GREETING FROM COUNCILMEMBER GIL CEDILLO

It’s hard to believe that it’s only been a little over 100 days since we took office. We said from the beginning that we were going to hit the ground running, and hit the ground running we have. Over the course of 100 days we have brought PEACE to CD1: Public Safety, Environment, Arts and Culture, Clean Streets, and Economic Development. We were busy at CD1 this week. We heard from HACLA about the effects of the federal shutdown on Section 8 housing, listened to Highland Park, advocated to keep a community garden in Pico Union open, marched for immigration reform, and are gearing up for our big CD1 Community Clean Up.

101 Days in Office

Moving 385 miles from Capitol Hill to City Hall has shown to be both exciting and challenging. Councilmember Cedillo has spent most of his days meeting with General Managers, business representatives, and community members. The common theme echoed amongst each group has been – ‘Making the First District #1.’ Councilmember Cedillo has adopted this message as the new CD1 slogan.

Specific achievements of note the first 100 days in office for the Councilmember include:

Listening Tours—Councilmember Cedillo completed seven of nine scheduled Listening Tours, reaching eleven of sixteen neighborhoods in CD1 with well over 1,000 participants reached. Cedillo plans to finish all nine listening tours by the end of October.

Keep It Clean--Councilmember Cedillo has launched the first ever ‘Keep It Clean’ program in Council District One. Starting July 1^st, 2013, ‘Keep It Clean’ has been able to remove well over half a million pounds of trash (650,000 lbs.) from the street and cleaned 155 alleys in the District.

Safe Passage--Councilmember Cedillo introduced a motion to improve safety along the LA River walk path. Cedillo has asked for street signage, markers, and for the City to explore mapping specific locations along the River for emergency call boxes.

Healthy Communities--Councilmember Cedillo is working with Metrolink to draft a Health Risk Assessment (HRA) in relations to their Taylor Yard Central Maintenance Facility. This is extremely important for the Councilmember, who wants to ensure a clean, safe, and healthy environment for everyone who lives in CD1.

Government Shutdown--The Federal Government Shutdown is ongoing and the impacts are unknown at this time. As Chair of the Housing Committee, Cedillo brought in the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) to ask questions on the potential eviction notices for those with Section 8 vouchers.

Celebrating the Arts--With the Councilmember's leadership, murals will once again be permitted by the City of Los Angeles. Councilmember Cedillo introduced an amendment that created a pilot project in CD1 to allow murals on single family homes.

Federal Shutdown Effects on Section 8


(Photo Credit: Fredy Ceja)

Councilmember Cedillo called HACLA executives to the joint PLUM and Arts & Parks committee meeting to ask for a report on how the government shutdown will impact Section 8 vouchers. Specific concerns were pointed to potential eviction notices and proactive approaches being taken by HACLA to communicate contract obligations to landlords.

Click here for NBC4 story.

FIELD UPDATE 

Listening to Highland Park


(Photo Credit: Fredy Ceja)

On Thursday, the 2013 Listening Tour stopped at Highland Park. The Councilmember and his staff were greeted by residents from the community at Franklin High School. Participants were broken up into small groups where they were encouraged to share ideas and concerns in the following issue areas: Public Safety, Environment, Arts & Crafts, and Economic Development. The groups unanimously spoke up against dumping, the need for youth programs, and support for economic development along the Figueroa corridor, using the Southwest Museum as an anchor.

Highland Park Field Deputy Melinda Alatorre will create a report from the findings and address the issues with the community in the near future.

Saving A Community Garden in Pico Union


(Photo Credit: Flickr.com)

Two weeks ago, we learned that the Pico Union Cesar Chavez Community Garden was being recommended to be sold by the former Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). The community garden has existed at 11th Place and Union Avenue for over 30 years on CRA/LA-owned property. It is essentially the only green open space in the community with 33 active garden plots that provide fresh fruits and vegetables to families in the area. Yesterday, a dozen Pico Union residents attended the former agency's Oversight Board Meeting to advocate for the preservation of this greatly needed green open space and community garden.

Our CD1 staff attended and presented testimony supported by documentation, including records from the USC Special Collections Archives, found through the diligent research of our student intern Stephanie Zhang. The property was acquired for government use to widen Union Avenue and public infrastructure improvements and that for over 30 years has been owned and maintained for government use as green open space park land with an active community garden that has been utilized, maintained, and operated by residents, 10th Street Elementary School classes, and community based organizations.

Today we heard back from a member of the Oversight Board, who communicated his support and acknowledged the advocacy of Pico Union's residents and Council District 1 to permanently preserve Pico Union's green open space/park and community garden.

More green space in CD1!

Rediscovering MacArthur Park Alliance


(Photo Credit: wikipedia.org)

Under new leadership and with new energy, the Rediscover MacArthur Park Alliance in Westlake has been meeting once again after being dormant for nearly two years. The Alliance, co-chaired by CD1 Field Deputy Ana Gomez, is made up of representatives from: the Department of Recreation and Parks, Los Angeles Police Department, active community residents and several local non-profits that work in the areas of financial literacy, programming and the arts. The Alliance will be broken up into working groups concentrating in the areas of homelessness, street vending and family programming at the park. The goal of the group is to revitalize the MacArthur Park area and make it vibrant once more. 

Let’s get to work to transform MacArthur Park!

NEWS UPDATE

CD1 Clean Up

Join us for a district-wide clean up as we declare war on trash and blight in the First District. In order to ‘Keep it Clean’ we all have to do our part. Here is your chance to pitch in. We will have four clean-up sites around the district. Choose a site and bring your friends, family and neighbors. We will all be cleaning up the First together!

Immigration Reform March


(Photo Credit: Fredy Ceja)

Councilmember Cedillo joined thousands of immigration reform advocates who marched in solidarity for comprehensive immigration reform. The Councilmember spoke to a crowd on the streets of Hollywood after walking 1.5 miles in the broiling heat. The message was clear; Washington DC needs to act now!

Housing and Community Development Consolidated Plan

Each year, the City of Los Angeles receives federal grant funds to assist businesses create jobs, provide job training for adults and youth, improve neighborhoods through projects that eliminate slum and blight, and provide gang prevention programs, affordable housing, services for seniors and the disabled, and fair housing. These grant funds are limited and need to be prioritized and targeted in a way that will provide the most benefit to the most people. Once needs and goals are prioritized, the City will submit them to the federal government. The Annual Action Plan beginning April 1, 2014, will be the second year of the City’s five-year transit-oriented Housing and Community Development Consolidated Plan.

Help us create healthier and more vibrant neighborhoods where our families can thrive! Please join various City Departments for a discussion about investments made in the city. Find out why the Consolidated Plan is so critical to your community and how it improves your neighborhoods, through funding such things as affordable housing, human services and street improvements.

There will be a hearing in CD1.

CENTRAL LA
Tuesday, October 15^th, 2013
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Red Shield
1532 West 11th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90015

Dodgers: Free Parking for Carpools


(Photo Credit: dailybullitin.com)

As part of the continuous effort to encourage Dodger fans to utilize all modes of transportation to mitigate traffic flow, the Los Angeles Dodgers will be offering fans free general parking during the postseason if they have four or more passengers in their car.

LA River Open Comment Period (Updated)


(Photo Credit: cityprojectca.org)

The completion of the LA River Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study is a remarkable moment in the revitalization of the LA River. The Study lays the groundwork to bring millions of dollars in investment to the river and to the City of LA.

The Study proposes four restoration scenarios: Alternatives 10, 13, 16 and 20. The Army Corps has determined that Alternative 13 is their preferred option. The City’s preferred alternative is Alternative 20—the most expansive ecosystem restoration possible and it is the only one that specifically includes the following priorities: Verdugo Wash Confluence and the LA State Historic Park (former Cornfields site).

What can you do to help?

It is vital that Angelenos make their voices heard regarding their preferred alternative. Starting on October 4^th and continuing until November 18^th, members of the public can comment on the Study.

Please note the comment period date has been changed and begins today!

In Person:
Thursday, October 17, 2013
5:30 pm-7:30 pm
Los Angeles River Center and Gardens (Atrium)
570 W. Avenue 26
Los Angeles, CA 90065

By Mail:
Josephine R. Axt, Ph.D.
Chief, Planning Division
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
ATTN: Ms. Erin Jones, CESPL-PD-RN
P.O. Box 532711
Los Angeles, CA 90053-2325

By E-mail: Erin.L.Jones@usace.army.mil

Greeting from Councilmember
Gil Cedillo

Legislative Update 
101 Days in Office
Govt Shutdown

Field Update
Listening to HP
Saving Garden
MacArthur Park Alliance

News Update
CD1 Clean Up
Immigration Reform
Housing/CD Plan
Dodgers Free Parking
LA River Comment

Upcoming Events
2013 Listening Tour
Open Studios Artwalk
Heidelberg Park
Town Hall on Education
CD1 Clean Up
Latino, Faith, Culture
Consumer Law Clinic
G2 Soil Public Comment