GREETING FROM COUNCILMEMBER GIL CEDILLO

Friends,

This week City Hall was quiet as City Council was on recess in observance of the holidays. As we gear up for Easter, we attended our first egg hunts and set sail to student designed boats at MacArthur Park. With the assistance of LAPD, we shut down an illegal marijuana dispensary and graduated our very own CERT team. We also installed the historic windows at our District Office. Over the past months we have been working to move the district forward by dealing with traffic and congestion issues arising from Dodger games, and determining the best solution for bike lanes along Figueroa. In previous newsletters we reported the discovery of bricks at the Blossom Plaza development site in Chinatown. This week it was confirmed that those bricks were in deed pieces of the Zanja Madre (Mother Ditch), Los Angeles’ first aqueduct which was the lifeline of El Pueblo. We are working with several partners to preserve it and display it for all Angelenos to enjoy.

Lastly, we leave you with this week’s person that’s Making the First District #1, recent Chico bus-crash survivor and hero, Miles Hill.

Gilbert A. Cedillo
Councilmember, District 1

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Recess: The Halls Are Quiet


(Photo Credit: Fredy Ceja)

This week City Council was in recess in honor of Passover and Good Friday. With no council meetings, the foot traffic here was light. However, Team Cedillo was hard at work.

FIELD UPDATE

Egg Hunt at Normandie Park


(Photo Credit: Ana Gomez)

On Thursday 120 children from Pico Union were treated to an egg hunt at Normandie Park. The children were excited to find eggs hidden all across the field.

Montecito Heights Egg Hunt


(Photo Credit: Sylvia Robledo)

On Thursday, Montecito Heights Recreation Center had their Annual ‘Glow In The Dark’ Egg Hunt. Over 200 people participated in the egg hunt with flashlights, entered the coloring contest, and enjoyed face painting and Easter basket giveaways.

HOLA Boat Launch at MacArthur Park


(Photo Credit: Ana Gomez)

On Thursday, HOLA's Youth Leadership Program sailed 7 boats designed by students themselves at MacArthur Park. HOLA’s Leadership Program is based on two principles; that all youth are potential leaders, and that leadership can be practiced by all of us in our everyday lives. The Leadership Program is implemented across all grade levels and includes exploration of leadership knowledge, skills and practice in age appropriate activities. Students are challenged to develop their potential as leaders through classroom activities, service learning projects and peer mentoring. The Life Sail program will continue into the next phase in May, which includes swimming classes.

Avenue 50 / Montevista Marijuana Dispensary Closed


(Photo Credit: Yahoo)

Over the past few weeks, residents and concerned parents in Highland Park reached out to CD1 about a marijuana clinic on Avenue 50 and Monte Vista. Last week, LAPD Northeast Division was able to shut the clinic down and serve warrants at that location. We know this is a hot topic in our communities. We will remain committed to working with our city agencies to make these businesses accountable to the law.

CD1 CERT Team Graduation


(Photo Credit: Sylvia Robledo)

Twenty students graduated Thursday from their seven-week Certified Emergency Response Team (CERT) training at Ramona Hall in Sycamore Grove Park. Students in the program were from all over CD1, including: Mt. Washington, Sycamore Grove, Highland Park and Glassell Park.

Students included:
•Christina Erentreich
•Lezlie Stein
•Kassandra Rendon
•Ben Park
•Nancy Nickerson
•Boris Kizorin
•Kelvin DeWolfe
•Karen Satamaria
•Raul Esquivel
•Jennifer Emerick
•Jenn Witte
•Heinrich Keiffer
•Marianna Jimenez
•Peggy Soto
•Alfred Gregorio Arroyo
•Dale Au
•Patricia Gonzalez
•Patricia Martinez
•Sean Greaney
•Sylvia Robledo

Students thanked LA Fire Department CERT instructor Kurt Howard, CERT leader and community activist Roy Payan, and Moira Gomez for their leadership and commitment. This effort is part of CD1's mission to promote P.E.A.C.E. Public Safety is a priority for Councilmember Cedillo.

Deputy Sylvia Robledo is forming a CERT. team in Mt. Washington and Sycamore Grove. If you are a graduate of the CERT training and want to lend a hand, please contact her at [email protected].

Congratulations to everyone!

Historic Windows Up at District Office


(Photo Credit: Fredy Ceja)

When CD1 moved into the historic Highland Park Masonic Building, the owner removed the 90-year-old prismatic glass from the windows and solicited the help of local restoration experts and fine arts studio, Judson Studios. For months, Judson Studios has worked to clean up and restore the prismatic glass and the casing around the windows, in order to restore them to their original state. On Thursday, Judson Studios hand delivered and installed the windows.

We are delighted to have been able to restore the historic windows at our iconic District Office. The windows will add to the charm of the Figueroa corridor. When we moved in we took down the bars and gates that discouraged people from visiting our office. These windows will brighten up our office and make it more inviting for constituents. We can now have our official District Office opening. Stay tuned for a date!

NEWS UPDATE

Cedillo Helps Save the Zanja Madre


(Photo Credit: Fredy Ceja)

On April 10, 2014, construction workers at Forest City’s Blossom Plaza site uncovered a significant portion of the Zanja Madre (Mother Ditch), the original aqueduct that brought water to the Pueblo de Los Angeles from the Rio Porciuncula (Los Angeles River). In compliance with the project’s mitigation monitoring plan, Forest City have retained Cogstone Resource Management, Inc., as their on-site archaeological team.Cogstone and Forest City immediately undertook measures to carefully excavate, photo, document, and chart this exciting discovery and notified my staff and the City’s Office of Historic Resources (OHR). Both staff from OHR and CD1 were on-site the next day to observe and consult with Forest City representatives, Cogstone, and the construction team.

CD1 was extremely excited about the discovery of the Zanja Madre, which served as the lifeline to the survival and early development of Los Angeles, and which has apparently survived nearly 130 years below the former Little Joe’s parking lot just south of Capitol Milling. We are also very proud of the leadership and diligence of staff and the public-private partnership that has been forged with Forest City and Lauren Bon of Metabolic Studios to collaborate and explore the feasibility and development of a preservation action plan together with consultation and support of OHR and the Los Angeles Conservancy. A multitude of logistics are being undertaken in preparation for the excavation, removal, and storage of a large segment of the Zanja Madre that will enable us to preserve and tell the story of the Zanja to our children, visitors, and future generations within the future Blossom Plaza’s Cultural Plaza, the Los Angeles Historic State Park, and as part of Metabolic Studios’ Los Angeles River Water Wheel project.

The Zanja Madre was originally an open, earthen ditch which was completed by community laborers within a month of the founding of El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora La Reina de Los Angeles in 1781. This mother ditch originated at the Los Angeles River near the present day North Broadway historic Buena Vista Bridge and ran for more than a mile across the base of the bluff to the original Plaza, then curved north toward the hills.A brush and earth dam (toma) was used to divert water from the Los Angeles River into the ditch. In the 1850s, a water wheel was installed at the toma to increase water supply to the Zanja Madre. Water then was distributed to a number of houses along the principal streets through a system of wooden pipes. There is a square main brick reservoir in the middle of the Plaza, which was the terminus of the town's historic lifeline: the Zanja Madre.

According to Cogstone’s 2004 report prepared for Metro in connection with the previous uncovering of the Zanja Madre below the North Broadway bluff along the Gold Line access road north of Capitol Milling and the Chinatown Gold Line Station, the Zanja was an open ditch along the base of a bluff until 1877 when a tunnel over 3000 feet long was cut into the sandstone of the bluff. Zanja Madre water was used for household and irrigation purposes within the City of Los Angeles from 1781 into the late 1860s; thereafter it served mostly for irrigation. The Zanja Madre as a water system was a critical factor in the survival and growth of Los Angeles. Improvements to the Zanja Madre after 1884 consisting of replacement with brick conduit of 3 to 3.5 ft. diameter ending at First Street failed to keep pace with population growth and irrigation demand. By 1904 the zanja system was abandoned as a water source. Portions of the system were retained as part of the stormwater system.

Prior to the discovery at the Blossom Plaza construction site, you could view a remnant of the bricked-over Zanja Madre in the area behind the Gold Line station in Chinatown, preserved by the Metro rail system. Also, in the heart of Olvera Street, in the DWP two floor display, at the lower level, a part of the Zanja Madre is also preserved there.

Dodgers Traffic Mitigation


(Photo Credit: Yahoo)

Over the past few months, our office has been working diligently around the clock to provide as much relief as possible to our constituents. We have been meeting regularly with the Dodgers organization and City departments. Our goal is to maximize the flow of traffic in and out of the Stadium as quickly as possible while minimizing the affects to the residents. This is a start and there are still some pieces that need to be finalized (including parking). Additional updates will be provided as they come in. Below are a list of mitigations by CD1: 

1.New crosswalks at the following locations:
•Lilac Terrace & Stadium Way (On the north leg - to cross Lilac Terrace)
•Lookout Dr & Stadium Way (Installing all-way stop control & continental crosswalks for all 3 legs)
•Academy Rd "by Dodgers Stadium Gate C"  (On the north leg- to cross Academy Rd)

2.Department of Transportation Deployment—Additional DOT officers at the following locations (with a "Local Access Only" A-frame; new locations that were previously not in the original plan)
•Solano/Broadway
•Bishops Road/ Broadway with a "Local Access Only" and a LAPD officer to enforce traffic violations and keep our communities safe. There will also be an additional DOT officer On Bishops Canyon/Broadway, which is a brand new location that we have requested. 
•Stadium/ Scott
•Sunset/ Elysian Park
•Boylston/ Academy
•Lookout/ Stadium Way

3.LAPD Deployment
•Stationary Officer on Solano/ Broadway
•Roaming Officer in upper Solano
•Roaming Officer on Scott side

4.Additional A-frames at the following locations (also new locations, not previously in the plan)
•Boylston/ Scott
•Stadium/ Lookout
•Stadium/ Bernard
•Academy/ Jarvis

Parking has been one of the biggest issues. We will begin to circulate petitions for permitted parking and will be enlisting your help once that process starts. If you are able to help, please do not hesitate to contact us directly. 

This is a work in progress that we will continue to work out. As mentioned, there are still other items in the works. Again, we appreciate everyone's patience and cooperation throughout this process. 

As always, please do not hesitate to call our offices if you have specific questions or concerns. 

Preschool Opportunities in CD1


(Photo Credit: Yahoo)

California Children’s Academy has spots available in their full day – full year infant/toddler/preschooler early education program. In order to qualify families must meet low income requirements and be working, training, or going to school.

The following preschools are in CD1:

Jardin de Ninos
2422 Manitou Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90031
Call – (323) 343-1681

Placita de Ninos
2661 Pasadena Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90031
Call – (323) 343-1681

Centro de Milagros
1328 James M. Woods
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Call – (323) 343-1681

For more information please contact California Children’s Academy at (323)343-1681 or visit www.californiachildrensacademy.org.

North Figueroa Bike Lanes Community Meeting – Phase I



Councilmember Gilbert Cedillo (First District), would like your input on LADOT’s proposed bike lanes for North Figueroa (from Avenue 22 to Avenue 52, in Cypress Park, Sycamore Grove and a small portion of Highland Park). The meeting is for Phase I of the proposed N. Figueroa Street bike lanes.

North Figueroa Bike Lanes Community Meeting
Thursday, May 8th, 2014
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Nightingale Middle School (Cafeteria)
3311 North Figueroa Street (corner of Cypress Ave.)
Los Angeles (Cypress Park), CA, 90065

The proposal would remove one of two southbound traffic lanes (“road diet”) on North Figueroa Street. An alternative proposal will be presented that includes:

•Bike sharrows (shared lane – not removing a traffic lane) along Figueroa from Avenue 22 to Avenue 50 with no “road diet”
•Bike sharrows along Sycamore Terrace between Avenue 50 to Avenue 45/Woodside Drive
•Bike sharrows along Monte Vista Avenue from Avenue 50 to Marmion Way to Figueroa
•Bike sharrows along Avenue 50 between Figueroa and Monte Vista

Bike lanes on North Figueroa are part of the adopted 2010 City of Los Angeles Bike Plan. Refreshments and translation will be provided. RSVP with the District Office at (323)550-1538 or RSVP at: http://goo.gl/zsaZF9

Making the First District #1

This section of our newsletter highlights people and places that make our District #1. This week we introduce you to Miles Hill.

Miles Hill

Miles Hill, a resident of Mt. Washington is doing well now that he is home with his family--mom Robin, dad Gaylord and twin brother Langston. Miles was one of the students in the recent bus crash when a FedEx truck veered across the highway median in Chico, which claimed the lives of ten people. Students were on their way to Humboldt State University for a campus tour. Not only did he survive the crash, but his quick thinking saved the lives of others. Miles injured his leg while kicking a window open, however, it provided an exit for himself and other students fleeing the chaos and flames on the bus. Hill suffered burns to his face, hands and legs and his collar bone was broken but his spirit and courage impassioned him to act.According to Gaylord Hill, his son is healing both emotionally and physically and their family is proud of him.

Miles is a student at Renaissance Arts Academy in Eagle Rock where he studies music and plays the violin and his brother, Langston plays the viola. They were both former students of Mt. Washington Elementary and plan to attend San Francisco State University in the fall. CD1 is proud to have Miles as a constituent and we pray for his quick recovery. Our thoughts are with the families whose loved ones did not survive the crash.

It’s the courage and valor that Miles exemplified in this tragic situation that earn him the honor of being this week’s person that is Making the First District #1!

Way to go Miles!

UPCOMING EVENTS



GPNC Candidate Meet and Greet
Saturday, April 19th, 2014
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Glassell Park Community/Sr. Center
3750 N. Verdugo Road
Los Angeles, CA 900




LA2050 Cypress Park/Lincoln Heights Walk 
Sunday, April 27th, 2014
10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
360 W Ave 26
Los Angeles,CA90031




Lummis Day 2014 Fundraiser Dinner
Saturday, May 3rd, 2014
6:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Highland Park American Legion Hall
227 South Avenue 55
Los Angeles, CA 90042




Keep It Clean
Main Street Clean Up
Saturday May 3, 2014
9:00am to 12:00pm
Volunteer Deployment Location 1:
Cri Help-Socorro
2010 N. Lincoln Park Ave., Lincoln Heights, CA. 90031

Volunteer Deployment Location 2:
CA Children’s Academy
2701 N. Main St. Lincoln Heights, CA. 90031

Volunteer Deployment Location 3:
Excel Charter Academy
1855 N. Main St. Lincoln Heights, CA. 90031


5th Annual LAAAC Aging Summit
Thursday, May 8th, 2014
8:30 AM - 2:30 PM
The California Endowment
1000 N. Alameda Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012




LA Heat Taste Changing Condiments
March 13th - July 12th, 2014
Chinese American Museum
425 N. Los Angeles Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012




Sabor Latino Trade Show
May 13-14th, 2014
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Pasadena Convention Center
300 E. Green Street
Pasadena, CA 91101



Sacred Heart High School
3rd Annual Dinner Dance
Saturday, July 26th, 2014
6:00 PM - 12:00 AM
2111 Griffin Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90031