Tom Labonge Newsletter: Armenia, Infrastructure and Horses

Councilmember LaBonge was among top officials welcoming Armenia's President Serzh Sarkisian (center in red-tie) to Los Angeles City Hall.  Councilman LaBonge presented Sarkisian with a directional sign to the Armenian capitol Yerevan, which is one of Los Angeles' Sister-Cities.  Los Angeles is home to more Armenians than anywhere outside of Armenia, and President Sarkisian thanked officials for their warm hospitality and friendship with all Armenians.  Pictured (from left):  LA County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, Councilman Mitch Englander, Dennis Zine, Governor Jerry Brown, President Sarkisian, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Councilman Paul Krekorian and Councilman Tom LaBonge.

Focussing on the City's Infrastructure

Councilmember LaBonge introduced a motion in City Council this week that addresses the Aging Infrastructure in the City of Los Angeles.  The Councilman is proposing the City assess the state of the infrastructure throughout the City of Los Angeles, including airports, bridges, public buildings, parks, Port of Los Angeles, Stormwater System, Street lighting, Streets and Highways, Telecommunications, Wastewater Treatment and the overall water system.  The motion calls for a City-wide "Infrastructure Day" sometime in January of 2012.
Click here to see the motion


CD4 Beautification Team At-Work
Councilman LaBonge has a Council District 4 Beautification Team out in the field every day, cleaning-up and beautifying problem-areas in CD4.  Sylvan De La Cruz and Manuel Bonilla do a fantastic job.  Here's one of their recent projects, this one at West Silver Lake Boulevard and Redesdale Avenue in the Silver Lake area.

HERE'S WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE BEFORE (see the photo gallery above)

AND THIS IS AFTER THE BEAUTIFICATION TEAM GOT THROUGH WITH IT!

We knew there was a sidewalk there somewhere.  Great Job Guys!

Sycamore Avenue Trunk-Line Progress
An LADWP Trunk Line Construction crew is working on Sycamore Avenue between Willoughby Avenue and Santa Monica Avenue, and has completed installing pipes between these streets.  Final repaving for a large portion of the west side of the street will occur in October 2011.  
On September 19, 2011, the Trunk Line Construction crew moved into the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and Sycamore Avenue. Work in the intersection is expected to be completed in mid-October 2011.  
The crew will continue northerly on Sycamore Avenue, between Santa Monica Boulevard and Lexington Avenue.  Work between those streets is expected to be completed in mid-November 2011
 LADWP working in conjunction with the Bureau of Street Services has finished repairing the damaged concrete drainage swale crossing Sycamore Avenue at Willoughby Avenue and approximately 150 feet of concrete road on the east side of Sycamore Avenue, north of Willoughby Avenue. 
 Construction will occur between Monday and Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Sycamore Avenue will be closed to through traffic at the construction location between those hours. Local access for residents will be provided.  Normal traffic conditions will be restored at the end of each work day.


Day of the Horse in Los Angeles

October 1, 2011--The City of Los Angeles has a large and diverse economy, with a wide array of unique cultural and economic needs. The horse is a living link to the heritage and history of the State of California and the United States of America, and particularly to the City of Los Angeles, and without horses, the economy, history, and character of the State of California and the United States of America would be profoundly different.  The presence of the horse continues to permeate our society from movie screens to open land to our own back yards, and horses are a vital part of our collective experience and, as such, deserve our protection and compassion.  However, Increasing pressure from modern society, all horses, wild and domestic, rely on humans for adequate food, water and shelter, and today, horses play a vital role in the economy of the City of Los Angeles, the State of California and the United States of America.
The Congressional Horse Caucus estimates the horse industry contributes well over $100-billion to the American economy annually, and the University of California, Davis reports that California equine activities involve between 300,000 and 1 million horses in the State of California.  In 2004 the California State Legislature declared a “Day of the Horse”  to encourage all citizens to be mindful of the welfare of the horse and its contribution to our economy, heritage and history.  The City of Los Angeles hereby declares the First Saturday of  OCTOBER 2011 as “Day of the Horse” in the City of Los Angeles and calls upon all citizens to recognize and appreciate the role of the horse in our history, heritage and economy.  Also, we recognize the long-standing and cross-cultural equestrian lifestyle and the need to preserve this lifestyle enjoyed by so many Los Angeles citizens who, every year participate and sponsor civic activities to celebrate and inform everyone about the vast contributions of the horse to the Southern California region and the entire nation. 

Earthquake Preparedness Tip of the Week

-Keep Cash On-Hand-
In the event of a destructive earthquake, our normal access to money will be interrupted for perhaps several days.  Not only is it important to have the supplies handy to be self-sustaining for at least 3-5 days, it's crucial to have enough cash on-hand to cover your needs.  ATM's and credit-card readers at most retail outlets, including gas-stations will likely be inoperable.  Cash could be the only way to purchase fuel and supplies for quite some time.  Knowing this, merchants may decide to do some price-gouging in the form of not making change.  So a 2-dollar bottle of water could cost you 20 bucks if you don't have small bills.  It's a good idea to plan ahead for this and other emergencies by keeping a few hundred dollars in small bills -- ones, fives and tens -- at your home in case of disaster or emergency.  It could save you at least that much in price-gouging and other inconveniences following an earthquake or other natural or man-made disaster.



Helping the Families of Fallen Firefighters

Councilman LaBonge joined (from left) Councilman Bill Rosendahl, LA County Sheriff Lee Baca, Carol Schatz, Central City Association President and CEO, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck and (not pictured) LA Fire Chief Brian Cummings for the Downtown Center Business Improvement District's Annual Public Safety Appreciation Barbecue.  The BID raised money through sponsorship donations from business and property-owners in the district and was able to give $5000.00 to the Los Angeles Fire Department Relief Fund, which supports the survivors of fallen firefighters.  Congratulations and thank you to the Downtown Center B.I.D.!