RECENT LEGISLATION. Sept. 19, 2008

Transcription

1 Page 1 of 9 Proudly Serving the Communities of: Canoga Park, Chatsworth, Encino, Granada Hills, Lake Balboa, North Hills, Northridge, Porter Ranch, Reseda, West Hills, West Van Nuys, Winnetka District 12 Map Committee Assignments Jobs, Business Growth & Tax Reform Chair Budget & Finance Member Public Safety Vice Chair Public Works Member Ad Hoc RENEW LA Chair Ad Hoc Stadium Member Learn about Councilman Greig Smith's RENEW LA plan to increase recycling and lead Los Angeles out of landfills Sept. 19, Councilmember.Smith@lacity.org to request official City services or information, and please include your address. RECENT LEGISLATION Reports on Transit Safety and the Emergency Response to the Chatsworth Train Disaster... We introduced a motion on Wednesday, Sept. 17, together with Councilmember Wendy Greuel, calling for a report from the L.A. Department of Transportation, Metrolink, METRO and the U.S. Department of Transportation on the safety of local mass transit. The report is to include recommendations to improve the safety of mass transit in our region. Our motion also calls for a report by the Emergency Management Department, LAPD and the L.A. Fire Department on lessons learned from the oustanding emergency response to the Sept. 12 Chatsworth train disaster. This report is to include recommendations to ensure that future responses are as fast and well-coordinated. The emergency response by large numbers of firefighters, police officers, volunteer organizations, Neighborhood Councils, local schools and residents, was fast and coordinated. Their quick and competent actions saved many lives, and public safety personnel as well as civilians remained on scene through the weekend, providing aid to the victims and their families in many ways. The City is extremely proud of the actions of emergency personnel and civilians alike, and could gain valuable lessons by examining the response.

2 Page 2 of 9 Upcoming Events Saturday, Sept. 20 LAPD Metro Division Mounted Platoon Open House LAPD Metro Division Mounted Platoon holds a free open house Saturday, Sept am - 4 pm 3934 Rigali Ave., Los Angeles (off of the 5 Freeway at Los Feliz Blvd.). There are many activities for kids and horse enthusiasts alike. For more info call (213) Saturday, Oct. 4 Mid-Valley Run & Walk for Public Education This fun walk-run starts and finishes at 8:00 am at Our Community School. We are co-sponsors of the event, together with Our Community School, North Hills West Neighborhood Council, California Credit Union, Runnergy, Farmers Insurance-The Ivan Rodriguez Agency, and 5 Speed Running. COMMUNITY NEWS & UPCOMING EVENTS Community Candlelight Vigil for Victims of the Chatsworth Train Disaster Tonight at Chatsworth Depot Train Station... There will be a candlelight vigil tonight at 6:45 pm at Chatsworth Depot Train Station to commemorate the victims of the Chatsworth Metrolink train tragedy. This event is being organized by Haley and Kristen, two young Chatsworth residents who took it upon themselves to organize a commemoration for all of the victims of the Sept. 12 tragedy. They have made candles with the names of each of the victims. This is an important moment of healing and remembrance, as well as a time for us to gather and pray for a full and speedy recovery for all those who were injured. No RSVP is necessary. Although Haley and Kristen are providing candles, participants are encouraged to bring their own candles as well because many people are expected to attend. Candlelight Vigil for Victims of the Chatsworth Train Disaster Friday, Sept. 19, 6:45 pm Chatsworth Depot Train Station Old Depot Plaza Rd. (1 block west of Canoga Ave., enter from Devonshire St. or Lassen St.) "Monte Carlo Night" Casino Fundraiser for Devonshire PALS... Don't miss the annual "Monte Carlo Night" casino fundraiser benefiting Devonshire PALS (Police Activity League Supporters), Saturday, Sept. 20.

3 Page 3 of 9 Proceeds go toward the school s health and fitness programs, technology, and arts programming. Register online at Race starts & finishes at Our Community School Nordhoff St. North Hills Registration: $25 before Sept. 10 $30 after Sept. 10 For more info call Tracie Jackson at (323) or moxymarketing@ roadrunner.com. Wednesday, Nov. 12 to Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008 "The Great Southern California ShakeOut" Participate in the Great Southern California ShakeOut! On November 13, up to 21 million people across Southern California will participate in the biggest earthquake drill in U.S. history. We need to be better prepared for major earthquakes, and this huge earthquake drill will provide extremely valuable experience and training to help us prepare. Nancy Cartwright, Honorary Mayor of Northridge and the voice of Bart Simpson, once again hosts this excellent night of food, dancing, live auctions, and poker, all for a great cause! Proceeds benefit the new "Councilman Greig Smith LAPD Devonshire Area Youth Center" in Northridge, which will offer programs and activities for local at-risk youth. We helped secure over $1 million for the new center and started construction in June. To register, or for information call Leslie at (818) or leslie@cartwrightentertainment.com, or visit Devonshire Community Police Station Open House... Don't miss Devonshire Division's Open House, Saturday, Sept. 20, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. At this free event for the community, there will be station tours, free fingerprinting and photo IDs for children, a bloodmobile from Cedars-Sinai Hospital (on site from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm), and more. Meet Police Officers from the Patrol Detail, Bike Detail, Narcotics Unit, Valley Traffic Motorcycle Unit and other specialized police units. Members of Volunteer Surveillance Team, Devonshire S.O.L.I.D. (Supporters of Law Enforcement in Devonshire), Devonshire PALS (Police Activity League Supporters) and C.E.M.P. (California Emergency Mobile Patrol) will be on hand with information about their activities. Saturday, Sept :00 am - 3:00 pm Devonshire Community Police Station Etiwanda Ave. Northridge A BBQ lunch will be served (Hot dogs, chips and a soda for only $4.) For more information, call Erica De Smith at (818) Register for the ShakeOut Drill for free at

4 Page 4 of 9 shakeout.org/register. The drill is part of a week of earthquake preparedness activities, with workshops, lectures, and demonstrations, including the L.A. International Earthquake Conference hosted by the City of L.A. For more information on the L.A. International Earthquake Conference, visit iec.lacity.org. Ongoing Events Donate DVDs to Benefit Veterans DVDs4Vets is a nonprofit organization that collects new and used DVDs and donates them to wounded soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of these veterans have physical and economic hardships that make it difficult for them to obtain some of the basic entertainment that most civilians take for granted. In the last year, DVDs4Vets has delivered over 38,000 DVDs to various V.A. Hospitals, homes, centers and clinics for veterans. For more information on how to donate DVDs, visit 7th Annual New Horizons Golf Classic... All golfers are invited for a fun day of golfing for a good cause, Monday, Sept. 22 at Porter Valley Country Club in Northridge. Proceeds from the tournament will benefit New Horizons programs to help developmentally disabled adults in the San Fernando Valley lead fulfilling lives. For more information on sponsoring or participating in the golf tournament, call Nancy Banks at (818) ext. 340 or nbanks@newhorizons-sfv.org. Monday, Sept. 22 8:00 am Registration 10:00 am Shotgun Start Porter Valley Country Club Singing Hills Dr. (1 block east of Tampa Ave., 1 block north of Rinaldi St.) Northridge Public Meeting About New K-8 School in Porter Ranch... The LAUSD Office of Environmental Health and Safety (OEHS) is holding a community meeting to present the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) on Valley Region Span K-8 School in Porter Ranch to the community and hear public comments and questions. The meeting is on Wednesday, Sept. 24 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm at the Germain Elementary School auditorium in Chatsworth. Wednesday, Sept. 24 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Germain Elementary School Germain St. Chatsworth

5 Page 5 of 9 Councilman Greig Smith Links Press Release Archive Monthly Column Archived Editions of Councilman Smith's Weekly Briefing We have fought for a new school in Porter Ranch since coming into office. We have worked very closely with the Porter Ranch Company, LAUSD, the Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council and the community to get a new school built in Porter Ranch. For more information on the school, please call Joseph Piña at LAUSD Community Outreach at (213) , or Maria Cano at (213) For more information on the DEIR, call John Moreno, LAUSD CEQA Project Manager at (213) Council District 12 Community Guide Request Information Contact Information Council District 12 Neighborhood Council Links Chatsworth Encino Granada Hills North Granada Hills South Northridge East Northridge West Porter Ranch North Hills West Reseda West Hills Winnetka Lake Balboa Join Us for Our Next Community Clean-Up... Join us for our next community clean-up day on Saturday, Sept. 27, from 8:30 am to 11:30 am, at Northridge Park. We will have several different beautification and clean-up projects in multiple locations throughout our district that you can volunteer for. We will kick off the event at Northridge Park and then split up into teams for several different projects. Groups are welcome. Children must by accompanied by an adult. This event qualifies for volunteer service hours. Saturday, Sept. 27 8:30 am - 11:30 am Kick-Off at Northridge Park Reseda Blvd. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Megan Cottier at (818) or Megan.Cottier@lacity.org. Council District 12 Chambers of Commerce Links Canoga Park/West Hills

6 Page 6 of 9 Chatsworth Encino Granada Hills North Valley Regional Save the Date for the Granada Hills Street Faire... Mark your calendar for the 8th Annual Granada Hills Street Faire, a great Valley tradition, on Saturday, Oct. 4, in Old Granada Village. More than 200 local business and nonprofit groups participate. and giveaways at many booths. Enjoy outstanding dishes from the area's restaurants and free entertainment including classic cars, dance troupes and live blue grass music. Children's activities include pony rides, a petting zoo, rock climbing, moon bounces, face painting and health screening services. October 4, :00 am - 5:00 pm Granda Hills On Chatsworth St. Between Zelzah Ave. and Encino Ave. Parking and admission are free. For more information, visit

7 Page 7 of 9 Save the Date for the Chatsworth Historical Society's Pioneer Day... Mark your calendar for the Chatsworth Historical Society's annual Pioneer Day on Sunday, Oct. 5 at the Homestead Acre in Chatsworth Park South. Sunday, Oct. 5 11:00 am - 4:00 pm Homestead Acre Shadow Oak Drive, Chatsworth (Within Chatsworth Park South) $4 donation per adult, $1 for children, free for children under 5 years old. All proceeds go to the upkeep of The Homestead Acre. The event features tours of the Palmer-Hill historical cottage and the Virginia Watson Chatsworth Museum, which has displays of Indian artifacts and Chatsworth railroad history. Visitors can sample chili from the chili cook-off, and enjoy arts and crafts, music, blacksmith and railroad construction demonstrations and games for children. Free parking is available at the Chatsworth Train Depot, and we have provided free shuttles going to Pioneer Day every 15 minutes. The Train Depot is located at Old Depot Plaza Rd. (enter from Devonshire St. or Lassen St., between Topanga Canyon and De Soto Ave.) For more information call the Chatsworth Historical Society at (818) and leave a message. Oktoberfest at Winnetka Park... The Winnetka Chamber of Commerce is holding its annual Oktoberfest Oct. 17 through 19 at Winnetka Park. The festivities include food, rides, games and more. We co-sponsor this event every year. Enjoy carnival rides, games, food, arts

8 Page 8 of 9 and crafts, live bands and the beer garden raffle! Please celebrate responsibly. Fri., Oct. 17 6:00 pm -10:00 pm Sat., Oct. 18 noon-10:00 pm Sun., Oct. 19 noon-9:00 pm Winnetka Park 8401 Winnetka Ave. (North of Roscoe Blvd.) For more information, call (818) Take the L.A. Cultural Master Plan Survey and Help Shape the Cultural Landscape of Los Angeles... The Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) invites all Los Angeles residents to participate in their online survey through the end of September as part of the Cultural Master Plan. Click here to take the Online Survey! The survey will help the City learn more about the ways in which residents engage in arts and cultural activities in Los Angeles as part of the Cultural Master Plan. The Cultural Master Plan will be a common vision for how culture and creativity in all its forms can contribute to community and quality of life for residents and visitors. If you take the online survey before September 23, you could win a $500 grand cash prize or free concert and cultural event tickets. For more information, visit This message was sent to by:

9 Page 9 of 9 Councilmember Greig Smith Nordhoff Street, Suite 18 Northridge, CA (818)