The proposed Senate bill would make many important investments that support the design and construction industry:
- $7 billion for design, construction and renovation of federal buildings, including $4.5 billion for energy efficiency
- $10 billion for affordable housing, including $2.2 billion for green housing
- $8.4 billion for mass transit
- $4.2 billion for energy efficiency and conservation grants for cities
- $1.6 billion for making schools and hospitals energy efficient
So what is missing? The compromise plan eliminates $16 billion for K-12 school modernization and $3.5 billion for modernization of higher education facilities that was in the original Senate draft bill. The plan also cuts $2 billion for federal buildings greening and modernization.
These two cuts represent half a million design and construction job opportunities cut out of the bill by the Senate.
Next Steps:
The House and Senate are working hard to negotiate a final bill to send to President Obama by President's Day. If we want to make sure that the final version of the bill includes our key provisions, we should take the following steps before Tuesday, February 10:
1. Letters to the Editor: Click here for a sample letter to the editor that you can send to your local newspaper to show support for the infrastructure investments that need to be a part of the economic recovery bill including for your community and state.
2. Letters to Members of Congress: In the coming days, the AIA government relations staff will send an all-member action alert urging our members to contact their representatives in Washington in support of restoring funds for school construction and other infrastructure. Encourage members to visit the AIA Advocacy Center at http://www.aia.org/advocacy/index.htm.
3. Share information with other AIA members: Please share your Grassroots experiences with your fellow AIA members, and let them know that the Institute has resources for them on the "Navigating the Economy" and through our "Rebuild and Renew" campaign to help architects weather these trying economic times. In addition, encourage your fellow members to visit the Advocacy Blog at http://blog.aia.org/angle to get updates on the bill as it continues to move through Congress.
Together, we can make a difference for the profession, and for the country – but only if we act now.
Thank you for your action. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at govaffs@aia.org or (202) 626-7438.
Monday, February 9, 2009
AIA National - Rebuild & Renew - CALL TO ACTION
Dear AIA/LA POC Member: the following email is from AIA National and it encourages your CALL TO ACTION before Tuesday, February 10. -WrW
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
____________________________________
Will Wright, Director of Government & Public Affairs
American Institute of Architects / Los Angeles
3780 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 800, Los Angeles, CA 90010
(213) 639-0777 phone | (213)639-0767 fax
LADWP Town Hall Meetings on Solar Initiatives..
LADWP Town Hall Meetings on Solar Initiatives...
The Department of Water and Power is hosting town hall meetings on the City's Comprehensive Solar Plan and how it relates to the Green Energy Good Jobs Initiative (Measure B on the March 3 ballot).
Tuesday, Feb. 17, 7:00 pm
Daniel Webster Middle School
11330 Graham Pl.
West Los Angeles
Wednesday, Feb. 18, 7:00 pm
Kennedy High School
11254 Gothic Ave.
Granada Hills
Thursday, Feb. 19, 7:00 pm
Byrd Middle School
9171 Telfair Ave.
Sun Valley
Saturday, Feb. 21, 9:30 am
LADWP Headquarters
111 N Hope St.
Downtown Los Angeles
Wednesday, Feb. 25, 7:00 pm
Banning's Landing
100 E. Water St.
Wilmington
LA DWP will present information about the solar plan, followed by a Q & A session.
For more information, visit www.piersystem.com/go/site/1643.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
A NOTE FROM COUNCILMAN GREIG SMITH ON THE L.A. SOLAR INITIATIVE
A NOTE FROM COUNCILMAN GREIG SMITH ON THE L.A. SOLAR INITIATIVE
First, let me start by letting you know that I strongly support solar power. In fact, I am one of only two Councilmembers who have solar systems on our own homes.
When the decision to place Measure B on the March ballot came before Council, the information presented to me was compelling enough to let the voters decide.
Despite what you may have heard in the media, the vote to place this item on the ballot was NOT an endorsement of the measure.
Since the vote to place Measure B on the ballot, new information came to light about a report that was withheld from Councilmembers which included an undisclosed financial analysis. This report contained information that differed greatly from the information that was presented to the Council during deliberations.
Now, a third report has been released with yet another financial analysis of the program.
I have since learned from recent media reports that though the items were rushed through Council approvals, aspects of the solar plan were the subject of meetings as far back as a year ago. I was not invited to participate in nor made aware that these meetings were taking place.
It has since come to light that information was withheld about the financial cost to the ratepayers of the solar initiative that would have changed my decision to put the initiative before voters because I am committed to holding DWP's feet to the fire about not coming back for any more rate increases.
Ultimately, Los Angeles voters will decide the fate of Measure B. Now that I have copies of all of the reports and analysis, I wanted to make them available to you so that you can make your best informed decision.
Below are links to the following reports:
Original DWP Staff Report Presented to Rules & Elections Committee in Octpber 2008.
http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2008/08-2795_rpt_dwp_10-21-08.pdf
Report by PA Consulting from December 2008
http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/12/12/2220999/PAConsultingDWPSolarreport12.19.08.pdf
###
____________________________________
Will Wright, Director of Government & Public Affairs
American Institute of Architects / Los Angeles
3780 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 800, Los Angeles, CA 90010
(213) 639-0777 phone | (213)639-0767 fax
ΓΌ Please consider the environment before printing this email.
Stonehurst Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ)
Stonehurst Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ)
Vacancies announced for the Stonehurst HPOZ Board Positions
The Stonehurst Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ) has several volunteer positions available to fill vacancies on the HPOZ Board. We invite you to get involved in your community and apply to be a member of the Stonehurst HPOZ Board. Knowledge of, and interest in, the culture, construction, historic architecture and/or history of the Stonehurst community is highly desired, but not required.
As outlined in Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 12.20.3, the composition of the HPOZ Board shall be as follows:
• One volunteer having extensive real estate or construction knowledge
• One architect licensed by the State of California
• Three community members who are renters or owners of property within the Stonehurst HPOZ boundary area.
Please submit your resume by March 1, 2009 to:
City Planning Department
Attn: Emily V. Yllescas
6262 Van Nuys Blvd., Suite 430
Van Nuys, CA 91401
If you have any questions or for more information, please contact:
Emily V. Yllescas
(818) 374-5058
For more info on the Stonehurst HPOZ:
For more info on the City of LA Historic Resources Department:
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Citywide Hillside Project Kick-Off Meetings (February 17, 19, 23, 24, & 26)
Greetings All:
The City of Los Angeles Department of City Planning invites you to attend the Hillside Kick-Off Meetings. Department staff will be conducting a series of public meetings throughout the City in order to hear your comments, and discuss issues related to development in Los Angeles hillside neighborhoods.
Your input will help staff identify concerns, and influence the scope of the citywide hillside project. These efforts will ultimately result in proposed Code Amendments affecting single-family development in the City's Hillside Areas. The meetings will start with a presentation from staff and will move on to general comments. Please feel free to attend any of the meetings listed below.
Harbor Area Meeting
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Peck Park Gymnasium
560 N. Western Ave.
San Pedro, CA 90732
Westside Meeting
Thursday, February 19, 2009
5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Henry Medina Parking Enforcement Facility
11214 W. Exposition Blvd., 2nd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90064
South Valley Meeting
Monday, February 23, 2009
5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Marvin Braude Building
6262 Van Nuys Blvd., Room 1A
Van Nuys, CA 91401
North Valley Meeting
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Council District Two Field Office
7747 Foothill Blvd.
Tujunga, CA 91042
Metro/Eastside Meeting
Thursday, February 26, 2009
5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
City Hall, Room 1010
200 N. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
In an effort to notify as many people as possible regarding this email we are using several email lists. If you are getting this email it means that you are involved with your local Certified Neighborhood Council, or have expressed interest in the Hillside Ordinance, Baseline Mansionization Ordinance, or other Land-Use Policies. Please feel free to forward this email to anyone you know that may be interested in this project or these meetings, or to post the attached flyer on any community bulletin boards.
Also, if you have not already signed up for the Hillside Project Interested Parties List please send me an email with your name, contact information (with at least a ZIP Code), and groups you are associated with. That list will be used for any future email notifications and updates, so please be sure to let me know early on.
If you have any question regarding these meetings or the project as a whole, please do not hesitate to contact me. We look forward to working with you all.
__________________________________________
Erick Lopez
Erick Lopez
City Planner
Department of City Planning
Community Planning Bureau - West Coastal Division
200 N. Spring St., Room 621
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 978-1243
(213) 978-1226 - fax
Department of City Planning
Community Planning Bureau - West Coastal Division
200 N. Spring St., Room 621
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 978-1243
(213) 978-1226 - fax
ΓΌ Please consider the environment before printing this email.
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