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.