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August 2006 During the last month in OurLA...
- Reforming LAUSD: Our efforts to reform the Los Angeles Unified School District picked up speed this past month, receiving key support from a unanimous City Council and business, community, and labor leaders from across the City. More than 4,000 people attended the Mayor's town hall meetings to have their voices heard on the reform. The bill, AB 1381, passed with bipartisan support out of the Senate Appropriations Committee and is currently being debated on the Senate floor. The legislature is working toward an August 31st deadline to pass the bill. The governance structure outlined in AB 1381 will be the vehicle for achieving fundamental reform in education by bringing in new leadership, creating greater accountability, empowering educators and parents, and giving local leaders a voice in their local schools.
- Reducing traffic congestion: We expanded the number of traffic control officers deployed by the City from 50 to 70 officers and from 38 to 51 of the City's busiest intersections. We also began a program to convert all traffic signal lights to L.E.D. (light emitting diode) technology. While increasing energy efficiency, this conversion will reduce traffic caused by burned-out lights.
- Fixing potholes: I challenged the Bureau of Street Services to fill 300,000 potholes this year, a 15,000 pothole increase from the challenge the Bureau met last year. Fewer potholes means road safety and less traffic congestion.
- Providing jobs to Angelenos: We opened the LAX Job Recruitment and Training Center that will recruit, test, and train federal Transportation Security Officers and Airport Police Officers. I was also proud to announce that 2,000 jobs for young adults aged 18-24 were pledged by small businesses and large corporations as part of our Hire LA 18-24 Initiative. The program includes a Job Readiness Training Program that prepares youth for full and part-time work. This summer, the HIRE L.A.'s Youth program funded 7,000 summer jobs.
- Fighting global warming: I signed on to the Clinton Climate Change Initiative, an historic agreement among the world's largest cities to protect our world's climate. This City is doing its part by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions at a faster rate than the rest of the state, reducing pollution at the port and airport, planting 1 million trees, and converting the City's fleet to alternative fuels.
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LA Spin
A Matter of Fiscal Responsibility
Most are aware of today's strike by City employees who are members of the Engineers and Architects Association (EAA).
The City negotiated in good faith with EAA and the Council voted unanimously to impose a new contract, but the offer has been rejected by EAA, even after an independent fact-finder supported all of the City’s major recommendations.
EAA-represented employees are highly-paid compared to most other City employees. The EAA represents the City’s accountants and auditors, hardware and software systems experts, administrative professionals, engineers and architects, surveyors and drafting technicians. The average EAA employee will make about $74,500 under the new agreement. The highest-paid employees will make more than $125,000.
EAA-represented employees provide important services to the people of Los Angeles. They work hard and deserve a fair wage and benefits package. They received the same cost of living adjustment that was agreed to by all other civilian employees.
The Mayor takes very seriously his fiduciary responsibility to protect taxpayer-financed services of the City. He will not break the city’s budget or deprive L.A.’s residents of essential services like police, fire protection, and road repair in order to meet unreasonable demands.
Keep OurLA Green
Clinton Climate Change Initiative
The Mayor stood with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and former U.S. President Bill Clinton to launch the Clinton Climate Change Initiative, an historic agreement among the world's largest cities to combat global warming.
The Mayor has already begun to answer the call to action during his first year in office.
He directed the City to get 20% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2010, seven years before the rest of the state. He is committed to planting one million trees, converting more of the City's fleet to alternative fuels, expanding and promoting green building and other green technologies in the City, and expanding mass transit and transit-oriented development.
For his remarks from the launch, click here.
Keep OurLA Safe
Airport Security Jobs
The Mayor joined U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters, federal Transportation Security Administration and local airport officials to open the LAX Job Recruitment and Training Center.
The 22,000-square-foot facility will house the testing, recruitment, and training programs for Transportation Security Officers and Airport Police Officers.
The Center will serve the community by making job opportunities available to the public and contributing to airport security.
For the complete press release, click here.
OurLA ... Featuring
Sept. 4th - City's 225th Birthday and Pobladores Walk
Join the Mayor and fellow Angelenos as they retrace the footsteps of Los Pobladores, the first settlers of the City of Los Angeles.
The day's events begin at 7am in San Gabriel for the 9-mile walk or at 9am at Lincoln Park for the 3-mile walk.
The walks end at Olvera Street, where there will be music and festivities for the entire family, including a Fun Zone for kids.
To sign up for the walk or for more information, go to www.lacity.org/225.
Sept. 9th - Community Budget Day
Seize the opportunity to have a voice in the City's budget decisions on Saturday, September 9th from 8am to noon at City Hall.
At Budget Day, you will have access to information and updates on the City budget
and have the opportunity to discuss ways for Neighborhood Councils to represent their communities for the 2007-2008 fiscal year.
For more information and to RSVP online,
go to lacityneighborhoods.com.
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What OurLA is thinking...
What would you be willing to do to combat global warming? Here's how OurLA readers responded:
80% of those polled would be willing to:
Recycle, buy a fuel-efficient car, use energy efficient light bulbs at home, and plant a tree.
The majority of OurLA readers were unlikely to carpool, walk or bike to work, or fly less to combat global climate change.
It's OurLA
Looking for a way to make your mark in OurLA? Start today by participating in one of the ways below.
Become a Mentor! Studies have shown that students with mentors are 70% more likely to graduate from high school. 90% of these graduates go on to college. Make a difference by going to connectinglosangeles.com.
Are you between the ages of 18 and 24 and looking for a job? Find a job through HIRE L.A.'s Youth summer job program. Entry level full-time and summer positions available at Ralphs, Universal Studios, Starbucks, McDonald's, UPS, FedEx, Bank of America, Comcast, and others. For more information, visit hirelayouth.com.
Volunteer for the City's Crisis Response Team! Please contact Jeff Zimerman at 213-978-0697 or via email to get involved. The program is especially in need of people who speak Spanish or Korean.
Volunteer or become an intern in the Mayor's Office. To get involved, contact Gaby Ortiz via email.
OurLA Events
We hope you check out these events in OurLA.
African Marketplace and Cultural Faire
Aug 25-27 & Sept 2-4,
10am - 9pm
Rancho Cienega Park
5001 Rodeo Rd.
Los Angeles, CA 90016
For info, click here.
Sunset Junction Street Festival 2006
Aug 26 - 27, 10am - 11pm
3600 to 4400 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90027 For info, click here.
City's 225th Birthday & Pobladores Walk
September 4, 2006
7am - Walk from San Gabriel
9am - Walk from Lincoln Park
10:30am - Music, birthday cake, artisan booths, and festivities at Olvera Street. For more info, click here.
National Latino Congreso
Sept 6-10, 8am - 9pm
Sheraton Los Angeles
711 S. Hope St.
Los Angeles, CA 90017
For more information, call
1-800-928-4674.
Community Budget Day
Sept. 9, 8am - noon
City Hall, Council Chambers
200 N. Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
For more info, go to lacityneighborhoods.com.
East Los Angeles Mexican Independence Parade: "Fiestas Patrias Mexicanas"
Sept 10, 11am
Lorena & Cesar Chavez
For more information, call 323-587-6177.
Stay tuned for the announcement of our next Citywide Day of Service in November!
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