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Even after our country has suffered through so, so many terrible gun crimes, Las Vegas plunged our hearts into an abyss of pain all over again. When I saw the faces, read the names and heard the stories of the victims, I couldn't help but also remember the lives stolen by heavily-armed killers at Sandy Hook, Columbine, Isla Vista, Orlando and so many other places.
Just like the victims who came before them, these innocent people in Las Vegas -- who were enjoying a relaxing, fun evening before they were brutally murdered, injured or forever emotionally scarred -- were us. They were our brothers and sisters, our parents, our children, our friends and our coworkers. We grieve with them and their families -- and I know that at least some of us will choose to redouble our efforts to convert our deep anguish into tangible action.
I am proud of the work I have done, along with my City Council colleagues and community partners, to make Los Angeles a national leader in the effort to curb gun violence, including banning the possession of large-capacity ammunition magazines like those used by the Las Vegas shooter. My hope today is that more grassroots leaders and elected officials from the smallest towns in the Midwest to the halls of Congress will step up and join us, at long last, to take meaningful steps to address our outrageous national epidemic of gun violence. I hope common sense and common decency will prevail once and for all.
After this most recent dreadful event, how can we settle for anything less? And how can anyone continue to ignore the obvious? Predictably, the gun lobby -- which sees no problem with civilians carrying semi-automatic weapons and 100 round magazines -- will deflect the blame and try to block any sensible changes to gun policy. They will tell us further restrictions on guns will make us less safe. But that is a lie, and the people of America cannot remain silent in the face of ongoing slaughter that takes 90 American lives every single day.
True Heroes
A great many Southern Californians were victims of the Las Vegas violence -- some lost their lives and several were injured, including members of our own LA city family. At least three off-duty LAPD officers and LAFD firefighters suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the shooting, and all of them acted heroically to help others during the melee. They showed their true colors as public servants and sprang into action when chaos broke out around them. One LAFD firefighter recounted in the media that the crime scene was so dire that he personally had to pronounce 15-20 concertgoers dead as he helped save the lives of the injured around him.
The LAPD and law enforcement in Nevada have assured us that this national tragedy was an isolated incident that poses no threat to Los Angeles. While this horrible incident may have been isolated, those impacted by it are victims of the same epidemic that has plagued our country for decades.
As we all continue to mourn for the victims, for their families and for the residents of Las Vegas, I hope each of us will also find our own way to come closer together, to become less hateful and angry, to befriend someone who feels hopeless, to hug the people we love -- and then to get to the hard work of addressing mental illness and ensuring that our leaders in Washington muster the political courage to ensure that weapons of war are not accessible to the public, anywhere, ever.
As always, I look forward to your questions and thoughts, so please email me at
[email protected]
.
Very truly yours,
Councilmember Paul Krekorian, District 2
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LOS ANGELES -
Tonight, the Dodgers host the first game of the National League Division Series in Chavez Ravine against the dreaded Arizona Diamondbacks. After posting the best record in baseball this regular season, Angelenos are hoping for a winning post-season and, ultimately, a World Series championship. Go Blue!
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Measure M Projects Make Progress
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LOS ANGELES - This week, the Metro Board of Directors moved forward on a proposal to accelerate Measure M transportation projects for LA County residents. The projects include the Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor, the West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor and the extension of the ExpressLanes network. The plan will move to seek public-private partnerships to deliver the projects faster and more efficiently.
Orange Line Upgrades Coming Soon
In other transit news, in addition to converting to an all-electric Orange Line bus fleet in 2020, Metro staff is studying further improvements to the Orange Line, the system's most popular bus rapid transit line. A proposed plan recommends building a new one-mile long bridge between Sepulveda and Van Nuys boulevards and installing 34 railroad-style crossing gates along the Orange Line between North Hollywood and Chatsworth. According to the study, the proposed gates project would improve bus travel speeds and time and help prepare the Orange Line for future conversion to rail. The proposal will come before the Metro Board for approval in late October.
Councilmember Krekorian said: "We're already seeing how Measure M will transform transportation for Valley residents. Improving the Orange Line has been one of my top transit priorities for years and this report gives us tangible ways to move forward. I look forward to discussing it with my Metro Board colleagues."
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Take on the Streets This Sunday:
Raise Awareness for Homeless Youth
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 NORTH HOLLYWOOD - This Sunday, Councilmember Krekorian and local non-profit The Village Family Services invite you to join the effort to raise awareness about foster and homeless youth.
Take on the Streets -
2K and Family Festival
Sunday, Oct. 8, 9 am to 2 pm
North Hollywood Park
The 2k and Family Festival will provide a fun, low-cost day for families, including a petting zoo, bounce house, face painting, live art and more. T
he funds raised will direct children and youth toward community service and engagement.
The Village Family Services, a local non-profit organization, provides expert care, comprehensive services, and vital support for children, youth and families who have experienced the trauma of domestic violence, neglect, addiction, homelessness or abuse. The organization serves more than 700 homeless and high-risk youth each year.
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Metrolink Unveils Clean Energy Locomotive
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LOS ANGELES - This week, Metrolink unveiled its brand new clean power engine, the Tier 4 locomotive. This state-of-the-art locomotive is the cleanest, most powerful and safest diesel engine operated by any major commuter rail agency in the nation.
The Tier 4 locomotive's highly fuel efficient engine meets the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's highest level of emission standards. Compared to Metrolink's oldest locomotives, one Tier 4 locomotive reduces emissions by nearly 14 tons which is equal to removing 783 cars off the road every year.
The new locomotive is also equipped with the latest in train safety technology, including positive train control and a crash energy management system, which absorbs the energy in the event of a collision. Metrolink will introduce 40 new Tier 4 locomotives into their fleet and passenger service will begin soon.
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Increased Employment, Wages
Signal Economic Growth for Los Angeles
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LOS ANGELES - In a presentation to the City Council, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce shared findings from a new Beacon Economics report on the city's job growth and economic outlook. The report showed continued positive trends with greater gross receipts tax revenue generated by business activity, more jobs and increases in annual wages in the city by nearly four percent.
According to the findings, Council District 2 experienced a
1.7 percent increase
in
private sector employment
in 2016
, which was supported by strong surges in year-to-year growth in the information
, professional, scientific, technical and management industries. The report also found that annual wages in the East Valley grew by 4.1 percent.
Business is also booming in Council District 2. Gross business receipts continued to grow, with all industry sectors having a combined annual growth of 9.8 percent over the prior year. The East Valley also continues to grow in consumer spending, with sales tax receipts experiencing a 3.7 increase.
Councilmember Krekorian, who chairs the City Council's Ad Hoc Committee Job Creation, has continued to push forward policies and programs to attract new businesses, cut red tape and stimulate economic and job growth throughout Los Angeles.
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Krekorian Secures Vital Funding
for At-Risk Youth Center
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Councilmember Krekorian with Monica Austin-Jackson, New Directions for Youth's Executive Director (left), and Patti Jo Wolfson, Chairperson of the Board (right). | Photo: CD2
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EAST VALLEY - Last week, Councilmember Krekorian secured $600,000 to help New Directions for Youth, a North Hollywood-based non-profit, build a new health and recreation center in Council District 2. The funding, included in the 2017-2018 Consolidated Plan budget, will help this community organization deliver even more programs and services to at-risk youth and their families.
New Directions for Youth is a youth development organization that provides direct services and programs to at-risk youth throughout the San Fernando Valley and the greater Los Angeles area. Some of its programs include computer classes, literacy training, gang prevention, career education and guidance, graffiti removal, crisis intervention, substance abuse prevention, parenting classes, leadership camping and summer day camp. Since its founding in 1976, New Directions has provided free services to more than 90,000 people in our communities.
Our Valley News will keep you updated on the progress of New Directions for Youth's health and recreation center in the months ahead. If you would like to support New Directions for Youth, please visit their website:
http://ndfy.org.
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Councilmembers Krekorian and Rodriguez honored the Armenian Cultural Sasoon Association for organizing the 2nd Annual Armenian Arts and Cultural Festival in Tujunga. | Photo: CD2
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North Hollywood's Strathern Neighborhood Watch celebrated its 10 year anniversary. Founding members Sarah Ramsawack and Maggie and Lee Adrian (left to right) marked this milestone with community members and LAPD Senior Lead Officer Esther Vasquez. | Photo: CD2
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Councilmember Krekorian joined the Armenian National Committee - Western Region for the premiere of Architects of Denial, a documentary about the Turkish government's ongoing campaign to erase its culpability for the Armenian Genocide. | Photo: CD2
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Children's Theater Class
Ongoing registration
Mondays, now through December
North Hollywood Recreation Center
11430 Chandler Blvd.
North Hollywood
Kids and young teens interested in learning about acting and theater can join the North Hollywood Recreation Center's Children's Theater, a fun class that will introduce vocal and physical exercise
games and other positive energy building exercises that require movement to bring out the performer in you. For more information, contact (818) 763-7651.
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On Location: The Los Angeles Video Project
Saturday, Oct. 7, 7 pm to 11 pm
Sunset Las Palmas Studios
1040 N Las Palmas Ave
Los Angeles
NewFilmmakers Los Angeles invites you to "On Location: The Los Angeles Video Project," which premieres on Oct. 7 at Sunset Las Palmas Studios. Every year, the project highlights Los Angeles to the rest of the world. The multimedia program celebrates and enlists LA's remarkable pool of filmmakers to create stories that highlight the city's diverse neighborhoods. Learn more at
http://www.nfmla.org/onlocation
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Valley Disaster Preparedness Fair
Saturday, Oct. 7, 10 am to 2 pm
Northridge Fashion Center
9400 Shirley Ave. (South of Plummer St.)
Northridge
The 10th Annual Valley Disaster Preparedness Fair will take place on Saturday, Oct. 7. The annual fair is free and open to the public. Get tips on how to prepare for an emergency situation, create an emergency kit and much more. For more information, visit
www.valleydisasterfair.com.
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Take on the Streets - 2K and Family Festival
Sunday, Oct. 8, 9 am to 2 pm
Join The Village Family Services for a 2K walk/run and Family Festival to raise awareness about youth homelessness.
The event will provide a fun, low-cost activity for families, and the funds raised will direct children and youth toward community service and engagement. For more information, visit www.TakeOnTheStreets.com.
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LA Municipal Art Gallery: Call for Artists
Juried Exhibition 2018
Submission deadline:
Friday, Oct. 13, 9 am to 2 pm
The Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery announces a call for artists for its juried exhibition.
This pioneering exhibition has provided a platform for emerging artists in Southern California for more than six decades. Artists will be selected by a jury of three experts in the field:
Jonathan Griffin, art critic and contributing editor for Frieze;
Jamillah James, Curator,
Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles;
Steven Nelson, Professor of
African and African American Art History, UCLA. For more
information on awards, fees, eligibility and how to apply, visit www.lamag.org/juried18.
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AIDS Walk Los Angeles
Sunday, Oct. 15, 8:30 am
Grand Park
Downtown Los Angeles
Since 1985,
AIDS
Walk Los Angeles has drawn 500,000+ participants to raise funds for
AIDS Project Los Angeles and dozens more LA County
AIDS service organizations.
AIDS
Walk Los Angeles serves as a model of grassroots fundraising and community activism. For more information, visit
la.aidswalk.net.
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The Tripping Point Summit
Saturday, Oct. 21, 9:30 am to 2 pm
8015 Van Nuys Blvd.
Panorama City
Join Investing in Place for this Valley summit to learn how you can advocate for more accessible, green, and safe sidewalks in Los Angeles. The free event will teach Angelenos how to get involved in their communities and organize efforts to improve our city streets. For more information and to RSVP contact (747) 225-1531 or visit:
valleytrippingpoint.splashthat.com.
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2017 East Valley Emergency Preparedness Summit
Saturday, Oct. 21, 8:30 am to 12 pm
Church of Scientology Community Room
11455 Burbank Blvd.
North Hollywood
Are you prepared for the next natural disaster? Join Councilmembers Krekorian and Ryu, along with the North Hollywood Community Police Advisory Board and the LAPD North Hollywood Division for a workshop and training session to get you prepared should disaster strike. To RSVP, visit bit.ly/EmergPrep2017
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Halloween at North Hollywood Park
Saturday, Oct. 28, 3 pm to 7 pm
North Hollywood Recreation Center
11430 Chandler Blvd.
North Hollywood
Calling all monsters, ghouls and goblins: the North Hollywood Recreation Center invites you to a free Halloween event. This community gathering will feature a costume contest, haunted carnival, games prizes, arts and crafts, and free candy for trick-or-treaters.
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East Valley Transit Corridor Project Draft EIR
Comment Period Extended
Now through Monday, Oct. 30, 9 am to 2 pm
Metro wants to hear from you! Metro released the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the
East
San Fernando
Valley
Transit
Corridor
Project, which will improve
transit
along Van Nuys Boulevard and San Fernando Road between the Metro Orange Line Van Nuys Station and the Sylmar/San Fernando Metrolink Station. To learn more about the project and view the Draft Environmental Impact Report visit www.metro.net/eastsfvtransit.
The public comment period has been extended through Oct. 30.
Send your comments to [email protected].
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Wilacre Park Closure
Now through Jan. 5, 2018
3431 Fryman Rd
Studio City
Attention hikers and Studio City homeowners: from September through early January 2018, Wilacre Park will be closed for park renovations.
The park's trails will be closed during this period to allow crews the opportunity to safely complete the improvements. Other options that hikers, walkers, mountain bikers have to choose from, include Franklin and Coldwater Canyon parks, along with neighboring Runyon Canyon, Griffith Park, Marvin Braude Mulholland Gateway Park and Los Angeles River Greenway Park. As always, when using our public parks, please be mindful of the neighbors who live near them and make sure you obey all parking, traffic and safety regulations in the area. For more information, visit www.wilacrepark.com.
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