Politics & Government

District 5 News: The New City Hall Lineup

This is the Hi-5 Newsletter from the office of City Councilman Paul Koretz.

Though the results from May 21st have yet to be formally certified, the city elections are over now – with the exception of a Special Runoff Election to be held July 23, 2013, to fill the 6th District council seat left empty when Tony Cardenas was elected to the US Congress.   

Thanks go to everyone who participated in our grand civic exercise of voting!

On July 1, when the new terms of office begin, there will be many changes in the list of those who govern. In the citywide offices, Eric Garcetti will take over for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; Mike Feuer for City Attorney Carmen A. Trutanich; and Ron Galperin for City Controller Wendy Greuel. 

On the City Council, Gil Cedillo will take over for Ed Reyes (1st District Councilmember); Bob Blumenfield for Dennis Zine (3rd Council District); Felipe Fuentes for Richard Alarcon (7th Council District); Curren D. Price, Jr., for Jan Perry (9th Council District); Mike Bonin for Bill Rosendahl (11th Council District); and Mitch O’Farrell for Eric Garcetti (13th Council District).

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The July 23rd runoff to fill the 6th District vacancy left by Tony Cardenas will pit Cindy Montanez against Nury Martinez.

Continuing in office will be 2nd District Councilmember Paul Krekorian, 4th District Councilmember Tom LaBonge, 5th District Councilmember Paul Koretz, 8th District Councilmember Bernard Parks, 10th District Councilmember Herb Wesson, 12th District Councilmember Mitch Englander, 14th District Councilmember Jose Huizar, and 15th District Councilmember Joe Buscaino. 

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Thank you, Los Angeles Conservancy

At the Los Angeles Conservancy’s recent “Annual Preservation Awards” banquet, L.A. City Councilmember Paul Koretz was given a special “Local Leadership Award,” which is not presented every year by the Conservancy but which salutes exceptional accomplishments and leadership.  

Councilmember Koretz was being honored for his key role in saving the Century Plaza Hotel, which before Koretz took office had been listed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of the 11 most endangered historic places in America. 

Upon receiving the award, the Councilmember explained his passion for preservation:  "The Los Angeles I was born into, in the 1950s, was a great and growing city but one that too often annihilated its heritage and ruptured its historical landscape, with landmarks and wonders and communities vanishing right before our very eyes.  It remains shocking to consider the glorious but doomed architecture, and the other missing wonders, that once seemed to be the icons and essence of Los Angeles. This has been a pet peeve of mine from the time I was a kid.

“Such devastation comes at an awful price.  We have less of a sense of identity and connection and community and heritage. I think preserving our history is a moral obligation as well as a gift to future generations.  Los Angeles is a better and more beautiful place because Los Angeles now knows to devote itself to such causes, and credit for that belongs to the LA Conservancy."

The Los Angeles Conservancy is a non-profit organization devoted to preserving the rich architectural and cultural heritage of Los Angeles.  Founded in 1978, it is now the largest local preservation group in the U.S., with more than 5,000 members and hundreds of volunteers. For more information on the work done throughout the city on behalf of the LA Conservancy, please visit their website.

Consolidation Update

It is now official:  the City of LA will be consolidating its Departments of Building & Safety and Planning. The goal is to streamline the City’s permitting processes for building, renovations, etc. so that they are all under the same roof. A management consulting group will be hired to come up with a plan for implementing this merger of departments, which is to take effect on January 1, 2014.

For anyone interested, further information can be found at http://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm?fa=ccfi.viewrecord&cfnumber=13-0046

CD 5 welcomes Noah!

The 5th Council District has added another star to its firmament – Noah Muhlstein has joined the office of Councilmember Koretz.  Noah has been given responsibility for planning, land use and development issues in the Encino and Hillside portion of the district, and serves as a council office liaison to the Planning Department.  

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Noah has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies and Planning from California State University Northridge, and recently received, from that same institution, his Masters in Public Administration with a focus in Urban Planning.  He began his career in the private sector in 2006, and as a member of the 5th District office is eager to help local communities and constituents regarding planning and land use.

Coocoo for Coconut

Getting animals adopted from our shelters is great – not only for the animals, but also for the people who will love them, and for the city itself, which bears the costs and tragic consequences of overcrowded shelters.

Councilmember Koretz and Council President Herb Wesson each do their part by working with Animal Services to provide a shelter cat or a dog for adoption at the start of many Friday City Council meetings.  On one recent Friday, a four month old terrier mix named Coconut was offered for adoption by Council President Wesson only to be adopted by 5th District legislative deputy David Giron. David says he calls Coconut "Coco," and that “she’s a small, energetic bundle of fun who loves to explore the world.  I’m thrilled to have saved her by adopting her at City Council.  As soon as I laid eyes on her I had to take her home.  She was actually a Mother’s Day gift for my mom, who loves her.”   David’s mom, Rosa Hernandez, and stepfather, Leonard Gonzalez, adore Coco, who is reportedly blissful in her new home.

Proposition D wins voter approval

On the May 21st City of L.A. ballot, three competing measures addressed the issue of medical marijuana. Proposition D won overwhelmingly, and E and F were rejected. Voters thereby chose to limit the numbers of dispensaries, by imposing a cap of 135, thus recognizing the legitimacy of the more established dispensaries that existed before a moratorium was put in place in 2007.  This means that access for patients in need will now be protected, but neighborhoods will not be inundated with dispensaries, and won’t be overwhelmed by the issues associated with the more problematic locations. Also, dispensaries will be taxed. Approval of F could have legitimized an additional 800-1200 dispensaries or more; instead, the process of closing them down could begin within weeks or months, though litigation is expected. Passage of Prop D should keep access for those who need it but provide relief for many surrounding neighborhoods.

Solar

On April 30, 2013, Councilmember Koretz joined Environment California, the LA Business Council and other business groups, with expressions of support from then-Mayoral candidates Eric Garcetti and Wendy Greuel, in calling for Los Angeles to become the nation’s leader in solar power by adopting a goal of transitioning to 20 percent solar power by 2020.  To hit the 20 percent benchmark, Los Angeles would need to install 1,200 megawatts (MW) of local solar power, which would both create jobs and save Angelenos money. Building 1,200 MW of local solar by 2020 would create approximately 32,000 job-years of employment. To put this number in context, the University of California, Los Angeles — which ranks among the city’s leading employers — has a workforce of just under 32,000 people. 

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the price point for solar power keeps dropping.  Commercial rooftop solar prices in California were at about ten dollars per watt in 2007:  according to the state’s solar figures, it’s now down to nearly half that at five seventy-nine per watt.  Industry experts confirm that solar power will reach grid parity with fossil fuel within the next couple years.

“We’ve had the technological breakthroughs we’ve needed.  The price is dropping.  We're meeting one major goal in getting the City off of coal.  But we’re still looking the climate crisis in the face.  It’s time to set a new, achievable clean energy goal for the City,” said Koretz. 

A summer youth employment program

The City's Community Development Department  (CDD) has announced the start-up of the City of Los Angeles Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP).  This six-week program allows for an average of 120 work hours per participant, and pays each youth $8 an hour.

Registration is now open, through an on-line SYEP process that will allow for a centralized lottery selection process:  a lottery process is necessary because there will not be enough jobs to fill the number of job requests. Please let interested young people know that they can register for the SYEP selection process at http://www.summerjobsla.com/.  Basic eligibility requirements are as follows:  each potential participant must be 14-21 years old; must live in the City of L.A.; must have a legal right to work; and must have a low income background, with possible additional eligibility requirements applying depending on the program funding source.

A "first job" can be the catalyst that puts a young person on the path to lifetime employment, as the necessary skills are learned for getting and keeping a job. This summer, as in years past, the CDD programming will include invaluable job skills training that is offered prior to eager young workers being assigned to a job site.

The City Council unanimously approves Koretz Resolution supporting state ban on lead bullets

With a unanimous vote, the L.A. City Council approved a Koretz resolution supporting AB 711 – California Assemblymember Anthony Rendon’s bill to revise existing law and require the use of non-lead ammunition for the taking of all wildlife, including game mammals, game birds, non-game birds, and non-game mammals, with any firearm.

In Sacramento, the bill passed on the assembly floor on May 16 and is now before the state senate.

Existing law only prohibits certain usages of lead ammunition, such as when taking big game such as deer (and others such as coyote) with a rifle or pistol, and can also involve the provision of non-lead ammunition.

The use of lead ammunition by hunters in California is contaminating the environment with lead toxins and leading to the death of various species of wildlife, particularly scavengers that feed on the animal remains left from hunters. Lead is a neurotoxin that has compromised the efforts of various environmental organizations to restore endangered wildlife in California, including condors, bald eagles, golden eagles and turkey vultures. AB 711 is supported by three major environmental groups to date:  the Defenders of Wildlife, Audubon California, and the Humane Society of the United States.

 


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