CM presents Vons employee donation to hospital that treated his wife Brigid
Brigid and Tom LaBonge hold $100,000 check to USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, joined by Tina Pakfar of USC/Norris, Dr. Oscar Streeter, and store manager Leticia Perez.
Councilmember Tom LaBonge joined Vons employees in presenting a $100,000 check to the USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center Tuesday at the Pavilion’s supermarket at the corner of Melrose and Vine. The Councilmember’s wife Brigid LaBonge, who was successfully treated at the center, attended the event as well.
“I’m very grateful to the good people at USC/Norris for taking care of my wife Brigid during a difficult time for our family,” the Councilmember said. “I’m also grateful to Vons employees and shoppers who raised this money.”
Mrs. LaBonge, who has been cancer-free since October, 2006, said the event had a certain synchronicity for her because she has been both a Vons shopper and USC/Norris donor for decades.
“They’re two places who really take care of me coming together to make an impact,” Mrs. LaBonge said.
The event was held in the store’s florist area with about a dozen employees gathered around. The employees and customers of several regional Vons-owned stores (including Pavilions) raised the donation money in a variety of ways during the annual month-long breast cancer fundraising campaign held every October. The check presentation was held in March to coincide with Women's History month and at Vine St. Pavilions to be in the Fourth Council District.
Dr. Oscar Streeter, the radiation oncologist who treated Mrs. LaBonge, said breast cancer treatment has become much more successful in recent years, but fundraising has become more difficult. He and Tina Pakfar, executive director of development for USC/Norris, said they were grateful to Vons employees and shoppers for the generous donation.
NoHo Groundbreaking
Councilmember LaBonge joined Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Developer Jerry Snyder, Movie Theater owner Bob Laemmle and many others in breaking ground on a new office/theater/restaurant complex in North Hollywood on March 24th. The project is a public-private partnership between the City of Los Angeles, the JH Snyder Company and Laemmle Theaters. "What a great day this is for NoHo," the Councilmember said. "This project creates a nexus of culture and commerce at the transit crossroads of this very important part of the San Fernando Valley." This third phase of North Hollywood’s NoHo Commons project will include a seven-screen movie theater, 182,000 square feet of office space and restoration of a historic, San Fernando Valley diner under approvals granted Thurs., March 20, by the Board of Commissioners of the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles (CRA/LA). The NoHo Commons project was approved in 2001. Developed by J.H. Snyder, Phase I was completed December 2006 and contains a 438-unit mixed-income residential rental project. Phase II, completed June 2007, contains 292 units of loft and live/work rentals and 60,000 square feet of retail/commercial space including How's supermarket, a bank, mobile phone store and several restaurants.
CM LaBonge Announces $50,000 Reward in Freeway Shooting
Councilmember LaBonge stands with the family of Bunthan Roeung, who was tragically killed in a freeway shooting on March 1. Mr. Roeung's sister Nikki held a photo of her 26-year-old brother, saying, "He was a good boy. Please help us."
Councilmember Tom LaBonge and Los Angeles Police Department Lt. Alan Hamilton announced the offer of a $50,000 reward today for information leading to the conviction in the murder of Bunthan Roeung. Standing in front of the North Hollywood police station, the Councilmember announced the reward while surrounded by Mr. Roeung’s family.
“Here it is the first day of Spring, a beautiful day, a day of renewal which has been denied to Bunthan and his family because of this tragic crime,” the Councilmember said. “There are people out there who have information on the murder of this young man, who was known as T. I hope this reward persuades them to step forward and do the right thing.”
Mr. Roeung, a 26-year-old architectural draftsman from the San Fernando Valley, had been riding in a friend’s vehicle on Hollywood Boulevard on March 1, when suspected gangmembers pulled up next to their car. Words were exchanged and Mr. Roeung’s friend tried to drive away quickly by getting on the 101 Freeway. The suspected gangmembers followed in a gray or black Cheverolet Monte Carlo with red pinstrips and a possible “F-1 motor sports” paper license plates.
Moments later, the Monte Carlo pulled up next to Mr. Roeung’s friend’s car and fired gunshots into the car, killing Mr. Roeung.
Councilmember LaBonge’s motion to provide the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction in the murder Mr. Roeung was approved by the City Council on Wednesday, March, 19. Anyone with information about this shooting should call Detective Richard Wheeler in North Hollywood Homicide at (818)623-4075.
Groundbreaking for Robert Burns Park Play Area
Residents of Windsor Square and Larchmont Village helped Councilmember LaBonge break ground on Thursday for a series of upgrades to Robert Burns Park on Beverly Boulevard on March 13. “We’re making this park nicer for the community and looking to create John Ferraro Park to the east of Western Avenue to take some of the pressure off of this park,” Councilmember LaBonge said. Besides installing new playground equipment, the Dept. of Recreation and Parks also plans to plant new trees and grass. New security lighting and water fountains have already been installed. The installation is scheduled to take eight weeks so that it is ready in time for summer.
CM LaBonge introduces resolution to boost international tourism
Members of Los Angeles' Asian-American community march along North Broadway in the 2008 Golden Dragon Parade.
Councilmember Tom LaBonge introduced a resolution this week to promote international tourism while maintaining secure national borders. The councilmember’s resolution supports a federal bill designed to boost international tourism, which has lagged since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
The Travel Promotion Act of 2007, sponsored by U.S. Congressman Bill Delahunt (D-Mass.) and Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.) calls for creation of a non-profit corporation to promote the United States as a premier travel destination; clearly explain U.S. security policies and counter negative misperceptions about travel in America. It would be financed through industry contributions and a $10 fee on the visas of some foreign travelers. No American taxpayer dollars would be spent on this initiative.
22nd Annual Los Angeles Marathon
Councilmember LaBonge with L.A. Marathon founder Bill Burke at the corner of Cahuenga & Lankershim, the starting point for the Los Angeles Marathon.
Councilmember LaBonge walked the first five miles of the 22nd Annual Los Angeles Marathon. This year’s event followed the same point-to-point course that the councilmember pressed marathon officials to use last year. The new route, which began in the San Fernando Valley and ended downtown, covers a vast and varied swath of Los Angeles.
Councilmember LaBonge encourages partnership for clean streets
Councilmember LaBonge demonstrates the importance of everyone's participation in keeping our streets clean.
Councilmember LaBonge gave a push to the 2008 Keep Los Angeles Beautiful campaign this week when he helped promote a new partnership between the Los Angeles Bureau of Public Works and CalTrans. The two agencies vowed to work together to clean up litter and remove graffiti as part of the nation-wide Great American Clean-up, which began March 1 and runs through May 31.
First Community Congress of 2008 a success
Councilmember LaBonge and DWP General Manager & CEO H. David Nahai listen to the concerns of CD4 residents at the first Community Congress of 2008.
Councilmember LaBonge hosted his first Community Congresses of 2008 on Wednesday, February 27th. It was his latest in a series of meetings designed to bring city departments to the public.
“Information is knowledge is power,” Councilmember LaBonge said in welcoming about 50 CD4 residents to the event, held at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s (DWP’s) John Ferrarro building on Hope Street downtown.