Thursday, February 10, 2011

District 14 News - February 10, 2011

Dear Friends:

Please read below for important updates in Council District 14, including efforts to clean up parks, bring jobs and economic development to Los Angeles, bringing the Streetcar back Downtown and the Broadway Arts Center.

* Community Cleanups at San Pascual and Yosemite Parks
* Massive Job Growth & Economic Development with the L.A. Streetcar Project
* Broadway Arts Center Workshop

Community Cleanups at San Pascual and Yosemite Parks

Group Shot-Councilmember Jose Huizar-CD 14-Los Angeles-Community Cleanup-San Pascual Park

San Pascual and Yosemite Parks were the launching points for two Community Cleanups this past Saturday as volunteers picked up trash, painted over graffiti and beatified the areas. Special thanks to Victory Outreach, the Graffiti Busters, students and local residents for cleaning up. Here are Councilmember Huizar’s welcoming remarks from the San Pascual cleanup, where volunteers going out into various locations in the neighborhood. Click here for the slideshow.

Building on a plan already in place to increase safety at Yosemite Park, Councilmember Huizar and the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council (ERNC) hosted the Yosemite Park Cleanup, which brought out a large contingent of volunteers. Earlier this month, a resident jogging in the park was attacked and robbed by a group of young men. Police say the crime was an isolated incident in the low-crime community, which saw a 33 percent drop in Violent Crime in 2010. Two suspects have already been arrested and a third is being sought. While such assaults at the park are unheard of, there had already been proactive improvements and safety enhancements installed at the park — including resurfaced tennis courts, retrofitting of the pool and the installation of a security camera.

Following the attack, Council District 14 quickly organized a meeting with the ERNC, LAPD, LAUSD Police, and General Services park police and the Department of Recreation & Parks and came up with an immediate plan to step up patrols, enforce curfew, remove graffiti even quicker, expedite the installation of a previously approved second security camera and organize the Community Cleanup.

Enjoy the
slideshow from Yosemite Park.

Bring the Streetcar and Jobs Back to Downtown to Help L.A.

Councilmember Jose Huizar-Bringing Back Broadway-Streetcar

As part of his Bringing Back Broadway initiative, Councilmember Huizar announced the release of a study Tuesday stating that building a streetcar downtown would create 9,300 jobs and generate $1.1 billion in new development, $24.5 million in new annual tourism and consumer spending and $47 million in new City revenue. The Streetcar would not only make Downtown Los Angeles an easier place to get around, it would bring jobs to residents throughout the City and much needed revenue when we need it most. We're hoping to get it built by 2014. You can view the press release, as well as links to stories on CBS, Daily News and the Downtown News

Enjoy the
slideshow and footage of Councilmember Huizar’s remarks.

Broadway Arts Center Workshop Held to Get Community Input

Councilmember Jose Huizar

About 100 downtown community members attended a workshop to get their input and feedback on a planned mixed-use arts facility on Broadway. The proposed Broadway Arts Center would provide affordable housing for artists, serve as a performance and exhibition space, have a commercial/retail component and provide parking and loading facilities for commercial and theater use on the street.A location for the project has not been chosen yet for the project, a partnership between Councilmember Huizar’s Bringing Back Broadway initiative, various city departments, The Actors Fund and Cal-Arts.

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