I hope our newsletter finds you well. The Board of Neighborhood Commissioners elected new officers at their meeting on Monday. Commission Vice President Leonard Shaffer was elected President, and Commissioner Joy Atkinson was elected Vice President. HUGE thanks to outgoing President Karen Mack for her great leadership! Karen has always been a big advocate for the Neighborhood Councils and was instrumental in getting the Neighborhood Council Civic University organized. Mayor Eric Garcetti has also appointed Josh LaFarga to succeed Commissioner Victor Medina in the Harbor. Commissioner Medina's work schedule made it difficult to continue on the Commission. We thank him for his service and wish him well.

After a long time of trying to work the City's world-renowned Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) classes  into my schedule, I finally graduated on Tuesday after a condensed 5 week class held at the Emergency Management Department. Many thanks to LAFD CERT instructor Mitch McKnight for conducting an entertaining and excellent course where I learned everything from basic first aid to putting out a fire using an extinguisher to how to set up a command center in a disaster situation. On the last day of class, we celebrated with a potluck as we received a lovely Certificate of Completion signed by Mayor Garcetti, Councilmember Jose Huizar (class location was in CD 14) and Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas. LAFD is also holding a day long CERT Refresher Drill on September 19, 2015 in the Central area at the Emergency Management Department. I highly recommend getting CERT certified to keep your family, friends and communities safer during any kind of disaster, especially with us being in earthquake country and with the predicted El Nino hitting LA soon. The new CERT classes start on September 1st.

We'll be holding our next Neighborhood Council Elections Town Hall on Saturday, August 29th, from 10 am to 12 pm at the Hollywood Constituent Center right after the Congress Planning Committee. If you can't make it in person, we'll be live streaming the meeting and accepting questions via Twitter. Come help us finalize the Election Manual and dates.

I was very sad to learn that Neighborhood Council leader Challis MacPherson passed away last night after a lengthy battle with cancer. Challis was a dedicated community activist and such a planning and land use expert. She served as a volunteer mentor on our Councils for Councils and was part of the Venice Neighborhood Council. I'll always remember Challis for her passion and fierce advocacy for the people of Los Angeles. She was pure awesome.

Last night, I stopped by the South Los Angeles Alliance of Neighborhood Councils meeting to provide updates on EmpowerLA activities. The SLAANC was busy having their 15 Neighborhood Council members ratify their Articles of Alliance to vote in their Executive Board next month. They were also busy weighing in on Council Files before City Council (CF 14-0268-S4 and S5 Rent Stabilization Ordinance/ Review Implementation of Ellis Act; CF 14-0268 - Modification of Rent Stabilization ordinance/ Energy Efficiency Capital Improvement Program (CIP)/ Security Cap; CF -14-1635-S2. Short Term Rental Ordinance). After concern was raised about street cleaning in South LA, I reminded them to get their Public Works Liaisons appointed so they can assist their communities by working on Mayor Garcetti's Clean Streets Initiative starting at the Congress of Neighborhoods on Saturday, September 26, 2015.

Speaking of clean streets, Eagle Rock and Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Councils will be teaming up with Councilmember Huizar to beautify their neighborhoods tomorrow. They'll be meeting at 8:30 am to Annadale Elementary School (6125 Poppy Peak Dr.) to clean up North Figueroa Street.

As always, thanks for all you do to EmpowerLA! Have a super weekend!