ADA's 20th Anniversary: Councilmember Emcees Ceremony
Monday marked the 20th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act, signed into law by President George H.W. Bush in 1990. At City Hall, Councilmember LaBonge and other officials marked the occasion with performances and a film screening. The City of Los Angeles Department on Disability and the Los Angeles World Airports hosted the event.
"We are here to celebrate 20 years of civil rights protections for disabled people," Councilmember LaBonge said. "We need to push ahead and make certain the American Disabilities Act continues to even out the playing field for all Americans."
The act was the catalyst for major improvements in accessibility for disabled people. It also continues to be a guiding force for addressing civil rights issues.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Council President Eric Garcetti and Councilmembers Tony Cardenas, Jan Perry and Bill Rosendahl joined other officials and community members in the City Hall celebration. Special guests included Olympic Gold Medalist and Founder of the Special Olympics of Southern California, Rafer Johnson, actress and comedian best known for her role on 1980s hit television series "Facts of Life," Geri Jewel, and from AMC's "Breaking Bad," R.J. Mitte. The Academy of Music for the Blind launched the celebration with a stunning performance. The Screen Actors Guild hosted a screening of the film “Sympathy for Delicious.” Director/actor Mark Ruffalo was among those on hand for a panel discussion about the film.
Bicycling Coalition: Look Forward to Working with Councilmember
Councilmember Tom LaBonge and the Los Angeles County Bicycling Coaltion (LACBC) joined nearly 60 cyclists at a walking and bicycling event at Shatto Park on Saturday. The LACBC hosted the event to champion Los Angeles' efforts to create friendlier roads for cyclists.
"It's a privilege to work with cycling advocates like the Los Angeles County Bicycling Coaltion," Councilmember LaBonge said. "I look forward to working with the cycling community to develop a network of bike-friendly streets."
You can view the Los Angeles Bicycle Plan Update, the city's long-term plan for improving bike transportation, by clicking here.
It identifies streets that are targeted for easier bike access with designated bike lanes or sharrows, which are shared lane markings.
Other speakers at the LACBC event addressed safety and other issues that face cyclists. Speakers included Jeff Jacoberger of the Mid-City West Neighborhood Council; Mike Russell of the Wilshire Center Business Improvement District; Megan Hirsch mother and author; Jackie Ruby a resident and recent 4th Street volunteer and Howard Krepak a lawyer who specializes in representing bicyclists. Residents and cycling enthusiasts began the day by taking a ride down Fourth Street to show support for Los Angeles to become a bicycling-friendly city.
Councilmember Cheers Increase in Local Film Production
Councilmember LaBonge applauded the recent increase in on-location filming, saying it shows that new incentives are helping to keep Hollywood in Los Angeles where it belongs. A quarterly report shows a 16 percent increase in area on-location filming.
"Los Angeles and the State of California are working to keep filming in Los Angeles," Councilmember LaBonge said. "This is the film capital of the world and we want to keep it that way."
Many of the nearly 16,000 entertainment industry professionals living in Councilmember LaBonge's district have been heavily impacted by the surge of "runaway filming" when production companies began to be lured to film in other cities by tax incentives and other benefits. Los Angeles City Council has passed a number of motions to combat runaway filming, including mandates to government agencies to improve relations to the film industry and increase accessibility to public spaces for filming. In 2009, the City Council voted unanimously to extend The Entertainment and Multimedia Tax Incentive to Downtown Los Angeles. The tax incentive was first issued to entertainment and multimedia businesses in the Hollywood and North Hollywood redevelopment areas in 1996 in order to stimulate economic growth in the areas.
Similar measures were enacted statewide. The California Film and Television Tax Credit introduced in July of 2009 was also implemented to encourage in-state filming.
It is advised for people in film-location areas to work with their Council offices in order to mitigate neighborhood issues.
A Taste of Hollywood for the Final Night of Tour LaBonge
Iconic Hollywood was the focal point of Wednesday’s Tour LaBonge, the sixth and final night of the Councilmember’s annual biking series. Nearly 100 cyclists and community members rolled through tinsel town to celebrate some of the cities highlights and to promote cycling in Los Angeles.
“I hope this annual tradition will inspire Angelenos to take a ride more often,” Councilmember LaBonge said. “It’s not only good for the environment; it’s good for the waistline.”
Paramount Studios was the first pit stop on the way to Pinks Hot Dogs, the famed Hollywood eatery in its 70th year on La Brea Avenue. Afterwards, Councilmember LaBonge led cyclists down Hollywood Boulevard, one part of the 18-block Hollywood Walk of Fame, which is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year.
The annual Tour LaBonge bike rides are fun events that promote cycling as an inexpensive, environmentally friendly and healthy form of transportation. Every ride includes a police escort that will lead, accompany and follow the biking group. The annual bike series will launch again in the summer of 2011.
Councilmember LaBonge: Mobile Mural Brings Back Our Vistas
Councilmember Tom LaBonge joined the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)for the unveiling of a mural replica of the Galileo, Jupiter, and Apollo mural along the northbound Hollywood Freeway (US 101). The replica is the first of a series of mural replicas to be installed around the City of Los Angeles as part of the Mobile Mural Demonstration Project funded by a grant from Wells Fargo.
"Our freeway system is a river of humanity and we need those beautiful vistas along the way," Councilmember LaBonge said. "Vandalism has ruined some of our finest murals, but this program will allow us
to keep graffiti from ruining the artist's vision."
Damage caused by vandals along Los Angeles freeways costs Caltrans millions of dollars annually. The Caltrans Transportation Art Program, working in conjunction with Wells Fargo, has initiated the replacement project to try new and innovative ways to improve freeway aesthetics and reduce disruptions to traffic, at no cost to taxpayers. The mural replica will remain in place for 90 days.
“The Mobile Mural Demonstration Project gives Caltrans the ability to work with communities and businesses like Wells Fargo to improve the look of the freeway landscape, make necessary upgrades, and save tax dollars,” said, Dan Freeman, Caltrans Deputy District Director of Maintenance.
“We have a LA Live area that has been revitalized and is beautiful, and we wanted to bring that same kind of improvement throughout the entire city,” said Mark Ingram, Wells Fargo Executive Vice President of Corporate Properties.
The Galileo, Jupiter, and Apollo mural once adorned the northbound side of the Hollywood Freeway (US 101) between Spring Street and Broadway. It was designed and painted by muralist John Wehrle in 1983 for the 1984 Los
Angeles Olympics. Its replica is a 75 foot by 9.5 foot tall canvas made of recycled plastic and vinyl fabric.
Previously, servicing or repainting the freeway murals would require lane and shoulder closures. Also, the repairs were often short-lived as they would be vandalized almost immediately after repair work was complete. The replica murals can now be mounted and removed for periodic cleanings without impeding traffic. The material should be able to resist most graffiti paint.
Wilton Place's New Gardens
Councilmember Tom LaBonge joined the City of Los Angeles Board of Public Works Vice President Andrea Alarcon, Los Angeles Bureau of Street Services Director William A. Robertson, other city officials and members of the community to break ground for the new Wilton Place Traffic Islands on Thursday.
“The members of the Wilton community and I are celebrating today,” Councilmember LaBonge said. “These new medians will not only provide a welcoming gateway to this National Historic District, but will also slow traffic and encourage people to walk through this great neighborhood.”
“Among our many objectives is to maintain ‘walkable’ communities, where residents can safely walk during the day or in the evening,” Robertson said of the Department of Public Works, Bureau of Street Services’ goal in projects like the Wilton Place Traffic Islands. “The expanded traffic triangles will provide safety areas for pedestrians and enable them to cross the street safely in a shorter distance.”
"When finished, the project will increase both pedestrian and vehicle traffic safety," said Alarcon. "It is an outstanding example of the City and area residents working together to enhance the quality of life for the neighborhood. We are pleased to build this important and beneficial project.”
The garden medians, to be installed on the 1st and 2nd Streets intersections of Wilton Place, have been part of the Councilmember’s vision for the area for years. The traffic islands will include decorative crosswalks to make the intersections safer for people walking or biking to the Wilshire Branch Library at 1st and St. Andrews Place.
The project is funded by the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency. City landscape architects worked with residents on the designs for the project before finalizing the plans. The traffic islands are scheduled to be completely installed by December 2010. To view the landscape plans, click here.
Griffith Park and LA River Highlighted in the Tour LaBonge
Tour LaBonge, the Councilmember’s series of summer evening bike rides, celebrated its fifth night on Wednesday with a 17-mile ride that began at the historic Mulholland Fountain.
The Councilmember led the way through the rolling hills of Griffith Park on Crystal Springs Drive, past the Autry National Center and onward along the Los Angeles River. Thanks goes to Pasadena's Incycle Bicycles for providing free bicycle tune-ups beforehand!
Riders were treated to sweeping views of the river, which was alive with great blue herons, great egrets, black-crowned night herons, a mass of Black-necked stilts, and even a double-crested cormorant. Thank you to rider Olive Kearn for identifying the various species.
Librarian Clare O'Callaghan was recognized for commuting to work regularly on her bike after one of the LaBonge rides inspired her to climb onto a bicycle for the first time since her childhood.
“Clare O’Callahan was motivated by Tour LaBonge to keep on bicycling, but I’ve met so many people who are motivated by her,” Councilmember LaBonge said. “That is the great thing about cycling: we’ve all got it in us. Thanks to Clare for being today’s inspiration through the climbs of Griffith Park.”
The annual Tour LaBonge bike rides are fun events that promote cycling as an inexpensive, environmentally friendly and healthy form of transportation. Every ride includes a police escort that will lead, accompany and follow the group.
The final bike ride on Wednesday, July 21 will take cyclists through Hollywood. It will begin at Councilmember LaBonge’s Hollywood Field Office at 6501 Fountain Avenue.
Pat Boone at the Las Palmas Senior Center
Pat Boone received a proclamation from Councilmember Tom LaBonge and the City of Los Angeles, designating July 12, 2010 as “Pat Boone Day.” The actor, singer and author met with Councilmember LaBonge and adoring fans at the Las Palmas Senior Center where residents created their own Pat Boone Day, paying homage to the actor by screening “State Fair,” the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical.
“Pat Boone is a Hollywood legend and an American icon,” Councilmember LaBonge said. “More than a part of Americana, he has become a huge part of Los Angeles through his charitable efforts. Los Angeles loves Pat Boone.”
“Pat Boone Day in Los Angeles, in the City of Angels” Boone reflected. “How tremendous to be honored in that company.”
The entertainer, who has sold over 40 million albums throughout his career, once boasted Elvis Presley was his opening act. Boone moved on from pop royalty to be the owner of several television and radio stations, sports teams, publishers, record companies and more. Boone has remained part of American popular culture in a career that spans nearly six decades.
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