SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT - Councilmembers Look to Future Election for Proposed L.A. Street Repair Bond to Expand Public Outreach and Get More Input

= PRESS RELEASE = Jan. 15, 2013 Councilmembers Look to Future Election for Proposed L.A. Street Repair Bond to Expand Public Outreach and Get More Input Los Angeles –  Councilmembers Mitchell Englander and Joe Buscaino proposed to hold the $3 billion L.A. Street Safety and Traffic Improvement Bond for a future ballot in order to give the proposal more time for consideration by all Los Angeles stakeholders and to engage in a massive public outreach effort. The City Council voted unanimously to request that the City Attorney advise on draft language for a future ballot measure, not the May 2013 ballot, and they referred the Street Repair Bond to the Public Works Committee, which Buscaino chairs. As part of a planned massive public outreach effort to offer all L.A. stakeholders the opportunity to weigh in, the Public Works Committee will be holding a series of public meetings across the regions of Los Angeles. “Providing for safe, well-maintained streets is one of the most basic core functions of city government, and is crucial to our economy and our daily lives,” said Councilmember Englander, Chair of the Public Safety Committee, and Vice Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee. “We are excited to have started this important public discussion about investing in improving our City infrastructure to benefit Los Angeles now and in future generations. We want all stakeholders - community members, Neighborhood Councils, chambers of commerce, community-based organizations and businesses - to have the opportunity to weigh in, and that has always been one of the central goals of the street repair proposal.” The Street Repair Bond would be one of the largest infrastructure projects in the United States, and would benefit every person in the City. In light of the depth and scope of the bond and the work itself, it is critical to give people enough opportunity to give their input. “Early investment in our public infrastructure allowed the City of Los Angeles to grow from a small rural settlement into the vast metropolis that exists today," said Councilman Joe Buscaino, Chairman of the Public Works Committee and co-sponsor of the street repair measure. “If we want to remain a world-class city and attract new businesses and jobs, it is vital that we demonstrate Los Angeles is a city of the future and not a crumbling relic of the past. Our streets are one of the most visible and important components of our infrastructure, and there is no question that they are in poor condition and must be repaired. However, a proposal of this size and scope must allow for thorough review and input from the residents and taxpayers that will ultimately pay for it.” Councilmembers Englander and Buscaino had proposed placing on the May ballot the $3 billion General Obligation bond to repair and rebuild all the failed and poor condition streets in Los Angeles in 10 years. Los Angeles streets are in the worst condition of any major U.S. city, costing vehicle owners about $750 in additional maintenance every year. Chronic under funding of street maintenance from the 1950's to the 1990's led to the deterioration of 8,700 miles of city streets which now must be completely reconstructed. Budget constraints only allow for a very small number of streets to be reconstructed every year. At the current rate of repair, it would take 60 years to reconstruct all 8,700 miles of failed streets. Once the backlog is gone and the failed streets are rebuilt, they can be slurry- sealed and maintained at a much lower cost, so the City will be able to maintain them in good condition on an ongoing basis. When they are reconstructed, the streets would be re-configured to improve traffic safety and traffic flow, which would improve 911 response times. Improved crosswalks and implementation of bicycle master plan features would make the streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists as well. The improvement to our streets would boost property values and generate jobs and economic benefit. The funds from the bond could not go toward any other purpose than the designated street repair, and would be placed in a trust fund with a Citizens Oversight Committee to ensure transparency and accountability. An informational website has already posted with detailed information about the Street Repair Bond, including an FAQ page, a PowerPoint presentation, and links to several studies and reports about the condition of L.A. streets and the benefits of investing in infrastructure. To see the website, visit https://sites.google.com/site/lastreetbond/home. ### www.CD12.org Proudly Serving the Communities of Chatsworth, Granada Hills, North Hills, Northridge, Porter Ranch, Reseda, Sherwood Forest, West Hills CD 12 Contact Information District 12 Map Councilmember Englander's Bio COUNCIL COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS Public Safety Chair Budget & Finance Vice Chair Planning & Land Use Management Check Out Our Photo Galleries! CD12 Community Calendar The Parks of CD 12 Press Release Archive Archived Editions of E-News Council District 12 Community Resources Request Service or Information, Report a Problem CD 12 Community Service Center We have consolidated our Northridge and Chatsworth offices into a single location in Chatsworth. The new Community Service Center will allow us to serve you better, by offering residents the opportunity to meet one-on-one with representatives from various City Departments to get direct assistance. We will announce details on that service in coming weeks. HOURS Mon - Fri 8:30 am -5:00 pm   CONTACT INFO Phone: (818) 882-1212 Fax: (818) 701-5254 Address: 9207 Oakdale Ave., Chatsworth, CA 91311 You can still reach our City Hall Office at (213) 473-7012 and email us at Councilmember. Englander@lacity.org COMMUNITY EVENTS & RESOURCES Holiday Crime Prevention Tips LAPD urges residents to HIDE IT, LOCK IT, and KEEP IT. Burglary and theft from motor vehicles is one of the most common property crimes, and it can be avoided. While doing holiday gift shopping, shoppers are often distracted and stressed, and often leave lots of valuable items in their cars. That makes for easy targets for thieves. Lock and secure your vehicle and always set your alarm or use an anti-theft device. Don't leave cellphones, wallets, laptops, purses, backpacks, or any valuables in in view in your car. Lock them in your trunk or take them with you. Do not leave holiday gifts visible in your car. Try to park your car in well-lit areas of parking lots, close to store entrances. Record the serial numbers of expensive toys, computers and other electronic devices. Call 911 if you see suspicious activity. For more info call Devonshire Division Detectives at (818) 832-0609. New SAFE Center Now Open in Granada Hills You can drop off electronic devices, paint, pool and garden chemicals, motor oil, batteries, fluorescent lightbulbs and other Household Hazardous Waste at the new SAFE Center located on Balboa Blvd. 1/2 block south of Devonshire St. in Granada Hills. SAFE Center Open Saturdays & Sundays, 9 am - 3 pm Just drive in and open your trunk and the staff at the SAFE Center will remove your Household Hazardous Waste for you. To see a list of items that are accepted, and other information click here. 311 Online In addition to calling 311 to report problems or request services, you can use 311 online. Visit tiny.cc/311LACity and find the appropriate service. ONGOING   LAPD Website to Help Robbery Victims Claim Stolen Property The LAPD has created a website to theft victims recover their stolen property. The website has photos of 11,000 stolen items that Police recovered after burglars were arrested in the Knock Knock Burglaries case.  To see the photos visit http://tiny.cc/khivow.  If you believe one of the photos shows your property, send an email to lapdvctf@lapd.lacity.org or leave a message at (818) 644- 8091. In your email, include a brief description of the item, the item number written on the yellow tab in the photograph, the name listed as the victim on your burglary report, the report number, the address where the burglary occurred, the date of the crime and a callback number. Check Out LocateLA, a Powerful Business Research Tool LocateLA is a powerful new tool created by the City to offer a free database of commercial properties in L.A. It includes an interactive map, with business finder, property finder, incentive finder, business start up organizer, and much more. It is meant to help new businesses start up and help existing businesses move to the City of Los Angeles. It is also useful for anyone wanting to learn about our community. In addition to photos and details about the property, it lists demographic, labor force, comparable rents and more. Click here to see this great new tool. Free Mulch for Your Garden You can get free mulch for your garden from the City's Mulch Giveaway Program! The free mulch is made from recycled yard trimmings and other "green waste" from the green bins. Recycling green waste is an important way to reduce the amount of organic material that goes into landfills. When plant materials go into landfills, they emit large amounts of the greenhouse gas methane, which contributes to climate change. The City turns that green waste into mulch which is available to L.A. residents for free. Free Mulch Locations in the San Fernando Valley 16600 Roscoe Pl., North Hills (near Van Nuys Airport) Mulch delivered to this location Wednesdays & Fridays. Open daily 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. 15800 Victory Blvd., Van Nuys (near D.C. Tillman Plant). Entrance: turn south on Densmore Ave. from Victory, follow curve. Mulch delivered to this location every Monday. Open Monday - Friday, 7:00 am to 3:30 pm. For more info click here. Neighborhood Public Safety, Crime, and Emergency Information Updates from LAPD on NIXLE Free updates on emergencies, public safety, crime prevention and more, directly from the LAPD to your cell phone or email inbox. Residents can sign up to receive updates directed toward one or more specific neighborhoods. To sign up or learn more,visit www.NIXLE.com. NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS IN CD12 Chatsworth Granada Hills North Granada Hills South Northridge East Northridge West Northridge South Porter Ranch North Hills West Reseda West Hills CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE Canoga Park/West Hills Chatsworth/Porter Ranch Granada Hills North Valley Regional Greater San Fernando Valley

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