Issues

Knabe Commemorates National Human Trafficking Month

Marking three years of Los Angeles County’s fight to protect victims from the horrors of child sex trafficking, Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe today declared the month of January 2015 as “National Human Trafficking Month,” countywide.

“Over the past several years, we have made significant strides in our efforts to combat the sexual exploitation of children for money across our region,” said Supervisor Knabe. “I’m extremely proud of the progress we’ve made.

“Together with County departments, law enforcement, non-profit agencies, and the support of a bi-partisan group of state legislators, we have been able to support the true victims of this heinous crime and bring to justice those who buy and sell children for profit. We’ve come a long way—but there is still much more work to be done.

“In 2015, our priorities will be to more aggressively crack down on the demand side of the industry and to change the language surrounding sex trafficking by removing the word ‘prostitute’ and ‘child prostitute’ from our vocabulary. No child grows up dreaming of being manipulated emotionally and physically into a hellish life of exploitation. It is our responsibility to protect these victims, to wrap our arms around them and provide them with all the services they need to get on the road to recovery. I’m confident that as we continue building awareness of this issue, and expand our training of employees and law enforcement across the County, we can help these victims walk the path to a better life.”

Supervisor Knabe Statement on Art Leahy Stepping Down as Metro’s CEO

 

LOS ANGELES, January 7, 2015 – Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe issued the following statement on the announcement from Metro’s CEO Art Leahy that he would be leaving the agency when his contract expires:

 

“Art Leahy has dedicated his life to the transportation industry – from bus driver to chief executive officer!  During his tenure as CEO at Metro, he ensured the agency remained stable through very challenging economic times.  Over the last few years, he has led the development of some of the largest public infrastructure projects in the nation, which will transform transit in Southern California for generations to come.  Art is an inspiration to others who have risen through the ranks, and he has been committed to mentoring and supporting the next generation of transportation leaders.  I wish him the very best in his future endeavors and hope he will continue to lend his expertise within the transportation industry.”

 

# # #

 

Board of Supervisors Approves Reward for Information Related to Death of Newborn Eliza Delacruz

LOS ANGELES, January 6, 2015 — The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion introduced by Supervisor Don Knabe to establish a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) involved in the death of Eliza Delacruz.

On Saturday, January 3, 2015, at approximately 5:50p.m., the father, mother and uncle of 3-week-old Eliza Delacruz were shot while in their home in the 100 block of W. 51st Street in Long Beach, by a male suspect who entered the home.  Eliza was abducted by the suspect, and subsequently found deceased the following day in a trash dumpster in San Diego County.  Detectives have few leads in the case and believe a reward will prompt reluctant witnesses to come forward.  They can remain anonymous.

“I made this motion in collaboration with the Long Beach Police Department to support their aggressive work to bring to justice the person(s) who committed this heinous crime,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe.  “We are asking anyone who has any information to please come forward – they can remain anonymous.”

#  #  #

Contact:

Detectives Donald Goodman and Mark Mattia at (562) 570-7244

Long Beach Police Department – Homicide Detail

Knabe Calls for Public Shaming of People Who Buy Children for Sex

On a motion by Supervisor Don Knabe, Los Angeles County will develop an ordinance and a plan to create a “John-Shaming Campaign” to publicize the names of individuals convicted of buying a girl for sex within Los Angeles County, particularly minors who are victims of child sex trafficking.

“I want the faces of those who buy sex from minors to be plastered across the County,” said Supervisor Knabe. “These individuals are a danger to society, and the public at large must know about anyone who’s been arrested for purchasing a minor for sex. I believe that displaying photographs of the so-called “johns” on the internet, on billboards, and other public places will be a powerful deterrent for anyone considering purchasing a young girl for sex. It’s time for the perpetrators to pay the price for taking the innocence away from young children.”

A draft ordinance and a plan developed by County Counsel and the District Attorney are expected to be brought back to the Board of Supervisors in 45 days.

Newborn Baby Girl Safely Surrendered at L.A. County Fire Station in Palmdale

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is proud to announce that the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the second time in less than two weeks with the report of a safely surrendered newborn baby girl over the weekend. This most recent safe surrender occurred on October 25, 2014 at Los Angeles County Fire Station 136 in Palmdale. On October 17, a baby girl was safely surrendered at a hospital in Tarzana.

As is standard practice, the newborn is in protective custody and will be placed with families approved for adoption by the Department of Children and Family Services.

“It’s hard to imagine anyone wanting to give up a child, but this mother bravely made the better choice for her baby girl—No shame. No blame. No names,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Though we’ve been able to save the lives of 124 babies so far, we need to continue spreading the word that there is a safe, secure and anonymous way for mothers, who find themselves in a desperate situation, to get their baby into safe hands—at any fire station or hospital, any time—and protect them from abandonment.

This is the eleventh Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2014, and the 124th since the program began nearly 13 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.

To learn more about the Safe Surrender Program, visit BabySafeLA.org.

2015 Arts Education Partnership Application Now Online

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce his 2015 Arts Education Partnership Program (AEPP), which will support high quality arts education programs by providing matching funds to nonprofit organizations, community organizations, government agencies and schools across the Fourth Supervisorial District.

Supervisor Knabe’s announcement reaffirms his support of arts education for all students in L.A. County schools and concurs with the US Congress that arts education is “an essential element of a complete and balanced education for all students”.

The Arts Education Partnership Program will increase and sustain well-rounded education in dance, music, theatre and the visual arts for K-12 students. A panel of experts from the various arts disciplines will judge all of the grant applications that are received.

Application deadline: December 2nd, 2014, 11pm

Applications can be accessed via the online grants system at http://lacounty.culturegrants.org/

Workshop

An application workshop will take place at the Los Angeles County Arts Commission on Thursday, November 13, 2014 from 1- 4PM to provide applicants with an opportunity to learn about the program, best practices in lesson planning, and get information on the Visual and Performing Arts Standards.

Click here to register for the Technical Assistance Workshop: RSVP

Awards will be announced in early summer of 2015.

Baby Boy Surrendered at Hospital in Tarzana

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated success for the tenth time this year with the report of a safely surrendered newborn baby boy. This most recent safe surrender occurred on October 17, 2014 at a hospital in Tarzana. A baby girl was safely surrendered in Tarzana earlier this year.

As is standard practice, the newborn is in protective custody and will be placed with families approved for adoption by the Department of Children and Family Services.

“It’s hard to imagine anyone wanting to give up a child, but this mother bravely made the better choice for her baby boy—No shame. No blame. No names,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Thanks to the Safe Surrender program, this little boy has been blessed with the gift of life and now has the opportunity to grow up as part of a loving family.”

This is the tenth Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2014, and the 123rd since the program began nearly 13 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.

To learn more about the Safe Surrender Program, visit BabySafeLA.org.

Knabe Statement on Deceased Infant Found in Hesperia

Following the discovery of a deceased newborn baby at a recycling facility in Hesperia earlier today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is reminding the public about the County’s Safe Surrender program.

“Awful tragedies like what occurred in Hesperia are a reminder to mothers that there is always an option for their baby,” said Supervisor Knabe. “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—at any fire station or hospital, any time, in any county in California—and to protect a baby from abandonment: No shame, No blame, and No names. Though 122 lives have been saved by the Safe Surrender program, this tragedy shows we still have a lot more work to do.”

Established by Supervisor Knabe in 2001, the Safe Surrender program allows a parent or legal guardian to confidentially handover an infant, three days old or younger, to any hospital emergency room or fire station in Los Angeles County. As long as the baby has not been abused or neglected, the person may surrender the baby without fear of arrest or prosecution for child abandonment.

Since the program began, 122 newborns have been safely surrendered. The multilingual Safe Surrender Hotline, 1-877-BABY-SAFE, is available 24-hours a day for more information and the location of the nearest Safe Surrender site. Safe Surrender sites can also be found by calling the County helpline at 211 or by visiting www.babysafela.org.

State Legislature Endorses Conversion Technologies

Los Angeles County Supervisor and Board Chairman Don Knabe issued the following statement following Governor Jerry Brown’s signing of Senate Bill 498, which encourages the development of conversion technologies as an alternative to landfills:

“This critical environmental legislation is a first but important step to further reducing our reliance on landfills, while producing clean energy and creating new green jobs,” Supervisor Knabe said. “I’d like to thank the Governor and State Senator Ricardo Lara for his leadership and vision in introducing the bill, and the County’s Public Works department for their work on the project.”

SB 498 broadens the definition of “biomass conversion” to include cleaner and more efficient non-combustion technologies such as gasification, pyrolosis and anaerobic digestion. Biomass is organic material such as wood, lawn and garden clippings, agricultural waste, leaves, tree prunings and non-recyclable paper.  These state-of-the-art methods break down virtually all solid, non-recyclable waste into renewable materials and energy.  Several conversion technology projects are already being planned for Los Angeles County.

“This is a very exciting time for us and we will now be able to move ahead with these much-needed facilities in partnership with industry and the community,” Supervisor Knabe added.

For more information on SB 498, conversion technology and new waste management programs, visit www.SoCalConversion.org

“War on Child Sex Trafficking” Bills Signed Into Law

Three Los Angeles County sponsored bills that aim to crack down on the demand-side of the illicit child sex trafficking industry were signed into law by California Governor Jerry Brown over the weekend, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chairman Don Knabe announced today. The bills, part of Los Angeles County’s bipartisan “War on Child Sex Trafficking” legislative package, will dramatically change the way pimps, traffickers, and sex buyers are prosecuted.

SB 1388, proposed by Senators Lieu, Hill, and Mitchell, will increase fines and penalties for anyone convicted of pimping or purchasing a minor. Senator Mitchell’s SB 955 will add human trafficking to a list of offenses that will allow the use of wiretapping. Senator Block’s SB 939 allows victims to testify against their traffickers in just one courtroom, rather than facing their exploiter in multiple jurisdictions.

“I am absolutely thrilled that Governor Brown has heard the voices of sex trafficking victims and signed these major bills into law, creating a heavy price for anyone engaging in the deplorable practice of sexually exploiting children for money,” said Knabe. “These new laws attack the economy of the child sex trade, on both the supply side, as well as the demand side, and create significant deterrents to those who intend to sexually exploit young children for sex.  Thanks to the efforts of Senators Ted Lieu, Holly Mitchell, Bob Huff, Jerry Hill, and Marty Block, Los Angeles County now has the teeth to crack down on those who buy and sell children, and give a voice to the true victims.”