angeles County has a population larger than most states and a senior population, aged 60 and older, of 1.4 million, placing a huge demand on the Area Agencies on Aging to provide comprehensive and accessible services.

The website has features that allow consumers or their caregivers to create their own personal information record on-line that can also be used by their care coordinators. The website has educational information on matters such as diseases, medications and treatments, care management issues, prevention, early intervention, planning, consumer advocacy and protection.

The website is a collaborative effort that will help seniors as a whole and is a step toward providing seamless senior services in our county, says Cynthia Banks, Director, Community and Senior Services and the Los Angeles County Area Agency on Aging.

Enhancements to the website will include an increase of the County’s Information and Assistance staff to better meet the service demands. Website data is continuously updated to provide the most up-to-date information on the site.

There are programs and services available through our Area Agencies on Aging and other providers that many Angelinos do not know about, says Laura Trejo, General Manager, City of Los Angeles Department of Aging. We are hopeful that by getting the word out about the new website, more of our services will be utilized, she added.

Street Signs Upgraded In East Whittier

Supervisor Don Knabe unveiled new street signs this week that will be placed throughout the unincorporated community of East Whittier. The upgrades are part of a project currently underway by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works.

The project is part of a Countywide program to increase the visibility of street name signs along roadways with speed limits of 30 mph or greater. These new signs will have larger lettering and will be easier to read at night, increasing safety and mobility on the major streets of the East Whittier community.

The signs will include the community name along with the Los Angeles County Seal as a symbol of community unity already strong in East Whittier. Over 114 signs will be installed along the major streets in the community.

Supervisor Knabe was joined by Whittier-area community leader Jean Wall to unveil an installed sign at the intersection of Tigrina Avenue and Imperial Highway on August 27. Public Works expects to complete this project by end of fall 2008.

Reaching Out To Voters With Specific Needs

In an effort to promote a greater opportunity for all voters to participate in the election process, the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC) has produced a Voter with Specific Needs video presentation highlighting accessible voting services and sensitivity in serving voters with special needs and voters with limited English proficiency.

Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan has incorporated segments of the video into staff and poll worker training for the upcoming November 4th General Election. Additionally, the RR/CC has distributed the video to all local public libraries for general circulation and educational purposes.

Making voting accessible to all eligible citizens is a priority, said Logan. This video emphasizes the services currently available to accomplish this and reminds us all of best practices for ensuring our voters with special needs get the service they deserve.

The RR/CC collaborated with its Community Voter Outreach Committee (CVOC) on the Voter with Specific Needs video. CVOC, comprised of nonprofit organizations with election interests, partners with the RR/CC throughout the year providing input from the public sector on election related matters, as well as, assisting with voter registration, public education and election services. CVOC members’ collective expertise helps provide a successful voting experience for all voters, said Logan.

Toward the goal of providing voters with efficient and accessible elections, the RR/CC requires poll worker volunteers to attend training prior to each election. The Voters with Specific Needs video has now been included as part of the poll worker training curriculum and serves as a guide for poll workers to providing election services for persons with specific needs.

The video consists of a 6-minute and a 12-minute abridged version, as well as a 25-minute expanded version with a comprehensive how to guide. Translated versions of the video are available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog/Filipino, Korean, Japanese and Vietnamese.

For more information or to obtain a copy of the Voter with Specific Needs video, contact Nelson Fernandez, Voter Outreach Coordinator, by calling (562) 462-2117 or by emailing
nfernandez@rrcc.lacounty.gov
A full list of accessibility services available through the RR/CC may be found on the RR/CC website www.lavote.net
Voters may also call the RR/CC at (800) 815-2666.

Gale Avenue Improved In Hacienda Heights

The County of Los Angeles has completed the construction of a roadway improvement project on Gale Avenue in the unincorporated community of Hacienda Heights, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today.

The $2,467,046 project focused on the resurfacing, reconstructing and slurry sealing of the roadway; the construction of a curb and gutter, sidewalk, curb ramps, cross gutters, alley intersections, storm drain, catch basins, and connector pipes; and the installation of new striping and pavement markings.

It is important that we constantly look for ways to improve the roads in the County, said Supervisor Knabe. By improving Gale Avenue, the residents of Hacienda Heights, along with the residents of nearby cities and unincorporated County areas that travel this route will benefit.

Newborn Safely Surrendered In South Pasadena

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 report of a safe surrender occurred at a fire station in the City of South Pasadena.

The newborn Hispanic male was surrendered on Thursday, August 14 at South Pasadena Fire Station #81 and was transported to a local hospital. The newborn is reported to be in good health. As is standard practice, the baby boy 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 boy has a long life ahead of him, said Supervisor Knabe. I am happy this mother made the right choice for her baby.

This is the sixth Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2008, and the 68th since the program began seven 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.

Taggers To Pay For Graffiti Damage Under New Plan

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unveiled a plan today to fine graffiti taggers for the damage they cause. The Board will take a final vote on the ordinance next week. If approved, it would take effect in 30 days.

Supervisor Gloria Molina and Supervisor Don Knabe introduced a motion with the idea last year ago after a Pico Rivera grandmother was killed on August 10, 2007, when she tried to stop a graffiti vandal from defacing a wall near her home.

The average taxpayer cost to catch a tagger is $665, and the average cost of removing or painting over graffiti is $552 per incident. Los Angeles County spends over $30 million per year in graffiti cleanup costs in the unincorporated areas.

Graffiti is a huge problem in many of our neighborhoods and communities, and it is reducing the quality of life, property values, business growth and development in these areas, said Supervisor Knabe. It is my hope that this new plan teaches young offenders about accountability, responsibility, and about the consequences of their actions.

Public Health Tips On How To Find A Great Beach

During the summer months, many Los Angeles County residents and visitors enjoy the natural beauty and recreational benefits of our beaches. Before they take that first swim though, they may be wondering if the ocean water is safe, what beach advisories mean, and what they can do to keep our beaches clean.

The vast majority of beach water along the coast of LA County meets State ocean water quality standards, which means it is safe for swimming, surfing, or otherwise playing in the waves, said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, Director of Public Health and Health Officer. We encourage residents and visitors to keep our beaches healthy and clean by remembering that whatever is discharged into the street or on the ground flows to a storm drain and eventually makes it way into the ocean. People can help prevent ocean pollution by properly disposing of animal waste, pesticides, households paints, chemicals and motor oil, using a broom and dustpan instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks, and by participating in beach clean-up days.

How do you test beach water?

Los Angeles County’s Ocean Water Monitoring Program tests dozens of sampling sites from the Ventura/Los Angeles County border to San Pedro. These sites are tested at least once a week. Samples are also collected at Avalon Beach on Santa Catalina Island from April through October. If beaches are found to have bacteria levels that exceed State health standards, then they are tested more often.

What do warning signs or rain advisories mean?

When bacteria levels exceed State ocean water quality standards, warning signs are posted to let swimmers, surfers, and other beach-goers know that the water in a specific area is unhealthy.

The signs will remain in place until tests indicate that bacteria levels meet State standards. Some areas have permanent signs posted due to historically poor water quality.

A rain advisory is issued anytime there is significant rainfall that may cause bacterial levels to exceed State standards in ocean waters. The advisory stays in effect for 72 hours after rainfall has ended.

On rare occasions, sewage from ruptured sewage lines inland can make its way into the ocean. When this occurs, the affected beach area and water is immediately closed off so swimmers, surfers, and other beach-goers will be protected.

The area will re-open once testing confirms that bacteria levels are again within State standards.

What areas of the beach should I avoid?

It is best to avoid water contact in areas adjacent to or in front of discharging storm drains. Storm drains direct runoff from urban areas to the ocean. While they do not normally contain sewage, water in storm drains can contain disease-causing bacteria. Depending on the amount of flow, the discharging storm drains can affect ocean water quality several hundred yards from the discharge point. Much greater areas may be affected following major rainstorms.

Avoid swimming next to piers. Piers attract birds which may contribute to higher bacterial levels. In addition, plumbing under piers may occasionally be in disrepair and may discharge sewage into the water.

If a beach area is posted with warning signs or is closed, avoid contact with the water in that area. If you have any questions about where it is safe to swim, ask a lifeguard.

How do I find the cleanest beaches in LA County?

Visit our website at www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/beach to see beach grades from A – F. Or call the Public Health Beach Closure and Advisory Hotline at (800) 525-5662 for the latest information on ocean water quality conditions.

A word about sun safety:

Before you take that refreshing dip in the ocean, take a moment to protect your skin, said Dr. Fielding. Skin cancer is still the most common form of cancer diagnosed in the United States, so it is important for men, women, and children to protect themselves by applying a sunscreen with a minimum Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15, avoiding tanning and tanning beds, and staying in the shade as much as possible.

Prevention tips:

Use a beach umbrella or other covering to stay in the shade as much as possible.

Avoid sunburn by applying a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day may reduce one’s risk if used properly. Make sure to thoroughly reapply sunscreen after water activities, such as swimming, surfing, or otherwise playing in the waves. Sunscreen should also be reapplied often, even if you are not spending time in the water.

Cover up with long sleeves and pants, and wear a wide-brimmed hat to further avoid sunburn.

Wear UV-blocking sunglasses to protect your eyes.

Avoid tanning and UV tanning booths. Try a sunless tanner instead.

Infants under the age of six months should be kept out of the sun. Sunscreen should be used on babies over the age of six months, and their exposure to sun should be limited as much as possible.

For more information on sun safety, check the Skin Cancer Foundation’s website at http://www.skincancer.org

Knabe To Change Vote On Transit Sale Tax Issue

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe has announced that at the next meeting of the Board of Supervisors, he will enter a motion to reconsider the Board’s previous vote on the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s (MTA) sales tax measure. Supervisor Knabe has also decided that at the time of the reconsideration he will change his vote from ‘no’ to ‘yes.’

Supervisor Knabe’s planned reconsideration and intention to change his vote effectively means that the MTA sales tax measure now has the three votes it needs to pass the Board of Supervisors and go before the voters as part of the consolidated November 2008 Presidential Election ballot, and not as a totally separate election.

This morning, the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk informed the Board of Supervisors that the costs of a concurrent election, with the MTA sales tax appearing as a totally separate ballot in the November election, would cost taxpayers an additional $10.3 million. If the MTA measure were included as part of the main ballot, the cost would be $7.2 million, instead of the $17.5 million estimated for a separate ballot.

Additionally, the MTA measure would have to be setup as a completely separate election that would be conducted on the same day as the November 4, 2008 general election. Polling places would require additional staffing and voters would get separate ballots, sample ballots and voter guides for both elections.

I remain absolutely opposed to the MTA sales tax measure and I plan to spend my time and effort campaigning against it, said Supervisor Knabe. The plan is not equitable for all County residents and this is the wrong time to burden people with even higher taxes.

Although I am against the sales tax plan, I cannot in good conscience burden County residents with over $10 million in higher election costs. The taxpayers will have to pay for these costs, and that is something I will not allow to happen. Additionally, the separate ballots, voter guides, and other resources needed to conduct a separate election on the same day as the Presidential Election could cause unnecessary confusion and challenges for voters. This upcoming election is the most important in many years, and voters deserve better than a potential disaster at their polling place.

County’s Child Care Rating System Receives New Funding

Los Angeles County’s new child care rating system continues to grow, in part, to a new grant that will allow for dozens of additional child care centers to be inspected and graded.

The $351,650 contract from the First 5 Los Angeles Commission will allow for reviews of approximately 200 child development centers and family child care homes participating in the Steps to Excellence Project (STEP). The information collected during the review process will be analyzed and used to assign quality ratings to STEP participants.

The STEP program, launched by Supervisor Knabe in July 2007, is the first program of its kind in California. In much the same way as the County’s successful restaurant grading system has empowered consumers with information, the goal of rating child care centers is to educate parents and improve the quality and services of the centers. The program is starting as a pilot in nine communities across the County, including Long Beach. It is supported with funds from the County of Los Angeles, the California Department of Education and the First 5 LA Commission.

"What is unique about the STEP program is that we are evaluating the overall quality of these child care programs," said Supervisor Knabe. "We aren’t just assessing whether or not the carpet is clean and the walls are painted, we are looking at the ‘learning environment’ as well. To me, that is the most important consideration for any parent in deciding where to place their children."

In Los Angeles County, it is estimated that more than $1.4 billion is spent on child care services annually and the demand for services and facilities continues to grow every year. But, with this increasing demand for services comes an increasing need for oversight and access to information for parents about the quality of care their children are receiving. The STEP program will assess six key areas that all parents would want to know about a child care setting, including safety, program quality, teacher qualifications, and whether or not they can accommodate kids with special needs.

People interested in learning more about STEP should contact Helen Chavez in the County Office of Child Care at (213) 893-0505 or visit www.childcare.lacounty.gov

County Declares Water Conservation Alert

The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution today seeking to increase water conservation efforts within the County, with the goal of achieving a significant reduction in overall water demand.

The resolution declares a Countywide Water Supply and Conservation Alert, and urges County residents, businesses, water suppliers, and cities to intensify water conservation efforts. In addition, all County departments now have the directive to immediately implement conservation measures to achieve a 15 to 20 percent reduction in water demand.

On June 10, Supervisor Knabe responded to Governor Schwarzenegger’s proclamation of a statewide drought by directing County leaders to immediately reduce water usage in hundreds of County-owned facilities. In response to the Supervisor Knabe’s motion, the Department of Public Works, in conjunction with the Departments of Internal Services, Parks and Recreation, and Regional Planning, submitted recommendations to immediately reduce water usage in the County. The first recommendation of the report was to declare a Countywide Water Supply and Conservation Alert.

This water problem is not going to go away, and if we ignore it is only going to get worse, said Supervisor Knabe. This Countywide alert not only seeks to raise public awareness of this critical issue, but it also ensures that the County is doing its part in reducing water usage.

10 Easy Tips To Reduce Water Consumption

1. Shorten your watering cycles. Up to 70 percent of residential water use goes to maintaining our yards. Taking one minute off a ten-minute cycle saves ten percent.

2. Check your sprinkler system. Do a weekly check for broken or clogged sprinkler heads and replace them right away. Make sure you are watering your yard and not the driveway or sidewalk.

3. Fix those leaks. Just a drip can waste more than 10,000 gallons per month. A leaking flapper on a toilet also increases flows at the water treatment plant.
4. Plant native species or drought-tolerant plants. Many of the lawns and plants we use are not intended for the unique climate in Southern California.

5. Use a broom instead of a hose. Sweeping up rather than hosing off leaves or grass clippings not only saves water, it reduces runoff.

6. Get an adjustable hose nozzle for outdoor use. With one of these you can adjust the spray to meet your needs. A hose running for five minutes uses the same amount of water as a 20-minute shower.

7. Eliminate runoff. Runoff could mean your lawn needs aeration. When you aerate your lawn, you give the water somewhere to go besides down the storm drain.

8. Take shorter showers. Cutting two minutes off your shower time can save 600 gallons a month for a family of four. If you change the showerhead to a water efficient model, you could save even more.

9. Turn off the water while you brush your teeth or shave.

10. Wash only full loads of laundry or dishes. Waiting until you have a full load can save you up to 20 gallons for the same amount of clean clothes.