Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day
January 16th, 2012
Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day Each year, we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Growing up, my mother and father shared personal stories of their involvement in the civil rights movement—stories that I remember to this day. Last year, my mom shared with me one of
Read More »Our Commitment to Public Safety
January 6th, 2012
Recently, my office and 9th District constituents have learned that many of the surveillance cameras installed and donated by local business groups in downtown need to be maintained and fixed by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). Unfortunately, this fact was highlighted by an extremely disturbing incident; a 53 year
Read More »Preserving Our Shared History for the Benefit of Future Generations:
December 14th, 2011
Redevelopment of Dunbar Hotel on Historic Central Avenue Officially Begins This week marked an important milestone in our efforts to develop and invest in historic Central Avenue. We broke ground on Dunbar Village, which includes the highly anticipated renovation of the historic Dunbar Hotel and the adjacent Somerville I and
Read More »Downtown Women’s Center Receives National Honor for Preservation and Enhancement of Historic Building
December 13th, 2011
Today, I had the pleasure of honoring representatives from the Downtown Women’s Center (DWC) in Council for their work in preserving the historic Elias Katz Shoe Factory, a dilapidated warehouse that was transformed into 71 units of permanent supportive housing. DWC recently renovated the building, preserving the building’s architectural and
Read More »City’s Process on Stadium Deal Is the Very Thing That Affords Transparency
July 18th, 2011
Even before there is anything solid to debate, the potential for an NFL stadium and events center has garnered a lot of attention in the media and heavy debate in the public and Los Angeles City Council. Let’s look at the facts: The developers proposing the project, Anschutz Entertainment Group
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Splash into Summer at Your Local Pool
June 30th, 2011
It’s starting to get hot out there! And, with a weekend forecast of blue skies, the best way to enjoy the start of summer and our great Southern California weather is poolside. Just in time for the long weekend, community pools are open for summer hours. In the Ninth District,
Read More »LADWP Takes their Financial Plan on the Road
June 7th, 2011
On Saturday, Council President Pro Tempore Jan Perry hosted the first-ever joint meeting of the Energy and Environment Committee and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) Commission as a starting point for an important discussion: LADWP’s financial future, the challenges they face with respect to federal and
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LAX/Crenshaw Line: What is the Future of the Leimert Park Station?
May 27th, 2011
Yesterday, the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) Board voted on a proposal to include a below-grade metro stop in Leimert Park as part of the LAX/Crenshaw transit corridor project. I joined my colleague, Councilmember Bernard C. Parks in issuing strong support for the addition of this station to the line. We
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Support for Leimert Park Station
May 26th, 2011
I co-authored a letter with Councilmember Parks to support a below-grade Leimert Park station as part of the proposed LAX/Crenshaw rail line. The letter was addressed the MTA board who is considering the matter today. Click to see PDF of letter.
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The 16th Annual Los Angeles Times’ Festival of Books Heads to USC
April 22nd, 2011
I am happy to welcome the Los Angeles Times’ Festival of Books to its new home, the University Park Campus at the University of Southern California (USC) For 16 years, the Annual Festival of Books has brought together families, authors, and academics to support literacy and promote a passion for
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