Draft Redistricting Maps Released for Los Angeles Council Districts

In the interest of the city as a whole, I’m very disappointed in the draft-map released by the Redistricting Commission. The people of the 4th District participated in the public hearings on redistricting, stating loud and clear the importance of neighborhood integrity, the balance of diversity and the political representation of communities of interest in Council District 4.

This draft redistricting map weakens the political representation of the Santa Monica Mountains, fractures the community of Hollywood among three Council districts and dissolves the historic core of Council District 4 – the greater Wilshire area, including the Miracle Mile, Larchmont Village, Windsor Square, Pan Pacific Park and Park La Brea. What disappoints me most is that the will of the people of the 4th district was seemingly ignored by this important process.

I therefore encourage all interested residents and community leaders of the 4th District to attend the upcoming public meetings on redistricting and make their voices heard unequivocally on keeping their neighborhoods and communities of interest together.

Volunteer in the City of Los Angeles

There’s never been a better or more important time to consider volunteering your time and talent in the City of Los Angeles. And with the season of gratitude and giving right around the corner, won’t it feel gratifying to give something back to your community?
The City continues to face financial challenges which have resulted in significant staffing shortages and resulting cuts to City services. I therefore urge those who are able and willing to volunteer in whatever way they can to make the City of Angels a better place to live.

Everybody has something to offer their community. If you are passionate about preserving open space in Griffith Park or providing homeless services in your community or if you want to devote some time to your local library branch, you’d be an excellent volunteer and a tremendous asset to your neighborhood, your community and the City of Los Angeles.

The 10th Anniversary of the 9/11 Terror Attacks

As we mark the tenth anniversary of the terror attacks of September 11th, 2001, we reflect on what we've lost, how far we've come and what we must do to protect our way of life going forward. We mustn't forget that our strength lies in our diversity, that there is no faith that's better than another faith and that we must accept, respect and embrace our differences. We can't let hate rule us. We must overcome those who live by a philosophy of hate. Hate is a horrible thing, and to erase hate brings freedom to all people. Trying to do that is the big challenge for us all. We have to live in this world of great diversity with the idea that all men and women are created equal and that all people and all faiths should be respected.

Sworn to serve the people of Los Angeles and the Fourth District

Councilman LaBonge is sworn-in for a third term in office atop Mt. Hollywood in Griffith Park on June 21st by his wife Brigid, with children Mary-Cate and Charles looking on.

Now that I've been sworn-in, it's time to continue the work we've been doing for the past 11 years. I'm so honored to represent Los Angeles and the Fourth Council District for a third term in office. That gives me less than 48 months to accomplish the things we want to do. Every day is a blessing and an opportunity to make things better and serve the people of the great city of Los Angeles. I know if we work together, we can do anything.

Community meeting to discuss implications of the 2011-2012 Los Angeles City Budget

On Wednesday May 18th, 2011, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously passed a 6.9-billion dollar budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2011-2012. This was a difficult budget, and my Council colleagues and I had to wrestle with tough and complicated choices in approving the Mayor's proposed spending plan. However, there are positive aspects to the budget we just approved after many hours of deliberation. Among them are expanded library hours, increased funding for street repairs, the consolidation of operations around core-functions that will reduce overlap and redundancy. The Los Angeles Police Department will be maintained at current staffing levels, allowing Chief Charlie Beck to build on the crime-reduction momentum we've seen in recent years. I know that many community members are very concerned about the implications of the new Deployment Plan for the Los Angeles Fire Department that will go into effect this coming July 2011. Chief Millage Peaks has worked hard to assure that no fire stations are closing and that no fire fighters will be laid-off as a result of this budget.

Many thanks to all of our wonderful supporters!

I’m very grateful to the voters of the Fourth District for re-electing me to the Los Angeles City Council. We had a dedicated group of volunteers who did a fantastic job talking to voters and helping to get out the vote.

My priority has always been to serve the People of the Fourth District and the City of Los Angeles. Our challenge as a City is to resolve our fiscal matters and to re-engineer Los Angeles City government to be more effective, with a renewed focus on meeting the needs of our communities. I’m confident that – together – we can overcome these challenges. We have to work together to make the hard choices that face us and agree on the best way forward in these uncertain times.

As one of the authors, I’m so pleased that the voters saw fit to approve Measure L. This is an investment in our city that will pay dividends for decades to come. Our Libraries and our Parks – from Pan Pacific Park to Griffith Park and every one in between -- are treasured resources that must be protected and properly funded to give Angelenos outlets for our minds and our bodies.

Take the Los Angeles Budget Challenge

Would you like to see what our budget planners are up against as they try to balance the City of Los Angeles Budget? Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and I encourage community members to participate in the Los Angeles Budget Challenge survey available through February 27, 2011. An online survey tool designed to give the community better information and access to the budget process, the Los Angeles Budget Challenge is aimed at making the City's budget process more transparent and inclusive.

The City Charter requires that the Mayor receive a list of budget priorities from the Neighborhood Councils each year. Since the beginning of Mayor Villaraigosa’s tenure at City Hall, this responsibility has culminated in Community Budget Day. The City worked with a non-profit policy organization to develop this survey which asks participants to balance a projected $349 million deficit by making decisions on items such as service reductions, furloughs, and revenue-generating initiatives.

Additionally, the survey includes numerous links to educational information regarding the budget process, as well as links to City department programs, services, and reports. Participants are also able to send immediate feedback through a “Take Action” feature that serves as a direct conduit to City Hall for comments, ideas and questions regarding the budget. The survey tool is meant to serve as a public campaign to inform Angelenos about City finances, making the budget process more transparent and accessible.

“We all have a role to play in balancing the budget,” the Mayor said. “I urge everyone to take this survey and share your ideas with us.”

The Los Angeles Budget Challenge may be found online at:click here to take the Los Angeles Budget Challenge

Operation Pothole

"Operation Pothole" was a huge success. Thanks to the hard work of the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Street Services and residents who called in tips about potholes that were rattling their nerves, more than 1300 potholes were filled on January 8th and 9th here in Council District 4. But there are more out there. We estimate there are as many as 100,000 potholes citywide creating driving hazards on city streets after the worst rain storms in recent memory in late December. The Bureau of Street Services needs residents to call 3-1-1 and identify the locations so that crews can fix as many as possible. "Call 3-1-1, one call to City Hall, and let us know where the potholes are. We all have our eyes to the ground looking for potholes, but we can't expect to find every single one. We need your help".