Councilmember LaBonge Op-Ed Published in Los Angeles Business Journal

An op-ed written by Councilmember LaBonge was recently published in the Los Angeles Business Journal. In it, Councilmember LaBonge expressed his support for NBCUniversal's plan to drop the housing component of its Evolution Plan.

To read more, click here: http://labusinessjournal.com/news/2012/sep/03/show-bizs-role-los-angeles/

Wilshire Repaving to Start This Weekend

The resurfacing of the north and south curb lanes of Wilshire Boulevard from Western Avenue to Fairfax Avenue will begin Saturday, September 8, 2012. The work will take place over three to four weekends with the first phase starting on the south side of Wilshire Boulevard between Muirfield Road and Fairfax Avenue. Crews will be working between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day. Westbound traffic will not be affected, but travel will be limited eastbound. A detour will route eastbound traffic to the south along 8th Street. For information, constituents may call 213.485.5561. Funding for this project was provided by Councilmember Tom LaBonge.

SPECIAL: Tour LaBonge Continues Thursday in Sherman Oaks

Take a ride through Sherman Oaks Thursday with Councilmember LaBonge as Tour LaBonge continues with its fifth stage. Anyone interested in riding can meet at Fire Station 88 on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. The station is located at 5101 Sepulveda Boulevard in Sherman Oaks. The ride will last approximately two hours, and only helmeted riders may participate. Please come enjoy the summer outdoors with Councilmember LaBonge!

Community Invited to Meeting on Future of Wilshire

The entire community is invited to meet with city officials on July 18 at 8 a.m. to discuss the infrastructure changes that are coming to Wilshire Boulevard. Representatives from the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, the Bureau of Engineering, and Metro Transit Authority will all be in attendance. The meeting will be at the West Terrace Room at LACMA and all are welcome. There will be free parking in LACMA's Sixth Street parking lot.

Be a Part of Tour LaBonge

There are four more summer rides left, starting with a July 19 ride through Toluca Lake beginning at 6 p.m. at the Valley Field Office at 10116 Riverside Drive. Wear a helmet, and join in the fun! There will be three more rides after that, with the next one taking place in Griffith Park on July 26 beginning at Boy Scout Road at 6:30 p.m. An August 2 ride will take place in Sherman Oaks at a location to be decided, and an August 9 Hollywood ride will begin at the Hollywood Field Office at 6501 Fountain Avenue. Both August rides will begin at 6 p.m. Mark your calendars!

A brand new Fire Station for Hollywood

(from left:) the crew of Fire Station 82, City Engineer Gary Lee Moore, LA Fire Chief Brian Cummings, Councilman LaBonge, Fire Commission President Genethia Hudley-Hayes, and Deputy Mayor Eileen Atkins.

Councilman LaBonge helped your Los Angeles Fire Department celebrate the Grand Opening of Fire Station 82 at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Van Ness Avenue on June 2nd. Also on-hand for the ceremony were Fire Chief Brian Cummings, Los Angeles' Chief Engineer Gary Lee Moore, Fire Commission President Genethia Hudley Hayes and Deputy Mayor for Homeland Security Eileen Atkins. Hundreds of people from the community turned-out for the dedication ceremony, which featured food and entertainment, static displays of fire and rescue equipment, as well as a chance to tour one of southern California's newest fire stations. "82's" is a safe, appealing and energy-efficient facility which has underground parking, a "green" rooftop and three-story construction. Four firefighters and two firefighter/paramedics will work each day at the new fire station 82, serving a 2 square-mile area that comprises high density and commercial and residential properties, the busy 101 freeway, the Red Line subway corridor, television studios, entertainment venues, tourist sites and a portion of massive Griffith Park and the iconic "HOLLYWOOD" Sign. The crews of "82's" also have responsibility to patrol the High Fire Severity Zones of the Hollywood Hills. Fire Station 82 was built using voter-approved Proposition F Funds, replacing a 61-year old facility on North Bronson Avenue, which will now be converted into a multi-purpose room and areas designed for efficient maintenence and rapid deployment of reserve apparatus, now being constructed in a nearly 6,000 square-foot, two-story annex under construction on the site of the former station on Bronson Avenue.

Click here to see photos of the event

Council unanimously approves LaBonge Resolution on California High Speed Railway

(from left) Metro Executive Officer for Regional Rail Don Sepulveda, SCAG Executive Director Hassan Ikhrata, California High Speed Rail Authority Board Chair Dan Richard, Councilman Tom LaBonge and Valerie Martinez from VMA Communications at the Council President's Desk

The Los Angeles City Council has unanimously passed Councilmember Tom LaBonge’s resolution calling on state lawmakers to release Proposition 1A funds to begin construction on the California High-Speed Rail system. The Council cited the project’s merits as an alternative means of transportation, its advancement of President Obama’s and Governor Brown’s goal to reduce greenhouse gases and its dramatically lowered cost.

“With this revised business plan, we will see a statewide rail system developed faster and for less money, with trains capable of running 220 miles per hour gliding through the San Joaquin Valley and into the San Fernando Valley by 2022,” said Councilmember Tom LaBonge, author of the resolution. “In order to stay on this timeline and put laborers back to work as early as next year, the Legislature must release Prop. 1A funds to match ARRA monies.”

The Council’s resolution praised the High-Speed Rail Authority’s Revised 2012 Business Plan for lowering the project’s cost to $68.4 billion. The plan also extends the initial operating segment of the system into the San Fernando Valley, beginning in the Central Valley city of Madera and creating direct connectivity to San Francisco and downtown Los Angeles using existing urban commuter rail lines.

Gubernatorial Appointee Dan Richard, the Board Chair of the California High Speed Rail Authority, made a presentation to the board before the vote.

Clck to read the resolution

2012 "Hike for Health" offers kids a breath of fresh air

Councilman LaBonge and a class from Rio Vista Elementary School in Toluca Lake gather at the top of Mount Hollywood after the "Hike for Health"

Councilman LaBonge and his staff hosted the 7th annual "Hike for Health" on May 3rd, leading some 500 fifth and sixth grade students on a hike from the Griffith Observatory to the peak of Mount Hollywood -- 1625 feet above sea-level in Griffith Park. "This is a wonderful opportunity for young people to come out and enjoy the natural beauty of Griffith Park, get a little exercise and learn about the creatures who live here," said Councilman LaBonge. Classes from Franklin Avenue, Lankershim, Rio Vista, Maurice Sendak and Frances Blend schools were bussed to the park. Each kid received a goodie-bag and some snacks and refreshments at the top of the mountain. The Los Angeles ZooMobile brought several interactive exhibits, teaching kids about the critters who make their home in southern California, including black widow spiders and tarantulas. A Park Ranger rescue vehicle was also there to show children all the equipment -- including a bee-suit -- to keep people safe and well while visiting the parks. LAPD and LA Fire Department Helicopters did flyovers of the mountaintop, thrilling the students and adults gathered on the peak. The Bureau of Santitation brought out Robbie the Recycler and a blue-bin robot to teach kids about the importance of recycling. All the classes took group pictures with the Councilman.

Click to see more photos of the "Hike for Health"