Tom LaBonge Newsletter: Los Angeles River, Grove Smoke Free and Korean Americans

A Green-Light for the Revitalization of the Los Angeles River
(from left: Councilman LaBonge, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Congressman Adam Schiff, US Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard and Councilman EdReyes at North Atwater Park
Councilman LaBonge joined a news conference this week to announce the partnership between the City of Los Angeles and the Federal Government to restore and revitalize the Los Angeles River Watershed, which has been identified as a priority for the Obama Administration under the President's "America's Great Outdoors" Initiative.  Los Angeles is one of seven pilot cities from across the nation chosen for the Urban Waters Federal Partnership, to help underserved communities reconnect to their waterways and the green space surrounding them.  The plan is to create an "emerald necklace" of parks, walkways and bike paths along the 32-mile stretch of the LA River in the City of Los Angeles.  The event was held at North Atwater Park, which is adjacent to the Glendale Narrows portion of the LA River and is currently being restored through the Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan with native vegetation and improved stormwater filtration.  The park is set to reopen this spring.

The Grove is Now Completely Smoke-Free
Councilman LaBonge supports Los Angeles' smoke-free outdoor dining ordinance, and applauds the Grove for going smoke-free.
Caruso Affiliated has declared The Grove in Los Angeles a smoke-free property.  This initiative ensures a healthy environment for guests at The Grove to shop, dine and enjoy the center.   
“We want to make the shopping experience at The Grove as pleasant and comfortable as possible and in response to feedback from our guests who have requested a smoke-free environment, we have implemented a no-smoking policy on the property,” says Jennifer Gordon, senior vice president, public relations and special events.
The Park at The Grove has long been a smoke-free zone.  The Grove’s new policy covers the entire property including outdoor dining areas.


Bringing Together the Neighborhood Councils of CD4

Councilman LaBonge has always worked by the motto: "Bring City Hall to the People".  In that spirit, the Councilman and his staff organized and hosted the first Neighborhood Council Breakfast of 2012 this week at the Hollywood Field Office.  It was an opportunity for the leadership of all of the Neighborhood Councils in Council District 4 to meet in the same room and articulate their goals for the year.  The meeting was well-attended and productive, with Neighborhood Councilmembers able to ask questions and share information with each other and the Council office.  No matter what neighborhood you call home in CD4, there's a neighborhood council looking out for your interests.
Click here to find your neighborhood council


A New Installation Opens at LACMA

Councilman LaBonge and artist Chris Burden officially "start-up" the new large-scale kinetic-sculpture installation "Metropolis II" at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art this week.  The installation is on long-term loan to the museum, housed in the Broad Contemporary Art Museum.  Beginning January 14th, 2012, "Metropolis II" will be open to the public on weekends -- including on Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday January 16th.  It's futuristic and retro at the same time, bringing to mind an Erector Set mixed with a Hot-Wheels Track wrapped around a Train-Set.  It's sure to delight kids of all ages.  Chris Burden is an LA-based artist who created the "Urban Light" installation on Wilshire that welcomes visitors to LACMA.
Specs and Stats at tomlabonge.com

Celebrating the 109th Anniversary of Korean Immigration to America
 
Councilman LaBonge welcomed members of the Los Angeles Korean American Community to City Hall this week to mark Korean American Day in Los Angeles.  January 13th was declared Korean American Day in the U.S. in 2003 because it was on that day in 1903 that the first group of 102 pioneer immigrants arrived in Hawaii from Korea to work in the sugar-cane fields.  Los Angeles and adjacent cities are now home to some 700,000 Korean-Americans, the largest concentration of Koreans outside of the Korean Peninsula.

Korean Consul General for Los Angeles Yeon Sung Shin holds a City Council Resolution, honoring Korean American Day in Los Angeles, presented by Councilman LaBonge.  Busan, South Korea has been a Sister City of Los Angeles since 1971.