Category Archives: ELECTED OFFICIALS

CONGRESSMAN XAVIER BECERRA ON MEMORIAL DAY

Posted on May 24, 2013 by | Comments Off

CONGRESSMAN XAVIER BECERRA ON MEMORIAL DAY

 

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Xavier Becerra (CA-34), Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, issued the following statement marking Memorial Day, which will be observed on

Monday, May 27:

 

“Today, we remember America’s fallen heroes – our men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice defending our country and our values. We are forever grateful to them knowing we are indebted to them in ways impossible to repay. Yet every day we can honor these patriots and their families by furthering the cause of freedom and democracy for which they fought and serving our veterans who returned safely home.”

 

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Posted in CD1, CD14, Eagle Rock, ELECTED OFFICIALS

Arroyo Seco Foundation’s Annual Gathering Celebrates the Arroyo

Posted on May 15, 2013 by | Leave a comment

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Posted in Arroyo Seco, CD1, CD14, Education, ELECTED OFFICIALS, Events, Historical Preservation, Voice in the Eagle Rock Wilderness

Daydream Fest This Sunday, May 19th

Posted on May 13, 2013 by | Comments Off

Daydream Fest This Sunday, May 19th
For the last three years hundreds of Eagle Rockers have enjoyed an afternoon of music and outdoor fun at the Daydream Fest which is held right at the base of one of Southern California’s most iconic land marks, our famous Eagle Rock. Local grass roots organization, Cannabis Clubs United With the Community, sponsors the event to show support for our local medical marijuana collectives and for our community members who choose to medicate with this natural organic medicine.
The annual event, held at the base of our Eagle Rock in Alatorre Park (top of North Figueroa St.) hosts a variety of local bands as well as food and fun for the whole family. Local bands performing this year are Cosmic Squirrels, Morning Glory, The Steves, Super Group, Fawks-One and special appearance from Legion Underworld.
All proceeds from the event go to benefit the Collaborative Eagle Rock Beautiful (CERB) who bought and helped save the area below the Eagle Rock from commercial development. While you enjoy the music you can also walk the easy 40 minute Eagle Rock Canyon Trail up to the scenic view near the top of the Eagle Rock where you can almost see the Pacific Ocean on a clear day.
This year’s theme seeks to have the Federal government respect the State’s medical marijuana laws and stop raiding dispensaries. Although federal agents shut down all medical marijuana collectives in Eagle Rock last year, we still support the right to medicate with this natural herbal remedyas well as the right of the State to implement its own regulations without the meddling of the Federal government.
The majority of Californians want the Federal government to stay out of our State’s medical marijuana laws because a whopping 77% of all Americans support medical marijuana and a majority (52%) of Americans favor outright Legalization of marijuana in order to regulate and tax this commodity, something that is impossible under federal Prohibition.
The Daydream Fest is open to the entire community and goes from noon to 8 pm. Bring your own chair or blanket to lounge on and come and enjoy the music and the fresh air. There will be restroom facilities available and everyone is invited to bring their kids and their dogs for a day of enjoyment and fun in the park. Please ‘like’ us on our Facebook page ‘Eagle Rock Daydream Fest.’ For further information and directions we invite you to visit www.CCUWC.org

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Posted in Arroyo Seco, Arts and Entertainment, CD14, COMMUNITIES, Eagle Rock, Education, ELECTED OFFICIALS, Events, LOCAL BUSINESSES, PEOPLE

Opinion! New rules regarding “Factual Basis” stakeholders.

Posted on May 9, 2013 by | Comments Off

Dear Commission, Your motion is fine, but only addresses half the problem.

The history of factual basis stakeholders is longer than most imagine. It started a few years back in Glassell Park, when a local church wanted to put up a large video pole sign and was rebuffed by the GPNC. That church put together their own candidate slate and brought in all their congregation from outside the area to vote and successfully engineered a takeover of that Glassell Park Neighborhood council.

At that time, no one wanted to risk the political incorrectness of going after a local church, but last summer Jose Huizar and the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council felt safe disenfranchising employees and owners of medical marijuana dispensaries, even though there was no city or state law prohibiting them at that time.

They said at that time these folks were not disenfranchised because they could still vote under the factual basis rules.

Eliminating factual basis stakeholders is a good thing, but your work is only half done, if the powerful and well connected can conspire to disenfranchise legitimate stakeholders they don’t like. Last year it was medical marijuana dispensary owners and their employees. Next year will it be massage parlor owners and their employees? After that, will it be auto body and mechanic shop owners and their employees? After that fast food joints that sell trans-fat cooked food, or sellers of sugary sodas over 16 ounces?

The ride down the slippery slope has started. Will anyone stand up for frowned upon, yet legitimate stakeholders? Or will it be you who is the next to be barred from voting in your neighborhood council because the powerful don’t like you or the group you associate with?

If you want to eliminate factual basis voters and candidates, fine. HOWEVER… you should also create new rules to protect legitimate voters from last minute “interpretations” by deputy city attorneys that disenfranchise legitimate stakeholders who are in opposition to their neighborhood council and City Councilperson… which is exactly what happened in Eagle Rock last October.

We citizens should not have to resort to expensive legal action to prevent this from happening next time. Please continue your work and correct this all-the-way.

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Posted in CD14, Eagle Rock, ELECTED OFFICIALS, NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS

Boulevard Sentinel Outranks Eagle Rock Association Poll on Colorado Bike Lanes.

Posted on April 16, 2013 by | Comments Off

The NELA community has spoken regarding removing auto lanes to make way for bike lanes.

OVERWHELMING SUPPORT TO SAVE THE AUTO LANES!

Results so far:

568 people who voted or signed petitions regarding removing boulevard auto lanes to make way for bike lanes.
565 voted or signed to SAVE the boulevard lanes, about double the number the Eagle Rock Association recently bragged about collecting.
(They claimed victory for “281 respondents” HA!)
Here are some other interesting numbers:
275 out of 277 respondents who live in 90041 expressed their wishes to SAVE THE AUTO LANES.
143 of 146 who turned in ballots from April Boulevard Sentinel voted to SAVE THE AUTO LANES.
313 of 316 NELA residents expressed their desire to SAVE THE AUTO LANES on Colorado Blvd.
214 of NELA residents expressed their desire to SAVE THE AUTO LANES on North Figueroa St.

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Posted in Arroyo Seco, CD1, CD14, COMMUNITIES, Cypress Park, Eagle Rock, ELECTED OFFICIALS, Glassell Park, Highland Park, LOCAL BUSINESSES, Mount Washington, NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS

April Issue of Boulevard Sentinel is on the Street

Posted on April 7, 2013 by | Comments Off

Click Here for the Latest Print Edition of the Boulevard Sentinel
http://www.jejprint.com/blvdsentinel/

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Posted in Arroyo Seco, Arts and Entertainment, CD1, CD14, COMMUNITIES, Crime, Cypress Park, Eagle Rock, Education, ELECTED OFFICIALS, Events, Glassell Park, Hermon, Highland Park, Historical Preservation, LOCAL BUSINESSES, Mount Washington, NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS, NEWS 2012, PEOPLE, Voice in the Eagle Rock Wilderness

Jose Huizar: Give us a demonstration of removing auto lanes.

Posted on March 29, 2013 by | Comments Off
Open Letter to Councilman Huizar and LADOT

It appears the the bike lanes might just come to Colorado, but I have a small request.

As you have experienced DOT planners working on this, would you request they make a quick assessment on the feasibility of temporarily closing the one lane each way on Colorado Boulevard for a week, or possibly just 48 hours during the week so we all can see first hand what the impact would be?

The fears and protests of a large part of the community would be assuaged if they can see for themselves the impact on traffic before any permanent or semi-permanent changes are made.

It would be a great chance to prove that your forecasts  (the city, council office and consultants) are right as to what impact the bike lanes changes will actually have on Colorado Boulevard auto traffic.

Common sense dictates that if would not take many resources to send a truck load of cones, a dozen “lane closed” signs and a small crew of street services employees to show up at around 11 pm on a wednesday night, close the two lanes from Townsend to Eagle Rock Blvd. and then remove them a week or so later after the community gets a good demonstration of how good or bad it will be.

Thanks for your consideration.

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Posted in CD14, Eagle Rock, ELECTED OFFICIALS, LOCAL BUSINESSES

ERNC Bike Lane Vote April 2

Posted on March 26, 2013 by | Comments Off

ERNC Bike Lane Vote April 2

Last month, the ERNC heard a presentation from DOT engineers about proposed bike lanes on Colorado. But they didn’t take a vote on whether to support the project or not, mainly because the DOT and CD-14 were holding their big Colorado Bike Lane meeting on March 27, and they wanted more public input.

They’ll be at the March 27 meeting, and promise to listen to both the speakers and to the audience. On April 2, the ERNC will vote on whether to send a letter to DOT about the bike lanes, and what the content of that letter will be. The ERNC has no power to decide whether there will actually be bike lanes on Colorado, but the City listens to Neighborhood Councils on issues like this. If Eagle Rock wants bike lanes, then their letter could bump Colorado up the list of projects; and if the decide against them, then they can delay the project until DOT gets it right.

If you want to be heard on this issue, come to their April 2 meeting and fill out a speaker’s card. Or send them an email: info@eaglerockcouncil.org

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Posted in CD14, COMMUNITIES, Eagle Rock, ELECTED OFFICIALS, Events, LOCAL BUSINESSES, NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS

TAKE BACK Colorado Boulevard from Cyclists

Posted on March 26, 2013 by | Comments Off

600 cyclists from all over the city have petitioned to take away our Boulevards and give them to cyclists. Click Here, and sign the petition to TAKE Back the Boulevards from Cyclists, and give them back to Northeast L.A. residents.

 

Is this the future of Northeast L.A.? Long lines of autos stacked up bumper to bumper right next to newly installed empty bike lanes?

 

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Posted in CD1, CD14, COMMUNITIES, Eagle Rock, ELECTED OFFICIALS, Highland Park, LOCAL BUSINESSES, NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS, NEWS 2012, PEOPLE

Colorado Boulevard Bike Lane Community Town Hall Meeting

Posted on March 25, 2013 by | Comments Off

Wednesday, March 27th
7:00PM – 8:45PM
Occidental College
Norris Hall of Chemistry
Mosher #1
1600 Campus Road
Los Angeles, CA 90041

The Office of Councilmember Huizar, in partnership with the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council, The Eagle Rock Association, the Eagle Rock Chamber of Commerce, and the Take Back the Boulevard initiative, invites you to a community meeting for the proposed bike lane on Colorado Boulevard.

As part of the 2010 City of Los Angeles Bike Plan, the city identified streets throughout the city where bike lanes could possibly be installed. Colorado Bouelvard was chosen as one of the lanes to be studied first. While the required-by-law city hearing for Colorado Boulevard happened earlier this year, the Office of Councilmember Huizar asked the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Department of City Planning (DCP) to do additional community meetings for both Colorado Boulevard and Figueroa Street (a meeting will be happening regarding Figueroa Street in the next few months) in order to ensure as many people as possible are able to voice their opinions about the proposed bike lanes. At the meeting, DOT and DCP will discuss the proposed lanes and their impacts on the community. People are encouraged to attend so they can provide their input on the project to both departments.

For questions or to RSVP, please contact Councilmember Huizar’s Northeast Office at (323) 254-5295 or email nate.hayward@lacity.org.

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Posted in CD1, CD14, COMMUNITIES, Eagle Rock, ELECTED OFFICIALS, Events, Highland Park

Is Jose Huizar now For Outside Interests? Or Against?

Posted on March 25, 2013 by | Comments Off

In a current L.A. City Council file, Councilman Huizar voiced concern about medical marijuana supporters voting in the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council elections, “…who are reported to have little or no relationship with the Eagle Rock community.”

The LACounty Bike Coalition, the Flying Pigeon Bike Shop, the Bike Oven and other “outside interests” have encouraged bike lane supporters from all over Southern California to show up and overwhelm public hearings on Bike Lanes, regardless of where they are.

This is clearly an attempt by outside interests to take control of the boulevards in Eagle Rock and constitutes an abuse of the
public process, exactly the same as the attempted takeover by factual basis stakeholders during the Neighborhood Council Elections.

Huizar’s City Council motion 12-1682 correctly recognized that these “outside influences” should not determine important issues for Eagle Rock, and we call on him to demonstrate his commitment to his own motion and deny this influence of outside interests on the issue of taking away motor vehicle traffic lanes in Eagle Rock.

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Posted in CD1, CD14, COMMUNITIES, Eagle Rock, ELECTED OFFICIALS, Highland Park, NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS

Boulevard Sentinel NOT Opposed to Bike Lanes if Majority of NELA Wants Them.

Posted on March 23, 2013 by | Comments Off

Some of the bike-extremists mistakenly think the Boulevard Sentinel is opposed to bike lanes for Northeast L.A. The Boulevard Sentinel is not opposed to bike lanes. The Boulevard Sentinel is opposed to any such changes being imposed on the people of the community against their will.

We are opposed to slanted public outreach to keep any who might be opposed from hearing about such changes.

We are opposed to bikers from all over the city over-running public hearings that will mostly affect Northeast Residents.

Biker extremists who attack the Sentinel are wasting their breath. If they had any smarts, they would be better spending their efforts convincing residents their idea is better.

I have lived here all my life, it is my home, I’m not leaving, and my duty is to stand up for this community, and do what I can to make sure their voices are heard. If anyone faults me for doing that, it is because they know the majority of opinion is opposed to removing auto lanes until enough bicyclists are on the roads to warrant it.

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Posted in CD1, CD14, COMMUNITIES, Eagle Rock, ELECTED OFFICIALS, Highland Park, LOCAL BUSINESSES, NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS

Bike Meeting to be Biased by Occidental College #OXY #saveourNELAstreets

Posted on March 21, 2013 by | Comments Off

Two Wheel Social Engineers (the Biker Gang) are at it again, this time intentionally trying to slant attendance at the bike lane hearing by offering free pizza and beer to bikers who show up. (http://tinyurl.com/ccmmce9) It is clear that holding the meeting at a liberal arts college means that a captive audience of 2000 students on-campus will make a ready made gang of pro bike lane activists.
However, the Biker Gang is going a step further by holding a “Bike Mechanic’s Workshop” on the campus at the same time, offering free pizza and beverages to those that show up. The event is clearly a move to have more bike lane supporters show up to force bike lanes on Northeast L.A. residents.
The Bike Oven is the sponsor of the event, and founder and Flying Chicken Bike Shop owner Josef Bray-Ali (not a resident of NELA) is sure to put in a new order for couple of containers of Chinese made bicycles to sell to NELA residents after they are forced out of their cars.

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Posted in Arroyo Seco, CD1, CD14, Eagle Rock, ELECTED OFFICIALS, Highland Park, LOCAL BUSINESSES, NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS

Meeting Regarding Big Development in Cypress Park Thurday (tonight)

Posted on March 21, 2013 by | Comments Off

 

Palm Communities invites you to attend a community meeting to discuss the preliminary plans to build a 49-unit affordable/workforce housing apartment complex for families and veterans on Marmion Way.

We welcome your feedback and suggestions at this informational meeting to review the proposed project details and design. Refreshments will be served. Se habla español.

Thursday, March 21st, 7:oo PM @ Cypress Recreation Center: 2630 Pepper Ave. / Los Angeles, CA 90065

For more information please call (949) 878-9370 or email cedwards@palmcommunities.com

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Posted in CD1, COMMUNITIES, Cypress Park, ELECTED OFFICIALS, Highland Park, NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS

Lanark-Shelby Constituents Appalled by this CD14′s Sheer Arrogance

Posted on March 15, 2013 by | Comments Off

Lanark-Shelby Park Constituents – Sidewalk ISSUE REMAINS and Colorado Blvd ISSUE REMAINS!

This is our second email regarding the below without a word from the Councilman’s Northeast District office. While this is not surprising, we are appalled by this district’s sheer arrogance when a member of the media is copied on the email. Hence, why we are now having to copy the Councilman, additional staff and more members of the media. Maybe now, we will get your attention in addressing these issues.

In addition to the below, the Department of Parks and Recreation has once again fallen into their routine of ignoring Lanark-Shelby Park. And, to make matters worse, members of our community were recently made aware that a powerful MS13 gang leader who lives in Eagle Rock is being released from prison, therefore, we want to know what the councilman’s office is doing to keep our neighborhoods safe about this issue.

Lanark-Shelby Constituents

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Posted in CD14, Crime, Eagle Rock, ELECTED OFFICIALS

deceptive agenda item pushing bike lanes at ERNC tonight

Posted on March 5, 2013 by | Comments Off

The Social Engineers are at it again, as the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council has published a deceptive agenda item pushing bike lanes for tonight’s meeting:

“DISCUSSION/ACTION: Letter of support to LADOT for bike lanes on Colorado and Figueroa as part of the LADOT’s 2010 Bicycle Plan – Ashley Atkinson, with presentations by representatives of the LADOT Bicycle Program (5 min.)

As in the manner citywide bike plan hearings were done, the voices of the opposition are being stifled by omitting the substance of the actual proposal which is to remove motorvehicle commuter lanes from busy boulevards.
The Neighborhood Council, elected to be the voice of the people, are in fact being more of a voice over the people, by failing to fairly describe the true substance of any agenda item.
To be the council they were elected to be, they should table this item until sufficient outreach is done that describes the true nature of the proposal, including a proper description within the agenda item which includes the phrase “will remove motor vehicle commuter lanes” on affected streets.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1P6FcUEUF2HwYl3jIMYEWfB2Mo9Ct3T17cTNy-jUv1HY/edit

UPDATE:

The Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council decided to wait until the councilman’s office holds a town hall on the subject. Date to be determined.

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Posted in CD14, COMMUNITIES, Eagle Rock, ELECTED OFFICIALS, Highland Park, LOCAL BUSINESSES, NEWS 2012