DISTRICT 4 Newsletters
Historic wins for homelessness | 6/03/23
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Dear Friends, In April, the Mayor proposed a budget of $13 billion for the City of Los Angeles, and after a month of committee hearings and public input, City Council voted to approve the budget last week. The budget is an outline of LA’s priorities and this year the budget commits nearly $1.3 billion to end the homelessness crisis— the biggest financial investment the city has ever allocated to address homelessness. These funds include $250 million to scale up the Mayor’s Inside Safe Initiative to bring more people inside from encampments, $47 million to acquire existing hotels and motels and convert them into permanent interim housing, and $3 million to launch a citywide RV program to provide services and assistance to people experiencing RV homelessness (based on our motion!). After decades of neglect on this issue, we are finally seeing investments being made at scale to meet the urgent needs of both housed and unhoused Angelenos. In addition to the invaluable resources outlined above, the budget also dedicates significant funding to address our housing crisis and ensure we are doing everything in our power to stem the flow of people into homelessness. These investments include $72 million for the acquisition and rehabilitation of affordable housing, $25 million for eviction defense programs to prevent illegal evictions, $20 million for short-term emergency rental assistance, and $12 million to enforce anti-tenant harassment policies. These are huge wins for Los Angeles that chart a path to the comprehensive, citywide homelessness strategy I’ve been advocating for since taking office, and I am so grateful for Mayor Bass’s leadership in making this a reality. On the district side, our office requested and secured funding for a number of major improvements for our CD4 neighborhoods:
I’d also like to highlight a few of the additional wins secured in this year’s budget:
Every city budget is a product of extensive negotiation, and we still have a lot of work to do to make sure our city resources are allocated effectively and to restore city staffing numbers across many departments. But this budget is a huge step in the right direction toward building a healthy, vibrant Los Angeles we can all be proud of, and I am excited to get to work! Warmly, Nithya
I. In The District —Speaking At The Sierra Club’s Activist Leadership Academy Graduation, Declaring The City’s First HAPA Day, Celebrating AAPI Month With A Movie In The Park, Jewish Heritage Month and Honoring Pioneer Woman Rabbi Sarah Hronsky, Ringing In Spring With Silver Lake Nursery School, Hosting A Neighborhood Support Day In Hollywood II. Upcoming Events— Studio City Movies In The Park, Celebrating Pride Month at the LA Pride Parade, June Jubilee at the Central Library, Free Organics Recycling Pail Pickup III. Resources & Forums — LASAN-West Valley Open House, Hollywood4WRD Forum, Neighborhood Council Budget Day, LAUSD’s Summer Of Learning, Spring Adaptive Sports Wheelchair Tennis Class IV. Job Opportunities — Volunteer To Be A Child Development Mentor V. Construction & Closures — Killion Street Closure VI. Other Helpful Links
SPEAKING AT THE SIERRA CLUB’S ACTIVIST LEADERSHIP ACADEMY GRADUATION
Congratulations to the Sierra Club’s Activist Leadership Academy graduates!I joined the Sierra Club a few weeks ago to honor the graduates of their Activist Academy, a leadership program that educates young folks on the climate justice movement and provides them with the skills and tools to combat climate change and fight for environmental and social justice in our communities. While this program is open to people of all backgrounds, it seeks to intentionally uplift people from historically marginalized backgrounds like Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, and people from low-income and working-class backgrounds. These 20 young graduates are champions of these shared values, now equipped to bring activism to our greater community by addressing climate change, environmental racism, and so many intersecting issues that continue to deeply impact our BIPOC communities.
I am also so honored to have been awarded this year’s Sierra Club’s Political Service Award! Every year, the Sierra Club recognizes one elected official that has demonstrated commitment to the advancement of their mission by working and voting consistently to protect the environment in California. I’d like to extend a special thank you to the other outstanding volunteers, activists, and organizers that help make my work possible and who continue to uplift the mission: “Enjoy, explore, and protect the planet.” HONORING ‘PIONEER WOMAN’ RABBI SARAH HRONSKY THIS JEWISH HERITAGE MONTH
Every year, the Civil + Human Rights Equity Department hosts the Pioneer Women Awards to uplift women fighting for their communities. This year, I had the opportunity to recognize a remarkable woman in our district who exemplifies this year’s theme: “Locking Arms to Solve Homelessness.” And, as May marked Jewish American Heritage Month, it didn’t take long for me to realize that Rabbi Sarah Hronsky was the perfect person. Rabbi Hronsky has served Temple Beth Hillel since 2003, and she has been leading with unapologetic compassion for both her housed and unhoused neighbors alike. From hosting community food pantries to breaking bread at interfaith dinners, leading town halls to bringing the community together to address some of our toughest challenges like homelessness and racism, Rabbi Hronsky serves the East San Fernando Valley by embodying the mantra “praying with your feet.” Thank you, Rabbi Hronsky, for showing us the power of advocacy through faith and inspiring us to take action this Jewish American Heritage Month and in our everyday practices. RINGING IN SPRING WITH SILVER LAKE NURSERY SCHOOL
Thank you to Neighborhood Nursery School President Sarah Galan, Odilia Gonzalez, China Kelly, and all of the parent volunteers who do so much for the school, like serving as teaching assistants, maintaining the buildings and grounds, and of course, organizing the fundraisers like the Spring Fair! HOSTING A NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORT DAY IN HOLLYWOOD
This month, we held our Neighborhood Support Day at the Durant Library in Hollywood. In partnership with some incredible non-profits and city/county departments, we were able to provide almost 100 UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS with a warm meal, a hot shower, clean clothes, and access to dozens of invaluable resources. Many of these resources address the often unseen challenges that unhoused people face—like how to get a job when you don’t have an ID, a birth certificate, clean clothes, or limited access to hygiene products. That’s why connecting these individuals with a range of services like the DMV, Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder, library cards, showers, harm reduction materials, physical and mental health support, case management, and housing resources is so critical. As we continue to support individuals in the process of securing housing, employment, or even just their next meal, we are reminded that by providing these services, we bring unhoused individuals one step closer to getting back on their feet. If you’d like to volunteer at our next Neighborhood Support Day, be sure to sign up for our volunteer newsletter HERE!
STUDIO CITY MOVIES IN THE PARK | JUNE 3 | MORE INFO The Studio City Neighborhood Council is pleased to announce another Movie Night at the Studio City Recreation Center (Beeman Park) this Saturday, June 3rd featuring Moana. The event begins at 5:30PM and the movie will start at 7:30PM. Hawaiian attire is recommended, but not required!
CELEBRATING PRIDE MONTH AT THE LA PRIDE PARADE | JUNE 11 | MORE INFO
June is Pride Month! While we continue to advocate for the people, policies, and practices that embrace the full, beautiful spectrum of identities, we are overjoyed to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and the allies that stand with us at the annual LA Pride Parade! The LA Pride was the first officially-permitted parade advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, taking place in Hollywood all the way back in 1970. We’ll be joining Equality California in the festivities and everyone is welcome to join. The LA Pride Parade will be on Sunday, June 11. The Parade is a free public event, open to all! No tickets needed! The Parade will once again be in the Hollywood neighborhood of Hollywood Blvd, Highland Ave, and Sunset Blvd. Following the parade, there will be live entertainment, local vendors, and refreshments along Hollywood Boulevard at the LA Pride Village (noon–8pm). To sign up to either volunteer or walk beside us at the LA Pride Parade, please SIGN UP HERE!
JUNE JUBILEE AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY | JUNE 10 | MORE INFO
The Los Angeles Public Library invites everyone to “June Jubilee: A Celebration of Black Excellence” on Saturday, June 10, at Central Library in downtown LA. This event is FREE and open to all. A traditional African Drum Procession through the adjacent Maguire Gardens plaza to the library entrance will kick off the event and will be followed by a special Libation Ceremony, choir performance, invocation and remarks from special guests. When the library opens at 9:30 a.m., the drummers will lead the audience into the library for a wealth of activities for the entire family, including a scavenger hunt, storytelling, crafts for kids, games, tours, workshops, live entertainment, presentations, health and wellness programs, financial literacy information, genealogy workshops and more. Join the library for this very special day-long celebration! For more information, visit https://www.lapl.org/june-jubilee.
FREE ORGANICS RECYCLING PAIL PICKUP | JUNE | MORE INFO
To make the transition to organics recycling easier, LA Sanitation and LA City Council District 4 are providing FREE dishwasher-safe countertop pails! To reserve a pail in advance click HERE!
2023 LASAN OPEN HOUSE – WEST VALLEY | JUNE 3 | MORE INFO
LA Sanitation & Environment holds six free Open Houses events each year, opening their district yards to the public. The Open House program showcases LASAN’s residential curbside collection programs with an emphasis on proper recycling practices and bulky item collection while strengthening partnerships with City residents. Each Open House will feature trucks and equipment demonstrations, in addition to facility tours, exhibitor booths and recycling games. Parents go home with vegetable plants. And, their 360 degree video booth is free for all to enjoy! There is no charge for admission and all ages are welcome, but we do request that pets be left at home for safety. Free food, beverages, and giveaways are available while supplies last. HOLLYWOOD 4WRD FORUM: THE INTERSECTION OF HOMELESSNESS AND ADDICTION | JUNE 13 | MORE INFO
Join Hollywood4WRD for a public conversation regarding the state of meth and fentanyl addiction in the US today, and how it is impacting our crisis of homelessness in Los Angeles. This moderated conversation will look specifically at how this issue has impacted the Greater Hollywood community, featuring journalist Sam Quinones, LA County’s Dr. Brian Hurley, and Nicole Farley, taking a break from her work in the ER at Kaiser Permanente. There will also be an opportunity for audience members to ask questions!
Click HERE to reserve tickets! NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL BUDGET DAY | JUNE 17 | MORE INFO The Neighborhood Council Budget Advocates are holding their annual Budget Day on Saturday, June 17 from 9:30AM to 1:00PM. This will be the last Budget Day online via Zoom. This year’s theme is Restart, Reform, Refocus. The plenary session will include keynote addresses from Mayor Bass and Council President Krekorian. Following the plenary session, there will be regional breakout sessions where we will discuss City services in your neighborhood. If you don’t know your region, you can find it here. The regional breakout sessions will also include elections to fill Budget Advocates vacancies. If you are interested in becoming a Budget Advocate, please work with your Neighborhood Council to be appointed a Budget Representative. Click HERE to register! LAUSD’S SUMMER OF LEARNING | JUNE 26 – JULY 25 | MORE INFO Los Angeles Unified provides students with core academic support, opportunities to enhance their mastery of academic subjects for college readiness, and enrichment courses designed to engage and motivate students in learning through self-selected courses of interest. Our robust summer school programs will not only give students the opportunity to have structured social interactions, but access to expanded paid internship opportunities as they continue to imagine the possibilities and prepare to be Ready for the World. Click HERE for more information on available programs!
VOLUNTEER TO BE A CHILD DEVELOPMENT MENTOR | MORE INFO
The Early Childhood Education (ECE) Student Advancement Program is seeking volunteer mentors interested in guiding and developing current Los Angeles community college students and recent graduates entering the field of child development. Our students are ready to receive support from mentors like you that will have the opportunity to train the next generation of leaders and children. Click HERE to apply! Spring Adaptive Sports Wheelchair Tennis Class | June 3, 10, & 24 | MORE INFO The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks PlayLA Youth & Adaptive Youth Sports Program is a city-wide initiative that provides access to quality sports programming for youth of all abilities between the ages of 5 and 17. Made possible by an investment from the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organizing Committee and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), PlayLA is the single largest commitment to youth sports development in California and serves as a legacy before, during and after the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games. PlayLA has brought back wheelchair tennis clinics this spring supported by the Triumph Foundation! Both youth wheelchair users and non-wheelchair users , ages 5 to 17 with disabilities will play wheelchair tennis and learn from accomplished and expert tennis instructors.
To stay up to date on closures, follow @LADOTofficial on Twitter, and check out their updates page. ENCINO
Closure on Killion Street for Sidewalk Project Date/Time: Construction began April 10 and will run through the end of Spring 2023 from 7AM to 3:30PM. Location: Lane closure between Encino Avenue and Louise Avenue is scheduled from 9AM to 2PM Details: The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is building sidewalks in coordination with the City of Los Angeles and local community to enhance pedestrian access on Killion Street in the community of Encino. Residents and businesses located near the freeway are advised to anticipate noise, vibrations, and dust associated with construction activities. The schedule is weather-permitting, and all dates and times are subject to change. Caltrans reminds motorists to “Be Work Zone Alert” and “Slow for the Cone Zone.” Contact: Samantha Teves, (213) 793-9669
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May Gray didn’t stop us from celebrating the coming of spring with the Silver Lake Neighborhood Nursery School at their Annual Spring Fair! The Neighborhood Nursery School is a non-profit co-op preschool on the Silverlake Reservoir that has been serving young Los Angeles families for over 70 YEARS! This Spring Fair welcomed the community with free activities, food, games for the whole family, and a quilt raffle.
