Dear friends,
Today’s news from the Supreme Court – that they have lifted a federal judge’s ruling prohibiting racial profiling by federal immigration enforcement – is another devastating blow to a city that has already faced so much hardship this year.
Even despite the federal judge’s order being in place for the last few weeks, raids were still happening across the city, including in Council District 4. Just last week, a raid at the Studio City Hand Car Wash led to the detainment of multiple workers. Sharareh Moghadam, who works with her husband at Elegant Balloons, the beloved establishment they own in Studio City, has also been detained, despite being a green card holder.
The city has taken steps to prepare, including moving forward on a series of motions introduced in the immediate aftermath of the June raids. The Council has proposed an ordinance requiring LAPD officers to verify the identity of any individual claiming to be a law enforcement officer – including those from ICE – when a person subject to enforcement requests assistance from LAPD. Additional funding has also been approved for immigration defense and the Mayor is working with LAPD to improve its response to immigration enforcement activities.
In the meantime, we are continuing to provide direct resources to our community. On September 23rd, we will be hosting another Know Your Rights workshop in partnership with Assemblymember Caloza. Please sign up HERE. If you are in need of additional support, please do not hesitate to reach out to our office at conctactcd4@lacity.org or visit our Immigration Rights and Resources page on our website.
While we do not yet know what the full impact of the Court’s ruling will be, we expect increased ICE activity in the weeks ahead. Please know that my office is tracking developments closely and I will share more information as it comes in.
|
This year has brought real challenges, but we have appreciated being able to come together as a community even in the midst of hardship.
As the sun sets on this summer, we’re continuing our outdoor hiking series. We invite you to join Team CD4 this Friday, September 12th for a special hike, guided by our friends at TreePeople.
We’ll meet at TreePeople headquarters at 5:30pm, then hit the trail — ending with light refreshments at sunset. Bring a friend, and please join us!
|
- Updates From City Hall — Paving The Way To Open More Community School Parks, Honoring The Autry Museum Of The American West
- In The News — Interview With Conan Nolan
- In The District — Responding To Antisemitic Vandalism In Encino, Welcoming Students Back To School In Reseda, Celebrating The End Of Summer In Sherman Oaks, Connecting With Neighbors At The Silver Triangle Block Party in Studio City, Installing A New Signalized Crosswalk In Los Feliz, Restoring The Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round
- Upcoming Events — Sunset Hike In Coldwater Canyon Park, LA Public Library Los Libros Festival, Movie Night In Encino, Virtual Know Your Rights Training
- Resources & Forums — LA City Park Needs Assessment Public Comment & Community Meetings, PureWater Public Comment & Community Meetings
- Construction & Closures — Beachwood Canyon Mainline Water Pipe Installation
- Other Helpful Links
|
PAVING THE WAY TO OPEN MORE COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARKS
|
Last week, LAUSD voted to approve a Joint Powers Agreement with the Department of Recreation & Parks, improving the Community School Parks program and allowing us to more easily open school campuses across Los Angeles to the public on weekends and holidays.
Right now, less than two-thirds of Angelenos live within a ten-minute walk of a park, and low-income communities of color have disproportionately lower park acreage per capita. In fact, the Trust for Public Land ranks our city 78th out of the top 100 most populated American cities in terms of equitable access to park space.
Thanks to a motion I introduced in 2023, we opened 10 new Community School Parks last October – and with the new Joint Powers Agreement, it will now be easier to open even more!
This program enables us to quickly bring recreational space to neighborhoods that lack such facilities, providing safe play spaces for thousands of children and their families. With the Joint Powers Agreement in place, we no longer require a separate permit for each school with LAUSD, allowing us to more efficiently and cost-effectively operate the Community School Parks program.
I’m so grateful for the partnership of LAUSD, the Department of Rec & Parks, the Mayor’s Office, and my fellow colleagues on Council for prioritizing the wellbeing and enrichment of our children. Stay tuned for more information on how we plan to expand and improve this program!
HONORING THE AUTRY MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN WEST
|
I had the honor of welcoming the President and CEO of the Autry Museum, Dr. Stephen Aron to Council Chambers to highlight some of the incredible work, artifacts, and exhibitions that the Autry Museum of the American West is known for.
The Autry Museum of the American West is home to an incredible collection — paintings, sculptures, Hollywood Western film memorabilia, saddles, photographs, historical objects, and so much more — that tell the many stories of the American West. It was founded by 20th century Western film star and recording artist, Gene Autry, starting with his own vast personal collection as he was deeply passionate about preserving Western history for future generations.
It holds more than 600,000 pieces of art and cultural objects, and has partnered with the Gabrielino-Tongva people to ensure inclusive and accurate exhibitions, promote collaborative efforts including educational programs and exhibitions, as well as the protection of tribal items in the museum’s collection.
It is also home to one of the City’s most illuminating exhibitions: “Black Cowboys: An American Story.” Collaborating with other museums, community leaders, scholars, cowboys, and ranchers, the Autry curated this exhibition to tell the story of Black men and women who turned their equestrian skills to popular performances in rodeo, Western film, and music— uplifting the stories of individual Black cowfolk, past and present, who have kept these traditions alive. I encourage all of you to visit the exhibition, which runs through January!
|
INTERVIEW WITH CONAN NOLAN
|
LA has not built enough housing for decades. I had the opportunity to go on Conan Nolan last week to talk about why I think building more housing is so essential to LA’s future resiliency. To view the full interview, click HERE!
|
Over on social media, I also talked about some of the historical reasons for this housing shortage and how it has impacted rents here in LA. One of the reasons your rent is so high? Simple economics: the demand for housing is extremely high and our housing supply is extremely low. Click HERE to learn more!
The next time the City is considering new housing units in your neighborhood, find out when it will be heard by City Council or Planning Commission and show up or send in a comment to show your support!
|
RESPONDING TO ANTISEMITIC VANDALISM IN ENCINO
|
This past weekend, my team and I were informed by LAPD of multiple incidents of antisemitic vandalism at Encino Park, in several locations along Ventura Blvd, as well as other parts of the western San Fernando Valley. My District Director, J. Anderson, and I arrived on the scene as soon as we heard and were joined by staff from the Department of Recreation & Parks, and we removed the graffiti immediately.
LAPD Major Crimes Division is handling the investigation and we are hopeful that the person or people responsible for this are held accountable. For additional resources and information on how to report a hate crime or incident, please visit the LA Civil Rights website HERE.
Our Jewish community deserves to feel safe – antisemitism, and all forms of hate speech and hate crimes have absolutely no place in the City of Los Angeles.
WELCOMING STUDENTS BACK TO SCHOOL IN RESEDA
|
Campuses across the city opened their doors to students last month, ushering in the start of the 2025-2026 school year. My office joined Principal Damonte of Reseda Charter High School for a back-to-school rally along with school administrators, the cheer squad and band, and community members, helping to ease any first-day jitters.
Most importantly, we stood in solidarity with LAUSD faculty to unequivocally state that our schools are a safe place for ALL. LAUSD has ramped up its protocols to protect our students and ensure that our schools remain a safe haven for learning, exploration, and growth, including establishing a watch zone around higher-risk schools, handing out know your rights cards to parents, and organizing volunteer patrols outside schools of all grade levels.
We also partnered with Allied Cultures and the United Methodist Church of Reseda to provide free back-to-school supplies and hot meals to families in need in the San Fernando Valley. Hundreds of students and their families joined us for “Backpacks and Bites,” where they got to pick out a colorful backpack for the year. My office also used this as another opportunity to share critically needed immigrant rights resources and distribute red cards to families.
I want to extend a very warm thank you to Allied Cultures, a nonprofit organization in our district serving low-income families and people experiencing homelessness in Reseda and across the West Valley. I’d also like to thank Pastor Sang Ho Yi and Donna Edmundson of UMC for providing us the space to engage as a community — you have long been a place of refuge for Valley residents seeking support.
Thank you to everyone helping to keep our children safe, and welcome back to school, LA!
CELEBRATING THE END OF SUMMER IN SHERMAN OAKS
|
In anticipation of summer’s close, we partnered with the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council and Department of Recreation and Parks to host an end-of-summer movie night for the neighborhood.
Screening Moana 2, families and friends gathered at VNSO park to sit back, relax, and enjoy the last of LA’s long summer evenings. We also took the opportunity to hand out over 200 backpacks to students – I know my own kids relish picking out a new backpack each year, and we hope yours did too!
Thank you to our community partners for helping to host another gorgeous movie night, and to all the neighbors who joined us!
|
And, it wouldn’t be a proper farewell to warmer weather without a splashy pool party! In partnership with Rec & Parks, PlayLA, and Citywide Aquatics, our office threw an end-of-summer pool party at the VNSO Aquatic Center in Sherman Oaks over Labor Day weekend! Families and friends of all ages were welcome to swim, kayak, paddleboard, and even try their luck at the inflatable obstacle course. The highlight of the event, however, was a live performance by Celestial Voice, a local SFV band that had us jamming out to their rendition of “Santaria” by Sublime.
Our Field Deputies were also on hand to answer any community questions about potential park improvements and, with the help of our community partners, we made sure all attendees had access to know your rights resources, neighborhood information, free goodies, and more.
Thank you to all the families and friends who joined us! And while it may not be a full-blown pool party every time, the VNSO pool is open year-round! Click HERE to learn more.
CONNECTING WITH NEIGHBORS AT THE SILVER TRIANGLE BLOCK PARTY IN STUDIO CITY
|
This summer offered a chance to get outside and connect with neighbors at some of my favorite annual events, including the Silver Triangle Neighborhood Block Party in Studio City. What started as a Fourth of July tradition has turned into an evergreen celebration of community thanks to the intrepid Grace Ledding.
My staff and I joined the festivities (but stood no chance in the Wacky Walk relay race), meeting with neighbors to discuss the City’s trajectory and how we can work together to create a more inclusive, welcoming place for all. A special thank you to Grace and President of the Studio City Neighborhood Council Chip Meehan for organizing such a wonderful event.
INSTALLING A NEW SIGNALIZED CROSSWALK IN LOS FELIZ
In 2022, then-Assemblymember Laura Friedman secured $560,000 in funds as part of a $4M State Earmark for traffic safety in and near Griffith Park. Now, thanks to the tireless work of our City staff who have prioritized completing the necessary design work, we are pleased to report that construction has begun on a new signalized crosswalk at the intersection of Franklin Avenue and Harvard Boulevard!
The signalized crossing will be a “HAWK” signal, which can be seen elsewhere in the district at the intersection of Ventura Blvd and Ventura Canyon Ave, and consists of three overhead beacons that have a full and flashing red phase.
Construction scheduled began last month and we expect it may take three months or more to complete. Construction work will consist of the installation of ADA-compliant curb ramps, pedestrian signal poles and equipment, crosswalk lighting, and associated electrical and other work.
We are excited for this new signal installation and grateful that because of this state earmark, we were able to advance it on a much quicker timetable than normal!
RESTORING THE GRIFFITH PARK MERRY-GO-ROUND
We are thrilled to announce that last month, the Department of Rec & Parks (RAP) approved the purchase of the historic and beloved Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round! This cultural monument, built in 1926 and installed in Griffith Park in 1937, features 68 hand-carved, jewel-adorned horses and is one of the last remaining Spillman Engineering 4-Abreast Carousels in North America. Legend even has it that the Merry-Go-Round served as Walt Disney’s inspiration for Disneyland!
The carousel has been closed for repairs since January 2022 and its future had remained uncertain until now. With the purchase now approved, RAP is committed to rehabilitating, restoring, preserving, and conserving the Merry-Go-Round.
One of my great joys in this role is sharing the wonders of Griffith Park with Los Angeles, and with the world, and I am so grateful the City has committed to preserving this cherished Merry-Go-Round for generations to come!
|
SUNSET HIKE IN COLDWATER CANYON PARK | SEPTEMBER 12
|
As the sun sets on summer, we’re continuing our outdoor hiking series with our next community hike in Coldwater Canyon Park!
Join us Friday, September 12 at 5:30pm at TreePeople headquarters for a guided evening hike followed by light refreshments and, of course, ending with a perfect LA sunset! Bring a friend or meet a new one, and come enjoy the great views with us! As always, this event is free and open to the public. See you on the trail!
DATE: Friday, September 12
TIME: 5:30PM – 7:30PM
LOCATION: TreePeople, 12601 Mulholland Dr., Studio City, CA 91604
|
LA PUBLIC LIBRARY LOS LIBROS FESTIVAL | SEPTEMBER 13 | MORE INFO
|
Join the Los Angeles Public LIbrary for a FREE bilingual book festival for the whole family! In honor of Latino Heritage Month, the 7th annual Los Angeles Libros Festival will offer a full day of entertainment featuring Spanish-language and bilingual storytelling, musical performances, authors, workshops, books, and community. The event is free and open to the general public!
For the complete lineup and more information regarding this year’s festival, go to lapl.org/libros.
DATE: Saturday, September 13
TIME: 10AM – 4PM
LOCATION: Central Library, 630 W. 5th St.
*Library parking is accessible at the 524 S. Flower Street Garage. Parking is $1.00 with validation on Saturday.
MOVIE NIGHT IN ENCINO | SEPTEMBER 20
|
Join us for a special Harvest Moon Movie Night at Encino Park on Saturday, September 20th from 5:30 – 9PM. In partnership with the Encino Neighborhood Council and the Office of Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, we’ll be screening Steven Spielberg’s classic, E.T., with a side of free ice cream and popcorn!
DATE: Saturday, September 20
TIME: 5:30PM – 9PM
LOCATION: Encino Park, 16953 Ventura Blvd., Encino, CA, 91316
VIRTUAL KNOW YOUR RIGHTS TRAINING | SEPTEMBER 23 | MORE INFO
|
Our Office has partnered with Assemblymember Jessica Caloza to host a virtual Know Your Rights training on Tuesday, September 23rd at 4PM. In this workshop, you can expect to: get information on how to protect your homes and community spaces, hear directly from legal experts on how to protect yourself and your family, ask questions and get answers in a safe, supportive virtual environment.
DATE: Tuesday, September 23
TIME: 4PM
Click HERE to RSVP.
|
LA CITY PARK NEEDS ASSESSMENT PUBLIC COMMENT & COMMUNITY MEETINGS| MORE INFO
The City of Los Angeles is entering the third phase of The Park Needs Assessment and wants to hear from you! This Assessment will be a roadmap to just and fair capital investment in parks and recreation and equitable connections to quality parks and recreation, to meet current and future needs of residents!
The Draft Park Needs Assessment (PNA) was released this month and the Department of Recreation & Parks (RAP) wants to hear from you! Your feedback will directly inform how LA addresses park needs, today and in the future.
Be sure to also join RAP for the next round of community meetings, where they’ll present the Draft Park Needs Assessment, share key findings from earlier phases, and answer your questions about how to get involved in shaping the remainder of the process. In-person meetings will include a presentation and interactive tables where you can read and discuss the draft PNA. Food and Spanish translation will be provided at all meetings.
Click HERE to RSVP for an upcoming community meeting!
For more information, visit the Park Needs Assessment website, download the presentation slides, or watch a virtual meeting recording.
LADWP PURE WATER LOS ANGELES PUBLIC COMMENT & COMMUNITY MEETINGS| MORE INFO
Pure Water Los Angeles is the City of L.A.’s proposed program to create a new supply of safe
drinking water by purifying recycled water. It aims to produce up to 230 million gallons of purified recycled water per day. Pure Water Los Angeles will create a new and sustainable supply of drinking water by purifying recycled water, supporting the transition to a 70 percent local water supply.
The City is currently preparing a Program Environmental Impact Report for the Pure Water Los Angeles as part of California Environmental Quality Act, and wants to hear from you! This is your chance to share your thoughts and help shape the future of our water system!
Register for one of LAWDP’s virtual scoping meetings below:
-
Wednesday, September 10 | 6PM – 8PM
-
Friday, September 12 | 10AM – 8PM
-
Saturday, September 20 | 10AM – 12PM
|
BEACHWOOD CANYON
LADWP Mainline Water Pipe Installation
Date/Time: started July 17th lasting for 3-4 months
Location: Beachwood between Graciosa Dr. and Cheremoya Ave.
Details: LADWP has been working along Beachwood Dr. in recent months to install a new mainline water pipe in order to improve water system reliability. A new phase of work has now started along Beachwood between Graciosa Dr. and Cheremoya Ave. Work began on Thursday, July 17 and is expected to last for 3 to 4 months. Work hours will typically be 7:30am to 3:30pm Monday through Friday.
Because this portion of Beachwood Dr. is significantly narrower than the southern portion, traffic will be reduced to a single lane servicing both directions. Flaggers will be stationed at either end of the project to direct traffic. Street parking will be restricted; please observe all “No Parking/Tow Away” signs. Parking will be restored to normal after each work day. Delivered and emergency services will not be affected.
For more information contact Michael Ventre, LADWP Community Affairs liaison, at michael.ventre@ladwp.com or at 213.367.1381
|
Our Office:
Services + Resources
-
Food Pantry Locator — Get connected to food resources near you.
-
StayHoused LA — Workshops and resources to help renters stay in their homes.
-
MyLA311 — Submit a request for services including graffiti removal, pothole repair, and bulky-item pickup.
-
LA-HOP Homeless Outreach Portal — Assist or self-input an outreach request from the LA Homeless Services Authority to unhoused residents.
-
LA City Sanitation — Submit a service request for metal/household appliance disposal.
-
MyChildCarePlan — Free resource website for childcare providers and families listing every licensed provider in California.
-
Adopt or Foster A Shelter Pet— Find pets for adoption and a list of local shelters.
-
Gas Assistance Fund – The Gas Assistance Fund (GAF) offers a one-time grant to help customers pay their natural gas bills.
-
Ready Your LA Business Workbook – City of LA’s FREE workbook to help business owners prepare their business for any emergency. Available in English and Spanish.
Alerts
-
NotifyLA — Sign up to receive urgent notifications about local emergencies by phone, email, and/or text message.
-
LAFD Alerts – Sign up for alerts on fires and evacuations in your area.
-
LADWP Outage Info — Sign up for outage alerts in your area.
-
StreetsLA Street Sweeping — Register for notifications about sweeping in your neighborhoods.
|
|
.png "Join us for a Know Your Rights training + A community hike")
.png)
.png)
%20(1).png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
