Voters Support Bringing Streetcar Back to Downtown L.A.!

 In a City filled with history, tonight we made a little more when Downtown LA voters supported bringing the streetcar back to Downtown Los Angeles with 73% support! We are now one big step closer to turning this dream into a reality. Thanks to all who supported us!

Check out Shirley Temple in this short film about the old and new Downtown Los Angeles Streetcar

Happy Thanksgiving!

Friends: Have a joyous Thanksgiving! I hope you get to spend quality time with family and friends enjoying great food and conversation. As always I am thankful for my wife, children, family and friends. Let’s remember those who are in need this holiday season and throughout the year, count our blessings and share them with one another. Happy Thanksgiving!

Let's Take the Time to Thank & Honor our Veterans

Fortunate to live in a country where we can have heated political debate like Tuesday’s Presidential Election and share our opinions freely. Our Veterans and their sacrifices are a big reason why – We’ll be celebrating Veterans’ Day tomorrow in El Sereno at 10 a.m. at Huntington Drive and Eastern, and Sunday at Cinco Puntos in Boyle Heights at 10 a.m. and a ceremony at our Eagle Rock City Hall at 11 a.m. before the 1 p.m. Northeast Veterans Day Parade. Let’s all take the time to thank our Veterans this weekend and beyond!

Rest in Peace Art Snyder

L.A. Times photo

Friends: I am saddened to hear the news of the passing of former CD14 Councilmember Art Snyder. Art was a colorful character and a throwback politician who marched to the beat of his own drum. Through it all, Art Snyder faithfully represented an ever-changing Council District 14 for nearly two decades and for that, we all owe him a huge debt. My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, family and friends.

See Eagle Rock Patch story here.

Congrats to 6th St. Bridge Design Competition Winner!

Congratulations to HNTB for winning our International Design Competition for the new 6th Street Bridge!-It's a beautiful design that honors our past with features that are clearly rooted in the future. Historic day for Los Angeles. Community involvement was key and will continue!

Please click here to see our short film on goals for the new bridge.

6th Street Bridge International Design Competition Winner Announced Friday!

Friends, tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. we will gather at 6th St Bridge to announce the winning design of the 6th Street Bridge International Design Competition. Our 3 finalists surpassed our expectations. New bridge will honor the past while looking solidly toward the future -hope you can make it- See this short film on our hopes for new bridge!

14th Annual Eagle Rock Music Festival Saturday!

Proud to sponsor along with Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock the 14th Annual Eagle Rock Music Festival Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012 - the largest free music festival in Los Angeles! Festival takes place on Colorado Blvd. and runs from 2 to -11pm. Free Shuttles from Eagle Rock Plaza. Enjoy fantastic music and support local businesses-Hope to see you there!

Check out the latest CD 14 Newsletter!

The latest CD14 Newsletter is out with an invite to tonight's (Sept. 15) El Grito Celebration and tomorrow's (Sept. 16) Antonio Aguilar Statue dedication - both events take place at El Pueblo (Olvera Street) begin at 6 p.m. , include musical performances and are free and open to the public. Other updates include pilot Parklet program - all in CD 14, reinstating the Boyle Heights Community Plan, improvements at Pershing Square, groundbreaking for S-Curve Park in El Sereno, Council votes to oppose 710 freeway and much more!

Check out CD 14 Newsletter here.

CD 14 Parklet Project in Council This Week!

Very excited to say the city is considering four parklet projects this week all in Council District 14 – If approved, they will represent the City’s first parklets and lead to future parking spaces (or red zones) that can be turned into public spaces throughout the City. The pilot project includes two parklets created by the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council on Spring Street with help from UCLA, CD 14 and CD 9, and two that CD14 created with community with outreach from Living Streets LA on Huntington Drive in El Sereno and York Blvd. in Highland Park. All four in Arts, Parks Committee this morning at 8:30 a.m., Transportation Committee on Wednesday at 2 p.m. and full City Council Friday at 10!

Message from Councilmember José Huizar Regarding the SR-710 Extension

I am opposed to any 710 extension route option that negatively affects our communities. In 2009, I introduced legislation calling on the City of Los Angeles to oppose several above-ground SR-710 extension options cutting through Northeast Los Angeles and I continue to oppose such routes.

As a Metro Board member, I voted against moving the current EIR forward since it lacked a clear plan of action and a designated route.

Today, without a clearly defined route for the EIR to study, this ambiguity is causing fear and confusion for many local residents. The project needs to clearly indicate one potential route and compare that with the no-build option and the available multi-modal options.

Of Metro’s 12 remaining options, the Freeway and Highway alternatives would have detrimental impacts on the communities they would go through. Therefore, I categorically OPPOSE the following routes: H-2, H-6, F-2, F-5, and F-6.

Today in Council, I introduced a resolution reminding the City of its earlier opposition and calling on the City Council to oppose these newly defined routes, and any above-ground options. These routes would destroy historic buildings and neighborhoods, increase traffic congestion and cause irreparable harm to tens of thousands of people.

In short, these routes would not link communities, they would destroy them.

As this process moves forward, Metro needs to be more forthright with all parties involved, particularly the affected communities by engaging in an open and honest dialogue.

Per my request, Metro will hold a community outreach meeting in my district on September 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Highland Park Senior Center to provide residents and stakeholders with a greater understanding of the EIR process, the studies being conducted and a timeline.

I encourage everyone to make their voices and opinions be heard. Metro can be contacted directly via email at sr710study@metro.net.

Honored to Represent Majority of Downtown

Eric Richardson/blogdowntown

Extremely honored and humbled to represent a majority of Downtown Los Angeles as part of the new Council District 14. Besides working on livability issues and connecting its distinct communities, I look forward to bringing more economic development, jobs and services Downtown, which is an economic engine for the So Cal region. Working with residents, organizations and businesses, I know we can improve Downtown and put more Angelenos back to work. Read blogdowntown story here.

Have a Safe & Happy Fourth of July!

Hope each and every one of you has a safe and happy Fourth of July. Happy Birthday America!

Please remember that personal fireworks are illegal in the City of Los Angeles – there are many sanctioned fireworks displays throughout Los Angeles County. Please see some highlighted below for safe alternatives this Fourth of July Holiday:

86th Annual Americafest 2012 Fireworks Show, at the Rose Bowl. A festival with food vendors, entertainment, crafts, exhibits and inflatable rides for children will begin at 2 p.m. outside the stadium. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. A 30-minute fireworks show at 9:05 p.m.

14th annual Fireworks Festival at CBS Studio Center in Studio City. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. and close at 8 p.m.

The Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza will begin its first fireworks show at 9 p.m. Preshow activities will start at 5 p.m.

Fireworks will also follow the Los Angeles Dodgers-Cincinnati Reds game at Dodger Stadium, the Los Angeles Galaxy-Philadelphia Union Major League Soccer game at The Home Depot Center and the Barry Manilow concert at the Hollywood Bowl.

Fireworks shows are also scheduled for the following Los Angeles County locations, all beginning at 9 p.m., except where noted:

-- Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, 2551 W. Avenue H, Lancaster (9:30 p.m.);
-- Barnes Park, 350 S. McPherrin Ave., Monterey Park;
-- Cabrillo Beach, 3800 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro;
-- Calabasas High School, 22855 Mulholland Highway, Calabasas;
-- Cerritos High School, 12500 E. 183rd St., Cerritos;
-- Crescenta Valley High School, 2900 Community Ave., La Crescenta;
-- Culver City High School, 4401 Elenda St., Culver City;
-- Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona;
-- Friendly Hills Country Club, 8500 Villa Verde Dr., Whittier;
-- Hansen Dam Recreation Center, 11770 Foothill Blvd., Lake View Terrace;
-- Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, 3911 S. Figueroa St.;
-- Lorbeer Middle School, 501 Diamond Bar Blvd., Diamond Bar;
-- Meller Elementary School, 6016 Rosemead Blvd., Pico Rivera;
-- Palisades Charter High School, 15777 Bowdoin St., Pacific Palisades;
-- Rosemead Park, 9200 Mission Ave., Rosemead;
-- Rosewood Park, 5600 Harbor St., Commerce;
-- Rowley Park, 13220 S. Van Ness Ave., Gardena;
-- Shepherd of the Hills Church, 19700 Rinaldi St., Porter Ranch;
-- Sierra Vista High School, 3600 Frazier St., Baldwin Park;
-- South El Monte High School, 1001 N. Durfee Ave., South El Monte;
-- South Gate Park, 9615 Pinehurst Ave., South Gate; and
-- Walnut High School, 21201 La Puente Road, Walnut; and
-- Warner Ranch Park, 21820 Califa St., Woodland Hills

Celebrate Independence Day At Three CD 14 Concert & Fireworks Shows

Help us celebrate an early Independence Day as my office joins community groups to sponsor three Concert and Fireworks shows, with two next Saturday, June 30th, in El Sereno and Boyle Heights, and one on Sunday, July 1st, in Eagle Rock.

Since taking office, I have made it a priority to bring back our beloved neighborhood 4th of July fireworks shows, which had been non-existent in some CD 14 neighborhoods for decades.

So please join us for food, kids games, music and fireworks as we celebrate our great nation's birthday!

Click on flier or see below for details:







Saturday, June 30, 2012

El Sereno Fireworks Show is preceded by the El Sereno Bicentennial Committee 4th of July Parade, which begins at 2 p.m. on Huntington Drive , traveling down Eastern and ending at El Sereno park.

El Sereno Concert and Fireworks Show
4 p.m. - 9 p.m. (fireworks begin at 8 p.m.)

El Sereno Park
4721 Klamath Place
Los Angeles 90032

Please call (323) 226-1646 for more information.

Boyle Heights Concert and Fireworks Show
4 p.m.- 9 p.m. (fireworks begin at 8:30 p.m.)

Hollenbeck Park
415 S. Saint Louis St.
Los Angeles, 90033

Please call (323) 526-3059 for more information.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Eagle Rock Concert and Fireworks Show
4 p.m.-9 p.m. (fireworks begin at 8:30 p.m.)

Eagle Rock Park
1100 Eagle Vista Drive
Los Angeles 90041

Please call (323) 254-5295 for more information.

Click on the fliers for info, or see below:

Saturday, June 30, 2012

5th Annual El Sereno 4th of July and Fireworks Show







& El Sereno Bicentennial Committee 4th of July Parade















Parade begins at 2 p.m. on corner of

Teaming Up to Save Historic Downtown Mural and Preserve Building’s Historic Features

Historic building preservation and historic mural preservation came together recently to save the Calle de la Eternidad (Eternity Street) mural by Johanna Poethig on Broadway! David Gray, the new owner of the 1911 building reached out to my office to figure out a way to save the mural before he renovated the property and took down an added façade that has been covering the buildings original windows for 60 years. We brought in Judy Baca and SPARC and they photographed the mural using high-reso equipment that will allow the mural to be completely reproduced on another wall of the building once renovation is done with Johanna hand-painting. Thanks to all for coming together to keep our history alive!

Read LA Times Story here.

Read Ed Fuentes' post on KPCC Website here.

Supporting Complete Streets in Boyle Heights and Beyond

Union de Vecinos debuted street furniture they designed with the Green LA Coalition today. Look for the new benches on Fickett and Boulder. Union de Vecinos shares my commitment to the complete streets concept, which is about creating community friendly streetscapes. I am working with the Green LA Coalition on complete streets concepts for Huntington Dr. in El Sereno and York Blvd in Highland Park. Congrats to Union for all the good works they do!

Broadway Arts Center Recieves Largest ArtPlace Grant

Great news for the Arts in Los Angeles- today out of 2,200 applicants, L.A. received 4 of the 47 grants from ArtPlace, including the Broadway Arts Center, which is part of our Bringing Back Broadway plan. The Center will bring artists housing and uses to Broadway & received the largest grant (470K) of any award winner throughout the nation – other LA awardees: Sci Arc Institute in the Arts District, Cornerstone Theatre Co. and Esperanza Community Housing (to bring art programming to El Mercado La Paloma in South L.A.) -- Way to go LA Arts community!

CD14 eNewsletter Highlighting Community CD 14 Partnerships

With a nod to Edward James Olmos and his inspiring response to the Los Angeles Riots 20 years ago, check out the latest CD14 eNewsletter with updates, links and video on our action to ban single-use plastic bags littering our streets and polluting our waterways, a pocket park for York Blvd, more jobs coming to Angelenos on Broadway, and much more. Want to thank our community partners throughout CD 14 and the City for sharing our commitment and passion for positive change in our communities!

Read the CD14 eNewsletter here!

Read latest CD14 eNewsletter!

Dear Friends:

Lots going on in Council District 14 over the last month! Read the latest about progress with the Downtown Streetcar, a jean company bringing hundreds of jobs downtown, the Northeast’s first stormwater capturing facility, mural restoration in Boyle Heights, supporting historic preservation and much, much more.

Read latest CD14 eNewsletter here!

Garvanza Park Grand Reopening Thursday Morning

Tomorrow morning we’re celebrating with the Garvanza community the Grand Re-opening of Garvanza Park and its new storm-water capture facility that will reuse millions of gallons of runoff water. My office also worked to install new outdoor exercise equipment at the park, which we’ll unveil tomorrow. Earlier, my office worked with Rec and Parks to install a new skate park. Great day for this historic community-Event kicks off at 9 a.m.!

Thanking our Seniors at Annual Dance

5th Annual Senior Snowball Valentine’s Day dance today –over 500 seniors from all over CD 14 enjoyed a great lunch, a dance with live music and a free prize winning raffle–all to show our appreciation to our seniors, including veterans, for all the sacrifices they have made for all of us. Thank you to our sponsors and my staff – most of all, thank you seniors for all you do!