Issues

Traffic Signal Upgrade Project Planned for Carson Street in Long Beach

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe announced plans today for the County to contract for the synchronization of traffic signals along Carson Street in Long Beach and portions of Lakewood and Hawaiian Gardens.

The project involves the synchronizing of traffic signals at 28 different intersections along a 7.3-mile stretch of Carson Street between Long Beach Boulevard and Bloomfield Avenue. Synchronizing the signals and improving their operation will reduce traffic delays on this route.

The project is the result of a joint partnership between the City of Long Beach and the County of Los Angeles, with both agencies contributing a portion of the construction funding. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $2.13 million, with $1.7 million coming from a Metropolitan Transportation Authority grant, $205,000 from the County and $221,000 from the City of Long Beach.

The project is part of the County’s ongoing program of synchronizing traffic signals to improve the flow of traffic on streets and highways.

Young Boxer to be Honored by Board of Supervisors

The successes of nine-year-old boxing prodigy Moises mighty Mo Orozco will be recognized and honored by Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, October 3, 2006 at 9:30 a.m.

Mighty Mo is not only a straight-A student from Long Beach, but he has also scored several top honors in the boxing ring, despite his young age.

Mighty Mo was the surprise participant at the recent 4th Annual Desert Showdown Invitational Amateur Boxing tournament, taking top honors in the 60-pound division. Not only did Orozco capture his division, but the Desert Showdown was also the first tournament he had ever entered. The five-day tournament is the largest amateur competition in the Southwest.

So far in 2006, Orozco has also captured the Junior Olympics 60-pound championship, the Junior Golden Gloves 65-pound championship, and the Ringside World 65-pound championship. Orozco is undefeated in 2006 and is currently preparing for his first Silver Gloves Tournament, scheduled for this November. He is also planning to travel to Maui in the near future to compete against their local champion.

‘Mighty Mo’ has shown that he’s a terrific athlete, considering he’s received less than two years of formal training, but he’s also excelled as an outstanding student, said Supervisor Knabe. I’m proud to recognize the many accomplishments he’s achieved at such an early age.

Safe Surrender Protected by Governor’s Veto

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe offered his thanks to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today for vetoing a bill that would have placed the success of the statewide Safe Haven Law in jeopardy.

Under the proposed legislation, AB 1873 by Assemblyman Alberto Torrico (D-Fremont), the Safe Haven window would have been extended to 30 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. The person who surrenders the newborn is protected from prosecution, No Shame, No Blame and No Names.

Extending the window from 72 hours to 30 days could have created serious medical issues said Supervisor Knabe, who championed the formation of Safe Surrender, the Los Angeles County version of the Safe Haven Program, over five years ago.

Access to quality medical care in the first hours of life is an absolutely critical component that could have been placed in jeopardy had this legislation gone through, said Knabe. 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. That is a risk we simply cannot afford and we appreciate the Governor’s veto.

Los Angeles County has been at the forefront of implementing the Safe Haven Law. Since its enactment in 2002, 45 babies have been safely surrendered in Los Angeles County – almost one-third of all the newborns saved in California.
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Knabe Selected as Chairman of the I-710 Freeway Improvement Project

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe has been elected as the new Chair of the I-710 Executive Committee.

The central function of the I-710 Executive Committee is to provide policy guidance and general direction to the I-710 Corridor Improvement Program. The project will be a difficult undertaking that seeks to make major refurbishments to the 710 Freeway and its surrounding environment that connects the County’s two seaports to the rest of the region. This 20-mile stretch of freeway is a vital part of the trade capacity of the entire region.

I appreciate the support of my colleagues in selecting me to Chair this important committee, said Supervisor Knabe. This committee has a difficult task ahead of it, but improving the 710 will be good for the entire region. Reducing congestion and improving safety on this freeway will not only benefit the surrounding neighborhoods, but also the private and commercial drivers that use the freeway daily.

Other members of the committee include: Los Angeles County Supervisors Gloria Molina and Yvonne Burke, City of Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster, City of Long Beach Vice Mayor Bonnie Lowenthal, City of Commerce Mayor Nancy Ramos, Caltrans District 7 Director Doug Failing, Port of Long Beach Commissioner Mike Walter and Port of Los Angeles Commissioner Jerilyn Mendoza.

Supervisor Knabe Announces New Avalon Lifeguard and Paramedic Headquarters

A state-of-the-art lifeguard and paramedic headquarters building will soon be built in the city of Avalon. Construction moved one step closer to reality today when the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to accept a donated piece of land by the City of Avalon for the building to be constructed on.

The Avalon Lifeguard facility will also have one unique feature among all of the County’s similar buildings. This will be the first to include dormitory space for workers. County lifeguards are on-call for 24-hour periods, meaning that anyone stationed in Avalon would need to secure to housing in the City’s small and expensive housing market. With the new building, workers will be able to complete their shifts with out having to acquire housing off-site.

The structure will include administrative offices, staff housing and equipment storage. Construction will begin later this year, and the station is expected to be ready no sooner than September 2007.

Cerritos Regional Park to Receive Renovation Overhaul

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has approved a contract that will provide significant improvements and renovations at Cerritos Regional Park, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today.

The project which is scheduled to begin on July 24, 2006, has been split into two phases. Phase I will include the following major refurbishments: renovation of 35 acres of turf, cobblestone treatment on two deteriorated slopes, waterproofing of selected exterior gymnasium walls, creation of new parking, installation of new park lighting, and the relocation of trees. Phase II includes the construction of an ADA accessible restroom, additional park lighting, and other park improvements.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works will oversee the project which has a total budget of $12,077,000. Public Works will be working with Los Angeles Engineering, Inc., the firm that was awarded the construction contract, to carry out the project, and the department’s estimated date of completion is June 18, 2007.

This project is about making a reinvestment in our community, said Supervisor Knabe. These park improvements will not only increase the quality of life for the residents of Cerritos, but also the residents of the surrounding communities that utilize this park.

The project will be phased to limit the impact on park use, and the park will remain open during construction. Although park space will be reduced, current County services and projects at the park will not be negatively impacted.

26 Arts Groups from the Fourth District to Receive Grants from the Arts Commission

Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce grants to 26 arts organizations from the 4th District. The Los Angeles County Arts Commission Organizational Grant Program (OGP) grants were awarded competitively and reviewed and scored by panels.

The grants for the 4th District are part of awards totaling $4,518,000 to over 250 nonprofit arts organizations countywide for the fiscal year 2006-07 to create visual and performing arts projects, strengthen infrastructure, and provide access to the arts for children and adults. The total allocation doubled the $2,259,000 from 2005-06. This appropriation makes the Los Angeles County Arts Commission the largest public funder of the arts in Los Angeles County.

Our entire community will benefit from this increase, but I am particularly pleased with the impact it will have on young people, said Supervisor Knabe. From my youth, the arts have been a personal passion of mine. Children with opportunities in the arts have a lifelong benefit.

Grant recipients based in or providing most of their services to the 4th District are listed below. A double asterisk next to the organization name indicates a first-time grantee.

ORGANIZATIONAL GRANT PROGRAM I / SMALL BUDGET ORGANIZATIONS

Camerata Singers of Long Beach

Concert Singers **

Excelsus Music Collaborators **

FirstStage

Regina Klenjoski Dance Company

South Coast Chorale

ORGANIZATIONAL GRANT PROGRAM II / MID-SIZE BUDGET ORGANIZATIONS

Chamber Orchestra of the South Bay

Downey Symphonic Society, Inc.

Institute of Art, Music and Science

Khmer Arts Academy

Masters of Harmony **

Peninsula Symphony Association

San Pedro Ballet

Shakespeare by the Sea

ORGANIZATIONAL GRANT PROGRAM 2.5 / MID-SIZE BUDGET ORGANIZATIONS

Angels Gate Cultural Center

Friends of the Cerritos Center

International City Theatre

International Documentary Association

Long Beach Opera

Arts Council for Long Beach

Torrance Cultural Arts Center Foundation

ORGANIZATIONAL GRANT PROGRAM III / LARGE BUDGET ORGANIZATIONS

Arts and Services for Disabled, Inc. **

Long Beach Museum of Art Foundation

Long Beach Symphony Orchestra

Museum of Latin American Art

Palos Verdes Art Center
**A double asterisk next to the organization name indicates a first-time grantee.

Newborn Safely Surrendered at Pomona Hospital

A newborn girl has just become the 45 th baby handed over under the Safe Surrender Program, Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe announced this morning.

The baby girl was safely surrendered yesterday at Pomona Valley Medical Center. This incident is the ninth Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2006 and the 45 th since the program began in 2001.

The Safe Surrender Program in Los Angeles County was initiated by Supervisor Knabe and approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors in June of 2002. 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.

This case could have ended in tragedy, but because of the Safe Surrender program, this baby girl has a long life ahead of her, said Supervisor Knabe. I am happy this mother made the right choice for her baby.

As is standard practice, the newborn girl will be immediately placed in protective custody by the Department of Children and Family Services and placed with a foster adoptive family.

Harbor Boulevard Wildlife Underpass Completed in La Habra Heights

Supervisor Don Knabe announced today that the Harbor Boulevard Wildlife Underpass in the La Habra Heights is now complete. Supervisor Knabe will participate in a dedication ceremony and press conference at the site on Thursday, June 1st at 11:00 a.m.

Harbor Boulevard is a major thoroughfare that connects Orange and Los Angeles Counties. Because of the high volume of vehicle traffic, it was necessary to provide a crossing that could both protect the wildlife while not inhibiting the traffic flow.

Construction began in September 2005, and consists of an 18 foot high by 20 foot wide tunnel that is approximately 160 feet long built directly underneath Harbor Boulevard. The project was a collaboration of Supervisor Don Knabe, the Habitat Authority and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works.

This underpass will make crossing Harbor Boulevard safer for not only our local wildlife, but for motorists as well, said Supervisor Knabe. We are honored to have been a part of the team bringing this solution to this wildlife corridor, and we are looking forward to the long-term benefits for both local residents and for wildlife in the area.

Members of media are welcome to attend this event. The underpass is located on the Westside of Harbor Boulevard, North of Fullerton Road; there will be no parking on the Eastside of Harbor Boulevard. Sheriffs and Rangers will be on hand to guide traffic.

Free Los Angeles Philharmonic Concert Coming to the Fourth District

Supervisor Don Knabe today was pleased to announce that the Los Angeles Philharmonic will be performing in the Fourth District at Rolling Hills Covenant Church on Wednesday, May 24 at 8:00 PM.

This free concert will be the first of four Neighborhood Concerts that are part of the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Target Around Town concert series. The conductor of the Rolling Hills concert will be Lisbon native, Joana Carneiro. Carneiro’s program for the evening will include Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain, Liadov’s Baba-Yaga, The Enchanted Lake, and Kikimora, and Stravinsky’s The Firebird.

I am thrilled that the Los Angeles Philharmonic is once again making a stop in the Fourth District, said Supervisor Knabe. This is a unique opportunity to see the LA Phil perform outside of downtown, and I encourage our residents to attend this free concert.

Tickets for the Rolling Hills Covenant Church performance are free with a limit of six tickets per request, and the tickets may be picked up at the main church office. For more information, please call (310) 521-2514. Rolling Hills Covenant Church is located at 2222 Palos Verdes Drive North in the City of Rolling Hills Estates.