Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe announced recently that the Marina del Rey WaterBus has almost doubled its ridership of last year. There have been 13,154 riders so far this year, compared to 6,995 riders at this time in 2008.

The popular summer weekend service will continue through September 7th. Riders can access the WaterBus by heading to any boarding location where a dock attendant will hail the next available WaterBus.

WaterBus service is available Fridays 5:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m., Saturdays 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m., and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Holiday WaterBus service is available for the 4th of July, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m., and Labor Day, September 7 from 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

There are seven Marina boarding locations including Fisherman’s Village at 13755 Fiji Way; Burton Chace Park at 13650 Mindanao Way; Waterfront Walk/Fire Station #110 at 4433 Admiralty Way; Mother’s Beach at 4101 Admiralty Way; Dolphin Marina at 13900 Panay Way, Dock Gate #C-200; Esprit I at 13900 Marquesas Way, Dock Gate #B-602 and Marina Harbor at 14028 Tahiti Way, Dock Gate #A-2200. Tickets are available at each boarding location for $1.00 per person, one-way. Season passes are available for purchase at the Fisherman’s Village location for $30.00.

All boarding locations are fully ADA compliant except Fisherman’s Village and parking is available at Los Angeles County lots located throughout Marina del Rey for a minimal fee.

WaterBus service will operate 5:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. during the Marina del Rey Summer Concerts on July 9 and 23, as well as, August 6 and 20 for concertgoers who prefer water transportation to and from the concerts.

Special WaterBus service is available for movie nights in Burton Chace Park on Thursday nights, July 30 and August 13 from 5:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m., and Saturday nights, August 8 and August 22, from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.

In addition to WaterBus service, the free, clean fuel, landside Beach Shuttles will circulate between Playa Vista, Marina del Rey and the Venice Beach Pier on summer weekends and during the Marina del Rey Summer Concert Series.

Visit the Beaches and Harbors website at http://marinadelrey.lacounty.gov to download a WaterBus schedule.

Los Angeles County is home to the largest number of gangs and gang members compared to any single region in the nation: the County has over 1,100 gangs with approximately 88,000 gang members. This complex community crisis is addressed through a coordinated effort involving innovative law enforcement strategies, participation by social service agencies, schools, public and mental health professionals, faith and community-based organizations, and community leaders.

In June 2007, Sheriff Leroy D. Baca announced The War on Gangs and the War on Tagging and provided a new vision for addressing the gang crisis. This Gang Strategy aims to achieve long-lasting success through prevention, intervention, and technology, while deploying aggressive suppression strategies. This comprehensive, four-pronged strategy has proven effective in lowering the crime rate, specifically violent crime, and improving the quality-of-life in our communities.

Prevention

Prevention programs furnish our youth with tools to make positive decisions and promotes the self-esteem needed to abstain from the peer pressure used in gang recruitment and involvement. The Sheriff’s Youth Activities League (YAL), the Explorer Program and Success Through Awareness and Resistance (STAR) program are three well-established and proven prevention programs currently in use. Each year approximately 5,000 youth participate in the YAL, 25,000 students attend STAR classes, and 417 of our potential future leaders serve in the Explorer program.

Intervention

Intervention programs are directed toward youth that have shown a movement toward juvenile delinquency and who have been identified as being a candidate for intervention services. One of the most successful intervention programs is the Vital Intervention Directional Alternatives (VIDA) program. Since the inception of VIDA in 1997, over 7,000 at-risk youth have successfully completed the program.

Suppression

Suppression is a coordinated and unified response to the gang crisis and is the most critical component in impacting gang violence. The Gang Strategy uses a strategic and comprehensive approach to suppression, and includes the following resources dedicated to combating the gang crisis: the Gang Enforcement Team, Operation Safe Street investigators, Crime Impact Team, High Impact Team, crime analysts and others. With this coordinated and unified suppression response to the gang crisis, violent crime has decreased steadily throughout the County.

Technology

Multiple instruments of technology compliment each other to identify, track, and gather information related to gang activity. The Crime Analysis Center (CAC) was created to provide real-time information and data analysis for immediate redeployment of personnel and reallocation of resources to impacted areas. Other technologies make it possible to: catalog and manage gang information in various jurisdictional boundaries; set up and monitor video surveillance; detect acoustic gunshots; and, automatically recognize license plates when in the field. Additionally, the e-Trace firearms tracing system tracks the movement of firearms from manufacturer to purchaser, and provides instant web access to nationwide gun crime records.

Does it Work?

The Gang Strategy of Prevention, Intervention, Suppression, and Technology has proven effective in the overall reduction of crime. Since the implementation of this four-pronged Strategy in 2007, compared to the same time period the previous year, there were 36 fewer homicides, 581 fewer assaults with firearms, and 1434 fewer Part-1 crimes (criminal homicide, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, larceny theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson) reported.

What is in L.A. County’s Future?

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department continues to seek new and innovative ways to measurably impact gang crime. The Department has embarked on a focused campaign to direct resources and address the gang problem in all 23 Sheriff’s Station areas. Also being explored is the development of an intervention center aimed at coordinating services to prevent gang violence. The result of the War on Gangs has produced remarkable reductions in criminal gang activity and the Sheriff’s Department will continue its work to create safer communities throughout Los Angeles County.

The traditional fireworks extravaganza over the main channel in Marina del Rey will take place this Saturday evening, July 4th, starting promptly at 9:00 p.m. and lasting approximately 20 minutes.

This year’s display presents the famed Zambelli Pyrotechnics, which originated more than 100 years ago in Italy and follows the Italian tradition of huge finales. The fireworks are choreographed to patriotic music, which will be broadcast in sync with the display over FM radio KXLU, 88.9 on the dial. Those watching can tune their radios to listen to the simulcast. The music will be relayed over loudspeakers in Burton Chace Park, for onlookers there.

Burton Chace Park, located at 13650 Mindanao Way and Fisherman’s Village, at 13755 Fiji Way, as well as the beaches in Marina del Rey and Playa del Rey are premiere locations for viewing the pyrotechnic extravaganza. Parking is available in county lots throughout the Marina for a $5-7 entrance fee and at Fisherman’s Village for $1.00 per half hour, $8.00 maximum.

Marina del Rey WaterBus service will operate on the 4th of July from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m. for a fare of $1.00 per person, one way. Tickets are available for purchase at seven boarding locations including Fisherman’s Village at 13755 Fiji Way; Burton Chace Park at 13650 Mindanao Way; Waterfront Walk/Fire Station #110 at 4433 Admiralty Way; Marina Mother’s Beach at 4101 Admiralty Way; Dolphin Marina at 13900 Panay Way, Dock Gate # C-200; Esprit I at 13900 Marquesas Way, Dock Gate #B-417 and Marina Harbor at 14028 Tahiti Way, Dock Gate # A-2200.

The Beach Shuttle will provide service from 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Both forms of transportation offer an alternative way to travel around the Marina during the holiday.

Additional information is available by visiting the Department of Beaches and Harbors website at:
http://www.marinadelrey.lacounty.gov

The County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation will modify its summer hours for public lake swim beaches and close three of its public lakes for swimming on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays beginning July 6, 2009 until September 7, 2009.

There will not be any lifeguards on duty at the swim beaches on the days the lake swim beaches will be closed. Signs will be posted at park entrances and various locations near the lakes advising the public of the swim beach closures. Hours for the County of Los Angeles Nature Center buildings and displays will also be modified and the buildings and displays will close on non-holiday Mondays beginning July 6, 2009. The Nature Center facilities will remain open for all other access such as hiking and picnicking.

The closure of these County Regional lakes and Nature Centers on certain days is due to the reduction in staffing hours because of County budget curtailments. There will not be any lifeguards on duty at the swim beaches on the days the public lake swim beaches will be closed. The County of Los Angeles appreciates the public’s cooperation and compliance to these restrictions.

County of Los Angeles lakes that will be closed for swimming are Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, 15501 East Arrow Highway in Irwindale; Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park, 120 Via Verde Drive in San Dimas; and Castaic Lake State Recreation Area, 32132 Castaic Lake Drive in Castaic. Although swimming will be restricted, the lakes and the surrounding resort areas will remain open for picnicking, boating, fishing and all other recreational activities.

The County Nature Center buildings and displays will be open Tuesdays – Sundays from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Although the Nature Center buildings will be closed on non-holiday Mondays, the Natural Areas will still be open for hiking and picnicking. The Nature Center buildings that will be closed on non-holiday Mondays are:

Deane Dana Friendship Community Regional Park & Nature Center

1805 West 9th Street

San Pedro, CA 90732

(310) 519-6115

Devil’s Punchbowl Natural Area

28000 Devil’s Punchbowl Road

Pearblossom, CA 93553

(661) 944-2743

Eaton Canyon Nature Center

1750 North Altadena Drive

Pasadena, CA 91107

(626) 398-5420

Placerita Canyon Natural Area & Nature Center

19152 Placerita Canyon Road

Newhall, CA 91321

(661) 259-7721

San Dimas Canyon Community Regional Park & Nature Center

1628 North Sycamore Canyon Road

San Dimas, CA 91773

(909) 599-7512

Vasquez Rocks Natural Area & Nature Center

10700 West Escondido Canyon Road

Agua Dulce, CA 91390

(661) 268-0840

Whittier Narrows Nature Center

1000 North Durfee Avenue

South El Monte, CA 91733

(626) 575-5523

For information regarding all County of Los Angeles community and regional parks, museums, nature centers and more please visit the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation website at: www.lacountyparks.org

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will conduct an extended closure this weekend on the northbound and southbound Long Beach Freeway (I-710) from the Artesia Freeway (SR-91) to the San Diego Freeway (I-405). The work is part of the Long Life Pavement Rehabilitation Project from the I-405 to Firestone Boulevard.

FULL FREEWAY CLOSURE

Northbound and Southbound I-710 from SR-91 to I-405

1) Saturday, June 27, 2009, 12:01 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.

2) Sunday, June 28, 2009, 11:00 p.m. to Monday, June 29, 2009, 5:00 a.m.

CLOSED RAMPS:

Northbound I-710 on-ramps at Long Beach Boulevard and Del Amo Boulevard

Southbound I-710 off-ramps at Long Beach Boulevard, Del Amo Boulevard, and Artesia Boulevard

CLOSED FREEWAY CONNECTORS:

Northbound and southbound I-405 to northbound I-710

Eastbound and westbound SR-91 to southbound I-710

Beginning Saturday at 6:00 a.m. until Sunday 11:00 p.m., a reduced number of lanes on northbound I-710 will be open to motorists. All traffic will flow in northbound I-710 lanes while construction continues in southbound I-710 lanes throughout the weekend.

Vehicle speeds will be reduced to 45 mph in the construction zone. Oversized loads are not permitted throughout the weekend due to narrower lane widths. To decrease delay time, motorists are advised to use alternate routes around the project area.

The work involves rehabilitating aging pavement to provide a roadway with several decades of service life, improved pavement performance and a smoother ride for the traveling public. Nine miles of pavement is being replaced with 10″ inches of Long Life Asphalt Concrete. Roadway widening will occur where possible to provide standard lanes and shoulder widths. Since the construction began in October 2008, Caltrans has completed pavement replacement on northbound and southbound I-710 between SR-91 and I-105.

More information on the Long Life Pavement Rehabilitation Project is available on the Caltrans District 7 website at www.dot.ca.gov/dist07

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will conduct an extended closure the next two weekends on northbound and southbound Long Beach Freeway (I-710) from the Artesia Freeway (SR-91) to the San Diego Freeway (I-405). The work is part of the Long Life Pavement Rehabilitation Project from the I-405 to Firestone Boulevard.

FULL FREEWAY CLOSURE

Northbound and Southbound I-710 from SR-91 to I-405

1) Saturday, July 11, 2009, 12:01 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.

2) Sunday, July 12, 2009, 11:00 p.m. to Monday, July 13, 2009, 5:00 a.m.

and

3) Saturday, July 18, 2009, 12:01 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.

4) Sunday, July 19, 2009, 11:00 p.m. to Monday, July 20, 2009, 5:00 a.m.

CLOSED RAMPS

Northbound I-710 on-ramps at Long Beach Boulevard and Del Amo Boulevard

Southbound I-710 off-ramps at Long Beach Boulevard, Del Amo Boulevard, and Artesia Boulevard

CLOSED FREEWAY CONNECTORS

Northbound and southbound I-405 to northbound I-710

Eastbound and westbound SR-91 to southbound I-710

Beginning Saturday at 6:00 a.m. until Sunday 11:00 p.m., a reduced number of lanes on northbound I-710 will be open to motorists. All traffic will flow in northbound I-710 lanes while construction continues in southbound I-710 lanes throughout the weekend.

Vehicle speeds will be reduced to 45 mph in the construction zone. Oversized loads are not permitted throughout the weekend due to narrower lane widths. To decrease delay time, motorists are advised to use alternate routes around the project area.

The work involves rehabilitating aging pavement to provide a roadway with several decades of service life, improved pavement performance and a smoother ride for the traveling public. Nine miles of pavement is being replaced with 10″ inches of Long Life Asphalt Concrete. Roadway widening will occur where possible to provide standard lanes and shoulder widths. Since the construction began in October 2008, Caltrans has completed pavement replacement on northbound and southbound I-710 between SR-91 and I-105.

More information on the Long Life Pavement Rehabilitation Project is available on the Caltrans District 7 website at www.dot.ca.gov/dist07

Supervisor Don Knabe, Chairman of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, announced approval of a $181,000 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funded traffic signal installation project to reduce traffic congestion and increase pedestrian safety in the unincorporated community of Marina del Rey. This is one of the first projects in Southern California to be funded under President Obama’s economic stimulus funding program.

The intersection where the new traffic signals will be installed is located at Admiralty Way at Marina City Club Drive in Marina del Rey. This project is one of 19 transportation infrastructure projects that the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works will be delivering throughout the County using over $46 million of ARRA funds. This project will be advertised for construction bids later this month.

ARRA is intended to not only save existing jobs and create new ones, but also to improve our local infrastructure with projects exactly like this one, said Supervisor Knabe. We will be using these stimulus funds not to grow government, but instead to grow our local businesses that we will be contracting with to complete these projects.

Public Works is actively seeking small businesses and community based enterprises to bid on contracts for this and future ARRA Stimulus projects. County businesses seeking more information regarding this and future ARRA Stimulus projects may visit the Public Works Business Outreach website at: http://dpw.lacounty.gov/PRG/business

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will conduct an extended closure this weekend on the northbound and southbound Long Beach Freeway (I-710) from the Artesia Freeway (State Route 91) to the San Diego Freeway (I-405). The work is part of the Long Life Pavement Rehabilitation Project from the I-405 to Firestone Boulevard. Twice this weekend, I-710 will fully close to motorists as follows:

FULL FREEWAY CLOSURE
Northbound and Southbound I-710 from SR-91 to I-405

Saturday, June 6, 2009, 12:01 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.

Sunday, June 7, 2009, 11:00 p.m. to Monday, June 8, 2009, 5:00 a.m.

CLOSED RAMPS
All on-ramps and off-ramps on I-710 at Long Beach Boulevard, Del Amo Boulevard and Artesia Boulevard will be closed.

CLOSED FREEWAY CONNECTORS

Northbound and southbound I-405 to northbound I-710

Eastbound and westbound SR-91 to southbound I-710

Beginning Saturday 6:00 a.m. until Sunday 11:00 p.m., a reduced number of lanes on northbound I-710 will be available to motorists: two lanes for northbound flow and three lanes for southbound flow. All traffic will flow in the northbound I-710 lanes while construction work continues in the southbound I-710 lanes throughout the weekend.

Vehicle speeds will be reduced to 45 mph. Oversized loads are not permitted throughout the weekend due to narrower lane widths. To decrease delay time, motorists are advised to use alternate routes around the project area.

The work involves rehabilitating aging pavement to provide a roadway with several decades of service life, improved pavement performance and a smoother ride for the traveling public. Nine miles of pavement is being replaced with 10″ inches of Long Life Asphalt Concrete. Roadway widening will occur where possible to provide standard lanes and shoulder widths. Caltrans has completed pavement replacement on the northbound and southbound I-710 between SR-91 and I-105, which began late October, 2008.

More information on the Long Life Pavement Rehabilitation Project is available on the Caltrans District 7 website at www.dot.ca.gov/dist07

Supervisor Don Knabe, Chairman of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, announced that all customers of the Marina del Rey Water System will be required to reduce their water usage by 15 percent, effective July 2009. Based on a number of factors that have significantly reduced the water supply available to Southern California, West Basin Municipal Water District, a wholesale water supplier, will reduce the amount of water it provides to the Marina del Rey Water System by 15 percent.

"This means that all the customers in Marina del Rey will have to do their part to manage with limited water," said Supervisor Knabe. "The substantial surcharges for excessive usage will have to be passed through to those customers who do not cut back by 15 percent."

Both 2007 and 2008 were record-breaking dry years in California with very little rainfall. This required water agencies throughout the State to draw down the water stored in reservoirs to meet customer demand. In addition, a Court decision to prohibit pumping water from the Sacramento Delta to protect an endangered species of fish reduced available water supplies even further. In June 2008 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a drought and Supervisor Knabe introduced a motion to take immediate steps to conserve water in Los Angeles County.

"Although the measures the County has already taken have produced good results, the situation continues to worsen," said Supervisor Knabe. "Reduced supplies and increased costs are going to be a fact of life this summer at least."

"Now is the time for customers to take advantage of our free conservation programs," said Melinda Barrett, Water Conservation Manager for the Marina del Rey Water System. "We offer on-site water-use evaluations and rebates for water-saving devices that can make it easier for customers to stay within their target."

The cutbacks will require customers to use no more than 85 percent of the water used during previous billing periods or face surcharges. The charges are 2 times the normal rate on water used up to 15 percent over the target and 3 times the normal rate for any water used beyond that. If the water situation worsens, the Marina del Rey Water System could advance to a Phase III Shortage, which would require customers to reduce by 20 percent.

The Marina del Rey Water System is operated by the County of Los Angeles Waterworks Districts and serves all customers in the Marina. For more information about the water restrictions or to find out about conservation programs, call Melinda Barrett, Water Conservation Manager at (626) 300-3362 or visit
www.lacwaterworks.org

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will conduct an extended closure this weekend on the northbound and southbound Long Beach Freeway (I-710) from the Artesia Freeway (State Route 91) to the San Diego Freeway (I-405). The work is part of the Long Life Pavement Rehabilitation Project from the I-405 to Firestone Boulevard. Twice this weekend, I-710 will fully close to motorists as follows:

FULL FREEWAY CLOSURE:
Northbound and Southbound I-710 from SR-91 to I-405

1) Saturday, May 30, 2009, 12:01 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.

2) Sunday, May 31, 2009, 11:00 p.m. to Monday, June 1, 2009, 5:00 a.m.

CLOSED RAMPS:
All on-ramps and off-ramps on I-710 at Long Beach Boulevard, Del Amo Boulevard and Artesia Boulevard will be closed.

CLOSED FREEWAY CONNECTORS:

Northbound and southbound I-405 to northbound I-710

Eastbound and westbound SR-91 to southbound I-710

Beginning Saturday 6:00 a.m. until Sunday 11:00 p.m., a reduced number of lanes on northbound I-710 will be available to motorists: two lanes for northbound flow and three lanes for southbound flow. All traffic will flow in the northbound I-710 lanes while construction work continues in the southbound I-710 lanes throughout the weekend.

Vehicle speeds will be reduced to 45 mph. Oversized loads are not permitted throughout the weekend due to narrower lane widths. To decrease delay time, motorists are advised to use alternate routes around the project area.

The work involves rehabilitating aging pavement to provide a roadway with several decades of service life, improved pavement performance and a smoother ride for the traveling public. Nine miles of pavement is being replaced with 10″ inches of Long Life Asphalt Concrete. Roadway widening will occur where possible to provide standard lanes and shoulder widths. Caltrans has completed pavement replacement on the northbound and southbound I-710 between SR-91 and I-105, which began late October, 2008.

More information on the Long Life Pavement Rehabilitation Project is available on the Caltrans District 7 website at www.dot.ca.gov/dist07