Rollin' out the Rain Barrels

Councilmember LaBonge explains how the rain-barrels will help residents harvest rainwater from their roofs that would otherwise end up in the storm drain, saving on irrigation costs and reducing polluted runoff flowing to the ocean.

Councilmember LaBonge helps roll-out the Rain Barrel Pilot-Project to help Los Angeles residents capture rainwater.

(March 25th, 2011; Los Angeles) – Councilmember Tom LaBonge is always looking for fresh ideas to recycle and save the People of Los Angeles some money. You know the old song: It never rains in southern California; it pours … man, it pours. We’ve certainly seen that this rainy season. We’ve also seen gallons and gallons of rain-water flood our streets before going, wasted, down our storm-drains and out to sea. Wouldn’t it be nice to harvest some of that rain-water that Mother Nature seems to like to dump on us all at once? Now we can … thanks to a new, old idea : Rain Barrels.
The engineers like to call it a “rainwater harvesting system” that can be incorporated into existing homes with minimal effort. Rainwater that falls on the roofs of houses can be collected through roof gutters and downspouts to a rain barrel. Collected rain water can be used for watering plants and irrigating gardens or lawns. Get this, a typical Los Angeles home directs an average of 14,000 gallons of water down its downspouts and into the storm-drain system annually. Multiply that by the current number of a half-million homes in Los Angeles, and some 7-billion gallons of water is wasted as runoff. This water collects pollutants, including trash, pet waste, oil and grease or other chemicals as it travels through the storm drain system to the ocean. The Rain Barrel Pilot Project will allow homeowners to collect the rainwater for irrigation use and, at the same time, reduce the amount of rainwater pollution entering the ocean. Rainwater harvesting can help reduce the consumer’s water utility bill by supplementing metered water, where suitable, with free, lower-quality water for irrigation purposes. Most residents pay for the amount of potable water they use in the home as well as for the treatment of waste water that leaves their home. Collecting water in Rain Barrels can help conserve potable water and ease the burden of future water shortages, reduce the amount of polluted rainwater that flows into our rivers, lakes and ocean. It will also lower peak storm-water flows and street flooding. The Barrel Pilot Project is funded by the City Department of Water and Power, is managed by the Department of Public Works Bureau of Sanitation. Public outreach, educational workshops and distribution of rain barrels will be provided by the Hollywood Beautification Team, a non-profit organization. click here to see more photos

2011 Spring Equinox Hike

Councilmember Tom LaBonge and an intrepid group of hikers summit Mt. Hollywood and enjoy the view.

Thanks to all who joined us for our annual Spring Equinox hike. We got a break in the weather and enjoyed a beautiful evening hike up Mt. Hollywood with about 20 of our friends. It was crisp and clean out on the trail and everybody enjoyed chatting and gazing at the view on the way up. The flowers were starting to bloom. Dante's View Garden is coming back in a big way after the fire of 2007 practically destroyed it ... proof of the healing effects of nature. Renewal is in the air!click here to see more photos

Breaking ground on the Whitnall Gardens in North Hollywood

(March 3rd, 2011; Los Angeles) – These days, it’s not enough to create a new greenspace in the City of Los Angeles. Like the rest of us, it has to multi-task. And, that’s exactly what the Whitnall Gardens Demonstration Project will do. Planned for a DWP right-of-way on Whitnall Highway, between Cahuenga Boulevard and Clybourn Avenue that is – let’s be honest – downright ugly, the Whitnall Gardens project will certainly spruce-up the area, with drought-tolerant landscaping to replace the bare-dirt that turns into a quagmire with each heavy rain there. It will include a walking-path that provides area residents a place to get out and exercise or just stroll; and drinking fountains along the way. But this project goes deeper – literally. There will be a storm-water catch-basin and permeable pavers that will reduce urban flooding in the area, using a series of gutters to direct runoff into the catch-basin and any overflow into nearby storm-drains. The captured storm-water will be allowed to percolate naturally into the San Fernando Valley Groundwater basin, much as nature intended – with a little help from our engineers and the excellent soil in the area, which allows for sponge-like infiltration at a rate of 8.2 feet per day.

Councilmember Tom LaBonge welcomed community members and city officials to the ground-breaking event for this multi-benefit project, which will cost around a million-dollars to complete. “This is a great collaboration among my Council office, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the Bureau of Sanitation, the MidTown North Hollywood Neighborhood Council and the community.” The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Water-Systems is kicking-in $200,000.00 for the project, as well as lifting restriction on use of the easement itself. Councilmember LaBonge says, “It’s something we’ve been working on for a long time, and I’m so pleased that we’re now able to break ground on this important recreation and beautification effort here in North Hollywood.” Construction is slated to begin at the site in the summer of 2011.. Michael A. Coia, Assistant General Manager of the LADWP Power System said, “In addition to beautifying the community by the addition of a drought-tolerant garden, we are creating an open interactive space and a stormwater capture site all in one.”

Street Closures for the Los Angeles Marathon

You're not going to be able to drive through this traffic. Be aware of LA Marathon street closures.

— The City of Los Angeles has finalized street closures and restricted parking, as well as security strategies and public safety measures, to support the 26th annual Los Angeles Marathon.
The 26.2-mile L.A. Marathon will trek along a similar route to last year, going from downtown’s Dodger Stadium to the Pacific coast. Along the way, participants will again pass some of Los Angeles’ most famous landmarks and journey through diverse neighborhoods. The race begins on Sunday, March 20 at 6:55 a.m. for wheelchairs, 7:00 a.m. for hand cycles and 7:25 a.m. for all other participants. An accompanying 5K run event will be held at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, March 19 at 8 a.m.
“The Department is very excited to welcome marathon runners and participants to the City,” said Amir Sedadi, Interim General Manager of the Department of Transportation. “We’re glad to provide support as they journey from one side of Los Angeles to the other, taking in the sights of this landmark-laden route.” Various streets along the marathon route will be closed by 3:15 a.m. on March 20, then reopen as early as 10:15 a.m., depending on the location. Streets will reopen by region because of the size and complexity of the event route. Numerous agencies, including the City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation, California State Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the City of Los Angeles Police and Fire departments were consulted in the planning process and agree that the finalized plan is the best way to accommodate all of the parties involved.
“The Department wants to maintain mobility for all City drivers and will reopen streets as soon as it’s safe to do so,” Sedadi said.
The Los Angeles Department of Transportation will begin to strictly enforce a restricted, no-parking policy for the marathon on the dates and times listed in the attached document. This will include the citing and impounding of vehicles parked on these temporarily restricted, no-parking streets. Vehicles parked on the streets noted on the attached street closures list will be towed to the Official Police Garage servicing those respective areas, at the request of the Department of Transportation. Motorists are advised to call LADOT at 1-866-TOWAWAY or check the OPG website at www.opglaviic.com to locate and redeem vehicles.
The below list details the street closures, and their approximate times, within the City of Los Angeles. Three other municipalities — West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica — will likely institute additional street closures.
Detailed course maps and event information are available on the internet at www.LAmarathon.com or http://trafficinfo.lacity.org. Additional questions can be posed to the L.A. Marathon office at (213) 542-3000. Media representatives can contact Pat Harris of Perelman, Pioneer and Company at (323) 965-4900. Area residents are urged to use public transit on the day of the event. For more information, call Los Angeles County bus service at (323) GO METRO (323 466-3876) or visit the agency’s trip planner web site at: www.metro.net. Drivers, bus riders, bicyclists and pedestrians are encouraged to visit LADOT’s website at www.ladot.lacity.org or call (213, 310, 323, 818) 808- 2273 for information about DASH, Commuter Express, bicycling in the City and an array of transportation services.
Area commuters can visit the Department’s website, get real time traffic info and street closures

Councilmember LaBonge pushes for needed repairs to Wilshire Boulevard

Councilmember Tom LaBonge introduced a motion at the February 24th Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board meeting to fix Wilshire Boulevard as soon as possible. Wilshire Boulevard is the heaviest-traveled MTA bus corridor in Los Angeles County and provides vital service to the residents, workers and tourists in the City of Los Angeles and throughout the County. Unfortunately, this heavy load takes a significant toll on the street itself. It also results in more wear and tear on MTA buses and private vehicles that ply Wilshire on a daily basis.

The City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works has been working to maintain this important thoroughfare, filling more potholes than at anytime in the city’s history. A more substantial resurfacing and reconstruction of Wilshire Boulevard is planned by the city and MTA as part of the Wilshire Bus Rapid Transit Curbside Bus Lane Project. While this project and other planned city resurfacing work will restore Wilshire Boulevard to a first-class condition, more can and should be done now.

Councilmember LaBonge has introduced a motion, seconded by Los Angeles Mayor and fellow MTA Board Member Antonio Villaraigosa, that the MTA Board direct the CEO to work with the City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works to identify immediate strategies to eradicate damage and unsafe road conditions on Wilshire Boulevard. Further, the motion calls for the MTA Board to direct the CEO to develop a long-term strategy for ensuring that Wilshire Boulevard and other heavily traveled MTA bus routes are maintained in a first-class condition.

Breaking ground on the Whitnall Gardens in North Hollywood

(March 3rd, 2011; Los Angeles) – These days, it’s not enough to create a new greenspace in the City of Los Angeles. Like the rest of us, it has to multi-task. And, that’s exactly what the Whitnall Gardens Demonstration Project will do. Planned for a DWP right-of-way on Whitnall Highway, between Cahuenga Boulevard and Clybourn Avenue that is – let’s be honest – downright ugly, the Whitnall Gardens project will certainly spruce-up the area, with drought-tolerant landscaping to replace the bare-dirt that turns into a quagmire with each heavy rain there. It will include a walking-path that provides area residents a place to get out and exercise or just stroll; and drinking fountains along the way.

But this project goes deeper – literally. There will be a storm-water catch-basin and permeable pavers that will reduce urban flooding in the area, using a series of gutters to direct runoff into the catch-basin and any overflow into nearby storm-drains. The captured storm-water will be allowed to percolate naturally into the San Fernando Valley Groundwater basin, much as nature intended – with a little help from our engineers and the excellent soil in the area, which allows for sponge-like infiltration at a rate of 8.2 feet per day.

Councilmember Tom LaBonge welcomed community members and city officials to the ground-breaking event for this multi-benefit project, which will cost around a million-dollars to complete. “This is a great collaboration among my Council office, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the Bureau of Sanitation, the MidTown North Hollywood Neighborhood Council and the community.” The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Water-Systems is kicking-in $200,000.00 for the project, as well as lifting restriction on use of the easement itself. Councilmember LaBonge says, “It’s something we’ve been working on for a long time, and I’m so pleased that we’re now able to break ground on this important recreation and beautification effort here in North Hollywood.” Construction is slated to begin at the site in the summer of 2011.. Michael A. Coia, Assistant General Manager of the LADWP Power System said, “In addition to beautifying the community by the addition of a drought-tolerant garden, we are creating an open interactive space and a stormwater capture site all in one.”

There’s no place like home, and no place in Los Angeles like the "Garden of Oz" in Hollywoodland

(March 3rd, 2011; Los Angeles) – Councilmember Tom LaBonge announces that the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission is recommending approval of a new Historic Cultural Monument. Commissioners recommend that the folk-art garden in Beachwood Canyon known as the “Garden of Oz” be given Historic Cultural Monument status at an upcoming City Council meeting. The private garden is located in the Hollywoodland neighborhood of Los Angeles. It’s a unique collaboration of artists creating a “found-object” and folk-art oasis in the Hollywood Hills. It is a gem amidst the bustling city, a great place to get lost in child-like imagination and whimsy. “There’s no place like home. And, now there’s a home for the “Garden of Oz” and the fascinating artwork it contains,” said Councilmember LaBonge, who helped the community shepherd their labor of love toward Historic Cultural Monument status. The matter now goes before the Planning Commission before it can be sent on to the City Council for final approval.

Fresh-Air dining comes to Los Angeles

Councilmember LaBonge, Mayor Villaraigosa, and LA County Health Services Director Dr. Jonathon Fielding unveil new "no smoking" signs that will go up outside Los Angeles restaurants on March 8th, 2011

Councilmember Tom LaBonge joined Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and LA County Director of Health Services Doctor Jonathon Fielding to unveil the "Fresh Air Dining LA" program. The new smoke-free outdoor dining ordinance takes effect on March 8th, after a one-year rollout period. Officials revealled a poster advertising campaign, restaurant signage meant to inform diners about the new policy, and a website to educate smokers and non-smokers alike about the intent of the new smoke-free outdoor dining ordinance. Starting March 8, 2011, this smoking restriction prohibits anyone from smoking within 10 feet of outdoor dining areas including restaurant patios, cafes and food courts, and within 40 feet of food kiosks, food carts and mobile food trucks in the City of Los Angeles. Several food truck operators were on-hand to show their support for the new policy.click here for more information