Taking Action to End Homelessness   

Homelessness is the biggest social issue facing Los Angeles and I am committed to finding sensible solutions to this crisis. While the crisis is regional, its impacts are felt in different ways in every Council District 2 neighborhood.
 
My aim is to be as aggressive as possible in carrying out the mandate that Angelenos provided when 77 percent of voters passed Measure HHH in 2016. Along with Measure H, taxpayers spoke loudly and uniformly that they wanted action to create more temporary and permanent housing for the homeless and compliment that with greater services across the city.
 
Because this is a citywide issue, there must be geographical equity in where services and shelters are placed. Earlier this year, I signed the 222 pledge to approve at least 222 units of supportive housing in Council District 2 by 2020. We are halfway to this goal, but in the meantime, we need to bridge the gap in shelter and services while permanent housing is built.
In This Issue
Looking at City-Owned Properties
 
Along with the 222 pledge, hosting homeless connect days, increasing and coordinating city services, and organizing a large town hall on the issue, I recently introduced a motion to review eight city-owned properties in Council District 2 to determine if they are suitable for development to provide shelter, storage, safe parking or another use that will address homelessness. This is just a feasibility study on city-owned properties. Some of the properties may be appropriate for shelter, some for parking and some may not be suitable for any use related to homelessness. Once we receive the report from the City Administrative Officer, I will be able to make more informed decisions about what, if anything, can happen on these properties.
 
While it is too early to judge what projects will come of this study, it should be viewed as a positive step forward. It shows that we are working diligently -- and employing the taxpayer resources that voters provided -- to explore every available option in the search for solutions to this crisis. And we are not in this alone, as councilmembers across the city are reviewing city-owned properties to determine how they can be used to reduce homelessness. Pursuant to the Mayor's initiative, which I support, there will be temporary shelters in each of the 15 City Council District across the city. The citywide nature of this issue means that each area of the city must shoulder responsibility to fix it.
 
In order for us to change this situation and get homeless people off the streets, I need your support. I need you to carry a positive message in conversations with your neighbors, co-workers and fellow business owners to convince them that it is in their interests to support the city's initiatives to end homelessness. I want you to give them the facts and to refute the myths and knee-jerk misconceptions that threaten to undermine our proposed solutions.
 
Local Problem Calls for Local Solution
 
If we want to end homelessness in our communities, we must be willing to accept shelter and services in our communities. This isn't someone else's problem anymore. People are already living out in the open in our neighborhoods because they lack a roof under which to sleep.   Last year, of the more than 1,200 homeless people living in Council District 2, only 28 had shelter, which means that 98 percent of our homeless population lives in tents and encampments in neighborhoods across the district. With only one shelter in the Valley that is well outside of Council District 2, the number of homeless people sleeping in our neighborhoods will not diminish unless we act.  
 
There are only two ways forward: we can either provide the unsheltered with housing, or allow them to continue sleeping on our streets and sidewalks, in our parks and outside of businesses, which is unsafe for everyone.
 
Providing shelter and services will not cause people to flock to Council District 2 because the people we will serve are already here. We will be providing the people who are living in the area with secure and monitored housing, not inviting others in. We will be cleaning up encampments for good and placing those people in shelters. As I mentioned, we are not alone in this endeavor. There will be temporary shelters built in all 15 City Council districts across Los Angeles in the coming months.
 
Rest assured, I will keep in close contact with you and will not make decisions on the use of city-owned property without public input. Homelessness is a difficult issue and I am committed to finding a balance that both protects the integrity and safety of our neighborhoods, and is also compassionate to those in need.
 
Click here to read my motion and feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you have: (818) 755-7676 or [email protected] .

Very truly yours, 

Paul Krekorian
LA City Councilmember, Second District
TOP STORIES
Council Committee Recommends Budget Improvements



LOS ANGELES - This week, Councilmember Krekorian's Budget and Finance Committee made it's final amendments to the proposed city budget and sent them to the full City Council for review and further discussion.

Krekorian and the committee, through more than 30 hours of hearings and 165 budget memos, voted to add $10 million to expand homeless services, including temporary shelters, increased funding for the senior meals program, added money to maintain parks, increased the city's investment in public safety, and built up the reserve fund and rainy day fund.

The new and improved budget proposal will be discussed by the entire City Council on Monday, May 21, at 9 am.
Use 3-1-1 for Bulky Item Pickup



LOS ANGELES - Did you know that your trash bill already includes unlimited bulky item pickups? It does, and you can schedule bulky item pick-up in a variety of ways:

-Use the MyLA311 app
-Call LA Sanitation's 24-hour Customer Care Center at (800) 773-2489
-Call the city's service request hotline by dialing 3-1-1
-Visit LA Sanitation's website at www.lacitysan.org
-Visit the MyLA311 website at www.myla311.lacity.org

We know that some Angelenos like to place unwanted items outside in the hopes that someone in need may take it. While the gesture is kind, it can quickly create blight in your neighborhood. If your item could be used by someone else, please call a charity to pick up the item. If it cannot be used again, please call 3-1-1 or LA Sanitation to schedule pickup before you put the item on your curb. And when you put it out, please put it in plain view, not on private property.

Whether the item is yours and you want to schedule a pickup or the item was illegally dumped in your neighborhood, please reach out and the city will assist you.

Learn more about bulky item collection here: bit.ly/bulkyitemsLA
Gun Buybacks Remove Hundreds of Firearms
from LA's Streets    



LOS ANGELES - On Saturday, May 12, the Los Angeles Police Department and the city's Office of Gang Reduction and Youth Development collected 478 guns at two gun buyback events. Among the firearms collected were 35 assault weapons, 174 handguns, 103 shotguns and 166 rifles.

The gun buyback program allows people to surrender weapons anonymously in exchange for store gift cards -- $100 for handguns, shotguns and rifles, and $200 for assault weapons. Since the city began organizing annual gun buybacks in 2009, a total of 16,483 weapons have been collected at the events.

Reducing gun violence is a top priority for Councilmember Krekorian, who authored the city's landmark laws that ban large capacity ammunition magazines and require guns to be stored and locked while at home and not in use. The state of California followed Krekorian's lead and outlawed the possession of large-capacity magazines the following year. Since its adoption, Krekorian's safe storage law has been used successfully to prosecute gun owners who refuse to lock or properly secure their guns at home.

Councilmember Krekorian has led the City of Los Angeles to adopt numerous additional gun safety laws, including mandating the electronic tracking of ammunition sales to prevent felons and fugitives from stocking up on bullets; adopting a trace study to identify bad apple gun dealers and keep crime guns of the streets; and implementing an anonymous tip line to report prohibited persons who illegally possess guns, just to name a few.
CITY HIGHLIGHT
New Earthquake Watch Website
with Resources for Angelenos  



LOS ANGELES - The city of Los Angeles has released an "Earthquake Watch" website at earthquake.lacity.org that provides a live feed detailing the magnitude and location of earthquakes that have occurred in the Los Angeles area over the past 24 hours.

The Earthquake Watch website retrieves data from the national U.S. Geological Survey and filters it down specifically for Los Angeles residents. In addition, the site contains important information on how to get notified when earthquakes occur and tips on how to best prepare for the next big one.

The new website is an important tool to educate residents about earthquake preparation and safety. Please take a look and bookmark  earthquake.lacity.org today.
COMMUNITY CORNER
Hike and Tree Giveaway in Coldwater Canyon Park 
 
 
EAST VALLEY - Nature is calling! Join Councilmember Krekorian, Assemblymember Nazarian and TreePeople for a Saturday morning hike in beautiful Coldwater Canyon Park. The first 50 people who show up will also get a free tree.

Saturday, June 9, 9 am
@ TreePeople in Coldwater Canyon Park
12601 Mulholland Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

RSVP here: http://www.paulkrekorian.org/treepeoplehike

Remember to dress accordingly for the weather, and to bring water and sunscreen. Participants should meet at the TreePeople conference center before the hike begins.

 Parking is very limited at the location. Please carpool or use alternative transportation methods to get there. No pets are allowed on this hike. 
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Councilmember Krekorian congratulated the students and faculty at Walter Reed Middle School for winning the Save the Drop award last year for Middle Schools, showing how to make water conservation a lifestyle, something critical to building sustainable future for the Valley. | Photo: CD2


Speaking to an energized crowd of hundreds of community members, Councilmember Krekorian joined LA City officials on Friday during a rally to support temporary homeless shelters and continue the fight to end homelessness in Los Angeles. | Photo: CD2

COMMUNITY EVENTS
North Hollywood Historic Walking Tour
Sunday, May 27, 2 pm - 3:30 pm
Meet at Amelia Earhart Statue
5211 Tujunga Ave.
North Hollywood, CA 91601
 
Join the Museum of the San Fernando Valley on a one mile loop walking tour in North Hollywood and learn about real cowboys, pioneer families, movie television and recording stars, the Spanish conquest, Mexican ranchos, great steam trains, vast ranches and orchards, land barons, wars, architecture and much more! Tickets are $10. Click here for more information.  
Valley Ranch Style Homes Walking Tour
Saturday, June 9, 10 am - 12 noon
Meet at corner of Addison & Ethel
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
  
Author Chris Lukather, founder and editor of the literary journal, The Writing Disorder, will take attendees on a stroll in Valley Glen through a cluster special ranch style homes built by William Mellenthin in the 1940s, '50s, and '60s.Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. 
NoHo Neighborhood Council
Moving Meeting Days 
Next Meeting
Monday, July 9, 6:30 pm
East Valley High School
5525 Vineland Ave.
North Hollywood, CA 91601
 
For the first time in 15 years, the NoHo Neighborhood Council is moving its meeting days. The NC will now be meeting on the second Monday of each month.There is no Board meeting in June. The next meeting will be held on July 9, 6:30 pm at East Valley High School.

Copyright © Office of Councilmember Paul Krekorian 2018. All Rights Reserved.