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Proudly serving the communities of Lake View Terrace,
La Tuna Canyon, Mission Hills, North Hills, Pacoima, Shadow Hills,
Sunland-Tujunga and Sylmar.
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October 2015
Dear Friends,
Recently, homelessness, in our neighborhoods, made headlines in the Los Angeles Times. ( LA Times story) Sylmar was front and center. As many of you know, homelessness is a City-wide issue, and not limited to our District.
Recently, several City leaders pledged $100 million to aid in this housing crisis.
Since taking office, I've had numerous conversations with community members concerned about the growing need for services in our District as well as ideas on tackling this challenge. The Daily News Editorial Board reiterated the immediate need for our fair share of services in the Northeast San Fernando Valley.
Recently, I've collaborated with LA Family Housing and its partner, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, to provide services and headquarters for their offices, in our district.
We will have direct access to the case workers and managers who are in the trenches and on the lines helping homeless individuals' every day. By partnering with these service providers, we are responding to the growing need for services for chronically homeless individuals.
Additionally, my office has been working hard, collaborating with the County and a number of organizations to connect our homeless community with the resources they need.
Tackling this challenge is not easy, it's hard. It takes willingness and lot of collaboration from the City, the County, and various local organizations to make a difference.
The end goal is to ensure EVERYONE in our communities is safe and receives the services they need and deserve.
As always, I welcome your feedback and appreciate your continued support.
Councilmember, Seventh District
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Keeping Our Neighborhoods Safe
Maintaining the quality of life while keeping our neighborhoods safe, in Council District Seven, have been my priorities. After hearing from numerous community members in Sylmar, I've been working with the Los Angeles Fire Department to bring more resources. This month, I introduced two motions which will help in that mission. To address safety concerns now, LAFD rolled out a Fast Response Vehicle (FRV) as a tool to help reduce response times. Residents will see this FRV rolling in our streets. (Stay tuned for a video.) For a long-term solution, I'm working with LAFD on the feasibility of building a new fire station in the area, expanding Fire Station 91, or other ways to increase resources. Thank you Sylmar Neighborhood Council for collaborating on this important matter.
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2nd Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival in Pacoima
Over the weekend, Councilmember Felipe Fuentes hosted the Second Annual Dia de los Muertos festival at Pacoima City Hall to celebrate one another as well as to commemorate loved ones who have passed away. It was the ONLY two-day event in the City.
More than 20 altars were on display, sponsored by various schools, businesses and organizations throughout the District. To keep the crowds entertained, there was live music and entertainment from nearly two dozen groups including Very Be Careful and the Woodcraft Rangers Mariachi of Haddon Elementary School.
Because the Councilmember believes the arts and culture are economic drivers, he worked to bring the 'Museo al Aire Libre' initiative to Council District Seven. For the first-ever 'Museo Art Exhibit,' more than 30 artists including 'Meet Frankie C' and the GR818ers, displayed their pieces of art.
Thanks to Pacoima Beautiful and the GR818ers, kids got their faces painted and enjoyed decorating their own masks.
Thank you to all for making this year's Festival a huge success! We will see you next year!
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Cleaning, Greening Council District Seven
The CD7 Cleanup Crew joined community members of the Hansen Hills Neighborhood Watch, the Los Angeles Police Department Foothill Division Cadets, and the Sunburst Youth Academy to freshen up areas around Glenoaks Boulevard, from Terra Bella Avenue to Osborne Street. Volunteers pulled weeds, swept sidewalks, picked up bulky items and collected trash. Thanks to the work, volunteers filled up half of a roll-off bin. Keeping our communities safe and clean is a 365 days a year job. Thank you to the community members and the Northeast Valley Graffiti Busters for successfully beautifying our neighborhood
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Museo al Aire Libre Launches With Bus Bench Bhoto Project
The Northeast San Fernando Valley, and Pacoima in particular is a neighborhood rich in art and cultural assets. Pacoima's Van Nuys Boulevard has been used by artists as a workspace for pieces of public art known as "Mural Mile." Because of this, I worked with the Department of Cultural Affairs, to lead an effort to recognize and promote the arts, culture, education, business and environmental accomplishments and future endeavors, called the "Museo al Aire Libre" initiative. On Friday, October 16th, we launched the initiative with twelve bus benches, centered around Pacoima City Hall, adorned with photographs depicting life in the community. The bus bench project introduces the "Museo al Aire Libre" with the masterful photography of local artist "Meet Frankie C." The photo series is titled "Te Amo Pacoima." The initiative aims to activate, engage and revitalize Council District Seven through a series of outdoor & indoor urban art projects and events. Additionally, it will promote and support local talent and engage its residents through public art. The arts and culture are drivers of economic development. It's my belief, through collaborations, we will be contributing to the civic fabric that makes our City a great place to live, work, and play. The bus bench photo project will be on view from October 16th through November 18th at the following intersections:
- Glenoaks Blvd & Pierce St;
- Van Nuys Blvd & Glenoaks Blvd;
- San Fernando Rd & Paxton St;
- Glenoaks Blvd & Osborne St;
- Laurel Canyon Blvd & Terra Bella St;
- Laurel Canyon Blvd & Filmore St;
- San Fernando Rd & Pierce St;
- Van Nuys Blvd & Glenoaks Blvd;
- Van Nuys Blvd & Herrick Ave;
- Van Nuys Blvd & Norris Ave;
- Van Nuys Blvd & Ralston Ave, and
- San Fernando Rd & Terra Bella St.
The bus bench photo project is the first in a series of projects which will be launched in the coming months for the "Museo al aire Libre." In a few weeks, local artists will display their work at an art exhibit during the Dia de los Muertos festival at Pacoima City Hall, October 31 - November 1.
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MAKING A CHANGE IN
THE COMMUNITY
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More Supportive, Affordable , Permanent Housing in CD7
An important effort to turn around homelessness in Los Angeles was celebrated on October 15th with the formal opening of the Moonlight Villas project, an affordable apartment complex in Pacoima, designed to provide young adults and families' safe and supportive housing. The 27-unit complex was built specifically for young adults who are aged-out of foster care, as well as single mothers, who are homeless or are especially vulnerable to ending up homeless. The opening comes just days after the Los Angeles City Council declared a state of emergency on homelessness. The project was co-developed by the Los Angeles Housing Partnership (LAHP) and Penny Lane Centers-Abbey Road. I am proud and grateful to have the Moonlight Villas in the District. Because of this private-public partnership, individuals, who need our help the most, will have the chance to lead productive lives without fear of being on the streets. This is an important step in our goal to build more permanent supportive and affordable housing to tackle the city's homelessness challenge. The Moonlight Villas complex was financed through a combination of federal housing tax credits, tax-exempt multi-family housing conduit revenue bonds issued by the City of Los Angeles, state housing credits, and private investment.
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Sustainable living in Pacoima
GRID alternatives greater Los Angeles held its sixth annual Solarthon at the Pacoima District Office. The organization worked with community members to install six solar systems on six homes in Pacoima. The goal is to save thousands of dollars over the homeowners' lifetime, prevent thousands of tons of greenhouse gases from entering the earth's atmosphere and provide training to connect workers with green, middle class jobs. This is one of the many great investments in our community that is aimed toward the well-being of all residents. These six systems will bring 21.9 kilowatts of power, save the residents a total of $ 235,249 in savings over the system's lifetime. Four hundred and eighty three tons of greenhouse gases will be prevented from getting into the atmosphere. This is equivalent of planting 11,350 trees. Thank you GRID Alternatives Greater Los Angeles for investing in green energy in our community. Thank you to the homeowners who are eager to have this green technology installed in their homes.
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CONGRATULATIONS & RECOGNITIONS
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Good luck "Robotic Nerds"
Just days before the "Robotic Nerds" of Pacoima Charter Elementary competed in the First Lego League Los Angeles Competition, I invited the team, the school's principal, coaches and parents to City Hall to recognize them for their hard work and dedication. The First Lego League combines Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (also known as STEM) with friendly competition. The team rigged an EV3 robot using LEGO MINDSTORMS. The 'Nerds' competed on Sunday, November 1st against 349 schools throughout Los Angeles. Congratulations to the kids for placing 1st in Project Innovation!
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Celebrating Food Day LA 2015
Food Day 2015 was celebrated on October 24th. It's a day where food advocates gather to honor/recognize and discuss ways of making LA a Good Food City, where food is healthy, affordable, sustainable and fair. As a fellow urban farmer, I was excited to recognize my dear friend Steve List from Sylmar High School as 'Good Food Champion' for his leadership in supporting a vibrant urban agriculture in the northeast San Fernando Valley. His agriculture program not only educates the next generation of urban farmers, but also provides hundreds (probably thousands) of free plants to schools and community organizations in the district. He is very generous with his time and supplies and has been critical in helping groups like Pacoima Beautiful and MEND with their own garden programs. It is people like Steve List who will help bring to life policies such as the Urban Agriculture Incentive Zones. It is my hope that our urban agricultural policy will help people like Steve, as it helps the community, enjoy better food and vibrant green spaces.
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Congrats LA Schools Police Department's Youth Wresting Program
As elected members, we have the pleasure of working with numerous organizations and non-profits, in our Districts, who support our youth, who provide the mentorship and leadership to our kids to guide them along the right path to give them the tools to become involved and engaged citizens. On October 16th, I had the honor of recognizing the Los Angeles School Police Department Youth Wrestling Team.
The Youth Wrestling Team was developed in 2011 by the LA School Police Department Officers and partners in the Northeast San Fernando Valley with the intent of keeping our kids off the streets and involved in a productive afterschool program. Since its inception, the Wrestling Team has won FOUR consecutive California State Championships in various youth divisions. The program currently operates out of San Fernando High School, my alma mater, and has about 120 kids participating. It's a year round program. Thanks to the officers and coaches who volunteer their time to working with our youth and offering our kids an opportunity to succeed.
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KTLA 5 Morning news segment on the 2nd Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival at Pacoima City Hall... (read full article)
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Pacoima Bus Benches Feature Photos By Local Artist
A dozen bus benches near the city hall building in Pacoima are now part of an urban gallery of photos depicting everyday scenes of life in the San Fernando Valley community... (read full article)
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LA Times: L.A. earthquake retrofit bill passes key hurdle at City Hall
A landmark effort to require earthquake retrofits of as many as 15,000 buildings in Los Angeles passed a key hurdle Wednesday, as the City Council's housing committee approved the legislation on a 4-0 vote ... (read full article)
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LA Daily News: Apartment retrofit law advances at Los Angeles City Hall
Concerned a major earthquake will destroy thousands of Los Angeles apartments, City Hall lawmakers on Wednesday signed off on a sweeping retrofitting plan that will require building owners to upgrade vulnerable apartment complexes
...(read full article) |
Important changes to LA's seismic retrofit ordinance look to ease concerns of renters and property owners. Councilman Felipe Fuentes drew applause when he proposed...(read full article)
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Manufacturing Is Alive and Thriving in Sylmar
Did you know manufacturing is alive and thriving in California? Southern California is the largest manufacturing region in the country, with nearly 400,000 workers in the industry. Anthony International is a successful manufacturing company in Sylmar. It has been doing business in Council District Seven for 50 years. The company had numerous opportunities to move out of the City, for that matter, to move out of the State, however, representatives have stayed. Today, it continues to thrive and contribute significantly to the local and state economies.
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Celebrating over 45 years of Delicious Italian Food
A local's favorite deli spot is celebrating a big event. Corsica Deli in Sunland-Tujunga has been serving up delicious Italian fare to customers, near and far, for nearly 45 years! From traditional Italian sandwiches to homemade lasagna and salads. For many regular customers, it's much more than the food, owner Mary Russo makes it a family affair.
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Northeast Valley Health Corporation working to keep our kids healthy
The Northeast Valley Health Corporation's Choose Health LA Kids has a number of exciting events coming up in the next few months. They are holding a Healthy Parenting Grocery Store Tour. Confused by food labels? Spending too much money on fruits and vegetables? Not enough time in the day to make healthy meals? Join nutrition experts at our FREE grocery store tour to learn solutions! Your children are welcome. It is never too early to start learning valuable habits that last a lifetime.
- Tuesday, November 10
- 4:00 p.m.
- Fresh & Easy
- 13207 Gladstone Ave.
- Thursday, November 12
- 4:00 p.m.
- Food 4 Less
- 12765 Van Nuys Blvd, Pacoima
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Library News:
Free Flu Shots
The Los Angeles Public Library and the L.A. County Department of Public Health are partnering to offer flu vaccines at selected libraries free of charge to people who don't have health insurance or whose healthcare provider does not offer flu vaccines. No reservations required. www.lapl.org/flu-clinics.
NaNoWriMo
Central Library is participating in NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, in November. The Literature and Fiction Department will host "Come Write In," a room for writers on Monday evenings in November. Participants will work towards the goal of writing a 50,000-word novel by November 30.
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