MITCH O’FARRELL TAKES THE PLUNGE

Mitch O’Farrell has filed the initial paperwork at the City’s Ethic Commission to run as a candidate for Council District 13 in 2013. O’Farrell currently works as Senior Advisor at Council District 13 and is a Glassell Park resident.

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L.A. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SEEKING CALTRANS GRANT TO FUND RIVER ACCESS IN ATWATER VILLAGE AND GLASSELL PARK

The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) got City Council approval (Council File: 11-0494) to submit a project entitled "Glassel Park and Atwater Village Context-Sensitive LA River Access Master Plan and Implementation Strategy" for a Caltrans environmental justice grant.

The proposed project seeks to engage Atwater Village and Glassel Park Residents in a collaborative planning process to develop a comprehensive conceptual planning document that facilitates improvements to the pedestrian, bicycle, and transportation environment. These enhancements will address an area that is typically under-represented in planning and project development and identify concepts to improve pedestrian, bicycle and transit use to promote safer access to present and future river park infrastructure currently impeded by rail, and a revitalized human environment.

LADOT anticipates partnering with the River Revitalization Corporation, a 501(c) 3 organization. The project application seeks funding in the amount of $250,000. LADOT expects to provide the necessary local matching funds through Measure R Local Return bicycle and pedestrian program funds and/or the City's Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 funds.

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GARCETTI LAUNCHES NEIGHBORHOOD BEAUTIFICATION GRANT PROGRAM

“Clean and Connected Communities” will fund neighborhood projects designed by local residents, encourage community engagement

City Council President Eric Garcetti launched a new initiative to provide grants to neighborhood leaders to plan and implement beautification projects in their communities.  The “Clean and Connected Communities” program will provide grants of up to $2,500 each to up to three neighborhood projects.

“Community engagement and beautification are two of my top priorities, and Clean and Connected Communities combines them both.  I’m pleased that even in these tough economic times, my office continues to give residents and businesses the opportunity to engage with each other to improve their communities,” said Council President Garcetti. “No one knows more about what a neighborhoods needs than the people who live there.  Through this program, neighborhood residents will choose initiatives to make their communities cleaner, greener and safer.”

Applications for Clean and Connected Communities grants are now available online by clicking the “LAND” button at cd13.com (or going to cd13land.blogspot.com).  Neighborhood stakeholders -- including neighborhood councils, school organizations, Neighborhood Watches, and non-profit organizations – are encouraged to collaborate and apply.  Projects must be located in Council District 13 and make physical improvements through initiatives such as landscaping, tree planting, signage, community clean-ups, community gardens, and murals.

The Council Office will select semi-finalists from the applicants. Community members will then be invited to vote for the final grantees.

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Atwater Village Visioning Summit, March 26th

Join Council President Eric Garcetti at the Atwater Village Community Visioning Summit, a project of the Los Angeles Neighborhood Dreams (LAND) initiative. Collaborate with your neighbors to identify community priorities for the next two years and get involved with transforming your neighborhood. RSVP at http://tinyurl.com/LAND-Atwater  



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CRA ISSUE AND WHAT IS GOING ON WITH IT - UPDATE

By Alex Ventura

The Community Redevelopment of Los Angeles (CRA) has targeted sections of Atwater Village to declare blighted and make part of their new Northeast Los Angeles redevelopment zone. The Atwater Village Neighborhood Council has passed a motion to oppose the CRA. The motion states the position of the Neighborhood Council as opposed to the CRA in their community and to send a letter to their councilman, Eric Garcetti. The letter asks Councilman Eric Garcetti to use his position to direct the CRA to abide by the wishes of his constituency and remove Atwater Village from the CRA survey zone.

Eric Garcetti called a meeting with the Community of Atwater Village and at that meeting received letters from every community organization in Atwater Village. The Chamber of commerce of Atwater Village, FAV or Friends of Atwater Village, and AVRA the Atwater Village Residents Association, all oppose the CRA in Atwater Village and request the same from Eric Garcetti. At the meeting The Councilman suggested that the community keep an open mind and suggested that we rely on his experience with the CRA, as he believed the CRA “could” do good work in this community. Only one person at the meeting was directly for the CRA. A hand full of people wanted to see some plans but were very wary, most were opposed, as the CRA has a scandalous track record and furthermore is attempting to declare blighted one of the best and most up-and-coming communities in Los Angeles, with a low crime rate, healthy mixture if businesses, residences and wonderful schools.

As budget deficits and fiscal short falls rain supreme across the economic landscape and municipalities and governmental agencies big and small tighten their belts and cut off services for taxpayers across the county. One agency has the might and wherewithal to stay afloat and thrive. The Community Redevelopment Agency, The CRA of Los Angeles has the funds and resources to move mountains and government. For those who have never heard of this agency (and I’m betting its almost every one), let their words tell you who they are:

“The CRA/LA was established by the Los Angeles City Council (City Council) in 1948 for the purpose of eliminating blight and promoting economic revitalization within designated project areas of the City of Los Angeles (City). As a quasi-governmental entity established pursuant to the Community Redevelopment Law of California as codified in the State of California Health and Safety Code, CRA/LA has no legislative authority. A Board of commissioners (CRA/LA Board) appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by City Council oversees CRA/LA. Under the “Oversight Ordinance” adopted in 1991, nearly every action of CRA/LA is subject to City Council review and/or approval.”

The CRA is Los Angeles’s main economic development agency. It answers to no one except The City Council. This agency has 32 economic development areas that span the city. It generates revenue for itself by selling bond debt to the tune of some 2 billion dollars to date. This bond dept is typically called revenue in their parlance but in reality it is debt. Dept that no voter has voted for and very few except the City council The CRA and Wall street are aware of. The CRA continuously and aggressively expands it project areas because the debt it sells is backed by the tax increment revenue that is derived from the redevelopment Zones it operates in. This tax revenue does not go to the city to pay for Police or fire dept or filling pot holes, this revenue does got to developers who work with the CRA and get land deals that boggle the mind and defy logic. This tax revenue goes to service the bond debt and generous salaries of the employees of the CRA The top paid being those appointed by the Mayor and of the 300 people the CRA employs the top 88 have salaries over $100,000. This tax revenue takes 100’s of million of tax dollars a year out of the coffers of city government and puts it into the hands of the CRA an organization with a terrible record of misuse, and abuse.

In The Community Redevelopment Agency/ Los Angeles newest targeted blight zone; The 100 year old neighborhood of Atwater Village has asked its City Councilman to remove it from the zone that the CRA is intending to declare blighted and develop. A meeting was held with the city councilman and community organizations and concerned stake holders. Where a bold and affirmative response was expected by Councilman Eric Garcetii at bests what was received was an impotent call to reset the dialogue in our community and a call to go back to square one on the issue. Eric Garcetti seems to think that more outreach is needed before he takes action. Despite the letters of opposition that represent the whole community, 3 public community meetings that were held, 500 flyers and 3000 newsletters that were distributed, Online forums and blogs that were and are engaged on the issue and articles that have been written in local new papers. And Garcetti feels that this is not enough.

Councilmember Eric Garcetti should do what his constituency asks him to do. Or perhaps he can’t. The CRA of Los Angeles may just have more pull in this city than any one community.

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Alex Ventura is a North Atwater Village homeowner, resident and an active community volunteer. He currently serves as on the Atwater Village Neighborhood Council (AVNC) Board and is Chair of the AVNC Land Use Committee. Click here for complete bio.

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CRA/LA PUTS POSITIVE SPIN ON EFFORTS TO DECLARE ATWATER VILLAGE / NELA NEIGHBORHOODS BLIGHTED FOR REDEVELOPMENT AND EMINENT DOMAIN GOALS

Eric Garcetti and Allison Becker

In a recent Daily News article the Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles (CRA/LA) put a “positive spin” on their ongoing efforts to declare areas of Atwater Village blighted for redevelopment and eminent domain goals. In the news article CRA/LA focuses on less controversial elements of the proposed Northeast Los Angeles (NELA) River Redevelopment Project Area; such as the creation of “river-oriented parks and trails” along the banks of the L.A. River.

Allison Becker, an associate planner at the CRA/LA, goes on to state that “the plan” would also include the creation of residential projects, transportation centers and “green” businesses. However, notably omited is any mention that these redevelopment projects would require Atwater Village / NELA be declared officially “blighted”. This in turn would allow for property to be eminent domained for redevelopment to benefit private land developers.

Becker frequently mentions “the plan” or “our plan” in the news article. Her repeated emphasis on a “plan” seems to confirm suspensions by some that CRA/LA already has a finalized redevelopment plan for this area. This would run totally contrary to Becker’s repeated statements at numerous community meetings. Becker has repeatedly stated that CRA/LA has “absolutely no redevelopment plan” and that any potential plan would only be crafted after community input is provided and the NELA River Redevelopment Study is completed. Becker has refused to elaborate on her comments or disclose “the plan” she repeatedly cites in the news article.

Allison Becker is a long time public servant and NELA resident. Prior to working for CRA/LA Becker worked as Planning Deputy for Council President Eric Garcetti (CD13).  Becker’s NELA residence is not within the proposed redevelopment project area.

Two cities moving ahead with plans to transform Glendale Narrows into LA river walk [Daily News]

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CRA/LA is having Open Houses on the proposed Redevelopment Project Area. The so-called NELA River Redevelopment Project Area would cover most NELA communities that lie along the Los Angeles River, including significant sections of Atwater Village, Cypress Park, Glassell Park and Elysian Valley. To be able to create a redevelopment project area neighborhoods within it must be declared officially “blighted”. Click here for a map of the proposed “blighted” area (pdf file).

Elysian Valley Open House

Wednesday, November 10th, 2010 - 6pm to 8pm

Dickerson Employee Benefits

1918 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles CA 90039

Community Open House: Atwater Village

Thurs. November 18, 2010 - 5:30 – 7:30 pm

Atwater Branch Library

3379 Glendale Boulevard, Los Angeles, 90039

Community Open House: Cypress Park

Sat. November 20, 2010 10 am - 12 pm

Cypress Park Recreation Center

2630 Pepper Ave, Los Angeles, 90065

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Hollyhock House Wine Tasting Event

Please join Council President Eric Garcetti and Project Restore at the kick off of the Hollyhock House Historic Restoration and Seismic Retrofit Project on Thursday, September 30th at 4pm. Enjoy free wine tastings and tours of Hollyhock House at Barndsdall Art Park located at 4800 Hollywood Boulevard.

Space is limited and reservations are on a first come first served basis. Please follow the link for more information and to register:

http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=dixwcycab&oeidk=a07e300rg0yfda03f13

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GLENDALE BLVD’S GRASS MEDIAN CLEANUP TO HAPPEN SOMETIME NEXT WEEK

According to CD13 the overgrown grassy median along Atwater’s “main street” business district (Glendale Blvd) will be cleaned up sometime next week. The Department of Public Works has refused to maintain the median and a private vendor will need to be hired for next week’s cleanup.
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For more information contact CD13 Atwater Village Field Deputy Angela Motta at:
angela.motta@lacity.org
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SENATOR LIU TO HOST CENSUS TOWN HALL 3/11

Senator Carol Liu - 21st District presents Census Workshop Glassell Park

Garcetti's Glassell
Park Field Office
3750 Verdugo Road
Los Angeles, CA 90065

Thursday March 11, 2010
6:30pm – Registration
7:00pm - 8:00pm – Town Hall

• Encourage participation
• Emphasize safety, importance, and ease of the Census
• Discuss impact on schools and health care
• Impact on funding availability to State for programs

Partners: Councilmember Eric Garcetti • Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) • US Census Bureau •Voto Latino • Glassell Park Neighborhood Council • Glassell Park Improvement Association • Glassell Park Chamber of Commerce • Highland Park Kiwanis

FREE and open to the public. Refreshments provided. For more information, please call 818-409-0400
capitol office: STATE CAPITOL , ROO M 5061, SAC RAMENTO , CA 95814 • tel (916) 651-4021 • fax (916) 324-7543 district office: 710 S. CE NTRAL AVENUE, SUITE 310, GLE NDALE , CA 91204
• tel (818) 409-0400 • fax (818) 409-1256
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PHOTOS; 18TH ANNUAL ATWATER VILLAGE TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY

Click here for 18th Annual Tree Lighting Photo Set

Special Thanks to Scott Pitts for taking these wonderful pictures!

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