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October 2015

Welcome to the October Issue of Mike Bonin's "Neighborhoods First Newsletter"!

IN THIS ISSUE: We take a look at major actions on homelessness in Los Angeles,

work to improve parks, sidewalks, and bus service, efforts to regulate short-term
rentals, and great work being done in our neighborhoods... but first, please read
Contact Our Office
this month's profile, about a Brentwood student who has found his calling
working with deaf kids on the Westside.

Connect with Facebook

I C Y M I - M I D T E R M R E V I E W - In case you missed it, over the summer, we issued
a special edition of the newsletter, which covered highlights from Mike's first
two years in office. Check it out here . Connect with Twitter

You can find out more about Mike , meet your CD11 staff and see the latest
videos and updates from the Westside on our website Councilmember Mike…
at www.11thdistrict.com . And remember to like Mike's Facebook page and follow 5,229 likes
him on Twitter to always see the latest news about your neighborhood.

Liked

You and 371 other friends like this

Brentwood Student Shows There Are No Limits for Deaf and Hard-of-
Hearing Children

In September, Mike nominated 17-year old Brentwood School student Joshua

Wagner as Council District 11's honoree for the City Council's annual Deaf
Awareness Day presentation. Joshua came highly recommended as an honoree by
the director of a local non-profit group that works with deaf children called "No
Limits for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children." We asked Joshua a little about his
work with No Limits and what he has learned through his volunteer efforts.
Tell us about how you started
working with No Limits.
Tweets by ​@MikeBoninLA
Mike Bonin
I initially started working with
@MikeBoninLA
No Limits during their summer
Proud to have worked with @givingspirit &
theater program. I wondered assembled winter kits for homeless residents. Sign
how anybody could run a up for the 2018 Homeless Count because every
theater with deaf children as resident, no matter where they live, matters
bit.ly/2mf7D6W
actors. I soon discovered that it
is much easier than it sounds,
kids are kids, no matter what
internal disability they have.
There, I had the opportunity to
directly work with the No
Limits kids, instructing them in
diction and pronunciation as
They Count Will You?
well as helping them gain
The 2018 Greater Los Angeles Homeless …
confidence and memorize their
theycountwillyou.org
lines.

5h
After that summer, I founded a No Limits Club chapter, the first of its kind, at my
school to broaden their message to a whole new group of people who would never Embed View on Twitter
have heard about it. I started with my friends and just promoted No Limits non-
stop, talking to anybody who would listen. When sign up day came, I got a solid
10 volunteers who were enthusiastic and inspired by my ideas and message.

What kind of things did the No Limits Club do?

We raised funds and awareness including several bake sales, trips to decorate the
No Limits office for holidays (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas), working a No
Limits event at the Santa Monica Pier, selling raffle tickets, and even having a
deaf comedian (Kathy Buckley) speak at Brentwood.

However, my ultimate goal was to produce, write, direct, and create a 24-Hour
improvised musical to pay for cochlear implants and raise awareness. I found a
director willing to direct, a jazz band willing to play, a tech crew, and, most
importantly, 20 actors who would star in the production. My brainchild, the 24-
Hour Musical, was under way!

We raised over $1,200 for cochlear implants and had spread No Limits' message
to countless new families.

What's next?

This year, I'm working to help partner with Bead Relief to create a bracelet line
for No Limits, which will greatly help increase the scope of its audience. In
addition, I'm also planning another 24-Hour Musical, several speakers, and more
bake sales. There's also a possibility that my club may partner up with Best
Buddies to have a coffee house where kids from each organization dance, sing,
and perform on a stage.

Find out more about No Limits for Deaf Children

at http://nolimitsfordeafchildren.org/
Access 11 Pop Up Office Hours in Westchester

On September 23, Mike took his "Pop Up Office Hours" back to the Westchester
Farmers Market. Throughout the day, Mike met with Westchester-area neighbors
about ways to improve life in their community and discussed ideas for making
Westchester a better place to live and work. The "Pop Up" Office Hours session
was part of Mike's Access 11 program, which seeks to bring local government to
neighborhoods so people don't need to trek downtown to have a say in how the
city works.

Playa Vista: Phase Two

Mike toured Playa Vista on September 21, getting an overview of Phase Two of
construction in the Westside neighborhood.

Located on property once occupied by Howard Hughes’ aircraft plant, runway

and hangars, Playa Vista is now a walkable mix of new homes, creative offices,
retail, year-round events and an extensive network of parks and open spaces.
Playa Vista’s current and final development area will add 2,600 apartments and
homes, 200 independent/assisted-living homes, more office space, a second
resident club and new parks and open space, which are open to the public, and
not just Playa Vista residents.

Right now, there are between 2,500 and 3,000 construction professionals
working to complete Playa Vista, and construction is nearing completion on
Runway at Playa Vista, the community’s mixed-use commercial and social center,
which includes a roughly 200,000-square-foot shopping center, apartments and
office space.
More Than 700 Neighbors Get Free Health Screening at Mar Vista Gardens
Neighborhood Event

September 26 was a great day in Mar Vista Gardens! Mike's office helped organize
the Mar Vista Del Rey Collaborative, which provided health screenings and
exercise for more than 700 participants, and cemented positive long-lasting
relationships with LAPD and the community members of Del Rey. Thanks to
UCLA, Venice Family Clinic, Didi Hirsch and LA Care for their great partnership!

Mike Helps Install New Security Cameras at Westchester Rec Center

On the morning of September 11, Mike helped install some of the new LED lights
and security cameras at Westchester Recreation Center.

Westchester Recreation Center is home to a great playground, wonderful open

fields and fantastic amenities for neighbors to enjoy, but there is always more we
can do to ensure people feel safe as they enjoy the park. After helping install the
lights and camera, Mike thanked the Park Advisory Board, Recreation and Parks
staff, as well as LAPD Pacific Division Officers, who are partnering with my
office to make Westchester Recreation Center safer, more fun and even more
inviting for families throughout Westchester to enjoy.

Find out more by clicking here.

Coming Soon: Wendell Brown Sculpture Dedication Scheduled for October

For years, Wendell Brown was a fixture in Brentwood, sitting near Vicente Foods
and selling poems to passersby. The 69-year old "poet laureate of San Vicente
Boulevard" passed away earlier this year and the Brentwood community is doing
something special to honor the man who helped many understand the human
cost of the homeless crisis in Los Angeles.

On October 11, community members will unveil a bronze sculpture created in

memory of Brown in the spot Brown often occupied in front of Vicente Foods and
Pharmaca at 12011 San Vicente Blvd. The reveal will take place at noon and
members of the community are welcome to attend.

Preparing for Coming Storms: Berms in Playa Del Rey

Beachfront homes in Playa Del Rey are susceptible to flooding during intense
storms, and with a record-setting El Nino expected this year, Mike is working
with the County of Los Angeles to ensure there are adequate preparations for
coming storms. In the past month, Mike's staff has worked with Supervisor Don
Knabe and the County Beaches and Harbors Commission to request that sand
berms be constructed preemptively to avoid any issues during winter months.

Abbot Kinney Festival Celebrates Venice

On September 27, Mike joined neighbors in Venice to celebrate the Abbot Kinney
Festival. The annual event, which features music, food, fun, art and more gave
Mike an opportunity to present "Spirit of Venice Awards" to Sue Kaplan, Edizen
Stowell, his former field representative Cecilia Castillo, and the late, great and
dearly missed Challis Macpherson. Each of the awardees has made significant
and lasting contributions to Venice, and are the kind of neighborhood champions
Mike likes to honor and celebrate. The annual festival also benefits the
community by awarding grants to neighborhood organizations and local schools.

38th Annual Jungle Cleanup a Huge Success

On September 17, neighbors in Playa Del Rey hosted the 38th annual Jungle
Cleanup. The annual event brings together people from the community to sweep
streets and pick up litter to improve their neighborhood. The community cleans
up tons of trash and then throws one of the best neighborhood parts on the
Westside!

Arson in Del Rey: Help Identify the Person Responsible for September 19 Fire

On September 19, more than 100 firefighters responded to a fire at 11869 Teale
St. in Del Rey, waging a defensive firefight before getting a handle and knocking
down the blaze in about two hours - thankfully without injury. The Los Angeles
Fire Department and ATF are now asking for the public’s help in identifying a
suspect that was seen at the incident. The suspect is described as a shirtless
young male, possibly African-American or Hispanic, approximately 6'0", 175 lbs,
with short dark cropped hair. He was wearing dark jeans with blue
undergarments (boxers) and dark colored tennis shoes with white stripes. The
suspect has a discoloration mark on his right forearm. Video from security
camera footage is available at youtube.com/lafd . The ATF is currently offering a
$5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect.
Anyone with information about the fire or the person in the photograph/video
should contact the Arson Counter/Terrorism Section at (213) 893-9850 .
Celebrating Latino Heritage & Culture on the Westside

October is Latino Heritage Month in Los Angeles. To celebrate the occasion,

Councilmember Mike Bonin hosted two Oaxacan events at West L.A. Civic Center:
the Festival of Tejate and Danza de la Pluma.

On September 6, Mike welcomed Grupo Folklorico Guish-Bac and the West L.A.
Oaxacan community to the West L.A. Civic Center for the 8th annual Festival of
Tejate. Congrats to Natividad Santiago, Gabriel Gomez and Grupo Folklorico
Guish-Bac on an amazing celebration of Tejate and Oaxacan culture! Senator of
the Republic of Mexico for Oaxaca, Benjamin Robles Montoya, visited Los Angeles
to join the celebration. Thousands of people turned out for the event, enjoying
the music, the art, the various Tejate drinks, and some delicious tlayuda!

West L.A. United Methodist Church Turns 85

On September 19, Mike joined pastors and lay leaders of West L.A. United
Methodist Church (WLAUMC) to celebrate the church's 85th anniversary. The
church was established in 1930 by Japanese immigrants and has become a
spiritual pillar of West L.A.'s Japanese-American community.

Heal the Bay Coastal Cleanup Day Tremendous Success

Mike joined Heal the Bay and 660 volunteers at Dockweiler Beach Tower 55 to take
part in Coastal Cleanup Day on September 20. Volunteers removed 440 pounds of
trash and recyclables from the beach. Thanks to Heal the Bay and the volunteer
site captains who put neighborhoods first and made the event a great success.

New Funds for City Murals

Last month, the City announced a new Citywide Mural Program that calls for
$750,000 to be spent on the restoration and preservation of historic fine-art
murals as well as the creation of new ones.

The Department of Cultural Affairs program, which will run through June 2016,
follows the city’s 2013 ordinance allowing new murals after a nearly 10-year ban.
The new program is meant to generate pride and awareness for these works,
some 30 or more years old.

The funds include $400,000 that will go to the Venice-based Social and Public Art
Resource Center, or SPARC, and the Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles. The two
nonprofit groups will conserve 11 damaged murals. The work will include
applying an anti-graffiti coating to protect the artwork from vandals.

The new program also provides $300,000 for 15 City Council offices to
commission new works or to conserve existing ones. Funds also will go toward
documentation and educational outreach. The remaining $50,000 will go toward
clerical administration on the mural projects.

Mike Meets with Pacific Palisades Community Council

Mike got to spend some time with the Pacific Palisades Community Council on
September 10, answering questions from board members and residents about
homelessness, development, traffic, the Olympics, bike lanes, urban bee keeping,
and a whole lot more! The PPCC is a strong and long-standing organization that
predates the city's neighborhood council system; they are a great voice for the
community in Pacific Palisades.
Improving Sidewalk Accessibility on the Westside

The Bureau of Street Services was hard at work on the Westside in the past
month, conducting a pothole blitz of locations suggested by Neighborhood
Councils, and completing work adding "curb cuts" to sidewalks in the area to
make it easier for bicyclists and members of the disabled community to cross the
street. The curb cut in the photo above was finished on September 23 at the
corner of Glyndon Avenue and Appleton Way, making the path to Walgrove
Avenue Elementary safer.

Argonaut Readers Vote Mike as "Best on the Westside"

Every year, the Westside's weekly neighborhood newspaper, The Argonaut ,

publishes a "Best of the Westside" issue with the results of reader surveys about
what they love most about living in the neighborhoods of West Los Angeles. For
the second year in a row, Mike was voted as "Best Public Servant" by The
Argonaut's readers!

"Thank you to the readers who voted me as 'Best Public Servant' for the second
consecutive year in the annual 'Best of the Westside' issue," Mike said of the
recognition. "My team and I work very hard to put neighborhoods first on the
Westside and we greatly appreciate the support and partnership of so many
neighbors and friends. Thank you!"

Mike to Host Access 11 Pop Up Office Hours at Mar Vista Fall Festival
The Mar Vista Fall Festival is an annual event that features a day of great food,
entertainment, booth presentations, and fun for the whole family. The Festival is
brought to the community by the Mar Vista Community Council, Festival
Partners and Sponsors, and the Mar Vista Recreation Center. This year, as he did
last year, Mike will host Pop Up Office Hours at a booth at the Festival, offering
neighbors a chance to talk about their ideas for putting neighborhoods first on
the Westside. Make sure to stop by Mike's booth between 1pm and 3pm at the Mar
Vista Rec Center on October 17!

Find out more about the Fall Festival here.

Promoting Community Safety & Emergency Preparedness

September was National Emergency Preparedness Month and Mike, in

partnership with the West L.A.-Sawtelle Neighborhood Council, sponsored a
Community Safety and Emergency Preparedness Fair and West L.A. Civic Center
on September 20. The event empowered Westsiders to protect themselves, their
families, and their community by teaming with local emergency and disaster
agencies and organizations to provide information resources and skills to help
put neighborhoods first in case of emergencies or disasters.

Controversial Del Rey Cell Tower Installed Over Community and

Councilmember Objections

Earlier this summer, Mike joined members of the Del Rey community in
celebrating when plans for a proposed cell tower at the LAPD Pacific Police
Station were apparently abandoned. Late in September, however, the Council
office and members of the community were shocked to see the tower being
erected anyway. Mike released the following statement in reaction to the
disappointing news that the tower was being installed:

"Despite the strong, organized and vocal objections of the Del Rey community,
despite my vehement objection, and despite LA-RICS' own promise to withdraw
the project, this project was authorized and permitted to proceed. That decision
was compounded by the sneaky and surreptitious manner in which LA-
RICS proceeded, constructing the tower with no notice to anyone, including the
neighborhood council or my office. This project is a wasteful boondoogle being
managed by an organization that is shadowy, arrogant and dismissive of the
community."

Helping Neighbors Cut Red Tape

Last month, Mike's staff was working hard to put neighborhoods first and help
neighbors on the Westside navigate bureaucracy and cut red tape. One excellent
example of the work Mike's team does every day came at the beginning of the
month when Constituent Advocate Nancy Aguilar helped constituent John
Dinkler recoup $6,500 from the DWP after he was incorrectly billed by the
Department .

Do you have an issue in your neighborhood Mike and his staff can help solve?
Please call our West LA Office at 310-575-8461 or our Westchester Office at 310-
568-8772 so we can help!

Council Commits $100 Million to Combat Homelessness

On September 25, Mike joined Mayor Garcetti, Council President Herb Wesson
and Councilmembers Jose Huizar and Paul Krekorian to announce that they
would introduce a motion committing $100 million in city funds to combat
homelessness and help move people off the streets and into housing, shelter and
supportive services. "That is a significant and serious amount of money to make
sure the City is finally getting real about this crisis," Mike said of the
announcement.

The Council's Homelessness Committee (on which Mike serves) and Mayor
Garcetti and his team will be developing the plan to spend the money, and they
will work closely with the County to make sure their efforts are in sync.
“Our homelessness crisis demands an all-hands-on-deck approach,” Mike said.
“The county has been showing tremendous leadership. The federal government,
through work at the VA, is stepping up in a tangible way. Mayor Garcetti has been
leading strongly on this issue, as is the business community, non-profits, and
neighborhood councils. This commitment means the City Council is serious about
being a contributing partner, and being part of the solution.”

State of Emergency Declaration

Also on September 25, Mike and Councilmember Cedillo introduced a proposal to

officially declare homelessness a State of Emergency in Los Angeles. The proposal
is more than just words - it calls for the fast-tracking of and a special,
streamlined process for affordable housing; makes it easier for nonprofits and
faith institutions to operate shelters and safe parking programs; and opens up
the possibility for the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority to use city
facilities for the same purpose.

Find Out More: Watch Mike Discuss the Homelessness Announcements

Mike joined A Martinez on KPCC's Take Two and Conan Nolan on NBC4's News
Conference to discuss the big homelessness announcements. Watch and listen to
the interviews at the links below.

Listen to Mike discuss the announcements on KPCC's Take Two

and
Watch Mike discuss the news on NBC4's News Conference with Conan Nolan .

Winter Shelter Operations to Be Extended

With what could be a record El Nino on the horizon, Mike is working with his
Council colleagues to open the annual winter shelter early this year and to keep it
open until the storms have passed. On September 25, the Council unanimously
approved Mike's motion to instruct the city to develop a plan to begin winter
shelter operations on November 1 and to stay open 24-hours a day during rain
storms.

Poverty Matters Forum

On September 16, the group "Poverty Matters" hosted a free conference titled
"Homeless to Housing: Successful Models for Change" at the Harmony Gold
Theatre in West Hollywood. The event featured experts from successful programs
in Utah, Santa Barbara, and San Francisco and offered ideas and examples of
success in combatting homelessness, including Utah's Housing First Model; Santa
Barbara's Safe Parking program; San Francisco's mobile shower and toilet
program, Lava Mae. Mike and his colleagues will be visiting the different cities to
learn more and make sure we replicate successes here in Los Angeles.

Senator Dianne Feinstein Proposes Legislation to House Vets at West LA VA

A few years ago Mike joined the Courage Campaign on a "progressive convening"
with senior White House officials. At the meeting, Mike urged the Obama
administration to find a way to allow the local Veterans Administration facility
to offer leases to service providers and developers to create housing for homeless
veterans.

Earlier this month, Senator Dianne Feinstein proposed legislation to do precisely

that. The Feinstein bill would help fast-track improved services and housing for
homeless veterans. The timing is perfect as the VA embarks on a new Master Plan
for the West LA campus and promises to keep its long-ignored commitment to
our veterans. U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu, the House co-sponsor, has been a tremendous
advocate for better veteran services at the VA.

On October 7, the VA will hold a Town Hall on the West LA Master Plan. The event
will be 6-8 pm at Wadsworth Theatre on the VA campus. During this
meeting VA will provide an update on its Homeless Strategy and members of
the Master Plan Team will be present to provide a status update. This will likely be
the last town hall before the draft Master Plan is released in mid October. You can
find more info here .

Big Blue Bus Comes to Playa Vista

Mike is working with local transit operators like the Big Blue Bus to expand
mobility options for Westside residents, workers, and visitors. The recent
extension of Big Blue Bus Route 14 service to Playa Vista is the first of many
transit-related enhancements to come.

Big Blue Bus extended Route 14 (Bundy/Centinela) into the Campus at Playa Vista
on August 23rd. Route 14 serves bus stops from Artisans Way and Centinela
Avenue, near Central Park inside the Campus, all the way to Brentwood.
Convenient connections with other routes, including the future Metro Expo rail
station at Bundy & Olympic, provide convenient connections for travel
throughout the city.

#BiketoEmmys Seeks to Show that Biking is Cool

As city government is working to make biking safer in LA, Mad Men producer
Tom Smuts is working to make it more popular. On Sunday, September 20, Mike
was happy to wish luck to Tom and his friends who would soon bike from his
house in Santa Monica to the Emmys downtown. Tom's
annual # BiketoEmmys
​B iketoEmmys event helps showcase how easy and fun (and
environmentally friendly) it can be to get around Los Angeles by bike.

TAP Your Way Across Los Angeles County

Transit in Los Angeles is becoming more convenient for travelers, now that all 26
regional transportation agencies in LA County have joined the Metro and the TAP
network to create the largest seamless transportation system in the nation.
Starting last month, every transit agency in LA County is now accepting TAP
system, which utilizes smart cards with a computer chip embedded within the
plastic card. A new Tap card has an expected life of ten years and can be reloaded
and reused.

Since all municipal transit agencies in L.A. County accept TAP, passengers can
transfer from any of the 3,800 busses operating in the County to trains from any
transit provider.

Find out more about this great news here.

Bike and Ped Count - What You Count, Counts!

Mike spent some time on September 19, participating in the Los Angeles County
Bicycle Coalition's 2015 Bike & Pedestrian Count. "By gathering accurate data on
where people walk and cycle, we can better advocate bicycle and pedestrian
funding and better guide policymakers on decisions regarding transportation,"
Mike said about the bi-annual event. In 2013, Mike authored legislation to ensure
the bike and ped count's results were being considered by the city.

Walk To School Day Needs Your Help!

Walk to School Day is an annual national event that encourages kids to get
physical activity. This year, Walk to School Day will be held on Wednesday,
October 7th. LADOT and LAUSD are looking for volunteer organizers to host
events at their schools on or around October 7th.

Volunteer organizers can be a local parent, program provider, or other person

who can act as the main point of contact and arrange for 5-10 volunteers to help
to host tables and give out stickers (provided by LADOT) to children who walk.

For more information, to register your school, and to request event

planning support, visit www.walktoschoolday-la.org or call (323) 942-9873 .

Award-Winning Mobility Staffers Serving the Westside

Congratulations to Mike's exceptional Mobility Deputy Jessie Holzer, who has
been named the Association of Pedestrian & Bicycle Professionals Young
Professional of the Year!

Jessie was nominated by her peers for her excellent work on the Venice Boulevard
Great Streets project in Mar Vista, and for her efforts developing APBP's Young
Professional program through her hands-on work with the 2014-2015 Mentorship
Initiative. She will travel to St. Louis soon to accept her award at the
organization's national conference.

Congratulations, Jessie!

Solving Sunset Traffic: Community Workshop Coming in November

Sunset Boulevard is one of the worst traffic chokepoints in Los Angeles, and the
gridlock affects neighbors in Brentwood, the Pacific Palisades and throughout
the Westside. This November, (exact date to be determined), Mike will convene a
meeting of neighbors, area stakeholders and traffic and transportation experts
to collaborate on creative solutions that will alleviate traffic on Sunset
Boulevard. Complete this form to sign up to receive more information about this
meeting as it becomes available.

Flight Path Petition Launched

In early September, Mike launched a petition drive. asking for neighbors to join
him in asking the FAA to address the loud and annoying increase in planes flying
over Playa del Rey and Westchester. "My office has received dozens of calls from
neighbors in Playa del Rey who are upset and frustrated by a sudden increase in
the number of planes flying over their homes," Mike said. "The noise is annoying,
frightening and I share in your frustration. It needs to stop."

Find out more and sign the petition here.

September Small Business Spotlights

Local small businesses provide more than jobs for people on the Westside - they
are part of what makes neighborhoods great. Each week, Mike chooses one local
Mom and Pop business to feature on social media in his " Small Business
Spotlight ."
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.
Find Out More About the Legislation Mike is Authoring to Put
Neighborhoods First

Mike's "Oil Bomb Trains" Resolution Unanimously Approved by Council

On September 2, the City Council took unanimous action to protect

neighborhoods from dirty and dangerous “oil bomb trains.”

The Council approved a resolution Mike authored to formally oppose a project in

San Luis Obispo County being offered by the Phillips 66 Company, which would
extend a rail spur to the oil company’s Santa Maria Oil Refinery so the refinery
could receive more oil shipments by train. If approved, the rail spur extension
would allow up to five unit trains - each 1.4 miles long and made up of 400 tank
cars - filled with roughly two million gallons of crude oil to the refinery every
week. The shipments would come from a variety of origins, including the Port of
Los Angeles, which would necessitate travel along rail lines through Los Angeles
neighborhoods.

"This is a dangerous idea and I appreciate my colleagues on the Council -

especially Jose Huizar and Paul Koretz standing with me to oppose it," Mike said.
"Oil trains are just as likely as any to derail, but when the trains are full of highly
flammable fuel like crude oil, when they derail they aren’t just trains coming off
the tracks - they are massive, destructive, life-threatening bombs being ignited
in our neighborhoods."

Find out more by clicking here.

Westside Community Meeting Held to Gather Input on Short-Term Rentals

Short-term rentals, like AirBnB, HomeAway, and VRBO have become incredibly
popular choices for travelers – and they have proliferated in many Westside
neighborhoods. Short-term rentals have a lot of supporters, including local
residents who use home-sharing to make ends meet, but the phenomenon is also
causing serious alarm and concern about impacts on residential neighborhoods
and out too-scare rental housing stock.

Over the next couple months, the City Council will be considering regulations for
the industry. The first step, before a proposal is even drafted, is public input on
what types of rules are needed. A standing room only crowd of hundreds turned
out in Mar Vista Tuesday for the first of three “listening sessions” held the
Department of City Planning. See coverage of the meeting here .

Along with Council President Herb Wesson, Mike has proposed, as a framework
for discussion, a balanced approach that allows true home-sharing while putting
a stop to abuse that threatens neighborhood character and removes rental
housing from the market.

Even if you were not able to attend the meeting, you can still offer input! The
Planning Department has launched an online survey so people can share their
views about this important issue. You can find the survey at this link .

Mike Calls for Investigation of Hold Times on Non-Emergency Calls to LAPD

In the summer of 2015, Mike authored legislation asking for the Los Angeles
Police Department to report to the City Council about excessive hold times on the
department's non-emergency phone number, 877-ASK-LAPD . Constituents calling
the number to report non-emergencies such as loud parties, drinking in public or
trespassing, have reportedly been forced to wait in excess of a half hour before
speaking with a live person. The non-emergency number was created to free-up
capacity when people call 9-1-1 during an emergency, but the system doesn't
work if people calling to report non-emergencies are not able to make reports
because of excessive hold times.

As the Council considers ways to improve this system, we want to hear from
you. Please share you experiences with 877-ASK-LAPD here .

Body Cameras for LAPD

Earlier this month, the Los Angeles Police Department began equipping officers
with body cameras, moving LA toward becoming the first big city in the nation to
outfit all officers with on-officer cameras.

The use of body cameras has been a major initiative championed by Mayor
Garcetti, Police Commission President (and CD-11 constituent) Steve Soboroff
and Mike's colleague Mitchell Englander and it is one of the ways the LAPD is
working to improve accountability as they work to keep neighborhoods safe.

Helpful Links

Contact Us - Submit a comment, question or concern, using our helpful

website form.
Maps and Directions - Visit us in one of our two district offices, or downtown
at City Hall.
Request City Services - Have a pothole that needs to be filled or a tree that
needs to be trimmed? Submit a service request directly to the city.
Sign Up for Updates - You are already signed up if you received this email,
but are all of your friends? Forward this message, or share this link with your
neighbors so they can get the latest news about their neighborhood as well.

Community Calendar

Find out what's happening in your neighborhood!

 Walk to School Day
When: October 7
Where: Your Neighborhood School
Sign Up to Volunteer: www.walktoschoolday-la.org

West LA VA Master Plan Meeting

When: October 7; 6pm
Where : Wadsworth Theater, West LA VA Campus
More information : http://www.helphouselavets.com/eventscalendar

Mar Vista Fall Festival

When: October 17
Where: Mar Vista Recreation Center
11430 Woodbine Ave., 90066
More information: http://marvistafallfestival.blogspot.com

3rd Annual La Tijera Cleanup

When: October 24; 10a-12pm
Where: Meet at the corner of La Tijera and Airport (7867 La Tijera Blvd.),
Westchester, CA 90045
RSVP: http://www.11thdistrict.com/la_tijera_cleanup_15

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

submit events.

Thank you for reading the October 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
As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not
discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure
equal access to its programs, services and activities.
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