DISTRICT 4 Newsletters

2023 In Review

Dear Friends, 

2023 was a hard year for many, with global unrest taking its toll on all of us. In this time of uncertainty, I am especially grateful for the community we have built together, right here in Council District 4. 

December marked three years since I was sworn into office – a fact I can hardly believe. City Hall has changed dramatically in that time, and I am proud to say that our office has been a key part of that change – ringing in a new era of urgency and reform. 

In 2023, our exceptional team shaped housing policy across the City, secured transformative renter protections, invested in our greenspaces, made our streets safer for all, provided critical resources to our unhoused neighbors, and hosted movie nights and concerts in the community. There is so much we could highlight, but below you’ll find a list of 15 of our most impactful achievements of the year:

  • Our field staff submitted over 3,000 311 service requests that were completed across the district, repairing sidewalks, clearing up graffiti, removing outdated newsracks, conducting maintenance on traffic devices, repairing potholes, repainting red curbs, picking up bulky items, clearing felled trees, and so much more!
  • We enacted the strongest renter protections in the City of Los Angeles in over 40 years, establishing a right to counsel, universal just cause eviction protections, relocation assistance, a threshold for eviction due to nonpayment of rent, and additional protections for seniors and people with disabilities. 

  • We led the way in eviction defense work, knocking on over 370 doors to proactively target resources to those most at risk of losing their homes, and over 1,400 doors to provide resources to renters and ensure tenants are aware of their rights. This work was made possible in part due to our tenant protection legislation passed at the end of January, allowing the City to receive notifications within three days every time a landlord files an eviction with LAHD – the first time the City has ever had access to this information! 
  • We created the City’s first home-sharing portal. Thanks to our legislation, there is now a public database where residents can check to see whether a property is registered for home-sharing, or has received a citation. The City is now better equipped to more efficiently crack down on short-term rental listings that violate the Home Sharing Ordinance, protecting our valuable housing stock. Click HERE to check the status of a property, or visit bit.ly/homesharingportal. 
  • We were the first office to give away over 10,000 organic composting pails, making us the most enthusiastic composters BY FAR in City Hall! 
  • We introduced legislation to improve LADWP’s storm response, including how to better communicate about, respond to, and restore outages while ensuring that consistent, reliable information is being shared with the public in real-time. LADWP has since updated their strategic storm response plan, which you can read more about here. 

  • We continued our work of housing people in encampments across the district, including housing 75 individuals living in tents along the LA River in our district through the Encampment Resolution Grant that we secured from the Governor’s Office. This builds on our work from our first two years housing people at numerous encampments across the district like those under the Coldwater/101 underpass, at Genesta Park, at the Hollywood Bowl Park and Ride lot in Studio City, and on the corner of Highland and Franklin. Last month, we also partnered with the Mayor’s Office for the first-of-its-kind Inside Safe RV operation at Forest Lawn Drive. Read more here!
  • We secured the expansion of the CIRCLE Team to serve business districts in the Los Feliz and Sherman Oaks areas. CIRCLE is an unarmed crisis response that can be accessed by calling 911 for issues pertaining to homelessness. CIRCLE stands for Crisis and Incident Response through Community-Led Engagement and the Team is able to respond quickly, de-escalate incidents, and connect individuals to needed medical and mental health services. 

  • We helped pass the Hollywood Community Plan, which had gone *35 years* since its last update! Our office put immense effort into making sure the plan benefited the needs of all our residents.
  • We secured almost $9 MILLION in funding for the district from Congress! With this funding, we are planning to invest in major projects across CD4, working to house people currently living along the LA River, upgrade the Studio City recreation center, improve park spaces across the Valley, and fund four transportation improvement projects to enhance safety for people walking, biking, and driving.
  • We hosted our first concert series! In partnership with the Valley Cultural Foundation, our office hosted several FREE live music shows throughout the fall at the Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Park, the first time the park had these kinds of events! 

  • We worked to make the use of public transit as comfortable and safe as possible for all Angelenos, with the passage of the RAISE LA ordinance. Based on legislation I introduced in 2022, this City of Los Angeles will dedicate almost all the ad revenues collected from our new street furniture and bus shelter program (STAP) to improving the accessibility, shade, and condition of our streetscapes and public rights of way.

  • We hosted disaster preparedness workshops in partnership with MySafe:LA and LAFD across Council District 4. LAFD’s Disaster Preparedness unit provided general brush clearance and emergency preparedness information and attendees participated in a fire extinguisher training, tourniquet training, gas shut-off demonstrations, and hands-only CPR training. 
  • We hosted a full year of monthly Neighborhood Support Days to provide services and resources to people experiencing homelessness. Taking place across the district from Silver Lake to Encino in churches, libraries, and community centers, our monthly Neighborhood Support Days help unhoused residents secure critical paperwork such as IDs and birth certificates, offer hot meals, and warm showers, as well as connect individuals with case managers, mental health workers, and health care services on their journey into housing. 


  • We took a monumental step toward enacting *real* governance reform, placing a ballot initiative to create an independent redistricting commission for the City of Los Angeles on the November 2024 ballot. Voters will now be able to vote in November to remove the ability for Councilmembers to redraw their own district lines, hopefully moving us closer to a system that reflects the best interests of Angelenos, NOT the interests of political players. 

It was an honor serving you last year, and my team and I look forward to all that we can achieve together in the next. 

Hoping you all had a wonderful holiday season,

Nithya

I. Updates From City Hall — Revitalizing Southern Griffith Park, Reducing Carbon Emissions In New Construction, Establishing A Right To Counsel For Vulnerable Tenants, Investing In Our Homeless Sector Workforce

II. In The District — Celebrating The First Night Of Hanukkah At City Hall, Lighting The Tree At The Congregational Church Of The Chimes, Jumping Headfirst Into The Holidays At The Los Feliz Holiday Extravaganza, Celebrating 12 Months Of Neighborhood Support Days, Dedicating Alexanderplatz Square, Coming together on Christmas Day with Temple Israel and Hollywood United

III. Upcoming Events – LA Zoo Lights

IV. Resources & Forums — Sign Up For SoCal Gas Notifications For Price Increases, Attend the Van Nuys Airport Citizens Advisory Council, Encino Hills Traffic Survey

V. Construction & Closures — Mulholland Speed Humps

VI. Other Helpful Links

REVITALIZING SOUTHERN GRIFFITH PARK 

In November, I introduced legislation to set in motion the creation of a community-driven master plan and visioning effort for the southern portion of Griffith Park, south of Los Feliz Boulevard along Riverside Drive, in order to determine priority new recreational, cultural, or educational uses for the area and the best sites for said uses.

The Southern portion of Griffith Park holds a special place in the hearts of local residents, many of whom have been utilizing the facilities here for years, be it teaching their kids to play tennis, spending summers at the pool, or participating in intramural sports. With funding secured from the State and Federal governments – including $4 million in State funds and $4.5 million in Federal funds to repair and improve heavily used Griffith Park facilities and roadways – we have the opportunity to bring this area back to life, and create a truly multifunctional and intergenerational community space for everyone to enjoy.

The proposed scope of work for this community-driven master plan and visioning effort is expected to include: inventorying existing structures, recreational facilities and other infrastructure assets in the area; addressing current challenges and constraints; transportation and circulation; and thinking through vibrant, creative, sustainable, and intergenerational uses for existing and potential uses and facilities or structures in the area. Specifically, intended uses and a site location for a new Griffith Park Adult Community Center will be determined and scoped in consultation with seniors and other community stakeholders.

REDUCING EMBODIED CARBON EMISSIONS IN NEW CONSTRUCTION

At the beginning of 2023, a new law took effect requiring all new building construction in the City of Los Angeles to be all-electric. And now, as we end the year, my team has followed up on our groundbreaking legislation by introducing a motion to regulate the embodied carbon emissions allowed for new construction and major additions to buildings larger than 50,000 square feet.

Embodied carbon is defined as the emissions associated with building construction—the material extraction, transportation, manufacturing, and construction processes which account for up to 13% of all CO2 emissions worldwide. As LA’s buildings account for 43% of our carbon emissions – more than any other sector – regulating this often over-looked source of emissions is critical. 

My motion asks for relevant City departments to report back with recommendations for updating the Los Angeles Green Building Code to create a framework that sets limits on allowed embodied carbon emissions in consultation with stakeholders and industry experts. As City departments are tasked with enforcing state building standards, it is imperative that we prepare now to ensure that the city is prepared when these requirements take effect.

ESTABLISHING A RIGHT TO COUNSEL FOR VULNERABLE TENANTS

We know that receiving an eviction notice can be terrifying. When tenants are unable to afford a lawyer, they frequently fail to contest an eviction notice, even if it’s unlawfully issued. As a result, many eviction cases end in default judgments against tenants— judgements that may have been able to be resolved favorably for the tenant if they only had proper representation. 

Since taking office, it has been one of my top priorities to reverse this trend and to make housing justice more accessible, equitable, and attainable.

Nine months ago, Council adopted my motion to lay the groundwork for a Right to Counsel ordinance and program for renters in the city of LA. Today, Council moved to adopt a set of recommendations from the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD) to draft that ordinance, codifying the Right to Counsel program, which will establish the Eviction Defense Program/Stay Housed LA as a permanent phased-in program citywide, codify services, and ensure that eligible tenants living in the City have the right to access critical legal services.

We are now one step closer to fully enacting a program where we are able to keep people in their homes and combat the eviction-to-homelessness pipeline that has exacerbated the homeless crisis for years.

I am so grateful to my colleagues Councilmembers Bob Blumenfield, Heather Hutt, Eunisses Hernandez, Hugo Soto-Martinez, and Katy Yaroslavsky for co-sponsoring this legislation and helping us end our era of precarity here in the City, ushering us into an era of stability. Together we are building a city where, if you end up in a situation where you could lose your housing, someone will be there to support you. 

INVESTING IN OUR HOMELESS SERVICES WORKFORCE 

Working on the frontlines of our homelessness crisis is one of the most demanding – and important – jobs in the City. How can it be that the majority of these invaluable workers earn so little that many struggle to pay their own rent and some are even experiencing homelessness themselves? If we aim to end homelessness across the City, we must ensure that those doing the work day-in and day-out are adequately paid and supported.

That is why I introduced a motion in November to explore how the City can address compensation challenges to help grow the overall capacity and effectiveness of the homeless service workforce. In December, Council adopted that motion, which seeks to address contractual gaps and compensation challenges among the homeless services workforce to retain and hire new talent, and ensure those working on the frontlines of the homelessness crisis are adequately supported.

The City Administrative Officer, Chief Legislative Analyst, LAHSA, and the City Attorney have now been instructed to prepare a comprehensive review of what is in the City’s purview to address, including cost-of-living wage increases and contractual gaps, in order to grow the overall capacity and effectiveness of the homeless services workforce and meet the City’s homelessness goals. 

CELEBRATING THE FIRST NIGHT OF HANUKKAH AT CITY HALL 

In honor of the first night of Hanukkah, or the eight day festival of light, I joined Mayor Bass, City Attorney Feldstein Soto, the Chabad of California, youth from local Jewish schools, fellow Councilmembers, and members of the Jewish community at the highest point of City Hall to light the historic Katowitz Menorah. Rescued from the flames of the great synagogue in Katzowitz, Poland during the Holocaust, the Katowitz Menorah embodies the light of freedom from oppression and serves as a reminder of the resilience of the Jewish community. 

I was also deeply honored to be in the presence of Rachel Schwartz. Rachel was just a young girl when she endured and survived not one, but three concentration camps— two in Poland, one in Germany. Now, as a Holocaust survivor and dedicated community leader, Rachel shares her story. 

I am inspired by Rachel and the countless other members of the Jewish community who join us in honoring the lives of innocent victims, calling for an end of violence for all humanity, uplifting the joy of community, and embracing the celebration of light. 

LIGHTING THE TREE AT THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF THE CHIMES

I’m far from a good singer, but how could I pass up the opportunity to join such a joyful group of carolers?

It warmed my heart to join the Congregational Church of the Chimes for their annual Light Up The Night Christmas Tree Lighting again this December. The community truly came together as we joined in song, sipped our hot chocolate, and watched in wonder as the Los Angeles Fire Department affixed a shining ornament atop the church’s largest tree. 

Thank you to Reverend Beth Bingham, Joi Staves, Jane Poole, Hayley Cabral, and all others for organizing another successful Christmas celebration!

JUMPING HEADFIRST INTO THE HOLIDAYS AT THE LOS FELIZ HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA 

My office was delighted to join the Los Feliz Library and the Los Feliz Bid for the Los Feliz Holiday Extravaganza earlier last month. What started as a simple tree lighting has flourished into a festive holiday market that welcomes families and neighbors from all around to join for some cider, live music, dancing, and even a photo opp with Santa Claus!

A big thank you to President of the Friends of the Los Feliz Library and VP of the Los Feliz BID Dora Herrera, President of the Los Feliz BID Brian Morrison, and all the families that joined to help spread the Christmas cheer!

CELEBRATING 12 MONTHS OF NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORT DAYS

In December, we celebrated our final Neighborhood Support Day of 2023, marking a full year of monthly support days to provide services and resources to people experiencing homelessness in Council District 4.

Taking place across the district from Silver Lake to Encino in churches, libraries, and community centers, our monthly Neighborhood Support Days help unhoused residents secure critical paperwork such as IDs and birth certificates, offer hot meals, haircuts, and warm showers, as well as connect individuals with case managers, mental health workers, and health care services on their journey into housing. 

This NSD was hosted once again at the Durant Library, where volunteers from the CD4 Volunteer Corps gave out burritos and helped participants select items of warm clothing for the winter. It has been so heartwarming to see volunteers like Rhonda and her son show up month after month to help us build this community. 

As we closed out the year, I want to extend my gratitude to my team, our partners, and our incredible volunteers for a year of regular Neighborhood Support Days that helped us serve OVER 800 of our unhoused neighbors! This has been a much-needed reminder of our shared humanity, and a reminder that we can create a city that lifts you up when you are down. 

DEDICATING ALEXANDERPLATZ SQUARE

For nearly two decades, Alexander Von Wechmar has dedicated himself to improving his neighborhood and making the streets of Canyon Drive safer for all by advocating for a traffic circle to be installed at the intersection of Bronson Avenue and Canyon Drive. Born in Germany and a longtime resident of Canyon Drive, Alexander long envisioned a traffic circle at the intersection of North Bronson Avenue and Canyon Drive. Former District 4 Councilmember Tom LaBonge immediately embraced it, just as his successors have since then. With support from our office, Wechmar’s vision came to fruition in 2022 when the City converted the intersection to a neighborhood traffic circle, which significantly reduced the risk of accidents and added safe routes for pedestrians to cross. Last month, Council approved our motion to rename this intersection as “Alexanderplatz,” in honor of Alexander and his German heritage.

Along with other members of the neighborhood, Alexander founded The Oaks and Bronson Canyon Improvement Fund in 2012, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, to raise the funds needed for the construction and the landscaping of a circular traffic island in the center of the intersection. Over the next ten years, Alexander volunteered countless hours of his time spearheading the community improvement project until it was completed in August of 2022.

Recently, Alexander also worked to beautify the entrance to Bronson Park by clearing the sidewalk and collaborating with the Urban Forestry Division and arborists to plant and safely space seven new trees. When Alexander didn’t have the budget to continue clearing the space of soil, our office stepped in to facilitate the removal of remaining soil to clear the path. 

Alexander’s dedication to the protection and well-being of both people and the planet is a shining example of what we can all strive towards. By following his example, we can all contribute to a healthier, cleaner, and more sustainable future for generations to come.

COMING TOGETHER ON CHRISTMAS DAY WITH TEMPLE ISRAEL AND HOLLYWOOD UNITED

It is always so powerful to see our faith-based communities rallying together to support our unhoused community during the holiday season. This Christmas, we once again joined Temple Israel of Hollywood for their 36th Annual Christmas Dinner, co-hosted in partnership with the Hollywood United Methodist Church. Our office was also able to bring people from interim housing sites across the district to join the celebration.


Guests sat down for a lovely sit-down dinner provided by volunteers, with a live band for entertainment. People were also able to pick up hygiene items and some scrumptious baked goods for dessert. One of the most incredible things about this event is the toy room, where every child attending gets to pick toys from a room chock full of age-appropriate options. I love attending this event— it is a haven of hope for those experiencing homelessness, and annually serves hundreds of unhoused people and their families.

LA ZOO LIGHTS: ANIMALS AGLOW | NOW – JAN 7 | MORE INFO

Celebrate the season with L.A.’s not-to-be-missed holiday adventure in the heart of the city! Explore an immersive landscape filled with dazzling new lantern sculptures of animals among blooming flowers, towering trees, and more, for a nature-focused holiday celebration that’s as inspiring as it is breathtaking. 

This year’s experience features all-new seasonal wonders, including a magical Winter Wildlands with majestic pine trees, glowing ice crystals, snow-loving animals, views of the “northern lights,” and spectacular photo spots for the ultimate holiday snaps. 

  • DATE: November 17, 2023 – January 7, 2024
  • *Closed most Mondays and Tuesdays, plus Thanksgiving Day (November 23), Christmas Eve (December 24), and Christmas Day (December 25)
  • TIME: 6 – 10PM
  • LOCATION: LA Zoo, 5333 Zoo Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027

ATTEND THE VAN NUYS AIRPORT CITIZENS ADVISORY COUNCIL | MORE INFO

If you are impacted by Jet, Prop Plane or Helicopter noise and want to express your concerns in person, you can attend the Van Nuys Airport Citizens Advisory Council (VNY CAC) meetings usually held on the first Tuesday of each month, at 7PM.

  • DATE: First Tuesday of every month* 
  • TIME: 7PM
  • LOCATION: Van Nuys City Hall Council Chambers, 6262 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys, CA. 

* The VNY CAC meets 10 times a year, excluding the months of July and December.

Locations may change so so check the agenda 3 days before the next monthly meeting HERE. 

  • Written public comments are also accepted before the day of each meeting and can be emailed to vnycac@lawa.org. You can learn about other programs and information about VNY at https://www.iflyvny.com/. To learn about the different options for submitting a noise comment, HERE!

ENCINO HILLS TRAFFIC SURVEY | MORE INFO

Our office is partnering with LADOT, the Encino Property Owners Association and the Encino Neighborhood Council to survey local Encino Hills residents on issues pertaining to traffic volume and speed and propose attainable solutions. 

In order to respond to high levels of traffic volume from commuters cutting through the neighborhood, LADOT is exploring reducing some of the traffic volume on Hayvenhurst Ave/Calneva Dr while acknowledging its role as a “Collector” route (a route of 2,000 – 10,000 vehicles per day). Potential additional efforts could include attempts to reduce traffic volume on local streets that lead to Hayvenhurst Ave/Calneva Dr, and to Sepulveda Blvd.

Responding to concerns about speeding and unsafe driving, potential solutions include adding select features to slow traffic on local streets like speed humps/tables, gateway treatments (similar to those at Escalon Dr/Hayvenhurst), medians, and other treatments.

Following the completion of the survey element, LADOT will use the information gathered from the survey results, collected data, and observations from the field to propose a suite of traffic volume and speed mitigation and traffic calming features in the Encino Hills area. After presentation to the community, any turn restrictions will then be installed and evaluated over six months in a “tactical trial” model, which will include another survey and outreach element, before recommending additions, removals, or alterations. Speed mitigation and traffic calming features will be installed on a permanent basis.

  • Click HERE to fill out the survey and be sure to share with your neighbors! 

SIGN UP FOR SOCALGAS NOTIFICATIONS FOR PRICE INCREASES | MORE INFO

SoCalGas is now offering a new optional text message to help customers in planning and preparing during the upcoming winter season. 

Customers who sign up will receive a text message from SoCalGas when there is a 20 percent or more increase in the monthly natural gas commodity cost – which impacts a portion of their bills. The 20 percent or more increase is based on the average of the last three winter (November to March) seasons’ monthly natural gas commodity prices. Starting Nov. 14, customers can complete the sign-up form to receive the Natural Gas Price Notices from December 2023 through March 2024, as applicable.

ATTEND THE VAN NUYS AIRPORT CITIZENS ADVISORY COUNCIL | MORE INFO

If you are impacted by Jet, Prop Plane or Helicopter noise and want to express your concerns in person, you can attend the Van Nuys Airport Citizens Advisory Council (VNY CAC) meetings usually held on the first Tuesday of each month, at 7PM.

  • DATE: First Tuesday of every month* 
  • TIME: 7PM
  • LOCATION: Van Nuys City Hall Council Chambers, 6262 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys, CA. 

* The VNY CAC meets 10 times a year, excluding the months of July and December.

Locations may change so so check the agenda 3 days before the next monthly meeting HERE. 

Written public comments are also accepted before the day of each meeting and can be emailed to vnycac@lawa.org. You can learn about other programs and information about VNY at https://www.iflyvny.com/. To learn about the different options for submitting a noise comment, HERE! 

ENCINO HILLS TRAFFIC SURVEY | MORE INFO

Our office is partnering with LADOT, the Encino Property Owners Association and the Encino Neighborhood Council to survey local Encino Hills residents on issues pertaining to traffic volume and speed and propose attainable solutions. 

In order to respond to high levels of traffic volume from commuters cutting through the neighborhood, LADOT is exploring reducing some of the traffic volume on Hayvenhurst Ave/Calneva Dr while acknowledging its role as a “Collector” route (a route of 2,000 – 10,000 vehicles per day). Potential additional efforts could include attempts to reduce traffic volume on local streets that lead to Hayvenhurst Ave/Calneva Dr, and to Sepulveda Blvd.

Responding to concerns about speeding and unsafe driving, potential solutions include adding select features to slow traffic on local streets like speed humps/tables, gateway treatments (similar to those at Escalon Dr/Hayvenhurst), medians, and other treatments.

Following the completion of the survey element, LADOT will use the information gathered from the survey results, collected data, and observations from the field to propose a suite of traffic volume and speed mitigation and traffic calming features in the Encino Hills area. After presentation to the community, any turn restrictions will then be installed and evaluated over six months in a “tactical trial” model, which will include another survey and outreach element, before recommending additions, removals, or alterations. Speed mitigation and traffic calming features will be installed on a permanent basis.

  • Click HERE to fill out the survey and be sure to share with your neighbors! 

To stay up to date on closures, follow @LADOTofficial on Twitter, and check out their updates page.

LAUREL CANYON

Installing Speed Humps on Mulholland Drive

  • DATE/TIME: Now through Spring 2024
  • LOCATION: Mulholland Drive
  • DETAILS: The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) will be installing speed humps on Mulholland Drive in select locations in the coming months.
  • Four locations will be installed according to the timeline above. 

CONTACT: Mehmet Berker, Senior Deputy for Transportation and Infrastructure, mehmet.berker@lacity.org or 818-925-0465.

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.