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Message from Councilmember Huizar
Representing the community where I was raised on the City Council has been a remarkable honor for me, and I deeply appreciate your confidence and support as I begin a full four year term.
     It’s an exciting time for the City of Los Angeles. Vibrant new leadership in our city has given us the opportunity to seriously address difficult issues and improve the quality of life for our families and our neighborhoods. I am proud to be a part of the new leadership team that is fighting to move our City forward. Public safety is my top priority. I am pleased to inform you that I joined with Mayor Villaraigosa in supporting additional funding to add 1,000 police officers to the LAPD to make our neighborhoods safer.
     I was a leader in working to pass this bold new plan on the City Council; this was the first major policing increase in decades. We have already begun the process of recruiting, hiring and training the additional officers. While violent crime has dropped to the lowest levels in over 40 years, gang violence continues to be a huge problem in some neighborhoods.
     That is why I am supporting a substantial effort to expand the city’s gang and drug prevention programs. I have also worked with the Police and Parole Departments to better track paroled sex offenders living near schools and parks to better protect our children.
     Public transportation is an issue of great concern to every neighborhood in Los Angeles. That is why I have been a strong champion for the expansion of public transit in our City. I support rail-lines and a better more reliable bus system, and I have worked for a rapid completion of the Eastside Gold Line extension. And I am also thrilled to inform you that after many years of delay, we have began working on the Valley Boulevard grade separation in El Sereno.
     This project will prevent long delays caused by the railroad traffic. Finally, environmental and green space issues are very important to the City. Our district has far too little park space. I have fought to bring more parks and recreational facilities to our community, including working to open the Ascot Hills Nature Park and the Garvanza Skate Park and opening the new Pecan Park Gym.
     I have also fought to protect our hillsides from overdevelopment by championing the Interim Control Ordinance, and I am working with the residents of Mount Washington to protect the future of the Southwest Museum. As your City Councilman, I believe I have a unique opportunity to help dreams come true for our neighborhoods and our families. I have been given so much by this country and this community, that I hold this responsibility as a sacred trust.
     I thank you for your support and look forward to continue working with you and your neighbors over the next four years.

Best Wishes,
JOSE HUIZAR
Councilmember, Fourteenth District

SECURED FUNDS OF KEY CD 14 INITIATIVES
The City Council officially adopted the City’s 2007-2008 budget, I personally fought for and restored some critical program and initiatives for Council District 14. Successes include:…more

SECURED $22 MILLION FROM MTA
I secured $22 million in new funding from the Metropolitan Transit Authority to improve transportation throughout Council District 14. These projects will ease traffic and address safety issues at key intersections, including the following:…more

ENSURED COMMUNITY HEARS REPORTS ON MacARTHUR PARK INCIDENTS
Following the May 1st clashes with police at MacArthur Park, I immediately responded by calling on the Los Angeles Police Department to report back to the City Council on its ongoing investigations. I introduced a Council Motion, adopted by the Council on May 2nd, that ensured the public would hear a full report…more

L.A. RIVER TO CONNECT BOYLE HEIGHTS AND DOWNTOWN
Along with my fellow members of the Council’s Ad Hoc River Committee, I envision a revitalized river flanked by trees, landscaping and pocket parks….more

CITY WIDE GRAFFITTI STRATEGIES
Whether it appears on buildings, bridges, on underpasses or in alleys, graffiti undermines quality of life. I called on the City to redouble our efforts to make our City graffiti-free…more

HONORING OUR FALLEN SOLDIERS
This year marked the 60th anniversary of the All Wars Memorial at Cinco Puntos. Every year, Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles community residents have come together to honor the brave men and women who have fallen in battle while defending our country. more

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME, TAKE ME OUT TO THE CROWD
I am committed to creating more opportunities for our children to play in safe, constructive environments, particularly during after-school hours… more

BLUEBERRY HILL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
I am leading the Boyle Heights Green Corridor Project, which is a collaborative effort between a variety of public and nonprofit agencies. The Green Corridor project seeks to create a green corridor linking the Blueberry Hill steps with Hollenbeck Park along Sixth Street … more

RAMONA OPPORTUNITY HIGH SCHOOL GROUNDBREAKING
As your Councilmember, I take seriously the City’s responsibility to support high-quality educational opportunities. Recently I helped break ground on two new area high schools that will alleviate overcrowding at Roosevelt High School, and I continue to seek new ways to build collaboration between the City and the Los Angeles Unified School District… more

RECONSTRUCTION OF HISTORIC SIXTH STREET BRIDGE
With its world-famous design, the Sixth Street Bridge is both a hallmark of our community and a popular tourist site and filming location. Due to structural issues, the bridge will need to rebuilt in the coming years. more

PHOTO RED LIGHTS AND NEW TRAFFIC SIGNALS ON LORENA STREET
Late in the spring, my office and the Department of Transportation unveiled a brand new, state-of-the art traffic signal at the busy intersection of Whittier Boulevard and Lorena Street. The traffic signal, equipped with a Photo Red Light system, will enable the Los Angeles Police Department to effectively monitor the busy intersection… more

GOLD LINE CLOSER TO COMPLETION
The Metro Gold Line Extension is scheduled for completion in Fall 2009. The Gold Line Extension is a vital component to the extraordinary revitalization of Boyle Heights…. more

FIRST ANNUAL CONCERT AND FIREWORKS SHOW AT EVERGREEN PARK
Inspired by fond memories from my childhood, I organized and sponsored the First Annual Concert and Fireworks Show at Evergreen Park. In celebration of 4th of July, hundreds of families from all over East Los Angeles attended the event… more

BOYLE HEIGHTS IN ACTION
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$50,000 REWARD IN EL SERENO CHILD MOLESTATION CASE
Police Chief William Bratton and I announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect in the El Sereno child molestation case. This case is deeply troubling, and we are doing everything we can to apprehend the suspect… more

LAPD BIKE PATROLS
As many of you are aware, Huntington Drive is undergoing an extraordinary revitalization. I’m proud that my office has been able to play an important role in that renaissance, and I am committed to supporting further efforts to improve this corridor…more

EL SERENO CONSTITUENT SERVICE CENTER/BARRIO ACTION YOUTH & FAMILY CENTER
Bringing city services closer to the community is a top priority for me. That is why I led the effort to create the El Sereno Constituent Service Center/Barrio Action Youth and Family Center. The Center will house some important programs and services for this community, including: my El Sereno District Office and a new LAPD community field office…more

HUNTINGTON DRIVE CLEAN-UPS – CLEAN AND GREEN PROGRAM
As my staff and I meet with residents in this area, I consistently hear that we need to keep Huntington Drive clean. Huntington Drive in El Sereno serves as a primary transportation artery for the residents living in this community of the 14th Council District…more

FAÇADE IMPROVEMENTS
Beautification of our community is a very important issue to me. I am excited to announce that businesses along this corridor will soon be undergoing façade improvements…more

ASCOT HILLS NATURE PARK
After more than 75 yeas of waiting, in February 2007, community and business leaders joined me at The Ascot Hills Nature Park to unveil plans for the much anticipated regional park. Within the next year, residents will be able to enjoy scenic hiking and biking trails, a learning area and numerous picnic areas…more

El SERENO RECREATION/FARMDALE PARKING GROVE AND PROPOSITION O FUNDING
My office has been working to secure Proposition O funds to repave the El Sereno Recreation Center and Farmdale Elementary School parking lot. more

VALLEY GRADE SEPARATION PROJECT GROUNDBREAKING
After thirty years of delays, construction on the Valley Grade Separation Project has begun. In May, 2007, I was joined by President of Public Works, staff from Bureau of Engineering, as well as numerous El Sereno residents and leaders for an official groundbreaking...more

EL SERENO ON THE GO
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IDENTITY THEFT AND FRAUD AWARENESS FORUM
Identity theft is a crime on the rise. An estimated 1 million Californians have been victims of identity theft, and nationwide over 24 million people have been victimized. I hosted an identity Theft and Fraud Awareness forum on May 2nd, 2007 that included presentations and discussions from the U.S. Secret Service, LAPD’s Commercial Crimes Division-ID Theft Unit, the Northeast Division of LAPD, the L.A. City Attorney’s Office Identity Theft Unit, and the Identity Theft Resource Center…more

NORTHEAST YOUTH JOB FAIR
I was proud to co-sponsor the Northeast Youth Job Fair, which connected small and large Northeast businesses with local youth seeking work experience. Together with City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo, Councilmember Garcetti, the Glassell Park Improvement Association, and the First Chance Program, I helped offer our youth the opportunities they need to succeed in life… more

SPECIAL EVENTS
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This message was sent to by:
Los Angeles Councilmember Jose Huizar
200 N. Spring Street, Rm. 425
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-473-5803