April 2008 Archives

L.A. County Supervisor Mike Antonovich thinks the city of Los Angeles is much like the space phenomenon that traps everything, even light. At least when it comes to money, according to the latest newsletter from Valley Vote.

"The city of L.A. is the black hole," Antonovich said at the April 21 Valley Vote meeting. "You see the dollars go in and they disappear. You have to ask yourseld does L.A. have a revenue problem or a cost problem."

Antonovich was elected to the county board of supervisors in 1980 - country supervisors have no term limits.

He wonders why a city with a $7 billion budget can't provide efficient mass transit. One reason may be that it doesn't have a $22 billion budget like the county, according to the Valley Vote newsletter. But Antonovich suspects the real reason is that downtown business interests - and the politicians they control - don't listen to the neighborhoods.

"Many years ago, Valley voters were asked if they wanted a subway or a monorail to run along the 101 to downtown," Antonovich recalled at the Valley Vote meeting. "The monorail came out No. 1; the subway finished last. But Dick Riordan got the city to vote against it and the (Los Angeles) Times never referred to the vote of the people in its reporting. City Hall and the Times brushed you aside and now you don't have mass transit to anywhere. The reason is that transit dollars are spent by the Metro Transit Authority (which is dominated by Antonio Villaraigosa.) That's why instead of using the right of ways we already have to complete the Gold and Expo lines, the mayor wants to spent $5 billion to build the subway to the sea."

LA's habit of caving to developers and discarding agreed-upon development plans is reflected in its handling of county airports, according to Valley Vote's newsletter.

"In the 1960s, LA wanted to have airports serving the entire region so LAWA acquired Ontario and Palmdale. Eventually, LAWA put more parking at Ontario, but it dragged it's feet in promoting Palmdale. The 405 doesn't expand like a pair of pantyhose," he said with a smile. "It makes no sense for people from Ventura and Kern counties to go all the way to LAX when they could go to Palmdale or Ontario."

To insure that at least Los Angeles can use Palmdale, Antonovich said that three weeks ago the county began providing bus service from Van Nuys to the Palmdale airport, the Valley Vote newsletter states.

Valley Vote is the organization that led a petition drive to place a measure before voters in 2002 seeking to secede the San Fernando Valley from the city of Los Angeles. The measure did not pass.

Today, Valley Vote's mission is to explore and foster the implementation of programs that empower the people of the Valley and city of Los Angeles in order to improve local governance, education and public participation on policy matters.

L.A. Councilmember Wendy Greuel will be the speaker at the next meeting of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association to be held at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, in the Sunkist Building, 14130 Riverside Drive, Sherman Oaks.

She will discuss several issues including traffic, development, the city's budget and the fight against gangs.

For more information, call 818-377-4590, e-mail soha914@gmail.com or visit www.sohainfo.com.

The Chatsworth Neighborhood Council will sponsor an adult, child and infant CPR class from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at the Rockpointe Club House, 22300 Devonshire St., Chatsworth.

The class is free to anyone who lives, works, owns property or boards a horse in Chatsworth. All others will be charged a $25 fee.

Space is limited and available on a first-registered, first-served basis.

To register, call Clara Woll at 818-464-3511 and leave your name and either a phone number or an e-mail address.

In the Sun Valley Neighborhood Council's April 5 election, the preliminary results show 12 people were elected to posts.

Elected as residents were Karina Garcia, Luis O. Medina, Moke O'Gara and Manuel De La Torre.

Elected as business/property owners were Rafael Cardenas, Raul Gonzalez, Elidia Vasquez and Danielle Harmon.

Elected to at-large posts were Dionosio Alcala Jr., Jon G. Eshbach, Art Sweet and Vinita McClennon.

Those elected will serve from May 13 through April 2010.

Valley Glen will finally get two community-designated signs on the 170 Freeway - one at Oxnard and the other at Victory, according to a short article by Greater Valley Glen Council President Judy Price in the latest newsletter from the Valley Glen Neighborhood Association.

The signs are expected to go up later this month or in early May. There will be a sign on the northbound side of the freeway at Oxnard and on the southbound side at Victory that will state "Valley Glen next two exits."

At each off-ramp, there will be a sign stating "Valley Glen," with a directional arrow.

GVGC has paid CalTrans $8,750 for the cost of the signs. Neighborhood councils receive $50,000 a year for local improvement projects, public safety issues, outreach efforts and elections.

For more information, visit www.valleyglen.org.

At 6 p.m. tonight, there will be a special meeting of the Woodland Hills Neighborhood Council at Taft High School to address budget issues, including discussing Mayor Villaraigosa's proposed budget.

Part of the discussion will examine the changes in neighborhood council funding and policies regarding the retention and spending of council rollover funds from one fiscal year to the next.

Taft High is located at 5461 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills.

At 7 p.m., the council will hold a town hall meeting to address the LAUSD’s proposal to house CHAMPS Charter School on the Taft High School campus.

LAUSD board member Marlene Canter, LAUSD Senior Deputy Superintendent Ramon Cortines and teachers' union president A.J.Duffy are slated to participate in the meeting.

In the Lake Balboa Neighborhood Council's recent election, Ivan Tjoe, David Anthony Bernardoni and Teresa Pollock were elected to the three residential positions open on the board.

Elected to two business positions were Amber Dawn Savastio and Clayton W. McFarland, while Lisa Reveen was elected to the one organization post available.

Evan Michael Doxsee ran unopposed for the one youth position on the board.

The Lake Balboa Neighborhood Council meets at 7:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of every month at the Lake Balboa Studios located at 7412 Balboa Blvd.

For more information, visit www.lakebalboanc.org.

The Chatsworth Neighborhood Council recently discussed several issues including:

* - The availability of funds for future Chatsworth Holiday Parades

* - The possibilities of a skateboard park in Chatsworth

* - The need for a cultural center in the area

* - The need for a teen center

* - The engraved pavers at the train station are becoming unreadable

* - The widening of some streets in Chatsworth

The council meets at 7 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at Lawrence Middle School, 10100 Variel Ave., Chatsworth.

For more information, call 818-464-3511 or visit www.chatsworthcouncil.org.

Preliminary results from the Sunland Tujunga Neighborhood Council's April 5 election show that in the contested races, Mark Seigel was elected treasurer, Deborah Ray and Ben Vandertuin got the most votes in one category and Edmund Novy and Belinda Woodruff won in another category.

Results also show that, in uncontested races, Dan McManus was elected president, Victor Castro IV, first vice president, Nina Royal, second vice president, and Cindy Cleghorn, secretary.

Others elected to the council were Olina Lowe, Bill Manning, Jenny Rodriguez, Berj Zadoian, Mose Mose Jr., Tomi Lyn Bowling, Ricky Grubb, Elizabeth Jahelka, Richard Stewart, Lydia Grant, John Gerget and Marti Marshall.

Preliminary results from the Sunland Tujunga Neighborhood Council's April 5 election show that in the contested races, Mark Seigel was elected treasurer, Deborah Ray and Ben Vandertuin got the most votes in one category and Edmund Novy and Belinda Woodruff won in another category.

Results also show that, in uncontested races, Dan McManus was elected president, Victor Castro IV, first vice president, Nina Royal, second vice president, and Cindy Cleghorn, secretary.

Others elected to the council were Olina Lowe, Bill Manning, Jenny Rodriguez, Berj Zadoian, Mose Mose Jr., Tomi Lyn Bowling, Ricky Grubb, Elizabeth Jahelka, Richard Stewart, Lydia Grant, John Gerget and Marti Marshall.

The Sylmar Neighborhood Council talked about the large number of sex offenders residing in the community during its March 27 meeting.

The Megan's Law Web site lists 157 registrants in the 91342 zip code.

As this was not an agendized item, the board could not take action. However, board members discussed creating an ad-hob committee to look into why so many offenders are moving into Sylmar and what can be done in the future.

In other Sylmar Neighborhood Council news, the council will have a team in this year's Sylmar Relay for Life, to be held April 12 and 13.

Called the Purple Hearts, the team will be captained by Quyen Vo-Ramirez and Fabian Garcia. Team members include Lynn Zekanis, Hector Cabrera, Randall Kelly, Rick Donnelly and Jan Sandstrom.

The event raises funds for the American Cancer Society.

L.A. County Supervisor Michael Antonovich will be the speaker at the next Valley Vote meeting at 6:45 p.m. Monday, April 21.

Next month, the organization will hear from L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at 6:45 p.m. Monday May 12.

Both meetings will be held in the second-floor meeting room of Galpin Ford, 15555 Roscoe Blvd., Van Nuys.

For more information, visit www.valleyvote.org.

Valley Vote is the organization that led a petition drive to place a measure before voters in 2002 seeking to secede the San Fernando Valley from the city of Los Angeles. The measure did not pass.

Today, Valley Vote's mission is to explore and foster the implementation of programs that empower the people of the Valley and city of Los Angeles in order to improve local governance, education and public participation on policy matters.

The Northridge West Neighborhood Council recently approved purchasing two banners that will advertise the council's meetings.

Dennis DeYoung, vice president of administraton on the council, proposed buying the banners, which he said will cost no more than $250.

They will be placed at two prominent locations in the community.

The council meets at 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at Beckford Elementary School, 19130 Tulsa St., Northridge.

For more information, visit www.northridgewest.org.

The Northridge West Neighborhood Council recently approved purchasing two banners that will advertise the council's meetings.

Dennis DeYoung, vice president of administraton on the council, proposed buying the banners, which he said will cost no more than $250.

They will be placed at two prominent locations in the community.

The council meets at 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at Beckford Elementary School, 19130 Tulsa St., Northridge.

For more information, visit www.northridgewest.org.

Residents in the Sunland-Tujunga area can let their neighborhood council know what they're thinking through a survey that can be accessed on the council's Web site www.stnc.org.

Besides some basic demographic questions, the survey also asks how the council treated you if you attended or spoke at a meeting and how you found out about the meeting in the first place. You can also let the council know what issues concern you the most, including crime, delivery of city services and land-use issues.

If you'd like to get involved with the council as a member or a volunteer, there's a place to check for that, as well.

Completed surveys should be turned in to the council's office, located at 7747 Foothill Blvd., Room 101, Tujunga, by June 1.

Elections for board seats on the Lake Balboa Neighborhood Council are coming up soon.

Residents can vote from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 12 at Lake Balboa Studios, 7412 Balboa Blvd., Lake Balboa.

Here's the break-down of candidates according to the council's Web site:

Ivan L. Tjoe, Ruth Ann Doxee, Sandy Paolmarez McGill, David Anthony Bernardoni and Teresa Pollock are vying for three residential seats.

Nancy Gwen Kane, Arthur Aslanian, Amber Dawn Savastio and Clayton W. McFarland are up for two business positions.

Sharon Brewer and Lisa Reveen are competing for one organization seat.

The only candidate for the youth seat on the council is Evan Michael Doxee.

There can be no write-in candidates in this election.

On the Sylmar Neighborhood Council's Web site, there's an item about a stop signal that's been under construction for more than a year.

The signal, at the intersection of Foothill and Yarnell, has not been activated because the original wiring is obsolete and needs to be replaced.

Construction has been further bogged down because of challenges meeting ADA compliance requirements, said Matt Laufer, neighborhood council board member.

Quoting the Web site brief, "It appears the signal could not be turned on until there was a crosswalk, which could not be painted until there was a curb cut, which could not be done for lack of a curb and ADA compliant sidewalk. The signal was required by the developer of the Cascades in order to mitigate resulting traffic. The City Engineer and the DWP are addressing the non-ADA-compliance issues and the corner will be re-constructed."

Mark your calendars. Two big events are coming up in Valley Glen.

The Valley Glen Neighborhood Association will hold its second annual economic and housing outlook at its next general meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, at Erwin Elementary School, 13400 Erwin St.

Then, the association will hold its seventh annual yard sale from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at 13422 Oxnard St.

The group appreciates donations, but no couches or sofas, please.

The association will pick up items for the sale on Friday, May 16.

To schedule a pick-up, call Mickey Jannol at 818-613-6311.