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June 2016 Neighborhoods First

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June 2016

Welcome to the June issue of Mike Bonin's "Neighborhoods First Newsletter"!

Use this link to read this issue on our website or share it with your friends on
social media.

IN THIS ISSUE : We report on the exciting plans for new park space and Contact Our Office
neighborhood-serving retail for LAX neighbors in Westchester and Playa del Rey,
take a look at the results of neighborhood council elections (including the record-
shattering voter turnout in Venice), share some news about a victory for Mother Connect with Facebook
Nature in Brentwood, and we learn more about Mike’s proposal to start a program
to create safe places for people who are living out of their vehicles to park
overnight... b u t f i r s t , please read this month's Neighborhoods First Profile to Connect with Twitter

find out more about a Pacific Palisades school that is helping the next generation
understand the importance of sustainability.
Councilmember Mike…
5,230 likes
You can find out more about Mike , meet your CD11 staff and see the latest
videos and updates from the Westside on our website at www.11thdistrict.com .
And remember to like Mike's Facebook page and follow him on Twitter to always
see the latest news about your neighborhood. Liked

You and 371 other friends like this

Village School: The Next Generation of Environmentalists

Village School is a small
elementary school in Pacific
Tweets by ​@MikeBoninLA
Palisades that is an example of
Mike Bonin
how, through science, @MikeBoninLA
community, and fun, we can
Melissa Aczon of @DelReyNeighbor is one of my
prepare the next generation to CD11 Neighborhood Heroes. Working for
create a more sustainable and @ChildrensLA, volunteering for Summer Night
environmentally-friendly Lights, Del Rey Cup & Resource Fair, Del Rey
Health Day, organizing the Del Rey Spelling Bee,
world.
& promoting STEAM education for young women
& girls.
In addition to teaching kids the
core values of caring, courage,
fairness, respect, responsibility
and trust, Village School
focuses on ensuring that
students learn about the planet
and how they can be a part of a
16m
society that reuses, recycles
and conserves our natural
Mike Bonin
resources. The school has hosted "Eco-Fairs" in past years, as well as other
@MikeBoninLA
creative ways to teach sustainability, including a “Found Art” program, in which
the students utilize used objects as art supplies and projects to raise money to Embed View on Twitter
save the rainforest. The projects that interweave lessons about environmentalism
into its regular coursework have left an indelible impact on Village School
graduates.

“I made my parents start recycling, I made them bring reusable bags to the
market, I even made them buy hybrid cars,” said Lauren Stone, a former Village
School student.

Though Village is a small school, it is setting a great example of how a school can
bring awareness to today's environmental issues.

Find out more about Village School and its exceptional environmental work
at http://www.village-school.org/ .

Northside Plan Update - A Huge Gift for Westchester and Playa del Rey

Very exciting news broke in Westchester and Playa del Rey in June. As
Westchester gets ready to celebrate its 75th anniversary, Mike, Mayor Eric
Garcetti, airport officials and other local leaders delivered a huge gift to both
Westchester and Playa del Rey: approval of a community-driven plan to turn the
340 acres north of LAX into a neighborhood-serving mix of parks, open space,
restaurants, neighborhood-serving retail, and creative office space .

This plan puts neighborhoods first and is a shining example of our world-class
airport acting like a first-class neighbor. The LAX Northside Plan Update was
created over several years of collaboration between community stakeholders and
Los Angeles World Airports. The plan represents a unique opportunity to achieve
significant economic investment in the area and provide much needed
community resources and benefits.

The LAX Northside Plan is a comprehensive update of an outdated, overly dense

land-use plan initially conceived in the 1980s. The LAX Northside Plan Update
has been crafted with the help of surrounding neighborhoods to produce a
vibrant and sustainable center of employment, retail, restaurant, office, hotel,
research and development, education, civic, airport support, recreation, and
airport-buffer uses that support the needs of communities surrounding LAX.

Thank you to the Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa , the LAX Coastal

Chamber of Commerce and many other great local groups for their support of
this important plan update!

Access 11 Pop Up Office Hours at the Playa Vista Farmers Market

Playa Vista is the newest neighborhood on the Westside, and the rapidly growing
home of Silicon Beach hosts a Farmers Market every weekend for neighbors. Mike
brought his Access 11 Pop Up Office Hours to the Playa Vista Farmers Market on
June 11, where he talked about what neighbors want to see in their growing
community and how they can partner to put neighborhoods first in Playa Vista.

Justice for Illegally Removed Trees on Old Ranch Road

Throughout the Westside, trees play a major role in making our neighborhoods
wonderful and distinct places to live and enjoy. Mike and neighbors from the
Sullivan Canyon area of Brentwood won a victory on behalf of trees in June, when
they successfully convinced the City’s Board of Public Works to hold a developer
accountable for three protected trees - including an irreplaceable California
Sycamore - that were callously chopped down as two large mansions were being
built.

The Board decision upheld an earlier ruling that the illegal removal of the
protected trees should result in revoking the developer’s building permits for the
site and prohibit the developer from getting any new building permits for the
next five years. The severe and just penalty will not bring the trees back, but it
will go a long way to making sure protected trees stay protected from developers
who don’t want to risk the wrath of nature’s allies in City Hall.

Go Skateboarding Day in West LA

Two years ago, Mike partnered with Nike Skateboarding to celebrate “Go
Skateboarding Day” at the West LA Civic Center (also known as the legendary
"Courthouse" skate spot). The local skateboarding community, however, wanted
more than just one more day.

Thanks to a partnership with Nike SB, we marked two years of public/private

partnership benefiting thousands of youth on June 22, which has provided
upgrades and skate amenities to the site. The partnership has given skaters of all
ages in West LA a place to gather and safely enjoy their favorite activity in the
neighborhood.

Thanks to the Nike SB Pro Team: Paul Rodriguez, Eric Koston, Nyjah Huston, Sean
Malto, Guy Mariano and Shane O'Neill for putting on an awesome demo at the
June 22 celebration!
Venice Neighborhood Council Election Shatters City Turnout Records

The Venice Neighborhood Council is one of the most active and engaged local
boards in Los Angeles, and neighbors in Venice proved how engaged the
community is this past month during elections for a new VNC board. VNC broke
the citywide record for a turnout in a neighborhood council election, with 2,734
votes cast! (That broke the previous citywide record -- also held by the VNC - by
some 40%!)

Mike attended the board meeting on June 21 to swear in the new board.
Congratulations to the winners and good luck to the new board!

Access 11 Pop Up Office Hours at the West LA Sanitation Open House

Every year, the Bureau of Sanitation hosts an open house at the West LA
Sanitation Yard on Stoner Avenue to show families in the area all of the cool
equipment they use to pick up trash and keep neighborhoods on the Westside
clean. The event is a favorite for local kids, who love seeing the large trucks and
how machines work. As he does every year, Mike brought Pop Up Office Hours to
the open house, and met with neighbors to talk about their priorities and dreams
for their neighborhood.

Venice Celebrates LGBT Pride with Sign Lighting

For more than 100 years, Venice has been known as a place of diversity and
tolerance and for decades, it was a home and a safe haven for the gay
community. This year, for the first time, Transgender, Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual
Pride month was celebrated at a special event in Venice, as Mike, YouTube star
GiGi Gorgeous and local leaders lit up the historic Venice sign over Windward
Circle in rainbow pride colors.

The Venice Pride Sign Lighting and Block Party benefitted The Trevor Project , and
was hosted by Mike, the Venice Chamber of Commerce and the City of Los
Angeles. In addition to the sign lighting ceremony, more than 1,000 guests
enjoyed a free block party with music by DJ Victor Rodriguez. The event also
featured a special posthumous recognition of Mike’s predecessor and friend Bill
Rosendahl, the first openly gay man elected to the Los Angeles City Council, as
well as an award for 17-year-old Shear Avory, a trans youth advocate and
organizer. The event was conceived by Daniel Samakow and Grant Turck and
made possible through the partnership of Mike and Venice Chamber of
Commerce Vice President George Francisco.

Mike Honors Del Rey Restaurateurs at Immigrant Heritage Month Celebration

Neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles are made better by the contributions of

immigrants, and on June 10, the City Council celebrated Immigrant Heritage
Month in Los Angeles by recognizing the work of immigrant entrepreneurs from
each Council District. Mike invited Ismael and Yolanda Diego to City Hall for the
celebration. Ismael and Yolanda originally hail from Oaxaca, Mexico, and they
are the proprietors of Tacomiendo - the exceptional Del Rey taco shop that
recently expanded to West LA. Tacomiendo was the very first small business Mike
recognized in his weekly Small Business Spotlight, and it was great to have
another way to thank Ismael and Yolanda for their work to make Del Rey and
West LA better places to live, work, and eat!

Safer Streets in Playa del Rey

Making our streets safe from speeding traffic has been a priority for Mike, and
his team has been working with concerned and dedicated neighbors in Playa del
Rey to install traffic calming measures that will help protect pedestrians and
bicyclists in the beachside community. Last month, Mike joined neighbors in
celebrating the installation of a new all-way stop sign at Waterview Street and
Trask Avenue, by the Trask Triangle Park! Thank you to all of the Playa del Rey
neighbors who continue to work toward making streets in Playa del Rey safer for
all families to enjoy.

Palisades Village Receives Council Approval

Downtown Pacific Palisades is getting a needed makeover!

On June 14, the City Council approved the entitlements for Rick
Caruso's Palisades Village project . This is a project that will revitalize downtown
Palisades and give the neighborhood the thriving community center it deserves.
The project earned something usually unheard of for a development on the
Westside - nearly unanimous community support. As Caruso and his team hosted
community meetings and spoke with neighbors, the project won the glowing
endorsements from the Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce, the Pacific
Palisades Business Improvement District, Pacific Palisades Community Council
and many more neighbors and local groups.

Since the project was first announced, the most frequent question Mike has
gotten about it has been, "When are they going to start building it?" Now that the
Council has issued its final approvals, the answer will happily be: "Soon!"

Mar Vista Neighborhood Association Potluck

The Mar Vista Neighborhood Association was founded in 2000 to promote
community spirit, improve quality of life, secure public improvements and keep
the Mar Vista community informed, and one of the best annual events in the area
is the Neighborhood Association’s annual “Potluck Picnic”. As he does every year,
Mike joined neighbors at the picnic and talked about the exciting things
happening in Mar Vista.

Westchester Farmers Market Expanding!

Exciting news became official in June, as the Westchester Farmers Market

formally announced that it was expanding to now operate out of two locations,
twice a week! The regular Wednesday Farmers Market at Westchester Park will
continue, and starting on July 17, the Farmers Market will come to the Triangle
every Sunday. The expansion is made possible by Westchester
Vitalization and Westchester Town Center’s BID . Make sure to check out the NEW
Westchester Farmers Market every Sunday from 9am - 2pm in East Westchester
(6200 W 87th St.).

Bulky Item Pickup in Westchester

Technology is making our city work better. On June 6, Mike joined Clyde Smith
from the Los Angeles Bureau Of Sanitation to pick up bulky items in Westchester.
Using only a smartphone, Clyde got notifications that requests had come in
through phone calls or reports on the My311 app, and he was able to
automatically get directions to where he and Mike needed to pick up the bulky
items.

Throughout their series of stops, Mike and Clyde picked up unwanted couches,
old mattresses and (because this is the Westside) a surfboard and snowboard.
Mike regularly joins city employees in their work so he can help keep our
neighborhoods clean and get first-hand experience with the services that get
delivered every day.

Mike Swears In Mar Vista Community Council Board

As part of the City’s neighborhood council system, the Mar Vista Community
Council is a great neighborhood organization that helps Mike work to put
neighborhoods first on the Westside. On June 15, Mike attended the MVCC
meeting to thank outgoing board members for their service to Mar Vista, and to
swear-in the new Mar Vista Community Council board of directors, which was
elected at the beginning of June. Rob Kadota, someone Mike has worked with for
years to make Mar Vista a better place, was chosen by his fellow board members
as MVCC chair.

Find out more about the new MVCC board at http://www.marvista.org/ .

Summer Movie Series Kicks Off with "Shaun the Sheep" in Mar Vista

Every year, Mike joins with the Department of Recreation and

Parks and FilmLA to host a series of free, family-friendly movies in the park for
neighbors to enjoy. On June 25, Mike kicked off the 2016 Summer Movie Series by
showing the instant-classic “Shaun the Sheep” at the Mar Vista Recreation
Center . Mike’s Summer Movie Series is part of his Access 11 program to bring City
Hall to the Westside, and in addition to serving popcorn to moviegoers, Mike
chatted with parents and neighbors before the film began about putting
neighborhoods first on the Westside.

Make sure to RSVP to the next film in Mike’s Summer Movie Series, "Inside Out" at
Oakwood Park in Venice on July 30! RSVP
at http://www.11thdistrict.com/movie_night_inside_out .

Mike Joins Neighbors at St. Gerard Majella Family Festival in Del Rey

Summer festivals offer a great opportunity for neighbors to come together and
enjoy the wonderful company and terrific weather the Westside has to offer. On
June 25, Mike joined neighbors in Del Rey at the St. Gerard Majella Family
Festival. The Festival featured family-friendly fun, including rides, games,
prizes, and a ton of terrific food like tacos, tamales, champurrado, pozole,
tostadas and more!

Street Repaving in Brentwood and the Pacific Palisades

Neighborhoods in Mike's Westside district got some love from the Bureau of
Street Services in June, with a series of streets in the Pacific Palisades and
Brentwood getting repaved. In the past month, the Bureau has fixed potholes and
given a fresh coat of pavement to: Porto Marina, Bollinger, Anoka Place, Salerno
Drive, Anoka Drive, Alcima Avenue, Jacon Way, Via de la Paz, Cliffwood Avenue
and Barrington Drive (between Saltair and Sunset).

Mike Celebrates Swearing In of New LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce Board

The LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce is an unwavering champion for
businesses in Westchester, Playa del Rey, and Playa Vista, and Mike has
repeatedly partnered with the Chamber to help small businesses on the Westside
thrive. On June 10, Mike joined the Chamber to thank the outgoing board of
directors and to help swear in the new board.

Mar Vista ArtWalk

June's Mar Vista ArtWalk featured the new Mar Vista Murals Project and offered
neighbors and visitors a chance to enjoy how public art makes Mar Vista a great
place to live. Mike is a huge fan and big supporter of murals and street art
because public art beautifies neighborhoods while showcasing the amazing
creativity and diversity of a place.

Westchester Traffic Improvements On The Way

Mike has been working with neighbors in Westchester’s Westport Heights and
Osage neighborhoods to address an increase in cut-through traffic in their
communities, and the community’s work made exciting progress in June. Last
month, Mike reached out to ask for neighbors’ help to analyze a series of
proposals to reduce cut-through traffic. Nearly 200 residents completed a brief
online survey, and based on the survey results, it was clear that there is
widespread support for both the turn restrictions and all-way stop signs that
were proposed.

Based on the support expressed in the survey, Mike instructed the LA Department
of Transportation to move forward with the improvements, which are designed
to allow neighbors to get in and out of the community, while reducing the
incentive for people to cut through local streets to avoid traffic on larger streets.

Once the new signs are made and installed, Mike has asked LADOT to continue to
monitor traffic in the neighborhood to ensure they are effective.

Access 11 Pop Up Office Hours at Westchester Lutheran Carnival

Mike’s Access 11 events are a great way for him to bring government to the
neighborhoods of the Westside and to offer people who don’t have time to call,
write or visit their Councilmember a chance to meet their elected representative,
and to speak up about issues that matter in their community.

On June 4, Mike hosted back-to-back Access 11 events in Westchester, meeting

with neighbors at the Westchester Lutheran Carnival in the morning and then
congratulating local youth sports champions at the Westchester Babe Ruth
Baseball exhibition game at LMU. At both events, Mike met with neighbors and
listened to their ideas and suggestions for how we can better put neighborhoods
first in Westchester.

Brentwood Community Council Meeting

The Brentwood Community Council is the voice of nearly 50,000 residents in

Brentwood and is made up of passionate community leaders from homeowners
associations, business organizations, apartment buildings and other community
stakeholders. Mike sat down with the board members and their alternates in June
at a special meeting hosted at the home of Nancy and Gary Freedman to talk
about important issues in Brentwood, including traffic, homelessness, and
planning and development.

Mike Proposes Compromise for Vehicular Dwelling Law

Nearly 5,000 people live in their vehicles in Los Angeles, and the question of
where they should be allowed to park has been debated in neighborhoods
throughout Los Angeles.

On June 22, Mike proposed that we find places for people to park safely – outside
of residential areas, and not in front of schools -- where they can also connect to
services and housing. Modeled after a similar program in Santa Barbara, Mike’s
proposed Los Angeles Safe Parking Program would allow people to park overnight
in assigned spaces, such as lots owned by churches, synagogues, nonprofits, and
the City of Los Angeles, as part of a program managed by a social service agency
that provides services and housing. While the program is being established,
people living in their vehicles would be allowed to park in non-residential areas.

Read the Los Angeles Times editorial in support of Mike’s idea here.

Fighting for Funding to End Homelessness in LA

Earlier this year, the City approved a Comprehensive Homelessness Strategy plan
for Los Angeles, which identified both immediate and long-term solutions to
addressing the crisis on homelessness in our neighborhoods. The strategy plan
requires funding to implement, however, and while Mike, Mayor Garcetti and the
City Council were able to allocate $138 million to funding the plan this fiscal
year, more sustainable sources of funding are needed if the strategy is going to
be fully deployed.

To create a sustainable source of funding, Mike and his colleagues on the City
Council voted this week to place one of two measures before voters in November
that would provide the resources necessary to provide housing for the homeless.
The Council is looking at either a parcel tax or a bond issue, and as they do, Mike
is speaking out to ensure that the money is not diverted into other programs or
projects. Though some of the money in a potential bond or tax could be directed
to creating affordable housing that would help prevent more people from
becoming homeless, Mike authored legislation to ensure that the vast majority of
money raised through an initiative to address homelessness actually addresses
homelessness by creating permanent supportive housing.

Mike and his colleagues have until mid-August to decide which option they want
to pursue. Stay tuned to future newsletters for more information about how Los
Angeles will seek to fund the solutions to homelessness in our neighborhoods.

Read more about the potential bond measure in the Los Angeles Times .

Mike Focuses on Solutions at Westchester Democratic Club Homelessness

Panel

Mike joined a panel of advocates and experts on June 23 for a panel conversation
about homelessness in our neighborhoods and what the City is doing to address
the crisis. The panel, hosted by the Westchester/Playa Democratic Club at Loyola
Marymount University in Westchester, focused on detailing the City’s
Comprehensive Homelessness Strategy and answering questions from neighbors
about vehicular dwelling. Find out more about Mike’s proposal to provide safe
parking so people living in their vehicles will have alternatives to parking on
residential streets and near schools, in an earlier entry in this newsletter.

Success Story
The following is a success story from some of the service providers that Mike
convened to form “Venice Forward”. Find more stories at VeniceForward.org .

Jacob wanted nothing more than to get out of his long time homeless situation.
Jacob spent countless days and nights wandering the Venice boardwalk fighting
his mental health difficulties and trying his best to survive on the streets.
Despite being homeless himself, Jacob prided himself on looking after and
protecting the most defenseless homeless people around him. This is how he
earned the nickname “The Godfather”.

All while struggling with his own debilitating circumstances, he helped make his
fellow homeless community aware of resources at St. Joseph Center, Los Angeles
Homeless Services Authority, and even reached out to youth to get them
connected with Safe Place for Youth (S.P.Y).

LAHSA’s Emergency Response Team (LAHSA ERT) came into contact with Jacob on
Frederick St., still homeless, about a month ago. Social workers from LAHSA ERT
learned that Jacob was actually married and had a wife living in Colorado.

When LAHSA ERT was able to get a hold of her she expressed great concern for his
well-being and wished to reconnect with her husband. She asked that LAHSA help
bring him home.

While waiting on the approval for the purchase of a Greyhound Bus Ticket, Jacob
went to the Pathways to Home shelter where he received warmth and protection.
LAHSA ERT was able to acquire Jacob’s medication, which he had been off of for
some time, partially leading to his homelessness and went to great lengths to
retrieve his property which had been impounded.

Once his bus ticket was approved, LAHSA social workers personally drove him to
the bus station where they left him with groceries, food vouchers, and wishes of a
safe travel home. Later that same day, the social workers received an email from
Jacob’s wife emotionally thanking them for returning her husband to where he
best belonged…home.

Future of Transportation in LA Takes Shape as Initiative Heads to Ballot

It is time to get Los Angeles moving!

On June 23, Mike was proud to join the vast majority of his colleagues on the
Metro board of directors in putting on the November ballot a proposal asking Los
Angeles County voters to approve Metro's bold and transformative plan for the
future of transportation throughout the region. The Transportation Measure will
accelerate and create funding to build a lot of exciting new transit projects,
including some that will transform the Westside, such as a long-overdue rail
connection to LAX, the extension of the Purple Line subway to the Westside, a
north-south transit line from LAX to the San Fernando Valley, and funding for
local street repairs and active transportation projects that will help people walk
and bike instead of using their cars.

These projects could transform how people get around of LA and get countless
Angelenos out of the soul-sucking gridlock that consumes far too much of our
lives. Working together, we can and will create a smart, connected network of
mass transit for the entire region.

Find out more about the ballot initiative at Metro.net.

Metro Station Near LAX Moves Forward to Environmental Assessment

Last month, plans were released for a new Metro station and multi-modal
transportation hub at Aviation Boulevard and 96th Street in Westchester. The
plans include three light rail platforms (which would connect to both the Green
Line and the Crenshaw/LAX line), a bus plaza, a bicycle hub, a pedestrian plaza,
passenger vehicle pickup and drop-off area, a Metro transit center/terminal
building, and a connection to the automated people mover, which will connect
travelers with terminals at LAX.

Mike has been advocating for an intermodal transportation facility to finally

provide a long-overdue connection between our mass transit network and the
region’s largest airport, and once built, this facility will help take cars off of
neighborhood streets in Westchester as people find more convenient alternatives
to get to and from LAX.

The station plans can be found as part of the environmental impact report, which
you can read
at https://media.metro.net/projects_studies/crenshaw/images/AMC_96th_St_Station_Draft_EIR_2016-
6.pdf . You can also read coverage of the exciting plan’s release
at http://laist.com/2016/06/24/lax_rail.php .
Short-Term Rental Regulations Approved by City Planning Commission

Mike’s effort to regulate short-term rental services like Airbnb and Homeaway
took a major step forward in June, when the City Planning Commission voted to
advance a series of regulations that were originally designed to protect both
affordable housing and the character and quality of life of our neighborhoods.

The Planning Commission made a series of changes to the proposed regulations,

including increasing the cap on the number of days a short-term rental can be
offered from 120 days a year to 180 days. You can read more about the Planning
Commission’s vote and the changes the Commission made
at http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-airbnb-rentals-20160623-
snap-story.html .

Mike first asked for short-term rental regulations because he wants to allow
honest homesharing while creating strict rules that prohibit abuse of sites, which
threaten both affordable housing and neighborhood character. The Council’s
Planning and Land Use Committee will next consider the draft regulations,
perhaps as early as August. The final regulations will very likely continue to
change as the public process continues, and Mike is eager to hear continued input
about what is being proposed. Please
visit http://www.11thdistrict.com/contact_us to send your comments and
suggestions about the draft regulations.

Tailoring Mansionization Rules to Community Needs in the Pacific Palisades

In 2014, the Department of City Planning was challenged to revise the Citywide
rules governing mansionization to better ensure that houses being built were
compatible with the neighborhoods where they were located. In response to
concerns from many neighborhoods throughout the City, the City Council
directed Planning staff to prepare amendments to the City’s Baseline
Mansionization Ordinance (“BMO”) (and later to the Baseline Hillside Ordinance
(“BHO”)) to close loopholes that were allowing for much larger homes to be built,
overwhelming existing, smaller scale single-family neighborhoods.

Mike engaged neighbors in the process and as he did, he heard from many
residents in the Pacific Palisades that the proposed BMO and BHO amendments
would create an issue for Palisades neighborhoods that are happy with the
current rules. Rather than assuming the Palisades neighborhoods have the same
issues as other single-family neighborhoods in the City, the residents are asking
for BMO and BHO rules that take the characteristics of the Palisades into
consideration.

Mike joined the Palisades neighbors in their request for mansionization rules
tailored to their community, and authored a letter to the Director of City
Planning in June to ask that the Pacific Palisades be looked at individually to
ensure new rules do not create problems where they didn’t previously exist.

Find Out More About the City Council's Work to Put Neighborhoods First

Herbicides in Neighborhoods

Protecting the health and safety of people in the neighborhoods he represents is

Mike’s top priority, and when he heard that neighbors in the Pacific Palisades
were concerned with a chemical being sprayed in their neighborhood, Mike took
action to stand up on behalf of residents. In June, the Palisades News reported
that people living near canyons and parks in the Pacific Palisades objected to the
use of the potentially hazardous chemical “Roundup” near their homes, because
Roundup has been linked to some types of cancer and other disease. Mike shared
the neighbor’s concerns and authored legislation asking for the Department of
Recreation and Parks to report to the Council on the use of this dangerous
chemical and to explore alternatives that better protect neighbors from harm.

Equality California Launches Gun Control Effort in Wake of Orlando Shooting

Mike joined Mayor Garcetti, colleagues and leaders from the State legislature on
June 17 to announce the launch of Equality California’s new campaign to combat
gun violence, “Safe and Equal.” The effort will support gun control legislation in
Sacramento and is one of a series of examples of the powerful and successful
LGBT political movement aligning itself with the gun control movement in the
wake of the horrific killings in Orlando.

Mike Hosts LGBT Heritage Month Celebration in City Council

Each year, the City Council recognizes LGBT Heritage Month to honor the ways
members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community have made
Los Angeles a great place to live. On June 8, Mike hosted the annual presentation,
where he was joined by Mayor Eric Garcetti, Controller Ron Galperin, City
Attorney Mike Feuer and Councilmember Mitch O'Farrell.

The 2016 presentation focused the "T" in "LGBT", shining a spotlight on leaders
who have worked to win equality and dignity for the transgender community.
Those leaders included Bamby Salcedo, President and CEO of the TransLatina
Coalition, Riku Matsuda, head of the Los Angeles County Commission on Human
Relations’ work to end violence against transgender and non-binary
communities, Drian Juarez, Program Manager for the Los Angeles LGBT Center
Transgender Economic Empowerment Project and Jaden Fields, Health Educator
at APAIT.

LAPD to be Largest Police Department in Nation to Have Officers Equipped

with Body Cameras
In a big victory for public trust and accountability, the Los Angeles Police
Department will become the largest police force in the nation to use body
cameras on a widespread scale.

On June 22, the City Council voted to approve a five-year plan to purchase and
equip 7,000 officers with body cameras that will record LAPD interactions with
the public. Body cameras are an important tool to reduce expensive lawsuits
against police officers, and to prosecute criminals. The Council’s Public Safety
Committee (on which Mike sits) previously raised issues about the original
proposal to buy cameras, which could have required officers being taken off the
street to help review body camera footage. The LAPD responded to those
concerns, and came back with a refined proposal to include more civilian staffers
to manage administrative tasks, ensuring more officers will remain on the street
where they do the most good protecting our neighborhoods.

DWP Reform, Affordable Housing Measures Advance to November Ballot

The November ballot will be crowded with important elections and proposals,
including a few initiatives recently approved by the City Council to appear on the
ballot.

DWP REFORM
Earlier this year, Mike’s colleague Felipe Fuentes proposed changes designed to
create a more transparent, efficient and accountable DWP. Council President
Herb Wesson then held eight meetings across the city to collect opinions on how
to fix the DWP, before asking the Council to vote on the series of proposals to
appear on the November ballot. The initiative would expand the DWP’s oversight
board to seven seats (from five) and members would have to meet new
qualifications. Board member’s terms would also be slightly shorter - four years
rather than five. Finally, it would call for monthly billing and give the DWP board
more control over both hiring and contracting issues.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING
The Council also voted to place a citizen-driven initiative on the ballot that
proponents claim would ensure that affordable housing and good jobs are part of
sustainable development in Los Angeles. Specifically, “Build Better LA,” as the
initiative is known, includes a local hire measure that requires at least 30 percent
of workers on a project be hired locally, and that a living wage and good job
standards are offered for workers at any development that requires approval
from the Council. The measure also calls for residential projects with more than
10 units that require approvals from the Council to include affordable housing.

June Small Business Spotlights

Local small businesses provide more than jobs for people on the Westside - they
are part of what make neighborhoods great. Each week, Mike chooses a local Mom
and Pop business to feature on social media in his " Small Business Spotlight ."

This Santa Monica Boulevard establishment has been a fixture in West LA since
1960 and offers exceptional cakes and pastries, as well as tiramisu, opera,
Bavarian Napoleon, Emil's fresh fruit tart, croque en bouche, strawberry
shortcake, custom cakes, wedding cakes - even quiches in your own pan! The
West LA neighbor who wrote in to nominate Emil's pointed to the shop's "lovely
pastries and coffee, and welcoming and long term staff. Great for breakfast &
lunch too!" Check out Emil's at 11551 Santa Monica Blvd. or find out more online
at www.emilsswisspastry.com/ .
This Mar Vista cafe and gourmet market was nominated by a customer who loves
the "great food, very friendly owners and great staff." Stop by Rustic Kitchen at
3523 S. Centinela Ave. or check it out online at rustickitchen.la.

This Venice eatery is a unique Mexican restaurant that offers a fusion of

Southern Mexican food with French influences to create savory plates you'll
love. Tlapazola Grill was nominated by a Venice neighbor who raves about the
owner, Sam Cruz "who works night and day to maintain the quality of food and
service that they offer - and it's authentic." Tlapazola Grill can be found at 636
Venice Boulevard or you can check the menu out online at tlapazolagrill.com.

This American bistro was founded on Truxton Avenue in Westchester in 2006,

and Truxton's recently opened its second location (in Santa Monica). The
restaurant was founded by John Kaufman and Tim Foley as a place "where the
neighborhood comes together for delicious food and easy hospitality every day of
the week." Stop by Truxton's at 8611 Truxton Ave. or check out the delicious menu
at truxtonsamericanbistro.com.

This family-owned Mar Vista grocery store is nestled in the neighborhood at the
corner of Beethoven and Palms and is a great place to pick up essentials.
Beethoven also offers British groceries like HP Brown Sauce, Walkers crisps or
Birds custard. Stop by one of Mar Vista's terrific neighborhood grocery stores at
12904 Palms Blvd or call them at (310) 397-2710.

Do you have a favorite business you want to nominate to be featured in Mike's

Small Business Spotlight? You can make a nomination for the “Small Business
Spotlight” at this link.

Meet the Summer Interns!

Working in the large and diverse communities of the Westside is a big job, and
Mike and his staff regularly work with interns and fellows to help deliver
exceptional service to neighbors. This summer, five dedicated young people will
join team Bonin, including:

Harrison Feinman
Harrison is a Brentwood resident and a rising Junior at Crossroads School. He has
experience volunteering at Cedars-Siani hospital, and is excited about helping
people who are concerned about homelessness and transportation.

Noah Fleishman
Noah is a Westchester resident and a sophomore at Santa Monica College, where
he is working to transfer to UCLA to pursue a degree in Political Science. Noah is
passionate about addressing homelessness and helping create affordable
housing.

Mari Goldberg
Mari lives in Brentwood with her family (which has lived in the community for 37
years) and is Captain of the Varsity Tennis and Swim teams at the Archer School
for Girls. She is passionate about addressing homelessness and providing
services to people who need help.

Eamon Vahidi
Eamon lives in Westwood and is a rising Senior at St. Monica Catholic High
School. He has helped out in Mike’s Westchester office before, and is back
because he believes in progressive approaches to transportation, planning and
addressing homelessness.

Naomi Barlava
Naomi is a Brentwood resident who will be helping with Communications work
out of City Hall. Naomi has experience as a teaching assistant and has
volunteered at St. Joseph Center and Village School in the Pacific Palisades.

Find out about just some of the events happening in your neighborhood
in the next month!

Westchester’s 4th of July Parade

When : Monday, July 4, 11 am – 12:30 pm
Where : Westchester, Loyola Boulevard from Westchester Park to LMU,
Westchester, CA
RSVP : http://business.laxcoastal.com/events/details/fourth-of-july-
parade-1238

68th Annual Pacific Palisades Fourth of July Parade & Celebration

When : Monday, July 4, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Where : Sunset Boulevard, between Via de la Paz and Drummond, Pacific
Palisades, CA
RSVP : http://palisadesparade.org/

4th of July 5K and 10K Run

When: Monday, July 4
Registration 6:30 am-8 am
5K and 10K begin at 8:15 am
Kids Run begins at 9:30 am

Where: Palisades Recreation Center, 851 Alma Real Dr., Pacific Palisades
 More Information: http://palisades10k.com/fact

Uncle Sam Jam

When: July 3, 2016
Where: Boccaccio from Abbot Kinney to Zeno Place

Glyndon Block Party

When: July 4 from 12pm-8pm
Where: Glyndon Avenue from Venice to Zanja

3rd Annual Harrison Ave 4th of July Block Party

When: July 4
Where: Harrison Ave. from Van Buren to Lincoln

Venice’s 111th Birthday and July 4th Sign Lighting

When: July 4
Where: Windward Avenue

Sunset Summer Concert Series at the Skirball: Thao and the Get Down Stay
Down
When: July 21, 8pm
Where: The Skirball Center, 2701 N Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049
More Information: http://www.skirball.org/programs/sunset-concerts

Movie Night: Inside Out

When : Saturday, July 30, 2016 at 07:30 PM
Where : Oakwood Recreation Center - 767 California Ave, Los Angeles, CA
90291
RSVP : http://www.11thdistrict.com/movie_night_inside_out

Obon Festival
When: July 30-July 31
Where: West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple 2003 Corinth Ave, Los Angeles,
CA 90025
More
Infomation: http://westlosangelesbuddhisttemple.org/activities/obonfestival

Movie Night: Zootopia

When : Saturday, August 20, 2016 at 07:30 PM
Where : Westchester Recreation Center - 7000 W Manchester Ave, Los
Angeles, CA 90045
RSVP : http://www.11thdistrict.com/movie_night_zootopia

Have an event you would like listed? Email updates@11thdistrict.com to

submit events.
Honoring the Victims of Violence in Orlando

In the wake of the horrific mass murder in Orlando, Mike and his colleague Mitch
O’Farrell adjourned the City Council meeting in honor of the 49 victims of the
assault. Instead of pausing for a moment of silence, Mike made clear that he “has
no more silence left to give” and dedicated himself to putting new energy into
the fight for common-sense gun control in a speech that LAist called "searing"
and "incredible" .

Thank you for reading the June issue of Mike Bonin's Neighborhoods
First Newsletter.

For more about Mike and Council District 11, please

v i s i t www.11thdistrict.com

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MIKE BONIN - T AK E AC T I ON MEDIA NEIG HB ORH OODS ISS UES N EW S C OUN CIL STA FF A BOU T MIK E
COUNCIL DISTRICT 11

BRENTWOOD | DEL REY | MAR VISTA | PACIFIC PALISADES | PLAYA DEL REY | PLAYA VISTA | VENICE | WEST LA | WESTCHESTER

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