Dear Friends,
We talk a lot about the cost of housing, and rightly so—Los Angeles has some of the highest housing costs anywhere in the country. But there’s another area in which LA has the dubious distinction of leading the country: we also have some of the worst air quality of any major US city.
A lot of work has been done to improve the City’s air quality since the high (technically very low!) watermark of the 1960s and ’70s, when the region’s air quality was so bad that many residents didn’t know that LA was surrounded by mountain ranges because they couldn’t see them. And we’ve seen some genuine success since then! The prevalence of major air pollutants in LA decreased by 2% to 7% per year, each year, from 1960 to 2010, though we’ve seen a worrying reversal of this trend in the last few years. A lot of this progress is due to efforts at the state and national levels: the Clean Air Act created a system to regulate industrial air quality emissions, and the California Air Resources Board developed some of the most stringent emissions rules for cars and trucks anywhere in the world.
Despite this progress, however, there remains a lot of work to be done. Los Angeles still ranks as the worst city in the country for ozone pollution, and in the bottom 10 for several other pollutants. In fact, the City fails to meet federal standards for five of the six air pollutants listed in the Clean Air Act.
In 2021, I was appointed to serve as the representative for the City of LA to the governing board of the South Coast Air Quality Management District, or SCAQMD. This relatively obscure local government agency has a big charge: drag the four-county region of Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange, and San Bernardino counties into compliance with federal air quality standards. During my four years on the SCAQMD board, I pushed for stronger regulations on some of the largest sources of emissions in the region: warehouses, railyards, the ports, and all of the trucks, trains and ships that serve them and spew harmful pollutants all over the region in the process.
This year, the South Coast Air Quality Management District is preparing a plan to fully electrify appliances in homes and buildings. This plan has a long time frame for adoption: more than 30 years, as current appliances reach the end of their life. With an estimated 10 million homes spread across the four counties that are subject to these new rules, the regulations under development at the SCAQMD will be truly transformative for the region. In fact, they’re projected to reduce 6.1 tons of air pollution per day when they are fully implemented, the equivalent of removing more than two-thirds of cars from the streets of LA.
Though my time on the AQMD Board has come to a close, I remain deeply committed to this work and to holding our regional institutions accountable for delivering on the promise of cleaner air for every Angeleno. The path to a fully decarbonized energy system is in front of us, and the foundation we’ve built over the past four years will continue to move us forward. Continuing to build on 50 years of progress on air quality is one of the most important legacies we can leave to the future of our City, and that work is far from finished.
Warmly,
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- Updates From City Hall — Council Passes Legislative Package To Keep Production In Los Angeles, Honoring Mylene Morris As Our 2026 Woman Of Impact
- In The District — Launching A Traffic Calming Plan For Encino, Hiking Through The Franklin Hills With Charles Fleming, Breaking Bread At Our Interfaith Iftar, Sharing Designs For The Griffith Park Pool, Ringing In Spring In Reseda, Joining LAFD For An Unveiling Of New First Responder Units, Celebrating Passover With The Jewish Federation Los Angeles
- Upcoming Events — Kids Helping LA x Friends Of Griffith Park Cleanup, Compost Day LA, Clean Ride Crew: Forest Lawn Edition, Encino Community Cleanup
- Resources & Forums — LARiverWay Expansion Survey, Free Citizenship Classes
- Other Helpful Links
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COUNCIL PASSES LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE TO KEEP PRODUCTION IN LOS ANGELES
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My district is the proud home of many of our studios, and my office has worked closely with them for years to help keep their soundstages open and ensure production stays here in Los Angeles — because LA is unquestionably the film capital of the world.
That’s not just a tagline. It’s an identity built over a century by the writers, directors, crew members, and craftspeople who live and work in our communities. But that identity is now under threat.
We’ve watched productions migrate to other states and countries. We’ve watched the industry struggle to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and dual writers’ and actors’ strikes. And we’ve watched people leave the industry (and Los Angeles altogether!) because they simply cannot weather an economic downturn in a city that has become as unaffordable as ours. That’s a policy failure.
Last month, a package of legislation passed in Council, setting us on the path to keep Hollywood in Hollywood. It tackles the problem from every angle: standardizing the patchwork of neighborhood-by-neighborhood filming conditions that have created uncertainty and delay; establishing regional MOUs so that productions moving between jurisdictions don’t get trapped in conflicting rules; auditing our own permitting system and ensuring Executive Directive 11 is actually being implemented; and opening the door for micro-shoots and independent creators.
The film industry doesn’t just create entertainment. It creates union jobs — middle-class jobs — for the people who live here. It creates a city that thrives economically, from the corner restaurant to the prop house equipping film and television productions.
I hope we can look back on this moment as one where Los Angeles chose to invest in our industry and our people, and to take pride in shaping culture for the entire world. I want to thank Councilmember Nazarian for leading on this legislation, as well as Stay in LA for their continued advocacy to bring production home.
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HONORING MYLENE MORRIS AS OUR 2026 WOMAN OF IMPACT
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This year, I was proud to recognize Council District 4’s very own Mylene “Marie” Morris as our 2026 Woman of Impact!
Every Monday morning in Van Nuys, Mylene greets her unhoused neighbors by name, because to her, they are neighbors regardless of whether they have a roof over their head. Mylene also serves as Music Director at Bethel Lutheran Church in Encino, but her ministry extends far beyond those walls. Every Saturday, she rallies volunteers, including local high school students, to wrap over 200 burritos that are distributed to unhoused Angelenos across the valley, running what is fondly known as the “Burrito Ministry.” And every Monday, she leads a care day at Central Lutheran in Van Nuys that offers not just a meal, but breakfast, warm beverages, clean clothing, music, and genuine human connection and the dignity of being treated as family.
Mylene, through your work as a faith leader in the San Fernando Valley, you have built a true ministry of care, and it is an honor to uplift your unparalleled commitment to your neighbors in need, rooted in faith, compassion, and an abiding belief in the dignity of every person.
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NEW BIKE LANES ALONG ZOO DRIVE
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Our traffic safety projects are moving forward! Last month, new bike lanes were officially installed along Zoo Drive between the Rattlesnake Trailhead and Western Heritage Way.
As I wrote about in our last newsletter, our office launched the Griffith Park Safety & Active Transportation Improvement Project to work toward a simple vision: a Griffith Park where there are fewer cars, where the remaining cars are being driven at slower speeds, and where there are more separated and protected spaces dedicated to active transportation. These new Class II and Class IV bike lanes get us one step closer to that vision!
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LAUNCHING A TRAFFIC CALMING PLAN FOR ENCINO
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Our office, in partnership with the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT), is working together with local community groups on attainable solutions to cut-through traffic and speeding in the Encino Hills area.
In March, turn restrictions and no-right-turn-on-red signs were installed at 15 locations, launching the first phase of a three-phase plan to address traffic concerns in the Hills. Informational signage has also been posted throughout the neighborhood.
The restrictions are in effect on weekday mornings during peak hours only — 7am to 10am — and consist of right-turn and left-turn restrictions depending on the location. They apply to intersections selected to reduce cut-through traffic heading toward Hayvenhurst/Calneva and Sepulveda Blvd. No-Right-Turn-on-Red signs have also been posted at three eastbound intersections on Ventura Blvd: Woodley, Firmament, and Petit. A map of all turn restriction locations, created by the Encino Neighborhood Council, can be found here.
LADOT is collecting traffic count data throughout the trial period. Combined with direct feedback from residents, this data will guide any potential adjustments. We encourage all Encino stakeholders to share their experience with the restrictions via our survey, accessible below:
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The trial will run for at least one year, though this timeline is subject to change.
Additional information and an FAQ are available on our website. We will continue to provide updates on our webpage and in future newsletters. CD4 representatives also regularly attend meetings of community organizations including the Encino Neighborhood Council and the Encino Property Owners Association.
For questions or concerns, contact us anytime at encinohillstraffic@lacity.org. Thank you for your cooperation!
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HIKING THROUGH THE FRANKLIN HILLS WITH CHARLES FLEMING
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Led by Council District 4’s very own Charles Fleming, author of “Secret Stairs: A Walking Guide to the Historic Staircases of Los Angeles,” over 70 friends and neighbors joined us for a guided hike through the Franklin Hills on a beautiful, summer-like Saturday.
We started off with refreshments at the Lyric Hyperion Theatre, before hitting the trail and winding our way through this historic neighborhood. By the end, we had totaled 908 steps over almost 3 miles, discovering some of the City’s best-kept secret stairs along the way.
This event would not have been possible without the partnership of the Franklin Hills Residents Association – in particular Mary Frances Smith-Reynolds who gave us the energy boost we needed to get started! Thank you as well to the Lyric Hyperion Theatre and Cafe – one of CD4’s most wonderful community theatres – for opening up your space and keeping us hydrated! And last, but certainly not least, thank you Charles, for once again partnering with our office on a community hike to bring Angelenos outdoors and celebrate the hidden gems that make this City so special.
For “Secret Stairs” fans: this hike is #30 in your book!
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BREAKING BREAD AT OUR INTERFAITH IFTAR
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Last month, I had the honor of hosting the City’s annual Iftar dinner, an evening of breaking bread, cross-community solidarity, and spiritual rejuvenation. This event has become a cornerstone of the interfaith community here in Los Angeles, and I am humbled to carry on the tradition.
We gather at a blessed convergence of holy seasons: Muslims fasting during Ramadan, Christians celebrating Easter, the Jewish community commemorating Passover, Hindus celebrating Holi, the Baha’i community and others marking Nowruz, and our Sikh neighbors honoring Vaisakhi.
But we are also coming together during a moment of pain. Global strife continues to affect so many of us across different faiths and walks of life. In this context of global challenges as well as those we face right here at home, it was especially meaningful to share a meal with leaders from all faiths and walks of life. It is a poignant reminder that in each other we can find hope and in each other we can find community.
I want to thank everyone who joined us for making this night so joyful. I especially want to thank Fatema Baldiwala for sharing her beautiful poetry with us, Edina Lekovic from the LA Muslim History Project for educating us all on the incredible breadth of Muslim contribution to our beautiful City, Khalid Hudson for leading the sunset call to prayer, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations-LA for providing prayer mats for those participating. And last but not least, thank you to my Deputy Chief of Staff Mashael Majid for spearheading this meaningful evening!
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SHARING DESIGNS FOR THE GRIFFITH PARK POOL
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In the summer of 2023, my office was notified by the Department of Recreation & Parks (RAP) leadership that the long-awaited reopening of Griffith Park Pool would need to be postponed due to longstanding and major structural issues that now prevent the pool from holding water. Since then, my staff and I have been prioritizing funding park improvements in CD4 and we were able to secure $2 million in QUIMBY funding to initiate the needed design work to restore the pool.
I am excited to report that the initial schematic designs have been completed! Last month, we hosted an open house in partnership with the Bureau of Engineering, the Department of Recreation and Parks, and international architecture firm Perkins Eastman, to give the community an opportunity to ask questions and share feedback on the initial schematic designs for the proposed renovation of the Griffith Park Pool.
Schematic design is the early stage of the design process, when the overall vision, layout, and major features of the project are introduced. During this stage, the design focuses on the big-picture concepts rather than detailed specifications.
Following the presentation, participants shared their insights, concerns, and recommendations. This feedback will now help to inform the next phase of the project – design development – when the concepts from the schematic stage are refined into more specific plans, materials, and technical details.
We are working as quickly as possible to bring this important and historic facility back to life and better than ever to serve your needs! We look forward to sharing more updates as we have them, and encourage you to submit any questions or concerns to griffithparkpool@lacity.org.
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RINGING IN SPRING IN RESEDA
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Team CD4 spent an activity-filled weekend in Reseda, officially ringing in Spring with friends, family, and a few Easter bunnies. On the last Saturday in March, our staff set up in Reseda Park, kicking the morning off with free tax preparation services for qualified individuals in partnership with New Economics for Women (NEW) and the Community Investment for Families Department (CIFD). After wrapping up tax prep, we joined the Department of Recreation and Parks for a fun afternoon of arts and crafts, face painting, and an egg hunt! To round out the weekend, we partnered with the Reseda Neighborhood Council and Volunteers Cleaning Communities for a morning of spring cleaning. Over 20 volunteers helped beautify the areas around the Reseda corridor – including Victory Boulevard and Reseda park – showing up for their community and meeting new neighbors along the way.
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JOINING LAFD FOR AN UNVEILING OF NEW FIRST RESPONDER UNITS
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My staff stopped by Fire Station 88 in Sherman Oaks last week for an event showcasing the latest additions to the Los Angeles Fire Department’s (LAFD) emergency response fleet.
In partnership with YouTube and with support from Google.org, LAFD introduced a new fleet of approximately 30 high-performance, customized electric motorbikes — dubbed “First Responder” units. These bikes are specifically designed to navigate rugged, mountainous terrain that traditional fire trucks simply can’t reach, meaningfully improving the department’s wildfire detection capabilities and rapid medical response times across the region.
The unveiling served as a reminder of how innovation and cross-sector partnerships can directly strengthen public safety in our communities and highlighted the department’s ongoing commitment to enhancing public safety and improving emergency response capabilities across our City.
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CELEBRATING PASSOVER WITH THE JEWISH FEDERATION LOS ANGELES
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A few weeks ago I joined the Jewish Federation Los Angeles (JFEDLA) for their annual Interfaith Passover Seder, an event that brings together civic, religious, and community leaders from across the City. This year’s theme was “The Journey Forward Is Together,” which felt especially apt. The challenges facing our City don’t belong to any one community, and it is up to all of us working together to solve them.
Thank you to Rabbi Noah Farkas, President & CEO of the Jewish Federation Los Angeles, for your leadership and for bringing so many of us together around the table. It is always a pleasure to see so many friendly faces, including CD4’s very own Rabbi Sarah Hronsky!
Chag Sameach to all celebrating Passover!
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KIDS HELPING LA x FRIENDS OF GRIFFITH PARK CLEANUP | APRIL 11 | MORE INFO
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Join Kids Helping LA and Friends of Griffith Park for a community cleanup on Saturday, April 11 in Griffith Park! You’ll spend the morning helping to weed invasive grass species and spreading mulch to help with fire prevention and ensure our native plants have room to thrive.
The event will start across the street from the Greek Theatre at 9am. Be sure to wear closed-toed shoes, sunscreen, a hat, and bring a water bottle! Feel free to bring your own gardening gloves as well, but we’ll have many available for adults and kids.
DATE: Saturday, April 11
TIME: 9am – 11:30am
LOCATION: Small park directly across from the Greek Theater, 2700 N Vermont Ave
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COMMUNITY COMPOST DAY LA | APRIL 18 | MORE INFO
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Has your garden soil been needing a boost? Or could your houseplants use a little soil superfood? Join us at Griffith Park for a community compost day with LA Compost! This special Earth Day edition of Compost Day LA will uplift environmental education, soil stewardship, and deeper community connection, providing community members with valuable resources, including compost, trees, native plants, seeds, and mulch. This event is FREE and open to all ages – be sure to join us!
DATE: Saturday, April 18
TIME: 9am – 1pm
LOCATION: 4800 Crystal Springs Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Click HERE to RSVP!
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CLEAN RIDE CREW: FOREST LAWN DRIVE EDITION | APRIL 25 | MORE INFO
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Our office is partnering with Streets Are For Everyone (SAFE) for this month’s Clean Ride Crew! We’ll be cleaning up the bike lanes of Forest Lawn Drive in preparation of SAFE’s Finish The Ride event, helping to clear any hazardous debris, sweep bike lanes, and trim overgrowth along the route. Tools and snacks will be provided, but we encourage you to bring brooms, clippers, or any other gear you think may be helpful.
DATE: Saturday, April 25
TIME: 9am – 12pm
LOCATION: 6250 Forest Lawn Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068
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Spring cleaning continues across CD4! In partnership with Volunteers Cleaning Communities, we’re hosting a community cleanup in Encino on Saturday, May 2 in Encino Park. Join us for a morning of beautifying the neighborhood, cleaning up Ventura Boulevard between Paso Robles and White Oak. Supplies will be provided, but feel free to bring your own grabbers, brooms, and gloves. Comfortable walking shoes encouraged!
DATE: Saturday, May 2
TIME: 9am
LOCATION: Encino Park, 16953 Ventura Blvd, Encino, CA 91316
Click HERE to RSVP!
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The Salvadoran American Leadership & Educational Fund (SALEF) and East LA College (ELAC) invite you to learn more about the naturalization process. Classes are FREE and offered in-person on Saturdays from 9am – 12pm.
Click HERE for more information!
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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.
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