Holiday Season Begins
The season of gratitude is upon us and I’m beyond grateful for the community leaders and organizations that continually spread joy and give back to local families. Many nonprofits have been stepping up and my team and I recently joined the West Valley YMCA and ACE in distributing turkeys and all the fixings to over 700 families ahead of Thanksgiving. Thank you to all who are helping to prevent families from going without food this holiday season — including the West Valley Food Pantry, Shaili, and many others.
This Sunday, November 28 marks the first night of Hanukkah which celebrates a miracle – that the oil that was only supposed to be sufficient for one day lasted for eight days.
As we gather with family and friends to celebrate and reflect, I want to remind folks to have a COVID-19 safe Thanksgiving and Hanukkah celebrations. In a recent data report provided by County health officials, the West Valley had among the highest number of COVID cases in the City, despite a high vaccination rate. I urge folks to follow some tips provided by the LA County Department of Public Health before the Thanksgiving holiday:
Wishing you all a very Happy and Safe Thanksgiving and Hanukkah!
Last week Councilmember Blumenfield unveiled a new pedestrian/traffic signal at Victory and Vanalden. For people who walk or bike, this signal provides a safer crossing between the LA River Bike Path and the West Valley Library to the north, and the Orange Line Path and Vanalden Ave. Elementary School to the south. Five years ago Reseda Neighborhood Council member Joe Phillips asked for improvements at this location that connects key routes. By securing and utilizing excess former CRA bond funds, Blumenfield was able to make this happen and activate this pedestrian safety improvement. Blumenfield financed this project from CRA Excess Bond Proceeds in 2019. LADOT is also designing new pedestrian signals at Tampa/Calvert and Tampa/Hatteras, with construction expected next year. Sidewalk and curb ramp work on the Reseda Boulevard Complete Streets Project is continuing, and work on traffic signals and bus boarding islands will begin by the middle of 2022.
Blumenfield wants to especially thank Seleta Reynolds (General Manager of LA Department of Transportation), neighbors like Joe Phillips and Sharon Brewer with the Reseda Neighborhood Council and local leaders like Evelyn Aleman for their partnership on this community improvement as well as a variety of efforts to improve Reseda. Click here for a recap.
Blumenfield’s partnership with the LA Conservation Corps (LACC) continues to deliver results. The LACC is working hard to make a difference in the West Valley with maintenance and cleaning of public areas, making a visible improvement to our communities. Blumenfield recently met with and thanked Corps members for their leadership and commitment to service as they advance in the LACC jobs program.
Blumenfield has provided space for the Corps in his West Valley office to encourage the inclusion of local young people on projects in the district and he set aside special funding to make their local work possible. Together they have been clearing unmitigated greenery and picking up trash and bulky items throughout the District. These special CD3 cleanups supplement the work of the Department of Sanitation. If you have suggestions for cleanup locations, please send us an email with location information to [email protected].
Due to COVID-19, Metro suspended front door boarding on their busses and relaxed rules requiring riders to use the farebox and TAP validator. Beginning on January 10, 2022, Metro will restart fare collection and resume front door boarding only.
For LAUSD students in need of assistance, Los Angeles Unified is partnering with Metro to offer students unlimited rides until June 30, 2023 on buses and trains run by LA Metro and other participating transit systems, at no cost to families. LAUSD Schools (including Charter Schools within LAUSD) and students requesting a tap cards should visit https://achieve.lausd.net/metro for complete updates and instructions. All others outside of LAUSD, please visit https://www.metro.net/about/fsi/ to be redirected to your school district’s webpage and GoPass point of contact.
Join Councilmember Blumenfield and the Los Angeles Department of Sanitation on December 8th at 6pm for a community update on the LA River Green Infrastructure Project. Greening the valley and improving the infrastructure and environment along the LA River are top priorities of Councilmember Blumenfield. The project is located in multiple locations along the LA River in Canoga Park, Reseda, Winnetka, and Woodland Hills. It includes bioswales for water quality, new trees/landscaping,and naturally filtering urban runoff with benefits to residents, pedestrians, and LA River recreational zone users as well as the wildlife that calls the LA River their home. RSVP to learn more and share your thoughts on the project.
Each year, Councilmember Blumenfield hosts an annual holiday party and toy/essentials collection drive at his District Office. Due to COVID-19 we weren’t able to gather in 2020, but this year Team Blumenfield is looking forward to seeing familiar and new faces on December 9th from 4-7pm at an outdoor gathering at the Warner Ranch Park Bandshell. Like in years past, Team Blumenfield will be collecting toys, nonperishable dry and canned goods, hygiene products, and more to be distributed among less fortunate members of the community. See above for more details and don't forget to RSVP.
The West Valley is home to thousands of small businesses offering every product and service imaginable. From sushi and pizza, to shoes and office supplies, these businesses help drive the local economy. Each month, Councilmember Blumenfield visits local businesses and the one-on-one interactions allows him to provide business owners with helpful information and resources from the City of LA and to listen directly to their concerns. Most recently, Blumenfield visited businesses in Tarzana along Ventura Blvd. including Shilpark Paint, iMobile LA, and Tarzana Cafe Bakery.
This week's photo from the Los Angeles Public Library's archives is from the Valley Times on December 9, 1963. Members of Westvale B'nai B'rith Women plan a Hanukkah event for residents of the Reseda Home for the Aged (now known as LA Jewish Home). Learn more about this photo here.