FBI Raids Los Angeles City Hall, Again

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Federal investigators served a search warrant at City Hall and the Department of Water and Power Monday.

FBI agents raided the downtown headquarters of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and City Hall Monday. The mysterious investigation is the latest to rock City Hall this year. It’s unclear if the latest raid is related to an ongoing corruption probe reaching the highest levels of City Hall.

Authorities declined to discuss the nature of the investigation. The affidavit for the search warrant served Monday morning was under seal, and no arrests were made. Authorities also declined to confirm if the mysterious investigation is related to an ongoing corruption probe into foreign investment in major Los Angeles real estate developments. That investigation has touched multiple city departments, at least three Los Angeles City Councilmen and prominent business leaders. According to multiple reports, that investigations appears to be linked to Chinese investors with development projects before the city.

“We are confirming a search warrant at Los Angeles DWP in downtown Los Angeles, but are prohibited from commenting further because affidavits involved in the warrant are sealed,” Katherine Gulotta of the FBI in Los Angeles told City News Service.

There was minimal activity visible at the DWP office building at 111 N. Hope St. in the Civic Center area. A van with an FBI placard was parked outside the building, and at least two agents were seen going inside.

There were also reports of warrants being served at Los Angeles City Hall, but it was unclear exactly what offices were being targeted. Read more »

State Appeals Court Says Residents Affected By Aliso Gas Leak Can Seek Restitution

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An appeals court ruled that residents affected by the Aliso Canyon leak can seek restitution stemming from the company’s delay in reporting.

A state appeals court panel ruled Tuesday that Porter Ranch-area residents affected by the 2015-16 Aliso Canyon natural gas leak can seek restitution from Southern California Gas Co., but only stemming from the company’s delay in reporting the leak to state regulators.

The three-judge panel of the 2nd District Court of Appeal remanded the issue to a Los Angeles Superior Court judge for a hearing on “whether petitioners can prove damages from the three-day delay in reporting the leak, as charged in the criminal complaint.”

Southern California Gas Co. pleaded no contest in September 2016 to a misdemeanor count of failing to immediately report the gas leak, which began Oct. 23, 2015, and wasn’t capped until mid-February 2016. Three other misdemeanor charges — one count of discharging air contaminants and two more counts of failing to report the release of hazardous materials — were dismissed as part of the deal.

At the sentencing hearing in November 2016, Read more »

At Least Now When Your Power Goes Out, LADWP Will Text You

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Or send an email, in your choice of English or Spanish. That’s a change from days of yore, when you had to get the information for yourself.

During last July’s heat storm, parts of Los Angeles sustained lengthy power outages, along with a shortage of information about when they would end. The Twitter rants from Angelenos kept (literally and figuratively) in the dark were as heated as the asphalt melting in the streets.

The Department of Water and Power is now rolling out a new service intended to close the power outage information gap, but to get alerts, you have to opt-in.

Instructions are in this video, but the brief version is to sign in to your customer account at www.ladwp.com and click the “Outage Alerts” tab on the left side of the screen and follow the instructions.

Customers can get email or text alerts in English or Spanish about outages in up to three different parts of L.A…  For example, one for yourself, and the others for your family or your workplace.

The system also sends updates on expected repair times and when the power is back on.

In the past, LADWP has used social media to inform the public of outages. It posts an outage map online, too. People could also call in to ask when repairs would be completed. But this is the first messaging app that pushes the information directly to customers.

July 4th Guide to Fireworks & Parades – 2019

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Your complete listings of times and locations of Independence Day fun throughout the San Fernando Valley.

Looking for Independence Day celebrations in your area? Find an event near you, don your red, white and blue, and Happy Fourth of July 2019!

Not all events occur on Thursday, July 4. Double-check with event organizers to confirm times and locations in case activities were updated or changed since posted.

Read more »

Sign Up Today for the Valley Disaster Preparedness Fair 2019

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A Fun and Free Family Event that Just Might Save Your Life, Your Pet’s Life, or the Life of a Loved One

Saturday, October 12, 2019

9:00 am to 1:30 pm

Northridge Fashion Center—Pacific Theaters Parking Lot
(9400 Shirley Ave., south of Plummer St.)

Click here to register: https://www.valleydisasterfair.com/registration/index.php

  • Exhibits
  • Demonstrations
  • Displays
  • Speakers
  • Special Events
  • Bloodmobile
  • Pet Preparedness
  • Free Parking
  • Free Admission
  • Free Lunch*

It’s All Free!

Complimentary Family Emergency Preparedness (EP) Starter Kit* for registered families attending the Fair. One kit per registered family. (While supplies last.)

Click Read More below for the Spanish flyer
Read more »

Planning for the North San Fernando Valley BRT Project is Moving Forward

Planning for the North San Fernando Valley BRT Project is Moving Forward

The Measure M sales tax initiative, approved by voters in 2016, included funding for a bus rapid transit (BRT) project in the North San Fernando Valley.  Planning for the project began in July 2018 with the initiation of an Alternatives Analysis (AA) that evaluated three alternative routes stretching from the Chatsworth Metrolink Station to either the Sylmar/San Fernando Metrolink Station or the North Hollywood Red/Orange Line Station.

Metro recently completed the Alternatives Analysis Report for the North San Fernando Valley Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, which will be presented to the Metro Board of Directors Planning and Programming Committee this Wednesday, June 19 to seek approval before the Metro Board of Directors Regular Board Meeting on Thursday, June 27.

The Alternatives Analysis Report recommends that the Nordhoff-North Hollywood Route move forward to be evaluated during the next phase of environmental review. This alternative received the highest level of public support as it serves the CSUN Campus and connects to the regional rail system in North Hollywood. The use of Parthenia to pass under the 405 Freeway was also supported by the public because it would avoid traffic congestion on Nordhoff or Roscoe at the freeway, and it would serve multi-family residential areas in Panorama City. The Nordhoff-North Hollywood route also had higher ridership forecasts than the Nordhoff-Sylmar or Roscoe-North Hollywood routes.

What’s next?

At the Metro Board Committee and full Board meetings, the Directors will review the Alternatives Analysis Report and recommendations and provide staff with direction on how to proceed with the environmental review on the recommended route(s) and potential variations to the route(s). Please be on the lookout for our next e-newsletter that will include information on the Metro Board of Directors Meeting. Following Board approval, Metro intends to hold public meetings in the community in early August. These meetings will allow the public to comment on the scope of the project and to identify issues to be evaluated in the environmental review. Metro values your input.

Contact Metro

Phone: 213-418-3082
Email: [email protected]
Web: https://www.metro.net/projects/north-sfv-brt/

Thank you again for your participation in the North San Fernando Valley BRT Project. We will keep you informed when the community meetings are scheduled.

Read more »

Valley’s Record Heat Wave To Continue

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A ridge of high pressure will continue to keep temperatures above normal Monday, but relief is in sight.

A weekend heat wave is expected to continue to scorch the Los Angeles region with above average temperatures Monday.

Sunday saw record heat in parts of the city and triple digit temperatures in the valleys. A ridge of high pressure is to blame, and it will remain in the Los Angeles area Monday. Expect above-normal temperatures to most areas, especially the valleys. However, the hot weather won’t challenge records as they did Sunday, forecasters said.

It was a strange kind of heatwave. An offshore flow blowing warm air from the deserts to the ocean helped the high pressure “squash” the marine layer that normally keeps temperatures down in June, Kittell said. But a shallow marine layer remained along the coastal plane and inland, so while Burbank temperatures hit 100 degrees the high in downtown Los Angeles was 82, he said.

The Sunday temperature in Burbank surprisingly hit 100 degrees, which tied a 1979 record for June 9 and a 101 in Woodland Hills and 102 in Van Nuys failed to break records, National Weather Service Meteorologist Ryan Kittell said.

Expect more of the same on Monday with valley temperatures in the mid-90s to 100 but highs downtown and other inland areas in low to mid 80s and mid-70s along beaches, Kittell said.

He did not expect records to be broken Monday because they are higher for this date.

A gradual cooling is expected to begin Tuesday, with valley temperatures in the low to mid-90s, inland temperatures remaining in the low to mid-80s and beach temperatures in the 70s, he said.

The marine layer will thicken and temperatures are forecast to decline Thursday and Friday with valleys in the 80s, inland areas in the 70s and beaches in the upper 60s to 70s, Kittell said.

“This is June Gloom season,” he said.

Citrus Sunday – June 2, 2019

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Councilmember Greig Smith, Neighborhood Councils of CD12, Temple Avahat Shalom, and Food Forward invite you to join us for Citrus Sunday.

A fresh fruit drive to benefit struggling San Fernando Valley families served at food banks.

It’s easy to participate!

  1. Pick oranges, grapefruits or other citrus fruit from your trees.
  2. Drop off between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm at:

Northridge South & East NC & Sherwood Forest HOA

Dearborn Park
17141 Nordhoff Street

Temple Ahavat  Shalom
18200 Rinaldi Pl

North Hills West NC
Mid Valley Library
16244 Nordhoff St

For more information please call (818) 882-1212 or email [email protected].

Who Won?! Find Your Neighborhood Council Election Results

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Find out who won your Neighborhood Council election by visiting the City Clerk’s results page at https://clerk.lacity.org/elections/neighborhood-council-elections/2019-nc-election-results. Click the green button at the top of the list that includes Granada Hills North Neighborhood Council to see results. Or just click here for the unofficial results: https://clerk.lacity.org/sites/g/files/wph606/f/Region%202_Unofficial_Results.pdf

When are election results available?

Ballots are counted by the City Clerk one business day after Election Day. Unofficial results are posted up to 3 days after Election Day; official results up to 10 days after Election Day.

Want to watch the ballot counting or have questions? Call City Clerk Elections team at (213) 978-0444 or write to them at [email protected]

LA’s Green New Deal Launched This Week

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Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti unveiled LA’s Green New Deal this week – a series of practical steps toward creating a more sustainable Los Angeles by the year 2050. The Green New Deal LA will also serve as a global model for upholding the terms outlined in the Paris Agreement in a way that contributes significantly to equitable local economic growth. Points include:

  1. Creation of 400,000 new green jobs by 2050. Since taking office, Mayor Garcetti has already helped create over 35,000 of these new green jobs.
  2. 100% renewable energy by 2045 – LA will move away from our current dependency on natural gas power by not re-powering three coastal power plants and instead investing those funds in our grid. The process of moving LA toward a carbon-neutral future will underwrite 45,000 jobs by 2022.
  3. 100% wastewater recycling – and local sourcing of at least 70% of water used in the City – by 2035
  4. A zero waste future, beginning with eliminating all single-use straws and styrofoam containers by 2028, and culminating in no trash being sent to landfills by 2050
  5. Plant 90,000 trees on LA’s streets in the next three years, which will help beautify the city; clean the air; renew our urban forest; and create 2,000 local jobs.
  6. A zero carbon buildings mandate, to ensure every public and private building in the City is emissions-free by 2050. The process of achieving this will also support 175,000 jobs locally.

Read more about Mayor Garcetti’s #GreenNewDealLA at http://plan.LAmayor.org Read more »

Granada Hills North Neighborhood Council Election is This Saturday, May 4

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Dear Neighbors and Stakeholders of Granada Hills North:

You may have heard of our upcoming Neighborhood Council Elections for Granada Hills Neighborhood Council.  The Neighborhood Council is your liaison with City Hall. We are your voice for issues that affect our community. This is an opportunity for you to engage in the process of electing the members of our wonderful Neighborhood Council.

The elections will be held on Saturday, May 4, 2019 at Knollwood Plaza, 11850 Balboa Blvd, Granada Hills, CA (Between Lorillard and Midwood). The polls open at 10:00am and close at 4:00pm. Read more »

Get Free Trees from City Plants + Read Their Urban Forestry Report

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It’s easy to be green thanks to the work of organizations like City Plants, a non-profit running a public-private partnership between the City of LA and six other non-profit organizations. Together they work with Neighborhood Councils, community groups, residents, and businesses to coordinate tree planting and care throughout LA.

Spring is the perfect time to plant a tree and City Plants offers free trees for your street and yard – order your free trees today!

Speaking of trees, are you curious about Los Angeles’ urban forest policies and management? Check out the recently released City Plants and Dudek report, “First Step Toward an Urban Forest Management Plan for the City of Los Angeles” to learn about the steps needed to achieve a sustainable and equitable urban forest.

New Way to Report Suspicious Activity in Our Neighborhood on LAPD Website

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Hello stakeholders, we learned of a new feature on LAPD website when I’d to call non-emergency LAPD for another issue. The helpful dispatcher informed us about this new feature, iWatchLA and we wanted to share with our neighborhood: “http://www.lapdonline.org/iwatchla” –> then click “To file an online report click here.”

You can also download the iWatchLA app on iOS/Android. Let’s be vigilant in our neighborhood for suspicious activities.

LAUSD District 5 Board Election Could Shift Balance Of Charter Power Today

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As voters head to the polls to fill the vacant LAUSD board seat today, the board’s pro-charter majority’s power hangs in the balance.

Ten candidates will be vying Tuesday to fill a vacant seat on the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education in an election that could again shift the balance of power on the seven-member panel.

The vacancy was created last July when board member Ref Rodriguez pleaded guilty to conspiracy and other charges for laundering campaign donations from family and friends. He resigned from his board seat the same day.

The vacant District 5 seat represents areas including Atwater Village, Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Los Feliz, Mount Washington and Silver Lake.

The LAUSD Board of Education is evenly split between pro-charter forces and those aiming to check charter expansion head.

Jackie Goldberg, 74, a former teacher, LAUSD board member, Los Angeles City Council member and Democratic state legislator, is widely considered a front-runner in the race. Two LAUSD board members last year unsuccessfully tried to have her appointed to the seat to serve out the balance of Rodriguez’s term, which runs through next year. But the proposal was rejected in favor of calling the special election.

Goldberg is heavily backed by United Teachers Los Angeles, the union representing the district’s teachers. The union has been pouring money into Goldberg’s campaign, hoping to undo a board majority that generally favored expansion of charter schools in the district. Rodriguez’s departure left the board with a 3-3 split on the issue, and a Goldberg victory would swing the panel back in UTLA’s favor. Read more »

Improving Local Air Quality through the Lawn and Garden Equipment Exchange Program

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Improving air quality of our neighborhoods requires everyone to step up. To that end, the Southern California Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) has begun an equipment exchange program. Commercial gardeners and landscapers, local government agencies, school districts and colleges, and non-profit organizations are eligible to participate in cleaning up our air while saving money and upgrading their equipment.

The goal of the program is to improve air quality by exchanging older, polluting gasoline- or diesel-powered commercial lawn and garden equipment for new zero emission, battery electric commercial grade equipment for operation within SCAQMD four county region. One equivalent operable gasoline- or diesel-powered piece of lawn and garden equipment must be scrapped to qualify for incentive funding towards battery electric replacement equipment.

For more information please visit the SCAQMD website.

Did you feel the earthquake this morning?

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Light shaking could be felt across the San Fernando Valley Wednesday morning.

The temblor was a magnitude 2.8, and its epicenter was roughly a mile from North Hills, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Residents felt the shaking at about 9:46 a.m. According to the USGS, the quake was close to the surface, comparatively shallow at a depth of 6.8 miles. Light shaking was felt across the San Fernando Valley, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

The small quake was the largest felt in the region over the last 10 days, according to the Los Angeles Times.

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