Tom LaBonge Newsletter: Armenian Church Leader, Korean Consul, Ed Begley and More.

Apron Parking Enforcement Suspended

The Los Angeles City Council approved a motion on October 12, 2011, suspending enforcement of LAMC Section 80.53 which says: “No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle within any parkway.”.  While Section 80.53 is suspended, a owner or lessee may park on the apron as long as no portion of the vehicle touches a sidewalk or projects into the street in violation of California Vehicle Code Sections 22500(e) and (f), respectively.  Enforcement of California Vehicle Section 22500, in its entirety, will remain in full force and effect.   In addition, other sections of the Los Angeles Municipal Code regulating "parkways" shall also remain in full force and effect.
Click here to see the motion, seconded by Councilman LaBonge

Click here to learn more about the Los Angeles Municipal Code


The Los Angeles City Council Passes a Resolution in Support of "Occupy LA" Demonstrators and Responsible Banking
The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday, October 12th, passed a resolution supporting the First Amendment rights of demonstrators camped outside City Hall for the Occupy LA movement.  As the protest moved into its third week, the Council heard public comment from scores of protestors, allowing them to move their encampment on to the South Lawn of LA City Hall.  The demonstrators lauded the LAPD and General Services Police for their kind and considerate treatment.
Click here to see the resolution



CicLAvia takes over the streets of Los Angeles

Councilmember LaBonge, Mayor Villaraigosa, Council President Eric Garcetti and City Controller Wendy Greuel helped kick-off CicLAvia in downtown Los Angeles.  The event, which OPENS the streets to bicycles and pedestrians, was a big success and shows the evolution of Los Angeles into a more bike-friendly city.
Click here for info on the next CicLAvia

Councilman/bicyclist Tom LaBonge with Actor/Activist/Environmentalist Ed Begley Jr. at CicLAvia October 2011

Breaking Ground on a new Mixed-Use Development at Wilshire and La Brea

Councilman LaBonge presided over a groundbreaking ceremony on a project dubbed "a New Beginning at Wilshire La Brea".  It's the Miracle Mile's newest apartment community on the southeast corner of Wilshire Boulevard and La Brea Avenue, a mix of retail and residential, developed by BRE Properties Incorporated.  BRE offered a donation of 25-thousand dollars to a charity of the Councilman's choice.  Mr. LaBonge chose to put the money toward the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's Bussing Program to fund field trips to the museum for Los Angeles school-kids. 

Staff Changes in Council District 4
Councilman LaBonge is pleased to announce the promotion of Sheila Irani to the position of Director of Special Projects, a position formerly held by former Deputy Chief of Staff Carolyn Ramsay and current Chief of Staff Jeanne Min.  The Councilman wants to leverage Ms. Irani's experience and talents in project management to to help expedite infrastructure projects such as BRT lanes, subway, new fields at Pan Pacific Park, reservoir construction, LA River enhancements, SRTS school grants and many other projects in CD4.  Meanwhile, Ben Seinfeld has been tapped as the new Field Deputy for the Greater Wilshire area.  He'll work with Sheila as he learns this integral area of Council District 4, then take over the Field area and continue to offer residents the level of service they've come to expect from Councilman LaBonge and his staff.

Meet Ben Seinfeld -- Field Deputy for Greater Wilshire


LaBonge Beautification Team is On-the-Job
Councilman LaBonge has a full-time Beautification Team, working to keep Council District 4 Beautiful ... and it's a worthwhile investment, given that City resources are stretched thin in these challenging budget times.  Here's a shot taken by the Beautification Team of 4416 Ambrose Avenue, where it looks like a tree went down.

And here's "after" the Beautification Team got through with it!

Great Job Guys!  


Disability Mentoring Day in Los Angeles

Councilman LaBonge and his staff participated in the annual Los Angeles Disability Mentoring Day at City Hall, mentoring five men and women with disabilities to raise awareness of hiring people who just happen to be disabled, but who also have tremendous abilities to bring to the table.  We had a lot of fun with our mentees, who taught us as much as we might have taught them.



EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS TIP OF THE WEEK

--FACTOR IN THE DISABLED IN PREPARATIONS--
October is Disability Awareness Month, a good time to consider special preparedness plans if you or someone you love is disabled and have special needs or equipment that you rely on for your daily needs.  Experts recommend a"Personal Support Network", sometimes called a "Self Help Team", comprised of a minimum of three people for each location where you spend a lot of time -- home, school, workplace, volunteer site, etc.  
Members can be room-mates, relatives, friends and co-workers.  They should be people you trust and who would check to see if you need assistance.  They should know your capabilities and needs and offer help within minutes of the shaking.  Write out instructions NOW, before the quake hits, so your Network will know the best ways to assist you and offer additional ideas for you to think about.  Give your network members copies of your emergency list, medical information list, disability-related supplies and special equipment list, evacuation-plans, relevant emergency documents and your personal disaster plan when you have completed them.  Show your network how to operate and safely move the equipment you need.  If necessary, have them practice with any of your special equipment.  This will help them feel more comfortable when using it during an emergency.  Label your equipment and attach instruction cards on how to use and move each item.  Laminate the instructions for added durability.  Make sure your service animal knows the people in your network.  Give the members of your network all the necessary keys they may need to get into your home, car, etc.  
More preparedness tips for the disabled next week.


Hosting the Spiritual Leader of the Armenian Church

From Left: Ed Ibrahimian, Bureau of Street Lighting, HH Aram I and Tom LaBonge in Council Chambers
The Mayor and City Council welcomed His Holiness Aram I to Los Angeles City Hall on Friday, October 14th.  HH Aram I is a Spiritual Leader of the Armenian Church.  Aram I addressed the Council and the people of Los Angeles, which boasts a large Armenian population.


Welcoming a new Korean Consul General for Los Angeles

Councilman LaBonge and his Council colleagues were pleased to officially welcome Shin Yeon-Sung as Consul General of the Korean Consulate General for Los Angeles.  Mr. Shin has had a long, distinguished Diplomatic career serving the Republic of South Korea, most recently as the Ambassador for Climate Change at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Chookhahabnidah, Mr. Consul General!