Welcome to the November 2022 edition of the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council's (SONC) newsletter, the Ziff Flyer.

email: lindsay.imber.sonc@gmail.com

These are the words of the great poet Maya Angelou, and ones the City of Los Angeles has found itself facing in the wake of turmoil at City Hall, when a recording of three councilmembers making derogatory comments about people different from themselves while discussing redistricting matters behind closed doors, was released for all to hear.

Within days, the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council (SONC) Board convened for a special meeting to address the unacceptable conduct exhibited by these public officials, adopting a motion to support a series of action items and council files meant to not simply censure or condemn the hateful, racist, homophobic, and anti-Semitic comments that were made, but to call for the removal of then-councilpersons Nury Martinez, Kevin de Leon, and Gil Cedillo from office.

In addition to calling for Martinez, de Leon, and Cedillo's removal (Martinez subsequently resigned), SONC adopted a position in favor of efforts seeking to modify the City Charter to include a ground for removal from public office for patently racist, anti-Semitic, homophobic, or other hate speech motivated by a protected characteristic, as defined by existing California law.

As stated, the leaked recording came about from a closed-door meeting regarding redistricting, and this process is something SONC previously took issue with, even before the meeting took place.

In 2021, SONC adopted a position of support for the independent Los Angeles City Council Redistricting Commission's proposed redistricting map that group had spent nearly a year creating. One month later, however, City Council on its own accord sought to override the independent Commission's recommendations, and SONC stood alongside many other Neighborhood Councils in vehemently opposing this LA City Council Ad Hoc Committee proposal.

One of the arguments made during our deliberation was that the process of overruling an independent commission's efforts in order to set the electorate for one's own office, as City Council had done, seemed rather corrupt and suffered from a lack of transparency. And as it turns out, these concerns did indeed manifest with the recording released last month.

Bear in mind, the issue of overriding an independent body's work wherein one appears to possess clear conflicts-of-interest isn't limited to just Martinez, de Leon, and Cedillo, though these three public officials were the ones caught on tape making hateful comments: City Council voted unanimously to adopt their own map in place of the independent Commission's: that includes every single elected councilperson except Joe Buscaino, who was absent from that vote.

It is apparent a great deal of work is needed to repair the damage created at City Hall and I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge that even our own Board has at times suffered from discriminiatory, exclusionary, and hurtful speech during debate.

For this reason, my promise to you is the same one I ran on when I first ran for the SONC Board in 2019: to increase transparency and involvement in city affairs. To that end, as of last month, I have required all SONC committees to record their online meetings. Board meetings have been recorded since April 2022, and those recordings may be found on the ShermanOaksNC.org website, generally on each body's page.

If you notice that an online SONC committee meeting, as of November 2022, has not been recorded and made accessible to the public in a reasonable amount of time (Zoom sometimes takes up to a day to process the video before making it available to us), I encourage you to e-mail me directly to address this matter.

Thank you and please be kind to one another,

Lindsay

To view webinar details, please visit the SONC calendar.

Human Services Meeting

November 15th, 2022, 7pm

November 21st, 2022, 6:30pm

November 22nd, 2022, 7pm

November 23rd, 2022, 6:30pm

page links for meeting agendas and to confirm dates & times.

Not sure what area you live in and who your

Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council representative is? Email SONC.Newsletter@gmail.com with your address or cross-streets with the navigational direction --

we will help you out!

Information about the meetings and how to “join in” is available on the SONC website: www.shermanoaksnc.org. Please give us your feedback and comments. 

The full agenda for this meeting will be available on November 11th, 2022 on the SONC website, www.shermanoaksnc.org. A physical copy can always be found on display at the Sherman Oaks Public Library.

1-669-900-6833, enter 85140543942 #

(1) Enter the Webinar ID: 85140543942

Should you have technical questions or issues, please email Stacey.Segarra.Bohlinger.SONC@gmail.com.

SONC meetings that are conducted using the Zoom Video-teleconferencing platform are now being recorded for playback. All recorded meetings are playable by clicking the associated meeting date links found on the associated committee page on the SONC website.

Jeff Kalban, Chair

Email: jeff.kalban.sonc@gmail.com

The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council Planning and Land Use Management Committee (PLUM) and our Vision Committee are studying various proposed regulations and ordinances that will greatly impact Sherman Oaks and our quality of life. If we are not careful and vigilant, we could see a deterioration of our community. Metro is considering raised trains coming out of a tunnel daylighting high above Sepulveda at Valley Vista that will destroy homes, condos, apartments, and office buildings in its path, create unbearable noise from the trains and traffic congestion from the supports that will take out a lane of traffic on the east and west sides of Sepulveda. We will be reviewing a proposal to allow homeless shelters in single family zones and proposed zoning overlays that will put apartments next to single family homes throughout Sherman Oaks. You should join our meetings to see the impact of what is being proposed…you will not believe your eyes.

Yet, there are planning concepts that enhance livability, create equitable and affordable housing and a transportation system that works. See what we are proposing, join in and give voice to the future of Sherman Oaks.

Vision Committee meets at 6:30 PM on the first Thursday of each month and PLUM meets at 6:30 on the third Thursday. For more information, please visit our PLUM/Vision web page.

Christy Adair, Chair

Email: christy.adair.sonc@gmail.com

In our October meeting we had a presentation by renowned speaker, Christina Shareef, CEO/Founder of 404 Strategic Consulting Group, who explained the meanings and importance of the use of Gender Pronouns. If you missed her presentation and would like to see it, the full video can be found on our YouTube Channel here:

For our November meeting – we will have a special discussion on Radio Communications. We have learned from recent disasters that when cell towers or power lines are compromised, it is the Ham Operators and those with a simple walkie-talkie radio who are able to maintain the flow of information. And in non-disaster settings, a walkie talkie can keep you connected to loved ones who are within a close range. Join us to find out why Height trumps Power.

The SONC Public Safety Committee meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, November 8th 2022, at 6:30pm.

We will also host our regular updates on Social Media Misinformation and on local Crime and Safety data, tips & tricks from our Senior Lead Officers.

To Join Online: Click or Cut and Paste into your web browser https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84270408817

Press “Enter”

By Telephone: Dial 1-669-900-6833, Enter Webinar ID 842 7040 8817, and Press #

Or on Zoom join meeting screen enter Webinar ID: 842 7040 8817

If you have any questions, please email us at: SoncPScommittee@gmail.com.

For more information please visit the SONC Public Safety Committee web page

The elections are fast approaching - do you know how you’ll make your voice heard? Whether you’re planning to vote in person, by mail, or just have questions about how to participate, there are many resources to support you. 

View the elections you will be voting in with this ballot lookup tool:

The General Election ballot includes:

SONC has posted a video on our YouTube Channel that provides an overview of, and explains all of the State Ballot Measures. This video was recorded by the Greater Los Angeles League of Women Voters. To watch the video, follow this link: https://youtu.be/u7heM6PwdoA

Before you head out to your polling place, you can check your current registration status at: lavote.gov. If you're an unregistered eligible voter, you can still register and vote at a Voting Center near you.

Vote-By-Mail ballots and election materials were automatically sent to all registered voters in California via US Mail between October 6th and October 10th. If you are voting by mail, ensure that you mail your ballot in a timely fashion. Vote-by-mail ballots that are mailed must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by your county elections office no later than 7 days after Election Day. If you are not sure your vote-by-mail ballot will arrive in time if mailed, bring it to any polling place in the state between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Vote-by-mail ballots that are personally delivered must be delivered no later than the close of polls at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

You can also cast your vote by dropping your completed ballot off at a drop-off location or into a ballot drop box within the state of California. Vote-by-mail ballots that are personally delivered to a ballot drop-off location must be delivered no later than the close of polls at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Authorizing someone else to return the ballot on your behalf is allowed. Anyone may return your ballot for you, as long as they do not get paid on a per ballot basis. In order for your ballot to be counted, you must fill out the authorization section found on the outside of your ballot envelope. When your vote-by-mail ballot is received by your county elections official, your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature(s) in your voter registration record. To preserve the secrecy of your ballot, the ballot will then be separated from the return envelope, and then it will be tallied. To find a ballot drop-off box near you, please visit:

In California, in person polling place voting began on October 29th and continues through election day, November 8th. Voters can visit any Vote Center to cast their ballot. Check your polling place at vote.org or at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/polling-place.

If you have any other questions about voter registration deadlines, requesting absentee or mail-in ballots, or how to vote in-person during early voting or on Election Day, call or text 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) to speak with a trained Election Protection volunteer. You can also visit lavote.gov or the California Secretary of State website at https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections. Please make sure to cast your vote and let your voice be heard!

Harold Shapiro, Chair

Email: Harold.Shapiro.SONC@gmail.com

October was a very busy month for the Sherman Oaks NC Outreach Committee. A great big thank you to the team for all your efforts!

The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council was granted its charter by the City of Los Angeles on October 29th, 2002. This year marks the 20th anniversary of certification for the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council as part of the City of Los Angeles' Neighborhood Council system. To share this milestone with the entire community, SONC threw a party on Saturday, October 29th at the Van Nuys Sherman Oaks War Memorial Park.

The SONC Outreach Committee chose the stop-motion animated film "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas" to be screened at this free Movie in the Park event. Several fun pre-screening activities for the kids as well as for the adults were held. SONC co-hosted this event with the Council District 4 office and other Sherman Oaks area education organizations. Council Member Nithya Raman was in attendance. Live performances included a brief concert by a local children's orchestra, a serenade from a Barbershop quartet, a magic show, and a lively dance rendition of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" by students from Louis Armstrong Middle school. Interactive activities for the kids included face painting, a photo booth, a bounce house, a costume parade and safe 'trick or treating'. The turnout from residents was terrific and a good time was had by all.

Enjoy this collage of photos taken at the event! For more pictures, please visit the full gallery on the SONC web site here: https://www.shermanoaksnc.org/page/viewGallery/513

If you attended the event, and took some pictures, please share them with us via this link:

SONC made it to the 30th Annual Sherman Oaks Street Fair held on Sunday October 16th. The one-day street festival brought out huge crowds of Sherman Oaks residents. The event featured multiple stages with live musical and dance performances, a live wrestling expo, street vendors serving up an assortment of dishes, a petting zoo, pony rides and amusement rides for the kids, and booths with local arts & crafts. Area Representatives and Executive Officers from the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council as well as the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment's (DONE) Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Empowerment Advocate and the Director of Communications were manning the SONC booth, handing out information to our stakeholders and answering questions about local city government.

The 2023 Neighborhood Council elections formally kick off in November 2022. SONC will be seeking a slate of interested community members to run for the 10 available council seats across areas 2, 4, and 6 as well as 1 currently vacant seat in Area 1. Eligible candidates can be residents, business owners, property owners, or community interest advocates who are key participants in local non-profit/service organizations. If you are interested in running for a seat, please let us know. In 2022-23, the City Clerk will be using a hybrid election model for NC elections that provides for both in-person polling place voting as well as the option to Vote-By-Mail.

Important NC Election dates to pay attention to that are specific to Sherman Oaks are:

The voting deadline for SONC elections will be Thursday, June 22, 2023, with official results released on July 6, 2023. An official polling place will be identified in April of 2023. Learn more about the 2022-23 Neighborhood Council Elections at: empowerla.org/elections

The SONC Outreach Committee meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month. Please join us for our next virtual meeting on November 15th. For details on how to access the virtual meeting on the Zoom Platform, please visit the SONC Outreach Committee web page.

This next section contains information from CD4, LAUSD, Sherman Oaks Library and all our partner organizations that are seeking volunteers. Stay informed and share!

City Councilmember Nithya Raman introduced a motion on November 2 seeking to improve communication and collaboration between the city and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) by creating liaison positions assigned to specific council districts. Raman's motion asks that the agency report back with a plan on creating the positions, which would "provide council offices with strategic communication, data and metrics, programmatic analysis, regional coordination, and district-level knowledge and support."

The latest homeless count by LAHSA revealed 41,980 unhoused people in the city of Los Angeles, up 1.7% from 2020.

Raman's motion claims that challenges in the relationship between LAHSA and the city include inconsistencies in communication, gaps in knowledge at the district level, limits in data sharing and a "slower overall rate of progress addressing homelessness that the city desperately needs."

She added that LAHSA lacks dedicated staff to facilitate communication between the agency and council offices regarding its operations, which has created a "disjointed approach across the city, with different council offices working with LAHSA to varying degrees on homeless strategies and interventions."

Councilmember Raman also sought a report back on funding for the positions.

The Councilmember also introduced a motion aimed at developing a comprehensive City-wide rehousing strategy for people experiencing Residential Vehicle (RV) homelessness, in alignment with the City’s Street Engagement Strategy and the Los Angeles Homeless Authority’s (LAHSA) Best Practices for Addressing Street Encampments. 

LAHSA’s most recent point-in-time count, conducted in February 2022, indicates that nearly 6,500 people experiencing homelessness in the City of Los Angeles are living in a total of about 4,000 RVs, representing 22% of the City’s total unsheltered homeless population. Many RVs used as dwellings on LA’s streets are in grave disrepair, meaning that people living in them face unsanitary and sometimes dangerous conditions. RVs have also posed challenges for the neighborhoods in which they are located related to the release of untreated effluent into streets or stormwater drains, increased risk of fires, and other public safety concerns.

Councilmember Raman’s motion would direct the CAO, with assistance from LAHSA and the Department of Transportation, to report back within 60 days with a comprehensive City-wide rehousing strategy for people experiencing RV homelessness. The proposed strategy would address securing appropriate interim shelter and housing for people living in RVs across the City, creating incentives for voluntary relinquishment of RVs used as dwellings, and expanding safe parking programs.

The Office of District 4 Councilmember Nithya Raman provides Sherman Oaks with a dedicated field deputy to handle resident and business owner issues at the city level. Ryan Ahari is the Sherman Oaks Field Deputy, and also services Van Nuys. If you need assistance with City services, agencies, and departments (graffiti, trash, abandoned properties, and more), you can always reach Ryan through his CD4 web page here or call (213) 424-2412 and Ryan's email address is: ryan.ahari@lacity.org

In addition to contacting Ryan, for any issues related to homelessness anywhere within Council District 4, you can contact Senior Homelessness Deputy Sarah Tanberg (sarah.tanberg@lacity.org) or Homelessness Deputy Josh Scarcella (josh.scarcella@lacity.org)

In November, the Library will be closed for a week to have new carpet installed. The closure dates are from Monday, November 14th through Monday, November 21st. We are referring Patrons to the Studio City Library during this time. The library will also be closed on Friday November 11th for Veteran's Day, and on November 24th & 25th for Thanksgiving.

Meet other teens. This is the perfect opportunity to connect with other teens in the community, have a say in teen programming, grow your leadership skills and create programs to raise awareness for issues you are passionate about. As we meet, we will also be making a craft.

Join us at the monthly used book sale at the Sherman Oaks Branch Library on the second Saturday each month. The proceeds will benefit our local branch. The book sale will be held outside on the patio and inside the multipurpose room at the library.

Select from a large assortment of quality children's books (picture books, chapter, and young adult), fiction, non-fiction, cookbooks, education, graphic novels, classics, poetry, plays, art books, CDs, and DVDs. Most books are $1 or less.

We pause all donations on the Wednesday before the book sale and resume on the following Monday after the sale. Thank you for your generous support.

Questions? - email the branch at shrmno@lapl.org, or call 818-205-9716.

Here is the link for our branch happenings: https://lapl.org/branches/sherman-oaks

For more information contact Meredith McGowan, Senior Librarian

The proposed Wildlife Ordinance has been scheduled to be heard by the City Planning Commission (CPC) on Thursday, November 17, 2022. The new, updated draft of the proposed Wildlife Ordinance, as well as a summary and explanation of changes and the staff recommendation report to the CPC were publicly released and uploaded to the project webpage, in order to provide sufficient time for the public to review changes that have been made since the last draft of the ordinance was released in April of this year. In an effort to provide clarifications on what has changed, City Planning will hold ‘office hours’ and is inviting stakeholders to participate in one of two sessions:

These office hours will be held via Google Meet. Please use the above links to access the meeting you are interested in attending.

The Draft Wildlife Ordinance proposes new development standards for lot coverage, setbacks, landscaping, and fencing, as well as grading and height limitations. If the ordinance is approved by the LA City Council, it would create a new Wildlife Supplemental Use District (WLD) and apply those supplemental regulations to any properties located in the area of the Santa Monica Mountains approximately bounded by the 405 and 101 freeways and Ventura Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard.

Please visit the project website here for the latest developments, to read the draft ordinance, and for more information. Comments on the revised draft ordinance can be emailed to cpc@lacity.org by 4 p.m. on November 14, 2022.

Metro continues to plan in its attempts to discover viable transit option solutions that will make it easier to get from/to the San Fernando Valley and LA's Westside. The natural barrier created by the Santa Monica Mountains makes traveling between the Valley and the Westside challenging and as we all know, the 405 freeway is one of the worst places to be in your car during morning and evening rush hours. Metro is working to evaluate the impact of a high-quality, reliable transit service option using a high-speed rail system connecting the San Fernando Valley and the Westside.

There are 6 options being reviewed as part of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The project is currently in this environmental review phase which will consist of two components: 1) preparation of a draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and 2) preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Depending on which of the 6 plans under review is chosen, there can be significant impact to the residential hillsides and surface streets in the Sherman Oaks area. During the environmental review phase, Metro is working with two private-sector teams, LA SkyRail Express and Sepulveda Transit Corridor Partners, under a first-of-its-kind pre-development agreement to develop a design for the project alternatives.

For more information about feedback received during the project scoping period, view the project’s Scoping Summary Report. Metro had announced plans to host a community update in Fall 2022 focused on alignments and station locations, but is now saying that the next community update meetings will take place in early 2023 with both in-person and virtual options. The meetings will focus on the locations of proposed stations and their entrances. There have been no public updates posted on the Metro Sepulveda Corridor website regarding this project since June 2022.

In its attempts to build a safer and faster multi-modal transit network in Los Angeles, Metro is undertaking a project to create bus lanes along a 5.5-mile segment of Sepulveda Blvd. from Ventura Blvd. to Rayen St., and a 0.9-mile segment along westbound Ventura Blvd. from Vesper Ave. to Sepulveda Blvd. (Metro Line 234).

This project converts the rightmost traffic lane in each direction along Sepulveda Blvd. between Magnolia Blvd. and Rayen St. into a full-time bus lane. It also converts the rightmost traffic lane on northbound Sepulveda Blvd. between Ventura Blvd. and Magnolia Blvd. into a full-time bus lane, and converts the curbside lane on westbound Ventura Blvd. between Vesper Ave. and Sepulveda Blvd. into a peak hour bus lane from 7-9am on weekdays only. Other impacts:

The project is targeting a Spring 2023 implementation. In order to garner stakeholder feedback on this plan, Metro is conducting a community meeting on Zoom, Thursday, November 10th, 6-8pm. To join the meeting visit: https://bit.ly/SepulvedaBus

Use meeting ID: 824 8332 5033 or Call-in: 213.338.8477

For additional information, visit the website.

The City of Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation (DCR) is inviting Neighborhood Councils and their constituencies to participate in a virtual town hall called Cannabis in Your Community: Partnering on Progressive Enforcement. The aim of the event is to engage with communities on illegal cannabis activity and to solicit input as the City considers new progressive strategies for enforcement. Community involvement is an important component to identify problems and discover new ideas to fix them.

These town halls will include a presentation on how DCR, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), and other City departments work together to tackle enforcement against illegal cannabis businesses across the City.

The Town Hall for residents in the San Fernando Valley & West will take place on Thursday November 10, 2022 from 6:00 - 8:00pm. Use this Zoom Link to participate.

For more information, please visit the DCR website, email cannabis@lacity.org or call (213) 978-0738.

The LA County Dept. of Public Works is still offering its series of free webinars to beautify your home and garden through November 2022. The Smart Gardening Webinars are approximately 45 minutes long followed by a 15-minute period to answer questions and take orders for compost bins. For those who are unable to attend, they have posted videos of the sessions. There are four core subjects being offered:

Intro to Composting: Learn about backyard and worm composting to create a rich soil amendment to nourish your garden.

Water-wise Gardening: Create a beautiful drought-tolerant landscape and learn about grasscycling to fortify your lawn.

Organic Gardening: Build healthy soil, grow herbs and vegetables, and address plant pests and diseases using organic methods.

Small-space Gardening: Learn to grow plants in containers and set up a small-space worm composting system.

For more information and to register online, visit their website: https://pw.lacounty.gov/epd/sg/webinars.cfm

Los Angeles Dept. of Water & Power is Offering Free Landscaping Design Services to Transform Your Turf

Are you interested in saving water and money on your bill? The LADWP turf replacement program has now increased its offering to homeowners of rebates in the amount of $3.00 per square foot for up to 5,000 square feet of converted yards per year to $5.00 per square foot. As an LADWP customer, you can get free landscape design services for transforming your landscape to be more drought tolerant. The design can be submitted along with your turf replacement rebate application. Planting and irrigation plans are provided at no cost to LADWP customers who wish to remove turf and replace it with low-water use California Friendly® and native plants. The rebates for removing lawns and water-hungry plantings are still in effect. With the coming hot summer months, and new watering rules going into effect, the time is right to replace.

The provided plans can be given directly to a licensed contractor for installation and also included is a simple guide on how to best hire a landscape contractor. The plans will include a stormwater capture feature, such as a rain garden, in the design. Irrigation plans include the use of water-efficient drip irrigation systems.

Your newly installed garden will capture and reuse stormwater, recharge groundwater, prevent polluted runoff from flowing into the rivers and ocean, and provide food and habitat for birds, butterflies, and other wildlife. Once your newly installed plants have been established, you will see the savings on your water bill.

To learn more about this free design program and to apply, visit the LADWP website at:

To sign up, please visit: https://nhifp.org/volunteers/

If you are interested in volunteering with the LA Regional Food Bank, please visit this link.

amartinez@lafoodbank.org

Facebook - @laworks 

Twitter - @LAWorksNow 

Instagram - @laworksnow

Please visit LAWorks.com

Email Contact:

Get Involved In Your Community

If you are interested in becoming a Block Captain and starting a Neighborhood Watch Program in your neighborhood, please contact your Senior Lead Officer at the email addresses or phone numbers listed below to obtain further details. There are 4 senior lead officers assigned for all of Sherman Oaks:

email: 30853@lapd.online

(818) 731-2565

9SL89

email: 40229@lapd.online

(818) 731-2563

9SL63

email: 36816@lapd.online

(818) 731-2560

9SL41

email: 32914@lapd.online

(818) 731-2562

9SL37

Please sign up on Nextdoor.com to receive current updates about crime trends and events in your community.

You can contact Alan Scher for more information about the Neighborhood Watch Program.

The November edition of the Van Nuys Neighborhood Watch News is available to read online here.

Make a difference as an LAPD volunteer and be the change you want to see in your community. Volunteers represent a broad range of ages, from teenagers to senior citizens. As a volunteer, here are some of the available opportunities:

For information on volunteer opportunities with the LAPD, email Officer Jason Jimenez in the Community Relations Office at 38903@lapd.online, or call (818) 374-5420. You can also get more information about the LAPD Volunteer Program by visiting this link.

You may have noticed the unique art design appearing in the masthead of this issue of the Ziff Flyer. The original art was created by Precious Ramierz, a Senior at Notre Dame High School here in Sherman Oaks. Precious' original art was chosen as the winning design in answer to SONC's call for submissions for painting a DOT Utility box, as part of the Let's Paint Sherman Oaks project. The project provides grants to local artists to paint LADOT Utility Boxes throughout Sherman Oaks. In partnership with Council District 4, the Sherman Oaks Chamber Foundation has already awarded grants to artists, and painted over 90 utility boxes. Grants include the cost of all materials. After painting, the Chamber Foundation coats all utility boxes with an anti-graffiti coating and cleans them monthly. The exact location of the utility box that will be adorned with Precious Ramírez's original art design is yet to be determined, but keep an eye out for it!

In the interim, the SONC Outreach Committee decided that to help celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the SONC Charter, part of Precious' design would be appropriately incorporated into a series of light pole banners that have been hung on major thoroughfares all around Sherman Oaks. The portion of the design chosen is the unique interpretation of the oak tree, with its brightly colored pinkish hue.

You will most likely never see an actual oak tree anywhere in Sherman Oaks bearing this unusual color palette. But you will see the original graphic depiction of Precious Ramirez's beautifully painted trees for many months to come. The light pole banners will remain in place during the entire year to celebrate SONC's anniversary, to encourage neighborhood involvement with local government and to foster stakeholder engagement. Have you seen any of these banners in your area? Drop us a note, and tell us what you think. Send your thoughts to sonc.newsletter@gmail.com