Copyright (c) 2008 All rights reserved. http://http://www.lacity.org/council/cd14 Top Stories en-us 5 Tuesday, 07 April 2009 00:00:00 GMT Metro delivered a status report to the City Council on the construction of the Gold Line Eastside Extension through Boyle Heights at the request of Councilmember Huizar. The project is expected to be completed on-time and on-budget. Three stops will be located in CD14: Pico/Aliso, Mariachi Plaza and Soto. The last two will be the only underground stops on the line. Tuesday, 07 April 2009 00:00:00 GMT The Mayor's office announced the organizations selected for gang intervention service contracts for the City’s Gang Reduction and Youth Development Zone. Soledad Enrichment Action was chosen for Boyle Heights and Ramona Gardens. The organization is required to engage in community-based gang intervention and individualized services, with the goal of reducing the number of youth that become involved in gangs. Tuesday, 07 April 2009 00:00:00 GMT Boyle Heights’ Margarita “Mago” Amador was honored as CD 14’s 2009 Pioneer Women Award Winner. Since 1988, the City of Los Angeles has held the Annual Pioneer Women Awards to recognize women from throughout the City who have contributed to the strength, vitality and enrichment of Los Angeles. Amador is one such person. She serves on multiple boards in the Boyle Heights community; including serving as Secretary of the Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council, President of the Santa Teresita Elementary School Parent Advisory Council, and is a volunteer for the Girl Scouts Troop at Aliso-Pico Recreation Center. Amador worked tirelessly for her community during the redevelopment of the Aliso-Pico housing projects, including enrolling countless youth in a pre-apprenticeship work program through the Los Angeles Conservation Corps. Councilmember Huizar congratulates “Mago” for being honored and for her dedicated and committed service to others. Mon, 12 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT Councilmember Huizar was joined by nearly 200 community parents, students and leaders for the opening of the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) LA Prep Charter Middle School. The new school is constructed on the former sight of Los Pericos Foods distribution warehouse at Whittier and Camulos Street next to the YMCA. Students and faculty thanked Councilmember Huizar for his support of the school and for his work in helping to expedite the many construction challenges involving variances, DOT compliance and Building and Safety regulations. The new middle school will serve children in grade levels 5 through 8 and will help alleviate overcrowding at local middle schools. As part of the nationally renowned KIPP network, KIPP LA schools focus on college readiness, preparing all students for the demands of college prep high schools and helping them understand the importance of making college their long-term goal. We invite you to visit the school and/or enroll your child. Please contact the school at (323) 264-7737, or visit them at 2810 Whittier Blvd., LA 90023. Mon, 12 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT Councilmember José Huizar celebrated with City leaders, students and community members at the official dedication of the $2.7 million Roosevelt High School pool renovation. The pool restoration, which includes a major renovation of the year-round pool and locker and shower facilities, will be used by the school while remaining a public pool operated by the Department of Recreation and Parks, which means thousands of area boys and girls will get to swim in the new facility each and every summer. The Councilmember has been lobbying for a major renovation of the facility since his days on the board of education, a fact that was acknowledged by at the pools dedication by Rec & Parks GM Jon Mukri. As a Councilmember, Huizar pushed the department to add lights to the pool and other amenities to ensure the facility would be as first-class as possible. Improvements to the Roosevelt High School Pool, which was finished ahead of schedule in order to be ready for the 2008-2009 fall opening, include the construction of a new pool deck; upgraded showers, toilets and changing rooms and offices; new heaters in the locker rooms and new landscaping ground covering and irrigation system. Mon, 12 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT Following the morning dedication for the pool, seniors from Hollenbeck-Palms and from Abuelitos of Boyle Heights, along with students from St. Marys Elementary, joined Councilmember Huizar and other officials from the Citys Recreation and Park and the Bureau of Engineering departments for a groundbreaking ceremony to restore the Historic Hollenbeck Park Bridge, a Boyle Heights landmark used by thousands of Angelenos for its picturesque setting overlooking Hollenbeck Park Lake. Through the years, countless people have posed on the bridge for photographs for special occasions, such as weddings, quinceañeras and baptisms but have been unable to do so due to the bridges five-year closure over safety concerns. At the $450,000 Capital Improvement project ceremony, the Councilmember announced that he secured an additional $150,000 for other park improvements that are expected to coincide with the estimated six-month bridge restoration, including landscape improvements, tree plantings and the installation of an exercise-equipment fitness zone. Mon, 12 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT The City Council approved a motion by Councilmember Huizar to authorize repairs to the Chicago Building in Boyle Heights, which suffered significant damage in the July 29, 2008 Chino Hills Earthquake. The building had previously been purchased by the City and served as the Neighborhood City Hall for Boyle Heights. Mon, 9 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT Councilmember Huizar introduced City Legislation calling for an ordinance to allow rewards to be offered when a Los Angeles Police Officer is attacked or killed outside of City limits while off-duty. Currently, City law allows for rewards to be offered for police officers outside of City limits only when theyre on duty. While investigating the possibility of a reward motion in the January 28th attack on Hollenbeck LAPD Officer Anthony Razo, who was shot after being assaulted by two teenagers outside his City Terrace home, the Councilmember discovered the loophole regarding off-duty officers outside of City limits. The Councilmembers action drew support from a host of supporters, including the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union that represents LAPD police officers. Tues, 9 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Councilmember Huizar recently asked the City Council to approve a $50,000 reward for the arrest of the person police believe is responsible for the killing of 20-year-old Fernando Garcia. Police believe Garcia was beaten to death by a close friend who following the killing, allegedly confessed the crime to his mother before disappearing. Garcia’s body was found in a dumpster in Boyle Heights. Following a tip, the suspect was arrested in Las Vegas. Tues, 9 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Salesian High School celebrated its 50th Anniversary with a Gala dinner at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. The event served as a fundraiser for the Eastside Catholic boys school dedicated to serving “at-risk” youth. The school honored former student Albert G. Alvarado, district director of the U.S. Small Businesses Administration, the late Thomas J. Keegan, who served Salesian high school as a teacher and coach from 1958-1997 and Councilmember Huizar, also an alumnus of the school. Tues, 9 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Ross Valencia, the legendary community activist and political veteran, know to many as “Mr. Boyle Heights,” died on Nov. 21, 2008. Mr. Valencia, a Navy veteran, was the founder of the Boyle Heights Chamber of Commerce and Co-Founder of the L.A. City Chicano Employees Association. He also served as a member of the American GI Forum, Metro RAC, Boyle Heights Resident Homeowners Association, Inc., Hollenbeck CPAB and Adelante PAC Board, among many other affiliations. Mr. Valencia was the Chief Deputy to former CD14 Councilmember Art Snyder for 11 years. He also served as an Administrative Assistant for both the State Assembly and California State Senate for six years. In the works before he passed on, Councilmember Huizar plans on moving forward with a plan to name a Boyle Heights Park in Mr. Valencia’s honor. Mr. Valencia is survived by his wife, Carmen, 5 children, 14 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. He was 81. Wed, 5 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT Councilmember José Huizar recently attended a news conference along with the City’s Bureau of Street Lighting, the DWP and LAPD officials to discuss a rash of thefts of copper wire from the Boyle Heights area. Councilmember Huizar followed up with City legislation calling on an increased public awareness campaign, as well as looking at measures to combat copper wire thefts, which now number in the thousands since last year at an estimated cost to the City of $1 million. The proposed measures by the Councilmember, include using cheaper aluminum wire in hard-hit areas of the City, such as certain sections near the Los Angeles River that have been repeatedly targeted by thieves. Wed, 5 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT The City’s Board of Building and Safety Commissioners voted unanimously recently to deny the appeal of the Shamrock Base Corporation, a concrete and asphalt crushing recycling plant that for decades has generated tons of dust and other pollutants while operating in Boyle Heights without proper permits. Councilmember Huizar has been on the forefront of environmental justice battles against several companies that pollute the air on the City’s Eastside, including Shamrock, which has exhausted all appeal processes with the City, and must now vacate the site or file legal proceedings. Wed, 8 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT Councilmember Huizar attended a peace vigil protesting the proposed Vernon Power Plant and reminded the approximately 350 participants gathered in the City of Commerce that at the urging of the Councilman, the City of Los Angeles has officially come out against the proposed site, which a study has stated that the added pollution from the site would add 3 to 11 deaths locally per year. Residents of Boyle Heights, the City of Commerce and Huntington Park strongly oppose the power plant’s efforts, which have been stymied at least temporarily by a recent court decision. Mon, 22 Sept 2008 00:00:00 GMT Gang intervention contractors were selected for each of the Mayor's 12 Gang Reduction and Youth Development Zones, including those for the Ramona Gardens/Hollenbeck (Violence Intervention Program) and Northeast (Children's Hospital) areas. The community based organizations contracted will work with at-risk youth to help steer them away from gang involvement and will attempt to minimize community violence by resolving conflicts before they escalate. Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT The Eastside Gold Line extension will connect communities in East Los Angeles to downtown Los Angeles and all the other communities served by the Metro. There are many opportunities that come with the development of the Gold Line, including continued improvements to the surrounding area. One of those improvements is the rehabilitation of the Evergreen Jogging Path. Local residents say that joggers and walkers have been using the sidewalk around the cemetery since the 1940s.It is an extremely important part of the Boyle Heights community. In an effort to complete the rehabilitation of the jogging path, Councilmember Huizar helped secured $500,000 from the Eastside Gold Line Betterment Fund. This will allow construction to occur at the same time as work on the Gold Line extension so that any work will coincide with work already being done and create minimal disruption to the surrounding community. Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT The recent spike in the price of gasoline has led many Angelenos to give up their cars either entirely or a couple of times per week. Metrolink experienced double-digit increases in ridership from May 2007 to May 2008, while Metro saw a 12.8 percent year-over-year increase in June 2008, when fuel prices hit their highest historic levels. As a result, Councilmember Huizar asked Metro to report to City Council with its plans for advertising and promoting the Gold Line Eastside Extension to ensure maximum ridership for the eight new stops, five of which will be located within the City. Councilmember Huizar also asked that Metro report on what impact the recent increases to daily, monthly and senior passes have had on bus ridership and what steps can be taken to increase ridership, including reducing one or more of the recent increases. Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT Councilmember Huizar announced the awarding of $200,000 from The California Endowment to Legacy L.A., a developing nonprofit that plans to turn the old federal Armory at Hazard Park into a youth development center. The Councilmember worked with Legacy L.A. to obtain these funds to kick off some of its work. Once converted, the armory will offer an array of educational, cultural and recreational services.He also announced the 10 winners of Legacy L.A.'s "Dream Big Fellowship," a year-long program where high school kids will do research and help design the new youth center and decide what programs will best serve the surrounding communities. Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT Councilmember Huizar on May 27 welcomed the Los Angeles Police Commission community meeting to Hollenbeck Middle School in Boyle Heights. He kicked off the meeting by thanking the Hollenbeck division officers for their great work. The Councilmember and his staff work very closely with Capt. Blake Chow, Capt. Tina Nieto, and the senior lead officers in Hollenbeck. The coordination and efforts between the council office and the Hollenbeck division ensures that the community is a safer place in which to live and work. Councilmember Huizar noted that in 2007, the Hollenbeck division finished second in the City for crime reduction. Also, this year, violent crime is down 17 percent and property crime is down 5 percent. Thu, 30 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Councilmember Huizar has partnered with Time Warner Cable to install a new movie studio in the Boyle Heights Youth Technology Center. Time Warner Cable will be installing state-of-the-art equipment in the Tech Center and will also have staff members provide hands-on-training opportunities to local youth. Opened in 2006, the Boyle Heights Tech Center offers programs and services ranging from technology courses to employment preparedness trainings. Wed, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT On November 5, Councilmember Huizar joined Mayor Villaraigosa, LAUSD Board President Mónica Garcia, and families from Ramona Gardens in launching the "Walking School Bus Program," a new safety program that aims to create safe passages for children as they go to and from school. The Walking School Bus Program is a nationally recognized school safety model that enlists parent volunteers to walk children to and from school along a planned route and timetable. Councilmember Huizar and his colleagues walked a group of students from their homes to nearby Murchison Elementary School, and praised parents for becoming directly involved in school safety. Wed, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Councilmember Huizar has secured the funding for the "Art Heals" mural project in Ramona Gardens. To be designed by local artist Raul Gonzalez, the mural will create positive and promising images of hope for residents of Ramona Gardens. Over 70 community members participated in a recent discussion of the project, and gave overwhelming approval. Clean and Green, a program of the Los Angeles Conservation Corps, will be coordinating the program, thus providing at-risk youth with paid employment and the opportunity to participate in an urban beautification project. Wed, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Councilmember Huizar led over two hundred community members from Boyle Heights and Huntington Park in a protest against a proposed 943-megawatt power plant in the City of Vernon. Community groups such as the Coalition Against the Vernon Power Plant, Communities for a Better Environment, and the Boyle Heights Residents Homeowners Association participated in the march, which included a mock funeral procession symbolizing the likely increase in community deaths due to harmful emissions from the plant. Councilmember Huizar also introduced a motion calling for the City Council to authorize the City Attorney to intervene in the City of Vernon’s certification process with the State for the new power plant. Wed, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Councilmember Huizar secured ten computers for the Ramona Gardens Resident Advisory Council to support their work in organizing and empowering the residents of Ramona Gardens. The Resident Advisory Council (RAC) is a nonprofit organization formed by community members to serve as a liaison between the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles and residents. RAC members requested the computers to help them organize and publicize community events.