City of Los Angeles Releases Much Anticipated Draft Cannabis Regulations

After more than a year of working directly with residents and stakeholders, City Councilmembers encourage an ongoing public dialogue of new rules in the months to come

Los Angeles City Council President Herb J. Wesson, Jr. was joined today by Councilmembers Bob Blumenfield, Paul Koretz and Nury Martinez in releasing the city’s draft regulations governing commercial cannabis activity. The City Council has been engaging in an open and public dialogue over the last year about how to best regulate all aspects of the cannabis industry citywide. Today marks another step forward in the transparent process with the beginning of a 60-day public comment period prior to any further action by the City Council.

After shepherding Measure M to a historic 80.5% passage rate, Wesson immediately began the process of gleaning best practices from neighboring cities and states who had already established responsible cannabis regulations. Wesson who chairs the Rules, Elections, Intergovernmental Relations, and Neighborhoods committee which has overseen the crafting of the draft regulations. Since beginning the process Wesson has held over a dozen meetings, including in the evenings, inviting members of the public, industry experts, and regulators from other states including Colorado, Oregon, and Washington to provide testimony.

“We will continue to have a robust dialogue about the regulatory framework and a healthy debate of Los Angeles’ growing cannabis industry prior to final recommendations being considered by the City Council, said Los Angeles City Council President Herb J. Wesson, Jr. “I’m calling on all residents and stakeholders to provide comments and feedback on the draft documents to ensure the pending regulations are inclusive of all communities.” Read more »

Rep. Cárdenas Hosting Town Hall

Wednesday, May 31, U.S. Representative Tony Cárdenas (CA-29) will host a Town Hall at the Los Angeles Mission College Campus Center in Sylmar, CA. This Town Hall will be an opportunity for constituents to ask questions and express their concerns.

“Hearing from our community is the best way for me to make sure I’m doing my job,” said Congressman Cárdenas.  “This Town Hall will give folks a safe place to share their thoughts with me and learn about what is happening in Washington D.C. I look forward to the opportunity to hear from my constituents on Wednesday. ”

Who: Rep. Tony Cárdenas

What: Town Hall

When: Wednesday, May 31, 6:30-8:00 P.M. PDT

Where: Los Angeles Mission College – Campus Center

13356 Eldridge Ave, Sylmar, CA 91342

Constituents should RSVP here.

Este miércoles, 31 de mayo, el Congresista Tony Cárdenas (CA-29) organizará un foro informativo en el Auditorio Principal de Los Angeles Mission College en Sylmar, CA. Este foro será una oportunidad para constituyentes para hacer preguntas y expresar sus preocupaciones.

“Escuchando a la comunidad es la mejor manera de asegurarme de que estoy cumpliendo mis deberes como su representante,” dijo el Congresista Cárdenas. “Este foro será un lugar seguro para que la gente pueda expresar sus ideas y recibir respuestas. Espero con gusto la oportunidad de escuchar a las comunidades de mi distrito este miércoles.”

Los constituyentes pueden registrarse aquí.

The 2017/18 City of Los Angeles Budget

From Councilmember Mitchell Englander:

On Thursday, the City Council unanimously passed the fiscal year 2017/18 Budget. As Chair of the Public Safety Committee and Vice Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, I am most pleased with the resources that were provided to our sworn police officers and fire fighters in order to increase the City’s ability to keep our residents safe and to protect our communities.

For LAPD, we increased the number of police officers on patrol through a civilianization process that added back necessary crime solving support services, including technicians to staff our DNA, latent fingerprint and firearm units – helping to increase the solve rate for property crimes in addition to homicides while returning officers to the streets. We also accelerated the final phase of detention officer hiring to return police officers working in the jails back to patrol functions. Technology and equipment needs were also funded – including a replacement of the non-emergency phone systems at four Valley stations. Perhaps most significantly, we were able to reduce the overtime and pension burden of the Metro Transit Contract.

In the Fire Department, we increased fire fighter hiring and added Read more »

A Guide to L.A.’s 2017 Outdoor Movie Screenings

There are few things better than watching a movie under the stars in Los Angeles. OK, maybe an all-you-can-eat taco bar under the stars is better, but barely. From an iconic cemetery to a rooftop in the heart of the entertainment capital of the world, L.A.’s spring and summer outdoor screenings are held at amazing venues that make them immersive rites of passage. Several lineups haven’t even been announced yet, but other series are about to kick off and you have to get tickets early or you’ll miss out — these things sell out. We’ll be updating this list throughout the spring and summer, so check back frequently for new stuff. (Continue at LA Weekly)

CD 12 Board of Public Works Town Hall

Councilmember Mitchell Englander and the Department of Public Works invite you to attend a Town Hall Meeting of the Board of Public Works. During the meeting, we will discuss public works projects in our district, offer an opportunity for community members to interact with Public Works staff, and learn about the challenging and exciting work that goes into creating our communities.

Wednesday, May 17
5:30 pm

Mayall Academy of Arts & Technology Magnet
16701 Mayall St. 
Northridge, CA 91343

Click here to view the flyer. For more information, call the Board of Public Works at (213) 978-0262. Per Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, equal access and reasonable accommodation services are available upon request with 72 hour advance notice.

Be Part of the Los Angeles Welcome – Saturday, May 6

This Saturday, please join the LA Department of Convention and Tourism Development in kicking off National Travel & Tourism Week by showing that the City of Los Angeles does welcome all visitors from everywhere! You may have seen the inspiring #EveryoneisWelcome video which is part of the global welcome initiative launched last week by our partners at the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board to promote LA as a welcoming destination.

We invite you to support the “Everyone is Welcome” initiative by volunteering to help create a large human welcome sign that celebrates the diversity and inclusivity that defines Los Angeles. This event will take place on Saturday, May 6 near LAX at the Carl Nielsen Park, 9100 Jenny Avenue, Los Angeles. Take part in sending a warm welcome to visitors around the world by volunteering for one of two shifts: 8:00am – 11:00am and 11:00am – 2:15pm. Bring your family and friends and enjoy food, refreshments, giveaways and free parking!

Free parking will be provided to all participants at Lot C (of LAX). From this location, participants will be guided over the short walking distance to the location of the event. No parking in the surrounding neighborhoods of the park is permitted.

Dress comfortably! Avoid any branding on your clothing and bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen if you wish as the event is entirely outdoors.

Although the event will feature a family friendly environment and we encourage you to bring family and friends of all ages, an aspect of the event will have a height requirement which will make it unlikely that children under the age of 12 would be able to participate.

To learn more and RSVP – click this link www.discoverlosangeles.com/everyoneiswelcome

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