Wednesday, October 4, 2023

L.A. County Board of Supervisors Unanimously Approves Barger’s Arts Support Motion Amid $4.1 Billion Revenue Loss

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a motion by Pasadena-area Supervisor Kathryn Barger to support the struggling arts sector, which is facing a potential $4.1 billion loss in revenues due to the pandemic and slow recovery.

Introduced by Barger, the motion aims to promote and support arts venues throughout the county.

Supervisor Barger emphasized the importance of these venues as shared communal spaces that reinforce mental and emotional well-being.

The motion directs the County’s Department of Arts and Culture to launch a social media promotional campaign and create a virtual map of arts programs for easy access by residents.

The motion also calls for several County departments that serve high numbers of the public – including Public Library, Parks and Recreation, and Beaches and Harbors – to take a more active role in promoting resources and events related to arts and culture.

The impact of the pandemic on the performing arts sector has not only affected the arts community but also public revenue.

Thursday, September 28, 2023

Metro Board of Directors OKs Extension of Micro Transit Service for Altadena/Pasadena/Sierra Madre

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Metro’s Board of Directors Thursday extended its MicroTransit Pilot Program on-demand rideshare service through September 2024 for numerous zones in L.A. County including Altadena/Pasadena/Sierra Madre.

The Board also instructed that a study be done to determine whether the program should be continued for an additional six months, or if necessary, discontinue some of the eight zones the program serves.

The board voted 12-0 with director and Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger absent during the vote. Directors Ara Najarian, James Butts, Fernando Durta, Janice Hahn and Barger introduced the motion to possibly consider a new operational business model and improve the overall performance of its micro transit program, also known as Metro Micro.

Metro Micro is an on-demand rideshare service, offering trips within several zones in L.A. County, including Watts/Compton; LAX/Inglewood; El Monte; North Hollywood/Burbank; Highland Park/Eagle Rock/Glendale; Altadena/Pasadena/Sierra Madre; Northwest San Fernando Valley; and UCLA/Westwood/VA Medical Center.

The service can be used for short local trips and uses small vehicles seating up to 10 passengers.

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

L.A. County Proposes New Bid to Settle Homelessness Lawsuit

By FRED SHUSTER, City News Service

Los Angeles County and the L.A. Alliance for Human Rights have reached a new proposed settlement of a lawsuit over local governments’ response to the homelessness crisis, and it appears to meet recent demands of the judge overseeing the case, according to court documents filed Monday.

U.S. District Judge David Carter has rejected previous efforts to settle, denying the county and the homelessness coalition’s joint stipulation to dismiss the case, saying he wanted more “oversight and enforcement powers.”

According to Monday’s filing, Carter is getting what he asked for, including the county’s promise to fund 3,000 new mental health/substance use disorder beds, subsidies for 450 new clients of residential care facilities for indigent adults and the elderly, and, significantly, the appointment of a retired federal judge to monitor the county’s compliance with the settlement.

“The previous settlement the parties presented to the Court already provides a thousand new beds and enhanced services for people experiencing homelessness with substance use disorder or mental illness,”

Saturday, September 16, 2023

Man Who Alleges He Won Record $2 Billion Powerball Jackpot Cites Death Threats

The State Lottery Commision has repeatedly stick to its conclusion that the winner of the record-setting $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot last November was Edwin Castro, who purchased the winning ticket at an Altadena service station and opted for a lump-sum payment of $997.6 million.

CITY NEWS SERVICES

A man who maintains he is the winner of the record-breaking November $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot — not the Altadena man the state as declared was the victor — says in an amended complaint that he has received death threats for making his claim to the prize.

State officials have denied Jose Rivera’s claim in his Alhambra Superior Court lawsuit against the California State Lottery Commission that he is the lottery winner. The commission maintains that Altadenan Edwin G. Castro, also a defendant in the Rivera suit, is the proper winner as announced on Feb. 14.

But in his updated complaint filed Monday, Rivera still insists he is the lawful winner and that he has paid a price for taking his stand.

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Cool Schools: LA County Looks to Help Districts Beat the Heat for Students

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The county Board of Supervisors Tuesday directed its staff to meet with local school districts and assist them with obtaining state and federal grant money available for cooling measures at campuses in an effort to protect students from extreme heat.

“Due to the nature of their design, many schools are some of the hottest locations in the county,” Supervisor Hilda Solis, who introduced the motion, said in a statement following the unanimous vote. “Play yards dominated by asphalt increase heat risk, and the lack of trees on many campuses results in fewer opportunities for cooling shade. It’s clear many schools need to reimagine their campuses to address extreme heat.”

According to Solis, there are various funding opportunities available for school districts, including a recent state allocation of $73 million for schools to replace asphalt surfaces with green spaces, trees and vegetation.

Her motion directs various county departments to meet with interested school districts to provide them with information about possible funding sources for cooling projects,

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

L.A. County Board of Supervisors Form Two New Entities to Boost Regional Approach to Homelessness Planning, Service Coordination, and Innovation

Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion introduced by Supervisor Kathryn Barger and co-authored by Supervisor Hilda L. Solis that accelerates the County’s efforts to tackle homelessness by debuting a new regional approach to deliver solutions, cultivate collaboration, and stimulate innovation.

Two new entities – deemed in the motion as an Executive Committee and a Leadership Table – will be formed in the coming days to that end. The Executive Committee will consist of nine members, including two L.A. County Supervisors, two elected representatives from the City of Los Angeles including the Mayor, elected representatives from four municipalities representing regions specified in the motion, and a representative appointed by California’s Governor.

The complementary and more expansive Leadership Table will serve as an advisory body to the Executive Committee. Members will also harness private funding sources to support regional homelessness solutions. The Leadership Table will consist of representatives from various sectors, including but not limited to business, faith-based, advocacy, academia, people with lived experience,

Thursday, August 3, 2023

Add a REAL ID to Your Back-to-School Checklist

STAFF REPORT

About 16.2 million Californians now have a REAL ID – an increase of 165,613 from the previous month – according to California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) data.

School bells will soon be ringing and there is much to do to get ready. Before all the shopping and lunch packing starts, head to your nearest DMV office to get a REAL ID driver’s license or identification card. There is no need to wait for the federal enforcement date of May 7, 2025, that requires a REAL ID or other federally approved document to board flights within the United States and access secure federal facilities. Doing it now means one less thing to worry about in 2025 if you want to use your driver’s license or ID card to fly around the country.

“Once the school supplies and new shoes are bought, take a minute for yourself and get your REAL ID. It’s never been easier,” said DMV Director Steve Gordon.

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Supervisor Barger Leads Way in Re-Election Campaign, Raising Over $700,000

Tuesday, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger announced she has raised $715,000 for her 2024 re-election campaign for Fifth District County Supervisor — outpacing all other candidates.

The announcement comes at the mid-year reporting deadline.

“I truly appreciate the support I have received across the board from our Fifth District community,” said Supervisor Barger. “Many of my supporters do not regularly give to political campaigns, which makes reaching this amount at this time all the more special. I am very grateful that so many of our neighbors have invested in our campaign.”

Supervisor Barger has raised $650,000 of her funds from within Los Angeles County. A majority of her support was from individual donors, not special interests or political action committees. She also currently has the most cash on hand of any candidate, with $650,000.

“I have committed my three-decade-long county career to working with all stakeholders including business, labor, Republicans and Democrats alike. The support I have received reflects that commitment,” said Supervisor Barger.

Thursday, July 27, 2023

L.A.County Property Assessment Reaches Nearly $2 Trillion

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Confirming an earlier forecast, this year’s assessment of property values in Los Angeles County rose by 6% over last year, reaching nearly $2 trillion, county Assessor Jeff Prang announced Thursday.

According to the Assessor’s Office, the total assessment came in at a record $1.997 trillion, translating to roughly $20 billion in property tax dollars that will fund “vital public services such as public education, first responders and health care workers, as well as other county services.”

The Assessor’s Office noted that the housing market overall has cooled since 2021, but median residential prices still reached a record high of more than $900,000 before falling to $865,000 in June.

“To say this has been a challenging couple of years is an understatement,” Prang said in a statement. “Our analysis does indicate property value growth at this time and that’s certainly good news for property owners and for local governments, which depend on property taxes to fund public services.

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

L.A. County Board Backs Striking Hollywood Workers, Looks to Help Impacted Businesses

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors formally threw its support behind striking Hollywood writers and actors Tuesday, voting to send a letter urging studios to return to the bargaining table while also agreeing to explore efforts to support small businesses being impacted by the work stoppages.

“The people who power Los Angeles are on strike and deserve a fair deal,” Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said in a statement after the vote. “Instead of returning to the negotiating table, the (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers’) strategy is to inflict pain, causing people to lose their housing and livelihoods, with the futures of small businesses also on the line.

“While billionaires continue ruthless games, L.A. County will stand in solidarity with the actors, writers, and workers without whom this industry would not exist, and in support of the small businesses that fuel entertainment operations and productions. We can all reduce the impacts of the ongoing entertainment strike by supporting small, local businesses.”

Under a motion introduced by Horvath and Supervisor Hilda Solis,