Koretz Newsletter: Greening the City, Miniature Golf, The Israel Festival, and More

[The following information was taken from a newsletter issued by Councilman Koretz's office].

The Israel Festival – and where visitors should park

The Israel Festival is happening Sunday, April 29, from 9AM to 6PM, at Cheviot Hills Recreation Center. Full of meaningful activities and fun festivities, the Festival is a community-wide event celebrating Israel’s 64th Independence Day and sponsored by the Israeli Leadership Council.  Information about registration, directions, parking and pre-purchased tickets can be found at www.celebrateisraelfestival.com.

Many people will come and have a great time, but it is VERY IMPORTANT that those who go to the Festival show great respect for the surrounding residents and neighborhoods.

FESTIVAL PARKING:  to maintain the flow of parking near the festival and surrounding areas, visitors should follow festival parking signage and directions and only park in the designated parking structures provided for festival attendees, at $10 per car.  Please be respectful to the neighbors and refrain from parking on the streets around the park and in the neighborhood.  Here are the locations of the five pertinent parking structures – the first four are in walking distance to the festival, and shuttles to and from all the structures are available all day.

(directions to the garages can be found at http://www.celebrateisraelfestival.com/directions.php)

• Fox Studios Lot (or Gate) Number 7, at 10210 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90067
• Fox Studios Lot (or Gate) Number 4 at 4000 West Galaxy Way, Los Angeles CA 90067
• Century Park West Garage, 2030 Century Park West, Los Angeles CA 90067
• Constellation Place Garage, 10250 Constellation Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90067
• Avenue of the Stars Garage, 2000 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles CA 90067

WHAT WILL THE ISRAEL FESTIVAL BE LIKE?  Here is their press release that describes what will be taking place:

SPECTACULAR 15,000-PERSON, COMMUNITY-WIDE FESTIVAL TO CELEBRATE ISRAEL’S 64TH INDEPENDENCE DAY TO BE HELD APRIL 29 AT CHEVIOT HILLS RECREATION CENTER ON MOTOR AVENUE FROM 10AM-6PM

Day will start with a 1.5-mile “Salute to Israel Walk” escorted by the “9/11 Tribute Cars” at 8:30am. 5 stages with performances throughout the day; “Positively Israel” pavilion showcasing Israel’s innovations in technology; massive 5-foot art installations; official ceremony with local and state dignitaries at 1:00PM hosted by Michael Medved of KRLA kicked off by the skydiving team. Kids Amusement park, Vendors, Café Tel Aviv

WOODLAND HILLS, CA (April 19, 2012) – Thousands are expected to attend the highly anticipated, community-wide “Celebrate Israel Festival” sponsored by the Israeli Leadership Council (ILC) on April 29, from 10:00am-6:00pm. The event will be held at the Cheviot Hills Recreation Center park, 2551 Motor Ave. in Los Angeles.

The day begins at 8:30am with a 1.5-mile free “Salute to Israel Walk” presented by StandWithUs. Hundreds will walk from the park to the Museum of Tolerance and back to show solidarity with the State of Israel. A salute to Israel drive-by will herald the start of the walk with the 9/11 Tribute Cars “Fueled by the Fallen.”

The Los Angeles County Sheriff Department Golden Stars Skydiving Team will kick off the official ceremony on the main stage at 1:00PM. Dignitaries include: State Assemblyman Mike Feuer, Council General of Israel David Seigel, Councilman Paul Koretz, LA County Sheriff Leroy Baca, Councilman Dennis P. Zine, LA Controller Zev Yaroslavsky, City Controller Wendy Greuel, Congressman Brad Sherman, among others including Festival Chairs Debby and Naty Saidoff and ILC chair Shawn Evenhaim. Syndicated radio talk show host Michael Medved will emcee.

Israeli star Eyal Golan toplines the Festival’s 5 stages with performances throughout the day including folk dancing and DJ Dance Party.

The pinnacle of the festival, “Positively Israel,” pavilion will showcase the small state’s leading innovations in technology; a massive 5-foot art installation and tents featuring Spirituality, Judiaism and a Genealogy database to store the family history. Kids will frolic in the KIDZONE Amusement park and everyone will enjoy Café Tel Aviv with ethnic Israeli foods, world music, drum circles, folk dancing and a 200-vendor village showcasing Israeli artwork, paintings, sculptures, fine arts, jewelry, Judaica gifts and much more.

Pre-purchased discount tickets are available online at $9 for kids and $15 for adults. Door prices are $12 for kids and $19 for adults and kids under 3 are free. Family packs are available online only. There are designated parking structures. Registration, directions, parking, and pre-purchased tickets are at: www.celebrateisraelfestival.com for the morning “Salute to Israel” walk registration click on the “walk” tab. The Walk is free, but tickets must be purchased for the Festival beginning at 10am.

Co-sponsors of the “Celebrate Israel Festival” include: Debbie and Naty Saidoff ,StandWithUs, Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles, Jewish National Fund, Jewish Life Television, Mati Israel Community Center and Hidbaroot Los Angeles.

Israel’s myriad technological innovations will be showcased at the “Positively Israel” Pavilion, an interactive space spearheaded by Jewish National Fund (JNF). It highlights imaging, renewable energy and energy conservation, sustainable agriculture, water management, medical technology advancement, integrated photo swapping applications, digital product placement, and the newest in “windows” car technology, to name a few.

One of the Festival’s goals was to engage the community through art. The Youth Art Expo features 5-foot art pieces by the four finalists from My Israel Art Installation competition depicting their interpretation of the Star of David and the Menorah. Art installations are funded by the ILC. TheYouth Art Expo is an initiative of the Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles to engage young artists.

The Digital Jewish Genealogy Database is presented by the Museum of the Jewish People, (Beit Hatzfutzot). A high-tech, multi-faceted database will give attendees the opportunity to enter their family’s history via iPads and laptops where the data will be collected and preserved for generations to come.

The KIDZONE area will include an amusement park with rides for all ages, free arts and crafts area, kids stage with live entertainment all day, face painting, stilt walkers, a petting zoo, juggling acts and more.

Spiritualism and Judaism tent is offered by Hidabroot Los Angeles with lectures and information from renowned Rabbis, a stand-up comedian and kosher food dedicated to Orthodox guests.

Bringing a slice of Israel to the Southland, the Festival includes Café Tel-Aviv where visitors will indulge in ethnic Israeli foods, world music, drum circles, folk dancing. Don’t miss vendor village featuring over 200 vendors showcasing Israeli artwork, paintings, sculptures, fine arts, jewelry, Judaica gifts.

It is budget time again

The Mayor released his proposed budget last week.  The Council's Budget and Finance Committee (including Councilmember Koretz) begins hearings on the Mayor's budget on Friday, April 27.  The Budget and Finance Committee will discuss the budget for each department and then request various reports back from City staff.  The hearings likely will continue for the next week.  The Budget Committee then will recess while City staff prepares its responses to the various questions raised during the hearings.

It is going to be another difficult budgetary year.  Despite constant belt tightening over the past three years, the Mayor has proposed still further belt tightening including hundreds of layoffs.  Councilmember Koretz will join his colleagues in reviewing the Mayor's proposals, and will do all he can to maintain important city services while also always ensuring fiscal stability for the City.  Of course, he always welcomes your questions, views and ideas and all public input.

Subway update


Councilmember Koretz testifying at a METRO hearing in support of the Westside Subway Extension

On April 26, Councilmember Koretz was proud to testify at a historic meeting of the Metropolitan Transit Administration (Metro) as it approved moving forward on the first phase of the Westside Subway Extension to the westside.  After more than two hours of public testimony, the board voted 11 to 1 (with one member abstaining)  to approve the project and the first three stations to La Cienega Blvd. in Beverly Hills along with stations at Fairfax and La Brea.

Councilmember Koretz spoke in favor of the project and the Metro staff's station recommendations, which included a centrally located station in Century City at the intersection of Constellation Blvd. and Avenue of the Stars. There is widespread support for that station, as was highlighted at a recent rally led by the Century City Chamber of Commerce. Rally participants included Councilmember Koretz, homeowner group and neighborhood organizational leadership, businesses and their spokespeople, transportation experts, workers, religious leaders, student group representatives, and even supporters from Beverly Hills, all of whom spoke eloquently about the obvious advantages of having this station in the heart of Century City near bustling businesses. Achieving that goal will create the greatest possible access and subway usage for the huge numbers of residents, workers, shoppers and others who travel to and from Century City on a daily basis.

In addition, nearby residents, surrounding neighborhoods and all communities in the area will benefit when massive numbers of commuters visiting or leaving Century City leave their cars at home and therefore off local roads and freeways.


 Councilmember Koretz and Century City Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Susan Bursk

Unfortunately, opposition to the Constellation & Avenue of the Stars site has come from some within the City of Beverly Hills regarding tunneling that would happen under the Beverly Hills High School campus as part of the routing to get to the Constellation station.  Independent scientists and experts have testified to that route's safety, but the opposition has continued to simmer, with Beverly Hills calling for an alternative station situated next to a golf course. Ironically it is this alternative station site that has been deemed to have major safety issues due to seismic concerns about the routing that it would require. The City of Beverly Hills was able to find a very old and obscure legal code that requires a delay in order to hold a hearing.  Metro board chair Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Director and County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky pledged to hold this hearing within the next 60 days, as is required before they could move forward with approving the additional two segments to Century City and to Westwood.

Some time after this hearing, the Metro board will take up the issue and will then hopefully vote to move forward with approval of the environmental document for the remainder of the project to the Westwood Veteran's Administration site.  In the meantime, Mayor Villaraigosa and Supervisor Yaroslavsky along with Metro Director and former Assemblymember Richard Katz crafted a motion that allowed for the approval for this first segment to be constructed so that it can move forward immediately.  Councilmember Koretz remains optimistic that the additional segments to Century City and Westwood will follow shortly. Councilmember Koretz thanks the many individuals and businesses from the Century City community, the Comstock Hills neighborhood, organized labor and others who came to the meeting to speak in favor of the project and for the Constellation station.

Protecting our water


Robert Kennedy, Jr. welcomes the City of LA resolution in support of the Clean Water Act

In honor of the 42nd anniversary of Earth Day, Councilmember Koretz introduced a resolution in support of strengthening the Clean Water Act to pre-2001 levels. The Clean Water Act was one of the three ground-breaking federal acts that arose from that first Earth Day, but it is an act that corporate polluters are currently trying to weaken. 

The first Earth Day in 1970 inspired the bipartisan Congressional creation of the Clean Water Act as well as that of the Clean Air Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Environmental Protection Agency, all of which were approved by President Nixon. 

(For more about the importance of Earth Day, please visit http://www.earthday.org/earth-day-history-movement.)

The Clean Water Act resolution authored by Councilmember Koretz was approved by the Los Angeles City Council on March 28th and signed by Mayor Villaraigosa on April 4th. It was presented to Robert Kennedy Jr., chair of the Waterkeeper Alliance by the 5th Council District's Environmental Deputy, Andy Shrader, at the 1st Annual "Stand-Up for Clean Water" SPLASH Series Event -- an Earth Day Weekend Celebration that was held Saturday, April 21 at Santa Monica Beach.

 Help make Old Man River feel young, again!

 Earth Day 2012 (held on Sunday, April 22) is now behind us, but helping to protect and preserve the environment is a wonderful thing to do throughout the year – including Saturday, April 28, from 9AM to Noon, when volunteers are invited to help clean the Los Angeles River at 15 locations across Los Angeles County.  It’s the Friends of Los Angeles River’s 23ard Annual La Gran Limpieza:  The Great Los Angeles River CleanUp. 

For more information about Saturday’s event, including regarding registration and parking, please visit FOLAR at http://folar.org/?p=1079.  To find out more about FOLAR, please visit http://folar.org/.

 Commemorating the Armenian Genocide


Councilmember Koretz joined the Armenian National Committee of the San Fernando Valley -- West and the Encino Armenian-American community for their Armenian Genocide commemoration.

Memorial events were held this past week, as they are annually, to acknowledge the grim facts of the Armenian Genocide, honor those people whose lives were destroyed and pledge, "Never again" should we ever allow such a calamity to occur.

The Armenian Genocide is generally considered an early example of modern genocide, in which whole populations are targeted for annihilation.  During the first World War and in its immediate aftermath, the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire was systematically killed. It is estimated that between 1 and 1 1/2 million Armenians died.  Of course, many of those who survived did so by escaping to places such as the United States.

Southern California's Armenian community -- the largest concentration of Armenian-Americans is in the Greater Los Angeles area --  includes many people whose families suffered grievous loss because of the Armenian Genocide:  for that community, recalling the Armenian Genocide is a time for much sorrow, pain, reflection and resolve.  And, as is the case with Holocaust Remembrance Day, it is an opportunity for all people to join together in renouncing such horrors and to say, "Never Again," to any such unspeakable assault on any people.

LADWP community meetings

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) has begun holding a series of regional community meetings to educate and inform customers regarding proposed power and water rate changes needed over the next two years. The following meetings will be held will be held in the San Fernando Valley and West Los Angeles:

Central Valley

Thursday, May 3, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
LADWP Van Nuys Service Center
14401 Saticoy Street
Van Nuys, 91405

West L.A

Thursday, May 10, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Stephen S. Wise Temple, South Taub Annex
15500 Stephen S. Wise Drive
Los Angeles, 90077

General Manager Ronald O. Nichols and LADWP Senior Managers will present the proposed power and water rate changes during the meeting, answer questions and take comments.  According to the LADWP, the proposed rate changes will allow the department to meet regulatory mandates affecting much of LADWP’s existing energy and water supplies, and will enable the department to invest in replacing aging infrastructure and maintain reliability for LADWP’s 1.4 million electric customers and 657,000 water customers.

For more information about the rate proposals, please click here.

 Encino Chamber


Councilmember Koretz tees off at the Encino Chamber's annual miniature golf event

The Encino Chamber of Commerce does a magnificent job helping local businesses and serving the community -- but it still finds time and ways for its members to have fun!  Councilmember Koretz was delighted to take part in the Chamber's annual miniature golf event.

As a city councilmember, and as a fan of cinema, Councilmember Koretz is always delighted to champion motion pictures because they mean so much to all of us, culturally and aesthetically as well as in terms of jobs for the people of Los Angeles. 

But he has been especially pleased to talk about a new film, "Darling Companion." That's because “Darling Companion” was inspired by a dog, Mac, and what happened after he was adopted, seven years ago, from a Los Angeles animal shelter, by Lawrence and Meg Kasdan.  (Lawrence Kasdan directed "Darling Companion" and co-wrote it with his wife, Meg. Lawrence Kasdan's credits include directing "The Big Chill," "Body Heat," and "Grand Canyon," and writing "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and a number of the "Star Wars" films.)   The movie's stars include Diane Keaton, Kevin Kline, Sam Shepard, Dianne Wiest, Elizabeth moss, Mark Duplass, Richard Jenkins and Ayelet Zurer -- and Kasey, a dog who was also adopted from a shelter.

It is amazing to think of how Mac being adopted years ago led to a Sony Pictures Classics film being made, with such magnificently talented participants involved and countless people in audiences around the world waiting to be entertained and enthralled – yet that extraordinary sequence of events illuminates what happens every single day at our city shelters:  animals are adopted, and then loved, and the caring relationships that develop end up transforming lives forever.


Councilmember Koretz and The Amanda Foundation at the Darling Companion premiere 

The recent Los Angeles premiere event, held at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, was also a benefit for animal welfare and animal adoption advocacy organization the Amanda Foundation:  indeed the Foundation had lovely animals from Los Angeles shelters on hand at the Egyptian that very night, to adopt out that evening. Councilmember Koretz was delighted to attend the event, where he congratulated Sony Pictures Classics, the Kasdans – including Mac! – and all who made this movie possible, and thanked them for making a film that celebrates relationships, including those we can and do have with animals who are rescued.

New Animal Commissioners


Councilmember Koretz and the newly appointed Animal Commissioners Lisa McCurdy, Jim Jensvold, and Alana Yanez

Councilmember Koretz joined Councilmember Bill Rosendahl, airport workers and clergy concerned about poor working conditions at LAX and the high rate of injuries for those workers.  Of special concern were the airline service contractors hired by the airlines.  Councilmember Koretz called on the airlines to insist that their contractors provide acceptable and appropriate workplace conditions. It was noted that these problems, if they are allowed to linger, could lead to labor tensions, with a related impact on the city and its economy. The two Councilmembers, therefore, advocated for greater enforcement when contractors do not meet the proper standards, and have called for the airport to explore methods of accountability used elsewhere, such as in Boston and at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. 


Councilmember Koretz joined Councilmember Bill Rosendahl, airport workers and clergy concerned about poor working conditions at LAX and the high rate of injuries for those workers

Councilmember Koretz explained, "The airport is crucial to our regional economy and quality of life, and we rely on the people who work there to provide many essential services that are key to any commuter.  It is absolutely fundamental that we have safe and appropriate working conditions at the airport: otherwise, people may be in jeopardy, and that includes workers and travelers alike.  Airline service contractors need to bear responsibility for ensuring acceptable working conditions at the airport, and if they fail they should face severe consequences, certainly including potentially losing their continued right to operate at the airport.”

Greening the City one building at a time


Solar panels at the Los Angeles Convention Center
 
When we think of cleaning the air and saving the planet, we often think about our cars, trucks and power plants — but in fact, at least 35% of greenhouse gases come from buildings, be they your home, office or neighborhood pub. Buildings create greenhouse gases indirectly through energy consumption and also directly through chemicals found in everything from light fixtures to air conditioners.
 
Los Angeles is one of the nation’s leaders in green buildings. Beginning in 2008, the City of Los Angeles required all new large buildings and large additions to meet United States Green Building Council Leadership in Energy Efficient and Design (USGBC LEED) standards. The state subsequently followed Los Angeles’ lead and adopted statewide standards known as CalGreen.
 
This year the City has taken steps to streamline the building permit process for installing solar on new and existing buildings, as well as continuing a system of incentives for solar installation through the Department of Water and Power (LADWP). The City is also studying a long-term plan to offer “feed-in tariff” whereby a home or other building with solar panels could sell that excess electricity back to the grid.
 
Many property owners have taken steps far above and beyond governmental requirements to address sustainability. JMB has been a major property owner and community stakeholder in Century City for more than 30 years, most recently having developed both the SunAmerica Center and Constellation Place, formerly MGM Tower. In 2008 Constellation Place became the first high rise office building in Los Angeles to receive the U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design LEED® Silver certification in the existing building category. Constellation Place has since gone through the recertification process and achieved LEED Gold Certification. JMB is also home to one of the largest urban solar power installations in the country (atop their parking structure); an innovative system to cool and conserve water; perfectly timed lighting to conserve energy, and other innovations that have cumulatively lessened CO2 emissions by over 3,528 metric tons - equivalent to emission from 692 vehicles, 395,541 gallons of gasoline, 8,205 barrels of oil or the electricity from 440 average homes.
 
JMB is just one example, though quite impressive: there are many businesses, residents and buildings (large and small) doing their part to create a more sustainable Los Angeles. (The accompanying photo shows solar panels at the Los Angeles Convention Center). To find out how you can help and what incentives are available for energy and water conservation, please contact your Council District field office.

Remembering eight heroes and Operation Eagle Claw

On Tuesday, April 24th, the Los Angeles City Council paid brief but moving homage to eight American servicemen who lost their lives many years ago.

The formal remembrance by the Council occurred on the 32nd Anniversary of Operation Eagle Claw – the heroic but failed effort by the then–recently created Delta Force to rescue 53 Americans held hostage in the American Embassy in Tehran, Iran.

Attempts at negotiating the release of the captives had been unsuccessful, so Operation Eagle Claw was launched.  It involved complex coordination, in nighttime conditions, of helicopters, other equipment and personnel.  Difficulties with several of the helicopters, including problems caused while flying through a sand cloud, led to the order by commanders on the ground to terminate the mission before it ever reached the embassy.  That was on April 24, 1980.  Tragically, while preparing to leave Iran, one of the helicopters crashed into a transport aircraft that contained fuel and a group of servicemen, and so the eight perished.
 
Those eight were Sergeant John D. Harvey, Corporal George N. Holmes, Jr., and  Staff Sergeant Dewey L. Johnson of the United States Marine Corps, and Major Richard L. Bakke, Major Harold L. Lewis, Jr., Major Lyn D. McIntosh, Captain Charles T. McMillan, and Technical Sergeant Joel C. Mayo of the United States Air Force.
 
Eventually, the hostages were released, but the eight who died for their sake are gone forever.  The hope and determination is that their memory lives on.  That’s why one of our city’s most veteran news reporters, Pete Demetriou, mentioned the looming anniversary to a 5th Council District staffer, and why Councilmember Koretz followed up by asking the entire City Council to join in remembering those men.
 
In recent times this nation has expressed tremendous pride over the military heroes who participated in the raid that put an end to Osama Bin Laden, and we have justly recognized the countless brave men and women who serve this nation in uniform while facing life or death challenges and enduring grueling tours of duty. But it is the nature of military service that not all efforts will end in triumph, even when they are made on behalf of our great and powerful nation. On April 24th, the Council honored the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice of their lives 32 years ago in Iran while trying to liberate fellow Americans.