Copyright (c) 2008 All rights reserved. http://http://www.lacity.org/council/cd14 Top Stories en-us 5 Tue, 07 April 2009 00:00:00 GMT Councilmember Huizar jointly introduced legislation with Councilmember Jan Perry to formally adopt official hours of operation for film companies that wish to shoot in the Arts District. The new hours, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., will affect the area from 1st to 7th streets between Alameda Avenue and the Los Angeles River. The terms, which were negotiated between representatives of the film industry and downtown residents, have been followed on a voluntary basis for the past year and were endorsed by the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council. The proposal now goes before the Public Works Committee for consideration. Mon, 12 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT More than 100 people of all ages and all walks of life participated in a Streetscape walk at eight interactive stations, providing insight on what could be done to provide a better pedestrian experience on Broadway. Part of Councilmember Huizars Bringing Back Broadway Initiative, perspectives at the streetscape walk were varied, as shoppers, employees and residents offered up their opinions. Topics discussed were: Green Streets/Environmentally Friendly Design Ideas; Street Design; Character/Historic Influence; Transit Stations; Design Palette; Paseos/Open Space; Curb Extensions/Crossings and Pedestrian Safety & Comfort. The range of great comments, interesting ideas and the positive spirit we received helped make the community kickoff for the Broadway Streetscape a huge success. Melendrez Design Partners will now put all the input to work as they develop design ideas for a new Broadway Streetscape. We look forward to sharing preliminary design concepts with you in the coming months, and welcome your ongoing input on the design project as it develops. Mon, 9 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT The steering committee for the formation of Los Angeles Streetcar Inc., a non-profit coalition dedicated to bringing the streetcar back to downtown Los Angeles, recently named Dennis Allen project manager for its in-formation board of directors. The committee, born out of Councilmember Huizars Bringing Back Broadway Initiative, a public/private effort to restore the Broadway Corridor, is made up of a wide variety of downtown property owners, civic leaders and public officials. Allen is working with the LASI board on setting policy, approving by-laws, as well as establishing a budget and organizing fundraising efforts for the non-profit. Based in part on successful efforts in Seattle and Portland, LASI will function as a fundraising and advocacy entity focused on advancing the Los Angeles streetcar effort. Bringing Back Broadway was launched in January 2008 by Councilmember Huizar and has already achieved key milestones, including securing $5 million to $10 million in CRA/LA funds to support the streetcar effort and leverage private funding. Tues, 9 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Councilmember José Huizar and the Community Development Department are working on a plan to help Broadway Corridor property owners who wish to renovate and upgrade their buildings - but who are struggling with tight credit markets and a lack of available capital from commercial lenders. The Section 108 Loan Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is a $150 million program managed for the City by the CDD. The program, which normally provides gap funding loans for improvement projects, will be allowed to serve as a primary loan source to provide funding for land acquisition, construction, renovation and other building costs as long as jobs are created by the project and traditional funding can be secured upon project completion. Wed, 5 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT As part of Councilmember José Huizar's Bringing Back Broadway Initiative, a Commercial Reuse Task Force, made up of numerous public and private departments and entities, will create incentives, policies and procedures necessary for an ordinance to encourage commercial reuse in upper floors along Broadway. Currently, more than 1-million square feet of commercial space lies vacant, producing no jobs or revenue for the City and lagging behind the revitalization occurring throughout the rest of downtown. The City's Adaptive Reuse Program, which allows downtown commercial buildings to be converted to housing, has been a boon for revitalization. However, many Broadway buildings are not suitable for housing, and after years or decades of vacancy their upper floors can no longer be occupied as offices without significant fire-life safety and other modern upgrades. The task force will work to ease these requirements, assist projects on the ground level and in upper floors through case management, and creative meaningful incentives to help spur commercial reuse and support the revitalization of the Broadway corridor. Wed, 8 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT With the backing of Councilmembers Huizar and Perry, a new DASH bus route opened recently, serving residents and workers in Downtown’s Central City East area. The new DASH Central City East route offers service weekdays, from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and covers Little Tokyo, the Toy District, the Arts District and the Flower District. The new DASH route also offers riders the ability to connect to LADOT’s DASH Downtown LA’s Routes A, D and E. Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT Councilmember Huizar joined with three other Council members to call for extending the hours of Metro's Red Line during the holiday season. A pilot program would run from November 1, 2008 through January 3, 2009. Trains would run between downtown and North Hollywood until 3 a.m. on Thursday and Fridays.The Metro Board will ultimately make a decision on whether to adopt this pilot. Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT The Los Angeles City Council unanimously adopted a pilot "Hail-A-Cab" program in Hollywood and downtown. The six-month pilot program will allow individuals to hail a cab so that taxi service can function as a realistic means of local transportation. Taxi drivers now have the flexibility to pick up and drop off passengers in some otherwise restricted areas curbside. Councilmember Huizar supported the program because it is only sensible that people should have the option to hail a cab downtown in one of the densest parts of the city. It makes sense for tourists who are unfamiliar with the city, as well as residents who need the occasional convenience of a taxi. Councilmember Huizar supports increased transportation options downtown, including an initiative to launch a modern streetcar system. Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT Vista Hermosa Park opened in July as the most environmentally-friendly park ever opened in downtown L.A. It is a project Councilmember Huizar spearheaded as a member of Los Angeles Unified School District's school board in 2003. While serving on the school board, he enlisted the support of community members and elected officials to come up with a plan to redesign the troubled Belmont Learning Center and push for the construction of the 10.5-acre park. Vista Hermosa (Beautiful View) overlooks the downtown skyline and is located next to the Edward R. Roybal Learning Center, which will open this fall. The Councilmember built a coalition, including the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, to design the park and help gather political support to get the necessary votes on the board to complete the new plan. Vista Hermosa Park is located at 100 N. Toluca Street, at the corner of First Street and Toluca. Tue, 1 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT The top two achieving students in fifth through 12th grade at each public and private school in Council District 14 were honored by Councilmember Huizar on June 21 at a downtown luncheon at the Cathedral of our Lady of Angels. Councilmember Huizar founded the Adelante Awards five years ago as president of the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education. Awardees were nominated by their school administrators and teachers, and they were selected for academic achievement and leadership in the classroom and their communities. Adelante is Spanish for “onward, ” and the award is meant to encourage young people to continue to pursue their education and their goals so they can make a difference in their communities. Nearly 300 teachers, principals and parents were there to honor their students Thu, 30 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT CCouncilmember Huizar joined over 60 children at Gladys Park in Skid Row for the first day of recreational activities. Councilmember Huizar has worked diligently with the Los Angeles Police Department, the Department of Recreation and Parks and community organizations, including Para Los Niños and SRO Housing Corporation, to fund and develop a high quality children's recreation program once-a-week for almost three hours. During the children's park hour visits from a fully equipped recreational van arrives full of sports equipment, arts and crafts materials, and games. Councilmember Huizar and the Los Angeles Fire Department also hosted recently a holiday toy giveaway for the children. Wed, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT On November 26, Councilmember Huizar launched an innovative recreational program at Gladys Park to serve children living in Skid Row, including students at 8th Street Elementary School. Gladys Park, located at the corner of 6th St. and Gladys St. in downtown Los Angeles, has lacked recreational programming. Councilmember Huizar worked diligently to garner support from the Los Angeles Police Department, the Department of Recreation and Parks and community organizations, including Para Los Niños and SRO Housing Corporation, to fund and develop a high quality recreation program once-a-week for almost three hours with visits from a fully equipped recreational van full of sports equipment, arts and crafts materials, and games. Wed, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Councilmember Huizar joined the Los Angeles Police Department to announce a $75,000 reward for information leading to the arrest, apprehension, and conviction of a man responsible for killing Ebrahim Torbati, a local merchant in the Fashion District. Mr. Torbati was shot and killed during a robbery of Rug City, Inc., located at 840 S. Santee Street, on October 23, 2007. Mr. Torbati, an Iranian Jewish immigrant, was 71 years old. The Los Angeles Police Department describes the suspect as a thin African-American male between 20 and 25 years of age. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Doug Pierce at (213) 972-1254. Wed, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT On November 28, Councilmember Huizar won City Council approval to allocate $320,000 from the Safer Cities Initiative to the Bureau of Street Lighting for street lighting improvements in Central City East. Launched in 2006, the Downtown Safer Cities Initiative has focused on street cleaning, nuisance abatement, and targeted crime reduction. Councilmember Huizar’s motion appropriates dollars within the initiative to the Bureau of Street Lighting to install 100 new mounted lighting fixtures in pedestrian areas of Central City East. The Bureau of Street Lighting is currently finalizing the design for the fixtures. Wed, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Councilmember Huizar recently introduced a Council motion directing the General Services Department to examine whether the City can transfer property to Lamp Community, a nationally recognized service provider located in Central City East. The property, located at 527 South Crocker Street, is slated for a number of improvements, including the development of public showers, a Laundromat, and a social service center. Wed, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT On October 23, Councilmember Huizar and the Los Angeles City Council directed key City departments, including the Department of Recreation and Parks and the Planning Department, to determine the feasibility of permanently using the Pershing Square Parking Garage for theater patrons. Councilmember Huizar is working with key stakeholders, including theater owners, business leaders, and community groups, to revive the storied Broadway Theater District. His motion also includes a study on the possibility of building an elevator at the corner of Sixth and Hill streets and a kiosk that could sell tickets and direct patrons to theaters, similar to one in San Francisco's Union Square that offers half-price tickets and a Ticketmaster outlet.