April 1st Northeast Census Walk - Volunteers Wanted!

Did you know that it costs just $.42 cents to mail back the census form in a postage paid envelop but it costs taxpayers $25 per person to send a census taker door-to-door to collect the same information if they didn’t mail it back? It's true and that's a big difference!

Join me tomorrow, April 1st, National Census Day, at my Northeast/Eagle Rock office as we canvas the Northeast community to ensure a complete count in CD14!

10 Questions in 10 Minutes = Millions of Dollars for Los Angeles

Details:

Thursday, April 1st, 2010
6pm-8pm
Northeast Office/Eagle Rock City Hall
2035 Colorado Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90042

If you have any questions or need assistance with your form, please contact the Northeast office: 323.254.5295 or the 2010 Census Toll-Free Help line: 866.872.6868

Let's work together to ensure that Los Angeles is counted!

District Wide Newsletter for March 26, 2010

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District Wide Newsletter for March 26, 2010

Census Week in CD14

Joined by hundreds of volunteers throughout CD14, Councilmember Huizar, along with the CD14 Complete Count Committee, participated in Census canvassing events last weekend throughout hard-to-count areas in the district. The Census brings millions of dollars to the City of Los Angeles.Remember, April 1st is National Census Day. Please use this day as a reminder to send in your Census form.

From Interns to Fellows

Councilmember Huizar introduced a motion in Council that would form the creation of a formal City Fellowship Program for the City of Los Angeles. The fellowship would work with the volunteer program from the Office of the Mayor and would create a second new category of full or part-time volunteer ("Angels") for any recently retired City employee who is willing to assist the City. The fellowship would also provide opportunities to recruit young talent and offer real work experience while they build their professional portfolios. The motion was approved and more information will be available as the program is developed.

Honoring Captain Rudy De Leon

The Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted to support Councilmember Huizar’s legislation Wednesday to dedicate the Hollenbeck Police Station in honor of the late Capt. Rudy De Leon. Capt. De Leon was a trailblazer who had the distinction of being one of the first Latino commanding officers in LAPD history when he oversaw the Hollenbeck Police Station in the 1970s. Joining Councilmember Huizar in their support of the designation Wednesday were community members, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, Rudy De Leon II and other family members, and several police groups, including members of the Latin American Law Enforcement Association (LA LEY), which De Leon helped found. De Leon first entered the Police Academy in 1947, shortly after completing his service with the Navy during WWII. He went on to enjoy a stellar 31-year career at the LAPD. De Leon is especially remembered for his unique style of “community policing” and creating a boxing program for youth. That program grew to become the Hollenbeck Youth Center, a nationally recognized center that provides athletic and extra-curricular activities for young people. A ceremony dedication to the Rudy De Leon Hollenbeck Police Station will take place within the next few months. Picture of Rudy De Leon courtesy of the Los Angeles Times.

It’s the Season for Little League!

Councilmember Huizar kicked off the Little League season at Garvanza Park this past weekend with 29 teams and more than 400 children and parents ready to play baseball. The Garvanza Park Little League is one of the largest in Los Angeles and is supported by Councilmember Huizar, parents, community members and sponsors who believe sports helps develop teamwork, promote physical health, and build good character, all in the spirit of community fun. See pictures HERE!

Downtown Leaders Breakfast

Councilmember Huizar hosted a Downtown Leaders Breakfast this week at the Tiara Café Restaurant to discuss CD14 issues in the growing Downtown community. The Downtown area is experiencing tremendous growth, change and revitalization. CD14 includes significant portions of the Arts District, Historic Downtown area, Fashion District, Industrial District, and Jewelry District and experienced a 30 percent increase in population over the last three years.

Campaign Finance Reform Forum a Big Success!

On March 4th, I moderated a Campaign Finance Reform forum in City Council Chambers featuring some of the leading campaign, political and election reform experts. The panel included Kathay Feng, Executive Director, California Common Cause; Robert Stern, President, Center For Governmental Studies, Ron Kaye, former editor of the Los Angeles Daily News, Xandra Kayden, League of Women Voters; Trent Lang, California Clean Money Campaign; LeeAnn Pelham, Executive Director Los Angeles City Ethics Commission and Jim Sutton, attorney and noted election law expert. The forum discussed whether Los Angeles should change its campaign finance laws, especially in light of a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that lifted a ban on corporate and union donations to individual candidates. I plan on taking the main points discussed at the forum to the City Council’s Rules & Elections Committee as part of an effort to place Campaign Finance Reform on the Council’s agenda. In the near future, I may hold additional forums on other important issues like Instant Run Off Voting.
If you missed it, you can watch the rebroadcast on Ch. 35 on Thursday March 11 at 8:30 p.m. and Saturday March 13 at 2 p.m. or you can watch it online HERE.

Benjamin Franklin Library Beautification Project Ground Breaking

On Wednesday, March 10th, please join me as the Boyle Heights Community celebrates the kick off of the groundbreaking ceremony of the beautification project at the Benjamin Franklin Branch Library. The beautification project consists of constructing a new concrete walkway for better public access, removal of iron fence to create a sense of open space, new library signs to better identify the library, new bike racks, lighting improvements for safety, new plants, new trees and a new irrigation system.

The ceremony will take place at the Benjamin Franklin Branch Library at 3:30 p.m. on 1st and Chicago.

Contact my Boyle Heights Office with any questions at (323) 526-3059 for inquiries on upcoming events or city-related concerns.

Saturday March 6 Dodgers Job Fair!

Are you or someone you know looking for a job? If so, please join me this Saturday for the 15th Annual Community Job Fair at the Los Angeles Dodgers Stadium!

The City of Los Angeles and my office have worked with the Los Angeles Dodgers to make Saturday's event a success. As your Councilmember, job creation is a top priority, and I hope that you attend and meet the 100 employers that are participating in the event. These employers will be conducting on-site interviews for jobs. I encourage you to bring your resumes and to dress for success.
Details:

When: Saturday March 6, 2010
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Location: Dodger Stadium
1000 Elysian Park Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Parking at Dodger Stadium and admission to the job fair are free. The Dodgers will be providing a free shuttle service into the stadium from the corner of Elysian Park Avenue / Sunset Blvd. and Elysian Park Avenue/Stadium Way.

Please share the details of this event with your friends and loved ones.

Census Count Begins This Month!

On Monday I had the opportunity to introduce U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert M. Groves at the Boyle Heights Technology Center. The video below has several speakers speaking on the urgency of the Census. By answering 10 simple questions in the census survey, you will help Los Angeles obtain millions of dollars in federal funding for things like hospitals, job training centers, schools, senior centers, bridges, tunnels and other public works projects, as well as much needed emergency services.
The video takes about 5 minutes to start, but you can watch all the speakers.



Eleven months ago, I joined Mayor Villaraigosa, Magic Johnson and Taboo from the Black Eyed Peas, to promote the Census. We were back at it again today, along with the Mayor, and Councilmember Krekorian letting people know that the mailers will be going out the week of March 15. As I told U.S. Bureau Director Groves yesterday in Boyle Heights, we cannot do enough to get the word out. I’ve formed a Complete Count Committee in CD 14 and I want to thank everybody who is working so hard to make this year’s Census count a success, including the media who have consistently covered events promoting Census outreach and especially all our community partners who are volunteering their time to ensure that Los Angeles gets its fair share of funds. For more information on the census visit www.2010.Census.gov. To join the CD14 Complete Count Committee, call my office at (213) 473-7014.