Weekly Newsletter (March 31, 2018): Not Horsing Around 🐎

Here’s a quick recap of what’s happening in the Seventh Council District this week:

This week, I unveiled new safety measures to protect equestrians, pedestrians, and cyclists along Olive View Drive. For years, the Sylmar community has been calling for greater safety measures at this busy intersection and entrance to prime trails for equestrians traversing through Saddletree Ranch Trailhead and Stetson Ranch Park. The Smart Crosswalk improvements include:

✅ Continental-style high visibility crosswalks
✅ Yield to equestrian signage
✅ Equestrian push button for crossing
✅ Flashing yellow beacons
✅ Curb ramps and additional red curbs
✅ Additional horse crossing signage along Foothill Boulevard

These new measures will enhance the visibility for equestrians, pedestrians and cyclists in the intersection and reinforce their right-of-way. This is a significant step forward for a community that has long suffered through years of neglect and a lack of infrastructure investment. This is meaningful progress and I am proud to be a part of this effort.

Empowering the Next Generation

This week, I partnered with Councilmembers Jose Huizar and Joe Buscaino to introduce a motion calling on the City of Los Angeles to invest in our youth. This motion directs the City to establish a Youth Development Task Force to promote a comprehensive strategy that helps support youth programming, resources, and leadership. Young people living in our communities must be equipped with the skill sets to succeed in the global and changing job market. I look forward to the work ahead to help our youth reach their full potential. Read the motion, here.

Honoring the Women of LAFD

Every March, communities across the nation celebrate Women’s History Month in honor of the countless individuals who have made tremendous strides on behalf of women’s empowerment and equality. It was my pleasure to recognize a pioneer group of women who have blazed a trail for countless women in the Los Angeles Fire Department. Congratulations to all of the honorees on receiving this much-deserved recognition! The honorees include:

✅ Fire Marshal and Deputy Chief Kristin Crowley, the first female Fire Marshal
✅ Battalion Chief Kris Larson, the first female African American Battalion Chief
✅ Apparatus Operator Hollyn Bullock, the first female Apparatus Operator
✅ Investigator Rosa Tufts, the first female Arson Investigator and first Los Angeles Firefighter Association ‘Firefighter of the Year’ Award winner

Honoring the Women of LAFD

Last week, a commercial truck driver was arrested in the Big Tujunga Canyon Road area for illegal dumping. The driver was caught disposing dirt and other construction waste in the ecologically sensitive Tujunga Wash area. My team assisted LAPD and various agencies including Los Angeles Sanitation, Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority, and the City’s Neighborhood Prosecutor, in the apprehension and citation of the driver. If you see illegal dumping, please report it. The 24-hour illegal dumping hotline number is (800) 974-9794. Video footage is necessary to help prosecute the bad actor (i.e. license plate, physical identity, and illegal act caught in action). Learn more about the reward and illegal dumping crime tip program, here. It takes all of us working together to protect our park lands and open space.

Photo of the Week

Congratulations to the 80+ volunteers and members of my staff who graduated from the LAPD Valley Bureau Citizen Community Police Academy this week. Volunteers committed eight weeks to the training which included an overview of police operations, policies, and safety issues throughout the City. Public safety is paramount and it’s important that we all do our part to help keep our neighborhoods secure. Learn more about the program, here. Go #TeamMRod!