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GREETING FROM COUNCILMEMBER GIL CEDILLO
Friends,
As we gear up for the summer recess, things are moving quickly around City Hall. We held three press conferences on important matters; Operation Splash, Wage Theft, and Immigrant Heritage Month. We had a public hearing on billboards in Los Angeles, and held a joint committee hearing on the City’s Foreclosure Registry Program.
The field was ‘Keeping It Clean’ again, hosting a community clean-up with Aztecs Rising. We also helped Young Nak celebrate their annual dinner.
We end the week humbly receiving an award for our advocacy efforts and remind you that phase II of the plastic bag ban goes into effect on Tuesday.
Gilbert A. Cedillo
Councilmember, District 1
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Billboards in PLUM
(Photo Credit: Yahoo)
On Tuesday the Planning and Land Use Management Committee (PLUM) held a public hearing on a proposed citywide sign ordinance which would allow for the creation of "Sign Districts" in designated locations; incorporate the ability to reduce existing billboards and provide community benefits in exchange for establishing a Sign District; and impose administrative penalties on illegally erected signs. Since 2002, the City of Los Angeles has imposed a ban on new billboards. The PLUM Committee accepted public testimony but took no vote on the matter. In the coming weeks, the Committee will continue to solicit input from all stakeholders in an effort to ensure all sides are heard.
Click here to read the report.
Wage Theft Press Conference
(Photo Credit: Fredy Ceja)
On Tuesday, Councilmembers Gilbert Cedillo and Paul Koretz held a press conference to announce the introduction of a wage theft motion. The motion instructs the City Attorney to draft a Wage Theft Ordinance to criminalize the practice of wage theft in the City of Los Angeles and increase tracking enforcement. Los Angeles is the wage theft capital of the Nation. Every week workers lose $26.2 million in wage theft violations, the highest of any other major city in the country. Other major cities, including Denver, Colorado and Austin, Texas have passed city ordinances to hold unscrupulous employers accountable.
Wage theft is the pervasive and illegal practice of not paying workers for all of their work. It includes violating minimum wage laws; not paying time and a half overtime pay; forcing workers to work off the clock; misclassifying employees as independent contractors to avoid paying minimum wage and overtime; and not paying workers at all.
Read the motion here.
Immigrant Heritage Month Celebration
(Photo Credit: City Photography)
On Wednesday, Councilmember Cedillo designated June as Immigrant Heritage Month along with Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Immigrant Affairs Department and Welcome.us. The celebration began with a press conference at City Hall, followed by an awards ceremony to honor immigrants from the different Council Districts and ended with a Council presentation proclaiming the month.
This celebration marks the first year Immigrant Heritage has been officially recognized by the City of Los Angeles. With such large number of residents of foreign descent, this annual celebration is long overdue. Los Angeles County is home to nearly 10 million residents, making it the most populous county in the nation. The large population is diverse, dynamic, and both the result and catalyst of globalization. Los Angeles has always had a large immigrant presence and has seen its immigrant population dramatically rise since 1980; immigrants now make up one-third of the County’s total population. The City of Los Angeles, the second largest in the nation, is a sanctuary city – an emblem of the region’s acceptance of its immigrant population. Along with long-time gateway cities like New York and Chicago, Los Angeles remains committed to immigrants and changing policy both locally and nationally to enable integration.
Congratulation to the honorees:
·Bert Corona
·Archbishop Hovnan Derdian
·Carlos Zaragosa
·Gloria Ayala
· Neges ‘Nikki’ Legesse
·Jeronimo Garcia
·Miguel Luna
·Isabel Salas
·Salvador Lara
Watch the powerful Welcome.us video that was shown in Council here.
Joint Budget and Finance/Housing Committee on Foreclosure Registry
(Photo Credit: Yahoo)
On Wednesday, Housing Committee Chair Gilbert Cedillo held a joint meeting with Budget and Finance Chair Paul Krekorian to hear an update on our Foreclosure Registry Program. In order to address the blight caused by the escalating number of foreclosures in the City of Los Angeles, in 2010 the City Council adopted the Foreclosure Registry Program. The program required banks issuing notice of defaults to owners to register with the City and pay a $155 fee. After a 30 day violation of the ordinance, banks are faced with a $250/day fine. The intent of the Registry Program was to establish an abandoned residential property registration program as a mechanism to protect residential neighborhoods from becoming blighted through the lack of adequate maintenance and security of abandoned properties as a result of the foreclosure crisis.
Since its inception the registry has failed to collect appropriate fees and eliminate blight. Councilmember Cedillo introduced a motion to fix the failed registry program. The motion will now move to the full Council for consideration.
Click here for a link to the motion.
FIELD UPDATE
Aztecs Rising Kick-Off Clean-Up and Resource Fair
(Photo Credit: Martha Benedict)
(Photo Credit: Martha Benedict)
On Saturday, Councilmember Cedillo's Office partnered with PHFE Aztec Rising for the First Annual Safe Summer Kick-Off Clean-Up and Resource Fair at Sycamore Grove Park. The event started with a clean-up of the pedestrian bridge connecting Sycamore Grove Park and the Montecito Heights Recreation Center. Volunteers, community members and representatives from the Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council joined in to clean up the bridge which resulted in a drastic difference, making the bridge cleaner and safer for the community.
The Resource Fair included over 30 community resource and information booths along with community groups and advocate organizations. The fair attracted over 400 people seeking information and children enjoying the jumpers, food and activities. Bikes and prizes were raffled off. Participants left with smiles and some with prizes.
A special thanks and acknowledgement goes to Samantha Babcock and Stephanie Noriega for their hard work and commitment to make this event a success.
Operation Splash Press Conference
(Photo Credit: Kris Ortega)
On Tuesday, Councilmember Cedillo launched ‘Operation Splash’ at the Glassell Park Pool with Kaiser Permanente and the LA84 Foundation. Since 2006, Kaiser Permanente’s Operation Splash has partnered with the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks to provide more than 100,000 children and families access to extended swim seasons, free swim lessons, and junior lifeguard training. Kaiser has renewed a $265,000 grant to support ‘Operation Splash’ in the City of Los Angeles. Four pools in CD1 will benefit from this program; Downey Pool, Echo Deep Pool, Glassell Park Pool, and Highland Park Pool.
Enjoy swimming year-round at Glassell Park Pool!
Young Nak Outreach and Transformation (YNOT) Foundation
4th Annual Fundraiser Dinner
(Photo Credit: Kris Ortega)
On Thursday, Councilmember Cedillo spoke to a large and diverse mix of people celebrating Young Nak’s annual dinner themed “Faith in Action: Spreading Our Wings.” He was there to honor the 6 years of growth and impact YNOT has made on the lives and communities in Lincoln Heights and throughout Los Angeles. Founded in 2008, YNOT Foundation was established and catalyzed by the Young Nak Presbyterian Church congregation’s desire to transform and empower individuals, families and neighborhoods. YNOT provides cancer support services, counseling services, social services and referral program, transportation assistance, housing for developmentally disabled adults, and the L.O.V.E. Library Project that constructs and equips libraries at LA County Probation juvenile facilities.
Event honorees were the Wilshire Bank (Corporate Citizen Award) and Mr. and Mrs. Woo Hyuck Lee, Mercy Fund (Community Inspiration Award). On behalf of the City of Los Angeles, Councilmember Cedillo presented a certificate of appreciation to YNOT Foundation Executive Director Stella Kim and Board Chair Tom Cho for their tremendous contributions to Los Angeles.
NEWS UPDATE
Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project
(Photo Credit: Kris Ortega)
On Wednesday, Councilmember Cedillo was awarded by the Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project (CLYLP) for his work on behalf of Latinos and the immigrant community. CLYLP is a statewide, community-based organization founded in 1982. Their mission is to enhance and build the leadership potential of California’s Chicano/Latino youth to build communities and create a stronger, more prosperous state and nation.
Phase II Plastic Bag Ban
(Photo Credit: Yahoo)
As of July 1, 2014, Los Angeles’ Single-Use Carryout Bag Ordinance will affect smaller markets and groceries.
Summary of Single-Use Bag Ordinance
- Ban single-use plastic carryout bags,
- Mandate a $0.10 charge on single-use paper carryout bags, and
- Require stores to make available reusable bags for purchase.
Effective Dates for Ordinance:
January 1, 2014 for Large Stores: All stores with gross annual sales over $2,000,000, selling dry grocery, canned goods, or nonfood items and perishable items (i.e.: Albertsons, Costco, Ralphs, Vons); Or Stores of at least 10,000 square feet of retail space generating sales or use tax and has a licensed pharmacy (i.e.: CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, etc.).
July 1, 2014 for Small Stores: A drug store, pharmacy, supermarket, grocery store, convenience food store, food-mart, or other entity engaged in the retail sale of a limited line of goods that includes milk, bread, soda, and snack foods, including stores with a Type 20 or 21 license issued by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. (Examples are 7-Eleven, ampm, mini-marts, etc.)
Ordinance would exempt:
- Restaurants, dry cleaning shops, and hardware stores such as Home Depot, Lowes;
- Pharmacy bags, Produce bags used for bagging vegetables, fruits, and meats; and
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Participants of California Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children or Supplemental Food Program will receive free reusable bags or recyclable paper bags to carry out the purchases.
UPCOMING EVENTS
AHF National HIV Testing Day
Friday, June 27th, 2014
11:00AM - 4:00PM
Westlake/MacArthur Park Metro Station
Between Wilshire Blvd. and 7th
Los Angeles, CA 90057
Family Service Center
Family Harmony Workshop
Every Wednesday, Starting June 4th
6:00PM - 8:00PM
6145 N. Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90042
Summer Night Lights 2014
June 25th-August 9th, 2014
7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Montecito Heights Recreation Center
4545 Homer Street
Los Angeles, CA 90031
Los Angeles Police Commission
Chief of Police Reappointment Process
July 8th, 2014
6:00PM
Lincoln Heights Senior Center
2323 Workman Street
Los Angeles, California 90031
Mayor Eric Garcetti's
How to Obtain A Driver's License
Thursday, July 10th, 2014
6:30 PM
Dolores Mission Church
171 S. Gless St.
Los Angeles, CA 90033
Lotus Festival
Saturday, July 12th, 2014
12:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Sunday, July 13th, 2014
12:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Echo Park Lake
751 Echo Park Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90026
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
Chinatown Summer Nights
Second Saturdays
June/July/August
5:00 PM - 12:00 AM
943 N. Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90012
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