Issues

County Will Renovate Four Fire Stations And One Lifeguard Station In The Fourth District

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the first phase of a project that will renovate fire and lifeguard stations throughout the County, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today. Renovations are needed in over 90 of the County’s fire and lifeguard stations to meet code requirements and give female employees privacy when sleeping, dressing, and changing.

Twelve facilities will be renovated in Phase 1 of the program, with five coming from the Fourth District. The renovation work includes the construction of new restroom layouts that will provide private toilets and shower areas, the installation of partitions in the sleeping quarters, and the creation of private changing areas. The total project budget for Phase 1 is $5 million, and is scheduled to be completed within 18 months. The funding for the project is coming from the Fire Protection District.

The right to privacy is absolutely critical for each and every one of our County firefighters and lifeguards, said Supervisor Knabe. This project will ensure that our fire and lifeguard stations are modern and account for the growing number of female personnel that the County employs.

Fourth District Fire and Lifeguard Stations in Phase 1

– Fire Station 17 – 12006 Hadley Street in Whittier

– Fire Station 49 – 13820 La Mirada Avenue in La Mirada

– Fire Station 56 – 12 Crest Road in Rolling Hills

– Fire Station 96 – 10630 Mills Avenue in Whittier

– M.B. Lifeguard Station – 2600 Strand in Manhattan Beach

Knabe Dedicates New Fitness Center At Carolyn Rosas Park In Rowland Heights

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe will be on hand to dedicate the new Carolyn Rosas Fitness Center in Rowland Heights on Monday, March 10, 2008 at 4:00 pm.

The $2.3 million, 2,500 square foot addition will provide much needed space to support the park’s current programs. In addition, the new Fitness Center will allow the Department of Parks and Recreation to offer new programs at the park including: martial arts, wrestling, hula dancing, diet and exercise classes, yoga, badminton and Tai Chi. The new facility also includes additional office space and a new kitchen and snack area for the park.

In an effort to include the input of community residents in the planning of the new center, the Rowland Heights Coordinating Council held several community meetings during the process to keep the residents informed about the project. Many of the new programs to be offered at the park were requested by the Rowland Heights community.

This project is about making a reinvestment in our community, said Supervisor Knabe. The new Carolyn Rosas Fitness Center will not only increase the quality of life for the residents of Rowland Heights, but also the residents of the surrounding cities and communities that utilize this park.

Newborn Safely Surrendered In Woodland Hills

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe announced today that a baby was safely surrendered in at a hospital in Woodland Hills on Friday, February 29.

The newborn Hispanic female was born full tem and is in good health. Although the surrender occurred on Friday, it is normal for surrenders to take several days to be verified under the rules of the program. As is standard practice, the baby girl is in protective custody and will be placed with a family approved for adoption by the Department of Children and Family Services.

This is the fourth Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2008, and the 66th 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.

Another mother has done the right thing and saved her baby’s life, said Supervisor Knabe. There is no reason to abandon a child since we have a law that allows a mother to anonymously get her baby into safe hands with no questions asked.

Knabe Sewage Spill Reporting Reforms Yields Widespread Improvements

The successful reporting of sewage spills across Los Angeles County has skyrocketed in the past year, due to widespread reforms initiated by Supervisor Don Knabe in January 2007. The findings come in a newly-released report by the Los Angeles County Auditor-Controller and reveal that since Supervisor Knabe’s call for reforms last year, there has been a dramatic increase in the reporting of sewage spills to the County Public Health Officer.

The report shows that records of sewage spills increased 2,900%, from 26 in 2006 to 773 in 2007. It was also noted that the reporting of sewage spills of 1,000 gallons or greater increased 645%, from 11 in 2006 to 82 in 2007. In fact, the reporting of sewage spills during the calendar year 2007 exceeded the combined total of all sewage spills reported during the previous five years combined. During that period from 2002 to 2006, the County received only 87 sewage spill reports, compared to 773 for all of 2007.

These new findings were the result of an investigation and reforms called for by Supervisor Knabe last year after a number of large sewage spills along the Santa Monica Bay. The investigation led to an initial report last year that revealed massive failures in the reporting process of sewage spills and the ways in which the public is notified about those spills. The initial report found that since January 2002, over 11.6 million gallons of raw sewage had been spilled from wastewater treatment systems throughout the Santa Monica Bay Watershed in 208 separate sewage spills.

Of those spills, over 90% were never properly recorded by health officials, nor were records kept as to what was done to protect the safety and health of the public impacted by the spills.

The follow-up report released today by the Auditor-Controller was also the result of Knabe’s direction last year that a review of the new reforms needed to be made one year later to determine if the new protocols were working properly.

The results of last year’s investigation revealed numerous breakdowns in the communication system at every level of government and also turned up evidence of hundreds of sewage spills throughout the watershed since January 2002 that show no evidence of ever being recorded. The investigation was limited to sewage spills of 1,000 gallons or greater that occurred within the Santa Monica Bay Watershed from January 2002 through July 2006. The investigation revealed 208 sewage spills, totaling 11,606,986 gallons of raw sewage, within that area and time frame. Among the findings of the investigation were:

– Records did not exist for 189 of the 208 sewage spills or 90.8% of the spills that occurred in the past four and a half years. No records were ever found that the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Environmental Health Program was ever notified or kept records of sewage spills by local wastewater agencies after they occurred. Additionally, these 189 spills have no record of cleanup efforts or efforts to notify the public of the health risk.

– Of the 19 spills that there are records for, they account for only 1.8 million gallons of the 11.6 million gallons spilled in the Watershed since January 2002. There are no records as to whatever happened to the other 9.78 million gallons of raw sewage spilled during that period, where it all went or what cleanup efforts were performed.

– The investigation revealed numerous failed communication protocols between local wastewater operators and public health crews within the County, including lack of understanding at the local level as to which agencies must be contacted immediately after a spill and lack of clear policies within the County about contacting first responders after normal business hours.

– The investigation also revealed that rules governing proper operation of sewage systems were vague and could result in improper operation of wastewater equipment.

As a result of the January 2007 investigation, Supervisor Knabe unveiled a number of reforms to immediately address and reform the sewage spill reporting process, as well as the impact of the public health and health of the environment these inactions may have caused. The newly-released follow-up report reveals that the County has successfully implemented 15 of the 16 recommendations and reforms, with the one remaining reform currently in progress.

Among the reforms was the successful passage of Assembly Bill 800, authored by Torrance Assemblyman Ted Lieu and sponsored by the Board of Supervisors. The new law requires that any entity responsible for a sewage spill now has the duty to report it to the local public health officer and the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. In addition, fines will be imposed to any sewage treatment official who fails to promptly report a spill.

The results of this follow-up investigation are very positive, said Supervisor Knabe. It shows that there has been a dramatic increase in the communication between the operators of sewage treatment systems and the public health officials who are tasked with responding to sewage spills and ultimately keeping the public safe.

While there is a vast difference in the number of spills that are being reported now versus how many spills were going unreported before, we least now have a successful way to track spills and penalize those who don’t respond quickly. By having accurate information and records, we can respond quicker to these spills. In the end, that will hopefully lead to the most important goal of all: keeping the public safe and minimizing the harmful effects of sewage spills on our waterways, beaches, environment, and oceans.

County Approves Project To Prevent Child Abuse And Neglect

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $4.75 million demonstration project that will test innovative approaches to preventing child abuse and neglect. The 12-month Prevention Initiative Demonstration Project is the result of a joint motion by Supervisors Don Knabe and Zev Yaroslavsky.

The goal of the project is to test a broad spectrum of services, resources and activities across diverse communities within the County and evaluate their impact on preventing child abuse and maltreatment. One key element of the project will focus on addressing the broader root causes within communities that weaken families and impede healthy childhood development – such as social isolation, lack of economic opportunities and a little or no access to municipal services.

The results will then be used to consider enhancements to what the County currently does to assist families in crisis, and inform strategies about how to work proactively to keep families out of crisis. A recent study by the Pew Charitable Trust found that only 10 percent of the $7 billion in federal money distributed annually to state child welfare programs can be used for prevention programs. If the County can prove this approach works, it could be the first step in changing that.

This groundbreaking project, which is the first of its kind in the country, is about helping families address problems before a crisis occurs, said Supervisor Knabe. All the research shows that keeping families together, when it can be done safely, is better for the children and more cost-effective than foster care. It is my hope that this project shows, once and for all, that prevention-type activities are a viable and effective way of keeping families from entering, re-entering, or experiencing extended involvement in the child welfare system.

Improving Traffic Flow Between The City And County Of Los Angeles

A recently completed traffic signal interface between the City and County of Los Angeles will dramatically improve traffic flow throughout the region.

The new interface links the City’s Advanced Traffic Control System with the County’s Information Exchange Network, and will enable a two-way exchange of traffic signal data, including congestion and incident information. It will significantly enhance the ability for both agencies to work together to ensure their traffic signals remain coordinated across City boundaries. Operators in both agencies will be able to monitor the operation of each agency’s signals and make adjustments to ensure the routes are synchronized.

The total cost of the project was approximately $1.41 million, with funding provided by the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and the City and County of Los Angeles.

Knabe Will Once Again Oppose Legislation That Will Negatively Impact The Safe Surrender Program

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe renewed his opposition for the third time to new legislation by Assemblyman Alberto Torrico (D-Fremont) that will fundamentally alter the rules of the highly-successful Safe Haven Law.

Under the proposed legislation, AB 2262 will extend the newborn surrender period to 7 days. Currently, the program allows mothers of unwanted newborns to surrender their babies at Safe Surrender sites, such as Fire Stations and Hospitals, up to 72 hours after the child’s birth. Access to quality medical care in the first hours of life is a critical component that could be placed in jeopardy if this legislation passes. Many infants who are safely surrendered have received no prenatal care or medical care at all – services that are critical for these newborns to receive in the first hours after birth. Extensive research has shown that the 72 hour window works.

A similar bill was also introduced during the two most recent Legislative sessions. Last year, AB 81 would have extended the window to 7 days. It was later vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger. The first attempt, AB 1873, was also vetoed by the Governor in 2006.

This was an unnecessary bill the first two times, and it remains unnecessary, said Supervisor Knabe, who championed the Safe Surrender Program, the Los Angeles County version of the Safe Haven Program, over six years ago. There is no data showing that an extension to the 7 days proposed in Assemblyman Torrico’s legislation would improve this successful program, and we cannot allow an arbitrary number with no scientific basis to compromise the safety of these babies. The only window that has irrefutable evidence is the 72 hours, and changing it is a risk that we simply cannot afford. I vow to fight this bill every step along the way.

Los Angeles County has been at the forefront of implementing the Safe Haven Law. Since its enactment in 2002, 65 babies have been safely surrendered in Los Angeles County – more than one-third of all the newborns saved in California.

New Graffiti Prevention Program To Launch February 23

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe in partnership with Helpline Youth Counseling, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Cities of Downey, La Mirada, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, Whittier, and Unincorporated Whittier will launch the Aware Teens Against Graffiti or A.T.A.G. Program this Saturday, February 23 at 8:00 a.m. at the STAR Center, located at 11515 South Colima Road in Whittier.

A.T.A.G. is an innovative delinquency prevention program that targets first time tagging and vandalism offenders between the ages of 9 to 15 and their parents. The weekend-long program focuses on the parents receiving an intensive two-day skill-building training, and the youth offenders participating in community service projects and group discussions while being supervised by law enforcement. The program is a unique and proactive effort in Los Angeles County as it brings elected officials, law enforcement, the court system, community-based organizations and families together in a collaborative effort to combat tagging and vandalism in the community.

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. A.T.A.G. works to prevent and eliminate this growing problem by providing parents with necessary skills, support and resources to help their kids and it teaches young offenders about accountability, responsibility, respect, values and future consequences.

56 Child Care Centers In Long Beach Sign Up For New Rating System

In the City of Long Beach, 56 child care providers have agreed to take part in the County’s Steps to Excellence Program (STEP), an innovative new child care rating system that will help parents make informed child care choices for their children, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today.

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.

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.

This is a great opportunity to give parents access to clear, concise information about child care centers that they may not have time or the ability to research on their own, said Supervisor Knabe. I want to congratulate each and every one of the 56 child care providers in Long Beach who chose to take part in this program, and I welcome more providers who want to do their part in helping families make informed choices for their children.

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

Knabe Responds To Plan To Close Clinics

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe issued the following statement today in response to the County’s Chief Executive Officer’s recommendation to close and/or reduce clinic services throughout the County, as a means to balance the County’s Department of Health Services Fiscal Year 2008-09 Budget:

In the upcoming fiscal year, our Department of Health Services is looking at a budget shortfall of up to $300 million. In an effort to balance the budget, the CEO has brought forward a recommendation that calls on this Board to close or reduce services at most of our health centers and comprehensive health centers throughout the County. And although, this is only a starting point of the conversation, I am shocked by the proposal and deeply concerned by it.

It is true that this plan will generate millions in savings, but what it fails to address is the effect that closing clinics will have on our already overworked emergency rooms. With the recent overcrowding issues at Harbor-UCLA and the closures of the emergency rooms at King-Harbor and Daniel Freeman Hospitals, the system can ill-afford any further strain. The emergency care system at both private and County hospitals is already in a fragile state, and further increasing the workload of our emergency rooms is creating a time-bomb waiting to explode. We need to be opening more clinics in the County, not closing them.

I will be introducing a motion at Tuesday’s Board Meeting that will ask the CEO to come up with a comprehensive list of all possible options to balance the Health Department’s budget. We have some very difficult decisions on the horizon, but this proposal should be viewed as our last resort and not just a quick fix.