Eric's Blog

We had a great turnout at the Fountain/Western Ave. Community Garden work day on Saturday. It was a beautiful morning and more than 100 folks showed up to show their commitment to the community by pitching in to build the new community garden that our office spear-headed with the help of L.A. Works and Home Depot. This garden will not only beautify a previously vacant lot, but it will also serve as an urban oasis for members of the community to meet and work together, get some fresh air and provide a source of fresh fruits and vegetables for the community.

As Bob Johnson, founder and chair of L.A. Works, said on Saturday, our new president has called us to service and it was particularly heartening for me to see so many young people heed that call at such a local level.

For more opportunities to help your community, check out LAWorks.com.

Here’s a short video we put together at the event:

The Hollywood Palladium on Sunset Blvd. is a true historic landmark. Originally opened in 1940, The Palladium’s first performance was the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra featuring a pre-fame Frank Sinatra. Over the years it has been a premiere concert venue in the heart of Hollywood, the crown jewel of Hollywood nightlife where both established bands and up and comers alike could call home. I recall going to shows there as a teenager — The Violent Femmes show in the famed Palladium ballroom comes immediately to mind.

But in recent years, the venue has been underutilized, a somewhat-rundown remnant of a bygone era and a regular target of developers. I’ve always said that for Hollywood’s Second Golden Age to emerge, we couldn’t move boldly into the future without recognizing and preserving the past.  In the end, we decided there was just no way we could allow this Hollywood icon be torn down so we worked hard to bring NCA Green and Live Nation on board to do a year-long multi-million dollar top to bottom renovation to return The Palladium to its original grandeur. I’m thrilled to announce that today I will be cutting the ribbon at the official Palladium re-opening ceremony. It’s facade hasn’t looked this good since it first opened almost seven decades ago.  Live Nation and The Hollywood Chamber will be holding a networking event so you can see the renovations for yourself and connect with other members of the community.

Details:

Thursday, February 26th

5:30-7:30pm
6215 Sunset Boulevard
$10 for Hollywood Chamber members/$20 for non-members

Returning The Hollywood Palladium to its original glory was the result of a real partnership between government and business and represents the latest in a string of Hollywood renaissance initiatives my office has spear-headed not only to restore a part of Hollywood’s storied past, but also to make the area a premier destination in LA for years to come.

I always enjoy the opportunity to interact in person with constituents, but there’s something particularly inspiring about attending a neighborhood council meeting. I’ve had the pleasure to attend several during the past few weeks here in the 13th district and I’m always so impressed with the commitment neighborhood council members have to the neighborhood and local planning issues that affect your communities. This is democracy at the most grassroots level and is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job.

Last week, I attended the Hollywood Studio District Neighborhood Council meeting. The biggest concern among those in attendance was the creeping foreclosure crisis here in Los Angeles. I let people know about all that we’ve done to help stem the crisis, including ensuring that owners of foreclosed rent-controlled properties do not illegally evict their tenants. Protecting tenants and homeowners in my district has been and continues to be one of my top priorities.

Other questions that came up that evening had to do with workforce development and our ability to fully utilize our LACC campus that sits in the middle of my district. I was happy to discuss some of the local projects my office has been working on including the Fountain Ave. Community Garden, bringing lighting to the Lemon Grove Rec Center and the installation of an improved traffic median at Ardmore Ave north of Melrose Ave.

Also last week, I attended the Atwater Village Neighborhood Council. I updated everyone on the public safety efforts in the area, a particular area of concern with the rash of robberies they’ve had lately. In addition, we discussed how the formation of the Joint Powers Authority, which will help keep the L.A. River safe and clean, is progressing. AVNC is continuing to represent their community well, with a town hall meeting and parking study in the works.

This past Tuesday, I attended the Rampart Village Neighborhood Council meeting. Public safety was at the top of my list, and I discussed the measures my office has been working on in the area. I also gave an overview of budgetary issues facing the City and reassured members that while hard choices will have to be made in approving the ‘09-’10 budget, I’m committed to preserving core services. Attendees were interested in learning more about housing resources, including where to get help with potential foreclosures, which I was happy to provide.

Also on the 17th was the Glassell Park Neighborhood Council meeting. I updated everyone on local public safety measures, particularly in the Drew/Estara area, including the recent demolition of the Drew drug house. We talked about the difficult City budget situation, as well as how the overall economy is impacting Los Angeles and its residents.  One resource we have for residents who need to find jobs is our Worksource Center in the District.  We will be working with our CD13 Neighborhood Councils to help publicize this kind of resource in the weeks and months ahead.

Thanks to all of the neighborhood councils in the 13th for inviting me to speak and, even more important,  listen to your concerns. These meetings are vitally important for me to connect with what’s happening on the ground in the district and I appreciate the opportunity. If you’re not a member of your local neighborhood council, please consider joining. It’s a great way to have an impact on your community and to make your voice heard.

Not many people know this, but more than 120,000 Filipino soldiers served under the command of General Douglas MacArthur as enlisted soldiers in the U.S. Armed Services during World War II. The 13th Council District has the highest concentration of Filipino Veterans in Los Angeles, and as Councilman, I was determined to celebrate that. So, in 2006, I was proud to deliver on my promise to erect the nation’s first Filipino Veterans war memorial in Lake Street Park, right in the heart of L.A.’s Historic Filipinotown. Erecting that monument was a cause very close to my heart as my grandfather was in the US Army and fought in the Phillipines during WWII; it was as a result of this service that he earned his citizenship when he returned.

This is the monument that Joel Jacinto, executive director of Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, is standing next to in the Community Voices video below.

Calling all Los Angeles County artists and designers!

In partnership with the Bike Writers Collective and with the support of the Hollywood Project Area of the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, I am thrilled to sponsor a design contest for a unique and innovative new bicycle rack for use in the East Hollywood area. We’ll be installing up to two dozen of the winning racks at various locations along Hollywood Blvd. between Western Ave. and Vermont Ave. depending on space availability and need.

LAist has a picture of the standard bike rack we currently use here in Los Angeles. I know you guys can do better, so please submit your designs by 3pm on March 6th. In addition to having your design replicated throughout Hollywood, the winner of the contest will be awarded $2000.

Full details of the contest can be found here.

Some specifications to keep in mind:

The bicycle rack must be designed to withstand the outdoor elements as well as heavy recreational use. The design must accommodate a minimum of two (2) bikes and be user-friendly for a wide range of cyclists (child-adult).

Any weather-resistant, durable, non-abrasive material that can be easily maintained and does not scratch or damage bicycle frames will be considered.

Designers should approach the project as a permanent installation to be installed into a concrete surface, with a minimum 10 year life expectancy.

All work must be safe to pedestrians and bicyclists. When bicycles are attached, the work must be no greater than 6 feet wide (the length of most bicycles) and the attached bicycles should be parallel to the sidewalk to prevent blocking pedestrian movement. A bicycle should not have to be lifted off the ground at all to access and be secured to the rack.

There must be a minimum two-point connection between the bicycle frame and the rack. In addition, artwork must allow for at least one wheel to be secured to the rack.

You can find more on bicycle parking guidelines at the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals’ website.