Medical Marijuana Facility Ordinance Must Not Overburden Neighborhoods

During the Planning & Land Use Management Committee’s discussion of the City Attorney’s latest medical marijuana dispensary ordinance, I pressed for changes in the proposed ordinance to protect neighborhoods from high concentrations of these facilities. Not unlike other parts of the City, Eagle Rock has numerous stores within a small area, which does not seem logical or fair. My staff has worked with the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council and encouraged them to draft a letter voicing their concerns with the City for the record. Also, I had previously checked to make sure the medical marijuana facilities that are in the area were in compliance. While I support the spirit of Proposition 215, I want to be perfectly clear: I want an ordinance with sufficient safeguards in it to allow City officials to shut down operators who are not in compliance with the basic tenants of the Compassionate Use Act of 1996. I also want assurances that the City will not permit the over-concentration of dispensaries in the same neighborhood, as well as keep them away from schools, parks and religious institutions.

Thirty Years Later, Valley Boulevard Bridge Opens

One of the most important campaign promises I made when I was first running for office in 2005 was to finish the Valley Boulevard Bridge at the problematic train crossing between Eastern and Marianna Avenues in El Sereno. In 2006, funding slipped away for this vital project that had first been proposed more than 30 years ago. It looked like it might not ever get completed. Fortunately, I was able to convince the MTA to reinstate the multimillion dollar project and to get them to commit $9 million in supplemental funding, which the City matched. On Tuesday, elected officials, artists and community members joined me for the official opening of the eastbound lanes. Through the years, the long waits for residents, commuters and fire and police officials proved to be agonizing, as freight trains came by approximately 30 times per day – not to mention the blaring horns of the trains and the pollution caused by idling cars. Artwork incorporating the history of El Sereno with photos blended into beautiful ceramic tile work, as well as limestone and Byzantine Glass monuments honoring icons, such as musicians Lalo Guerrero and Eddie Cano, will be an important part of the bridge linking the San Gabriel Valley with downtown Los Angeles. When it is completed in 2010, it’ll mean a turning point for El Sereno: and something that was a source of frustration for decades will now be a source of pride. Congratulations to All!

Congratulations in Order to Barack Obama and the American People

I just want to express my congratulations to Barack Obama, who was sworn in Tuesday as the 44th President of the United States of America . I had the good fortune, along with my wife, Richelle, and my three children, to attend a live broadcast held at L.A. LIVE’s Nokia Plaza. We joined Councilmembers Jan Perry and Tom Labonge, along with an estimated 5,000 people, who witnessed the swearing in on a huge screen overlooking a stage in the plaza. I have to say, as an American, I was deeply moved by the proceedings: from Aretha Franklin’s beautiful version of “My Country Tis of Thee” to President Obama’s stirring speech , calling on us Americans to “pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin the work of remaking America.” And while I want to again congratulate President Obama and his family on this momentous occasion, I also want to congratulate the American people for making history and showing the world that our ideals and our values are not just words spoken but actions taken. As Americans, we took a very big step Tuesday. And the best part is, we took it together. God Bless America.

Salesian High School Students Attend Inauguration

Steven Almazan and Alex Ibarra, two outstanding students from my alma mater, Salesian High School in Boyle Heights, were fortunate enough to secure two tickets to the Presidential Inauguration, thanks to Congresswoman Lucille Roybal Allard. In fact, they received two more tickets from the congresswoman so their chaperones, Moises Delgado (Salesian admissions director and Soccer coach) and Sergio Almazan (Steven’s brother and Salesian Alumnus), could also attend. This past weekend, I met Steven and Alex before they left for their flight and I let them know how proud we are of them, knowing that they're going to be part of history. These two young men were selected in part, for their outstanding academic standing. Steven is currently ranked No. 1 academically among Salesian seniors, and Alex, a freshman, is also ranked at the top of his class and was this year’s lone freshman selected to receive a full, four-year scholarship. Word has it that when they get back from Washington D.C., Steven is going to write some articles for the school publication as well as for some local papers, so keep a look out for that. Congratulations Mustangs! See Fox News 11 video clip here.