Issues

Knabe Provides $2.5 Million For The Renovation And Expansion Of The San Pedro Service Center

A man who owes over $100,000 in child support payments and is also one of the 10 Most Wanted child support payment evaders wanted by Los Angeles County has been located and arrested through a pilot program introduced by Supervisor Don Knabe last year.

Kenneth John was arrested Friday morning in the driveway of his San Fernando Valley home and booked at the LAPD Van Nuys station because of an outstanding warrant and an outstanding child support balance of $112,369.71. John has a current support obligation is $481 per month; he was also ordered by the court to make payments of $119 per month toward the liquidation of his arrears. He last made a payment in 2002.

There has been a warrant outstanding for John’s arrest since October 2003. The warrant was issued for his failure to surrender to the Sheriff to serve 60 days in jail as ordered by the court. In addition to the 60 day sentence, John is also facing an additional 120 day suspended sentence.

John was successfully tracked down and arrested by two specialized agents working with the Los Angeles County Child Support Services Department. Funding for the agents and their pilot program was initiated by Supervisor Knabe in April 2007. Knabe’s motion sought to crackdown on hundreds of the County’s most heinous child support payment evaders by establishing a partnership between the Los Angeles County Child Support Services Department (CSSD) and the Office of the District Attorney.

CSSD goes to great lengths to pursue collection of child support payments on behalf of families in need, and always seeks to establish cooperative relationships with the parent required to make payments. Unfortunately, there are hundreds of parents currently in the County’s system who also go to great lengths to evade their child support obligations, even after arrest warrants have been issued for their arrest.

There are approximately 2,000 parents who fall into this category, and they owe over $2.5 million in child support payments. Before Supervisor Knabe secured $500,000 to launch the current program, CSSD did not have the means to proactively serve these warrants and seek out these parents. Under this new partnership with the District Attorney, CSSD is utilizing District Attorney Investigators to pursue these 2,000 parents.

Far too many families are struggling to pay their bills because people like Mr. John are choosing to evade or ignore their responsibilities, said Supervisor Knabe. I am very pleased to hear of the success our program is having in tracking down these uncooperative parents and getting them to pay their child support obligations.

Bridge Widening Complete On Stamy Road In South Whittier

The County of Los Angeles has completed construction on the widening of a bridge on Stamy Road over Leffingwell Creek in the unincorporated community of South Whittier, Supervisor Don Knabe announced recently.

In addition to widening the bridge on Stamy Road, the $892,554 project also included: the construction of a concrete barrier with picket railing, the construction of an asphalt paved sidewalk, and the installation of traffic signals.

By widening this bridge, both the drivers and pedestrians who use the bridge will benefit by crossing a safer bridge.

Norwalk Fire Station Receives The First Safely Surrendered Newborn Of 2008

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce that a baby girl was safely surrendered at a fire station in the City of Norwalk this morning. This was the first safe surrender of 2008.

The newborn Hispanic female was surrendered this morning at Los Angeles County Fire Station 20 in Norwalk and was transported to Downey Community Hospital, where she is reported to be in good health. As is standard practice, the baby girl is in protective custody and will eventually be placed with a family approved for adoption by the Department of Children and Family Services.

I want to thank this newborn’s mother for doing the right thing, said Supervisor Knabe. We have a law on the books to protect babies from abandonment and give the mother a safe, secure and anonymous way to get her child into safe hands. It is our goal that 2008 will be the first year with no abandoned newborns.

This is the first Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2008 and the sixty-third Safe Surrender since the program began six 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.

Supervisor Don Knabe Honored By Children’s Mental Health Agency For Support Of Children’s Causes

Intercommunity Child Guidance Center (ICGC), which provides comprehensive mental health and social services for children and their families, recently recognized Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe for spearheading landmark programs designed to safeguard children.

While on the Board of Supervisors, Don Knabe has repeatedly advocated for and supported groundbreaking programs to protect the lives of children and safeguard their environment, said ICGC Executive Director Charlene Dimas-Peinado. He’s truly been a champion of children’s causes throughout his career, as well as an advocate for children’s mental health services.

ICGC, which serves the Whittier and Southeast Los Angeles County area, presented its Children’s Champion Award to Supervisor Knabe during its recent 50th Anniversary Gala held at the historic Ritz Carlton Huntington Hotel and Spa in Pasadena.

Supervisor Knabe championed the County’s Safe Surrender Program in 2001, which allows a parent or guardian to drop off an infant, three days old or younger, to a hospital emergency room or other designated location without fear of arrest and prosecution. Based on the State’s Safe Haven Law, the program has saved the lives of more than 60 newborn children.

In addition, Supervisor Knabe led efforts for the creation of a Child Care Quality Review System in Los Angeles County, sought enhanced County’s oversight of the State-licensed Foster Family Homes program, led a drive to reform the County’s Department of Children’s and Family Services and helped to establish a rating system for child care centers to help parents make informed choices.

Proceeds from the gala dinner benefited the Early Attachments, that last a Lifetime Infant-Toddler Center, an ICGC project in partnership with Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital in Whittier. The Center will provide an early intervention and prevention program for families with infants at-risk for abuse, neglect or foster care placement with the goal of decreasing that risk by providing services aimed at fulfilling the well-being of the entire family system.

Hacienda Heights And Rowland Heights Receive New Community Marquee Signs

Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the implementation of the "Community Message Boards", electronic marquee signs recently constructed in the unincorporated communities of Hacienda Heights and Rowland Heights. The new message boards will help enhance the dissemination of important County information to passing motorists in these communities.

"It has always been my goal to effectively communicate with our residents in the unincorporated areas of the Fourth District, said Supervisor Knabe. These signs will go a long way towards achieving that goal.

The Hacienda Heights sign is centrally located on Hacienda Boulevard at Halliburton Road. The Rowland Heights sign can be found on Colima Road just west of Nogales Street.

Santa Returns To Whittier Parks

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe will join Mr. and Mrs. Claus and other special passengers on Monday, December 17 when they board the Here Comes Santa Holiday Train – an annual event that brings presents and fun in the snow to three locations in the Whittier area.

Every year this is a great occasion for families to come down and enjoy the spirit of the Holidays, said Supervisor Knabe. The kids have a great time visiting with Santa and playing in thousands of pounds of real snow.

The Holiday Train pulls into its first stop on December 17 at Amigo Park at 3:30 p.m., and then makes a stop at Parnell Park at 5 p.m.; finally it’s off to Adventure Park at 6:30 p.m. At each stop children will receive presents, get a chance to take pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus play in real snow. Over 3,000 children, parents and community members are expected to attend throughout the night.

Holiday Train Locations:

3:30 p.m. @ Amigo Park
5700 Juarez Avenue, Whittier, 90606

5 p.m. @ Parnell Park
10711 Scott Avenue, Whittier, 90604

6:30 p.m. @ Adventure Park
10130 South Gunn, Whittier, 90605

The County of Los Angeles Department Of Parks And Recreation Kicks Off The 2008 Junior Golf Program

The County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation has launched its Junior Golf Program. The Junior Golf Program will offer free golf lessons to youth ages 4 – 18 at a total of twelve participating Los Angeles County golf courses.

Celebrating its sixth year of introducing youth to the game of golf, the County of Los Angeles Junior Golf Program offers youth an opportunity to practice and learn the game of golf from professional instructors.

Each one-week Junior Golf session will take place every day from 3:45 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The County of Los Angeles Junior Golf Program will offer free lessons at the locations and dates below. Junior Golfers can enroll by calling the listed contacts.

Diamond Bar Golf Course

22751 East Golden Springs Drive

Diamond Bar, CA 91765

January 21-25 and January 28-February 1

Contact: Mike McMonegal

(626) 821-4648

Knollwood Golf Course

12040 Balboa Boulevard

Granada Hills, CA 91344

February 4-8 and February 11-15

Contact: Tim Smith

(626) 254-8533

La Mirada Golf Course

15501 East Alicante Road.

La Mirada, CA 90638

February 18-22 and 25-29

Contact: Mike McMonegal

(626) 821-4648

Altadena Golf Course

1456 East Mendocino Street

Altadena, CA 91001

March 10-14 and 17-21

Contact: Tim Smith

(626) 254-8533

Chester Washington Golf Course

1930 West 120th Street

Los Angeles, CA 90047

March 17-21 and 24-28

Contact: Mike McMonegal

(626) 821-4648

El Cariso Golf Course

13100 Eldridge Street

Sylmar, CA 91342

April 7-11 and 14-18

Contact: Tim Smith

(626) 254-8533

Victoria Golf Course

405 South Santa Anita Ave.

Arcadia, CA 91006

April 21-25 and April 28-May 2

Contact: Mike McMonegal

(626) 821-4648

Santa Anita Golf Course

405 South Santa Anita Ave.

Arcadia, CA 91006

May 5-9 and 12-16

Contact: Tim Smith

(626) 254-8533

Lakewood Golf Course

3101 East Carson Street

Lakewood, CA 90712

May 12-16 and 19-23

Contact: Mike McMonegal

(626) 821-4648

Alondra Golf Course

16400 South Prairie Ave.

Lawndale, CA 90260

June 2-6 and 16-20

Contact: Mike McMonegal

(626) 821-4648

Mountain Meadows Golf Course

1875 Fairplex Drive

Pomona, CA 91768

June 9-13 and 16-20

Contact: Tim Smith

(626) 254-8533

Los Angeles County To Appoint Hepatitis Coordinator

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has announced the creation of a groundbreaking new position, the Hepatitis Coordinator. This marks the first time such an appointment has been made in the County, highlighting the severity of the Hepatitis C (HCV) epidemic, which affects 180,000 people in the County.

Hepatitis C is a major global health issue – a ‘viral time bomb.’ It is clearly an important public health problem in Los Angeles County, said Dr. Robert Kim-Farley, MD, MPH, Director, Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

Our mission is to have a concerted effort to address this health issue countywide. With the additional resource of a coordinator, we will be able to expand and enhance our current activities. Collaborations with internal and external partners will be key to our success in raising awareness, providing treatment services and delivering technical assistance to other partners working against Hepatitis C.

There are now more people in Los Angeles infected with Hepatitis C than with HIV. Hepatitis C is a major cause of preventable death in the county with syringe-sharing as the primary method of transmission. Sexual transmission among men who have sex with men is also increasing the Hepatitis C epidemic.

The new Coordinator position is essential to addressing the needs of those with Hepatitis C and stopping the spread of the blood-borne virus. Despite the known and unknown number of Angelenos infected with Hepatitis C, the health crisis is not getting the attention it demands. The new county position will help change that, according to Brian Risley, Co-Chair, Hepatitis C Task Force for Los Angeles County.

For more information on the Hepatitis C Task Force or Hepatitis C, please visit
http://www.hepctaskforcela.org

It’s Time For Your Flu Shot LA County

Los Angeles County health officials announce that flu vaccines, including FluMist nasal spray, will be available at community health centers and community outreach clinics starting now through early December for groups at high risk for serious complications related to the flu. County community health centers are able to dispense free flu vaccine to qualifying patients without a regular health care provider or whose healthcare provider does not offer flu vaccine, regardless of income level. Qualified patients include those 50 years of age and older, children from six months to five years of age, women who will be pregnant during the flu season, or those with a medical condition that puts them at risk for flu complications (e.g. chronic heart or lung conditions, diabetes, or HIV/AIDS). There is no shortage of flu vaccine this season.

Influenza is a serious and highly contagious illness that is rapidly spread from person to person through uncovered coughs and sneezes. The virus may also be spread by touching an object with the virus on it and then touching ones mouth, nose or eyes. People with flu can start spreading the virus to others one day before symptoms appear and up to five days after showing signs of illness.

Some people could experience a few short-term side effects after getting a flu shot. These include soreness, redness or swelling at the vaccine site, low fever and aches. Symptoms should clear up within two days, but if they do not people should talk to a doctor. Side effects associated with the FluMist vaccine include runny nose or nasal congestion, sore throat in adults, and a fever higher than 100° in children two to six years of age.

For those whose usual health care providers do not have vaccine, other sources are available. Many pharmacies are administering flu vaccine. These and other places can be found by logging onto www.findaflushot.com

The following is the list of stops that the Outreach Program is going to be making in the Fourth District:

County Influenza Campaign Underway

The 2007-2008 Influenza Campaign is underway across Los Angeles County, Supervisor Don Knabe announced recently. The campaign will focus on administering flu vaccinations and delivering information to residents across the County. The campaign’s main program, the Flu Shot Outreach, will be making over 250 stops throughout the County from October 22 to January 6. The Flu Season is already upon us, but it is not too late to get your flu shot, said Supervisor Knabe. With this campaign underway, getting your vaccination will be as accessible as ever.
For other flu clinic information, including a link that allows individuals to search for a flu clinic near them, please visit the Department of Public Health’s immunization program website at http://www.lapublichealth.org/ip/flu/2007-2008.
The following is the list of stops that the Outreach Program is going to be making in the Fourth District: