May 20, 2022

This week the City Council gave final approval to a balanced 11.8 billion budget that prioritizes public safety, essential city services, housing and programs to address the homelessness crisis, and the reality and dangers of climate change. As Vice Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, I fought for a fair share of funding for the San Fernando Valley and accountability to ensure that each department was able to justify their funding requests. Some of the key items in the approved budget include:

  • $3.1 billion for LAPD, the highest ever with funding to hire 780 new officers
  • $967 million for LAFD with funding to hire 300 additional firefighters and a new “Wildland Fuel Management Crew” that will assist with brush clearance, and be helpful throughout the City and State of California during an active fire
  • Nearly $3 million toward upgrading all unsignalized crosswalks in the City for pedestrian safety
  • $7 million for copper wire theft, to repair outages, make the street lighting system more theft-resistant
  • $650,000 for the MRCA River Rangers to help keep the River Path in this district safe and clean
  • $380,800 to install new solar-powered lights along the LA River Path from Mason to Vanalden
  • $15 million for street resurfacing and slurry seal, and more than $30 million in sidewalk repair
  • $1.2 billion Homeless Budget including $600 million to build 3,768 new units and beds
  • $125,000 each for the West Valley and Topanga PALS programs
  • $2 million for bulkhead projects on Mulholland Drive and Medina Road

While we don’t have unlimited funds to do everything we would like to do, I am proud that this budget reflects our urgent needs and focuses appropriate resources on top priorities. For a more in depth look at the Budget, read about it here

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Caballero Creek Park Breaks Ground, Blumenfield's Latest West Valley Park

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Over the weekend, Councilmember Bob Blumenfield was joined by Mayor Eric Garcetti, City leaders and residents for the groundbreaking of Caballero Creek Park. This site will convert a 1.5-acre underutilized lot into a multiple-benefit park, located at the convergence of the LA River & Caballero Creek in Tarzana. The design utilizes innovative methods for watershed protection and new wetlands that will create habitat, clean water and help connect Angelenos to the River. The site plan also includes amenities for the community including an outdoor classroom for Reseda High School, outdoor fitness center, play and recreation, access to the LA River bike paths, and more. Caballero Creek Park is set to be completed by the end of 2022.

Watch a recap of the groundbreaking here.

Find Out More About the Southwest Valley Community Plans Update

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Community Plans guide what can be built where in our neighborhoods, and they are periodically updated to meet changing needs. On May 18, the Department of City Planning released some updated draft guidelines for the three Community Plans in the West Valley: Canoga Park-Winnetka-Woodland Hills-West Hills,  Encino-Tarzana, and Reseda-West Van Nuys-Lake Balboa. Accompanying these drafts are a StoryMap that presents the proposed changes in detail and a three-part video series explaining the background and aims of the new proposals. The updated proposals include the initial vision and concepts around planning for the future of the Ventura - Cahuenga Boulevard Corridor.

The Southwest Valley Community Plans Update team will host virtual office hours between June 1 through June 18 to hear your thoughts on how to shape your community for the future. To schedule a one-on-one conversation about the draft land use designations with a planner, RSVP here

Small Business Spotlight

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This week, Blumenfield visited Tang & Java, a Woodland Hills gelato and coffee shop. Opened by Diana and Shir in the middle of the pandemic, they have truly created something special with unique flavors.

They are located at 22776 Ventura Blvd. (corner of Fallbrook and Ventura) and you can find out more at TangAndJava.com.

Around Town

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Blumenfield was proud to recognize the Girls Division Volleyball Valley Regional Champs from Winnetka Rec Center. Congratulations to these incredible West Valley athletes and their coaches on this special season.

Blumenfield joined community members at the West Valley Food Pantry to help sort generous donations collected by postal workers during the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

Upcoming Events

Historic West Valley

Kiwanis_Club_cosponsors_kart_races.jpgThis week's photo from the Los Angeles Public Library's archives is from the Valley Times from 57 years ago today on May 20, 1965. The headline read 'Now What Have I Done' as the honorary Mayor of Woodland Hills Buster Keaton receives a ticket from honorary Sheriff and musician Gus Bivona at a charity event sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Woodland Hills and the San Fernando Valley Kart Club. 

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