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Without a Plan

It is undeniable that the City of Los Angeles is in the midst of a housing crisis that has left over 45,000 people without permanent housing, forced to live in their cars, on the street or in tents on the sides of the freeways. Many people have been working tirelessly to address this existential crisisContinue reading “Without a Plan”

The 2021 Elections of the Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa – Counting the Ballots

A quick article on my experience observing the City Clerk’s office counting the ballots. Given what is involved in hand counting ballots, I not only have a new appreciation for the American election process and the dedication that these clerks have to getting the job right, but also the cost that efforts like recalling well-establishedContinue reading “The 2021 Elections of the Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa – Counting the Ballots”

The Venice Bridge Home – Fulfilling its Mission?

A Bridge Home has helped temporarily house over 230 unhoused people since it opened on February 25, 2020. Of these, about 45 people have transitioned to stable circumstances including permanent housing, family reunifications, self-discharges to live with roommates, and supportive care. Tragically, one resident of the home died of natural causes. We need more solutionsContinue reading “The Venice Bridge Home – Fulfilling its Mission?”

Housing and Homelessness

It is long past time that Los Angeles take more seriously the housing and homelessness crisis we are in. For too many years, the City has played kick the can with this humanitarian disaster and now the can is in our parks, on our beaches and at our doorsteps. We do this all-too-often: environmental crises,Continue reading “Housing and Homelessness”

Street Safety in Westchester – Part 1

Don’t Pave over the Plan! I recently learned that elements of the Mobility Plan 2035 will be impacted by StreetsLA’s ADAPT Program. The ADAPT Program seeks to accelerate much needed street resurfacing while there is significantly reduced traffic. Established in 2015, the Mobility Plan 2035 (Plan) provides the policy foundation for achieving a transportation systemContinue reading “Street Safety in Westchester – Part 1”

Who is My Representative

As a recently elected residential district director of the Los Angeles Neighborhood Council of Westchester / Playa representing residential district 9, Westport Heights (North), I quickly realized that I did not know the landscape of policy influencers that affect the lives of stakeholders in our neighborhoods. I was aware that Mike Bonin was the LosContinue reading “Who is My Representative”

Sidewalks and Trees in Westchester

The Willits v City of Los Angeles Settlement from 2014 set in motion a series of events including allocating $1.4 billion by the City of Los Angeles to repair urban sidewalks in the City over a 30 year period that began in 2017. To streamline the process, the City prepared a Draft Environmental Impact ReportContinue reading “Sidewalks and Trees in Westchester”

Crime in Westchester / Playa – is it really this quiet?

In preparation for tonight’s Neighborhood Council Public Safety Committee meeting, I wanted to check on the state of crime in our neighborhoods of Westchester, Playa Del Rey and Playa Vista. Having heard of a number of people reporting burglaries in late December, I wanted to check on whether the trends had continued or had abated.Continue reading “Crime in Westchester / Playa – is it really this quiet?”

Update on Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Sustainability Alliance

While attending an inspirational event sponsored by the Neighborhood Council Sustainability Alliance (NCSA focusing on how the neighborhood councils could take action to support the City’s Green New Deal, I took a moment to update my data on the growing number of councils that have joined the NCSA. Before getting into the updates on theContinue reading “Update on Los Angeles Neighborhood Council Sustainability Alliance”

Looking at Age and Gender in Westchester / Playa

To get a sense of how the neighborhoods of Westchester / Playa have changed over the past 20 years, roughly the time in which the neighborhood council has been certified, I wanted to get a sense of the characteristics of these communities looking at things like demographics, transportation, employment, open space, canopy and beyond. TodayContinue reading “Looking at Age and Gender in Westchester / Playa”