Councilmember Bob Blumenfield Mid-Term Report by Councilmember Bob Blumenfield

Mid-Term Report Serving the San Fernando Valley Communities of Canoga Park, Reseda, Tarzana, Winnetka, and Woodland Hills.

July 2015

From the Desk of

Councilmember Bob Blumenfield For me, there is no higher honor than to serve the San Fernando Valley, and for the last two years it has been my privilege to represent the communities of Canoga Park, Reseda, Tarzana, Winnetka, and Woodland Hills on the Los Angeles City Council. I love the Valley, and although we are privileged to live in a vibrant, prosperous corner of the City of Los Angeles, the challenge of the next decade will be to take that economic activity and enhance it to attract investment and create jobs to make our communities and neighborhoods even better places to live, work, and do business, while at the same time maintaining our unique community character. The two years since I took office have been transformative for the Valley and for the City. Working hand-in-glove with many in the community, we have made great strides in the service of those goals. We in the Valley have rewritten the old stereotypes while preserving what makes our community so special. These two years have seen dramatic improvements throughout the City in transparency, openness, accountability, and fiscal prudence. From righting the fiscal ship, to pursuing bold policies and bringing Los Angeles into the 21st century and beyond, Los Angeles is finally moving in the right direction and I have been honored to have helped push these changes. But our work is not done. Together we will continue writing the next great chapter for the San Fernando Valley and the entire City of Los Angeles. Thank you for the opportunity to serve.

Table of Contents Delivering For Our Valley Communities

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Canoga Park

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Reseda

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Tarzana

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Winnetka

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Woodland Hills

I. Engaging, Listening, Taking Action

II. Restoring Fiscal Balance

III. Seizing Economic Opportunities

IV. Investing in Infrastructure

V. Creating a 21st Century City

VI. Enhancing Public Safety

VII. Leading by Example

VIII. Greening the Valley, Fighting the Drought

Delivering for Canoga Park A New Skatepark for the West Valley

Blumenfield tries out the grind rails at the Lanark Skate Plaza, on June 24, 2015.

Skateboard legend Tony Hawk and members of the Birdhouse Skateboards team joined Councilmember Bob Blumenfield and City leaders in Canoga Park to help the community inaugurate the Lanark Skate Plaza: a brand new 14,000 sq. ft. street plaza style skatepark set among oldgrowth trees at Lanark Recreation Center. Blumenfield joined the worldfamous skateboarder, the Birdhouse Team, and local youth, hopping onto his own vintage skateboard to try out the new park.

“This is a great resource for the community,” said Blumenfield. “Growing up, I loved to skateboard, but we didn’t have anything like this. The Lanark Skate Plaza will be a great place for our kids to stay active, learn a sport, and do it in a way that is safe and fun.”

Blumenfield was also proud to host the Los Angeles Police Commission and Chief Charlie Beck in the Valley at A.G.B.U. ManoogianDemirdjian School to hear directly from Valley residents about public safety issues affecting our communities.

Lanark Recreation Center was identified as a potential skate park site by the Department of Recreation and Parks in 2008. Upon election to the City Council, in 2013 Blumenfield worked with Recreation and Parks to make this a priority project for the West Valley. The new skate plaza, designed by New Line Skateparks and built by California Skateparks, was partially funded by a Tony Hawk Foundation grant.

The Commission also used the forum as part of a citywide effort to solicit community input as Chief Beck sought a second term leading the LAPD.

Bringing City Hall to Canoga Park

Thousands of toys have been donated to Valley kids in need. Many of these toys were directed to the Boys and Girls Club of the West Valley in Canoga Park.

In June 2014, Blumenfield hosted a pair of events designed to bring City government to Canoga Park.

Spreading Holiday Cheer Each year, Blumenfield hosts a holiday toy drive culminating with his annual Holiday Open House.

In one of her first public meetings as head of the nation’s largest public utility, Blumenfield welcomed Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) General Manager Marcie Edwards to a Canoga Park Town Hall. The forum was an important opportunity for Valley residents to meet, ask questions, and hear directly from DWP top brass.

Team Blumenfield unloading some of the thousands of toys donated to the Boys and Girls Club of the West Valley, on December 18, 2013.

Delivering for Reseda Reseda Rising

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In Spring of 2014, Blumenfield launched Reseda Rising, a dynamic, multi-front initiative to leverage Reseda’s existing resources to cata lyze renewed investment and economic development. Still in its early stages, Blumenfield has already secured millions of dollars in funds and assets for Reseda. They include: 4

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$4 million, with a potential additional $2 million in interest, allocated by the November 1996 passage of Proposition K for the construction of a new ice rink;

Standing up for Reseda to ensure the Valley’s fair share, Blumenfield successfully lobbied the CRA oversight boards and the Governor to transfer those properties and unused $20 million in unused Communi- bond dollars to the City for the ty Redevelopment Agency (CRA) purposes of economic development bond monies earmarked for use in the West Valley. in Reseda; and Additionally, he has retained the nonprofit Los Angeles Neighbor3 properties, formerly held by hood Initiative. This organization the CRA, now under City conspecializes in building consensus in trol. communities around the future of

their neighborhoods, in order to help the community focus and organize to develop its vision and identify additional resources to transform the neighborhood.

Beautifying Reseda With the help of Blumenfield’s Neighborhood Beautification Community Action Team (BobCAT), over 500 volunteers have enhanced Reseda by removing bulky items, picking up trash, pulling weeds, planting flowers, and removing graffiti. Claim Back the Sidewalks cleanups include: 

Magnolia Science Academy;

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Sherman Way from Wilbur to Lindley; and

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communities within the borders of Vanowen, Sherman Way, Crebs, and Reseda.

James C. Beyea Memorial Walk In April 2015, Blumenfield dedicated the James C. Beyea Memorial Walk along Crebs Ave. adjacent to the Aliso Creek Flood Control Channel. Blumenfield was joined at the dedication by the Los Angeles Police Department, Officer Beyea’s family and friends, and dozens of community members.

Blumenfield presents Officer James C. Beyea’s mother, Cathy, with a commemorative plaque at the dedication of the memorial walk in Reseda in memory of her son, on April 16, 2015 (Photo by David Crane, Daily News).

Beyea, a native son of the San Fernando Valley, was less than a year into his job as an LAPD officer when he was tragically killed in the line of duty in June 1988. Blumenfield’s office has supported the project, not just by facilitating the official naming and dedication, but also by partnering with the community in beautifying the site.

New Sherman Way Medians In the spring of 2015, Blumenfield unveiled 10 radically improved

medians along Sherman Way in the heart of Reseda. The improved medians are the result of a five-year collaboration between the City family and surrounding community, under the leadership of the late Nancy Sweeney and her husband, Walt. The new and attractive median corridor runs for more than 2/3 of a mile through downtown Reseda and features 15,500 square feet of new water-wise landscape planting, automated irrigation systems, and over 20 new median trees.

Delivering for Tarzana Tarzana Recreation Center Improvements

better our neighborhoods,” said Blumenfield. In May of 2015, Blumenfield worked with the Department of Recreation and Parks to install a needed bike rack at the park.

In February of 2014, Blumenfield joined Tarzana Recreation Center staff, community members, and children from the Tarzana Recreation Center’s daycare facility to open a new playground.

Bringing Local Government to Tarzana

Blumenfield led the October groundbreaking, and noted the incredible transformation that had occurred in just a few short months: “Projects like these illustrate how the City and community can come together to create a partnership to

Blumenfield joins staff, community members, and children from the onsite daycare facility to open the new playground at the Tarzana Recreation Center, on February 6, 2014.

Blumenfield partnered with the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) to bring LADOT General Manager Seleta Reynolds to the San Fernando Valley for a Transportation Town Hall meeting. Blumenfield and Ms. Reynolds heard 5

Celebrating the Arts

LADOT General Manager Seleta Reynolds addresses a packed house of Valley residents, on January 22, 2015.

from Valley residents about their priorities, problems, and ideas in a lively and informative discussion about transportation in the West Valley.

to the United States, is a Grammyaward winning trumpet player and The San Fernando Valley is home to recipient of the Presidential Medal of a thriving art community, which now Freedom. has a home base in Tarzana at the San Fernando Valley Arts and Cultural Center. Blumenfield participated in an oral history of Tarzana for a piece called “Historical Memories of Tarzana,” now housed at the center. In March of 2015, Blumenfield honored Jazz great and Tarzana resident, Arturo Sandoval, declaring March 24, 2015 “Arturo Sandoval Day” in Los Angeles. Sandoval, who grew up in Cuba before immigrating

Jazz legend Arturo Sandoval performs a stirring rendition of “God Bless America” at Los Angeles City Hall, on January 22, 2015.

Delivering for Winnetka Vanowen St. Bridge

Phases 1 and 2 had extended the bikeway from Vanalden Ave. to Winnetka Ave., and with the final section now complete, West Valley residents have access to two miles of uninterrupted bikeway to promote both multi-modal transportation and healthy lifestyles.

In March 2014, Blumenfield pushed for and succeeded in reopening the Vanowen Street Bridge. The bridge had been closed or under construction for three long years, and needed his leadership at City Hall to finally get it done. The north side of the bridge was Blumenfield cuts the ribbon on 2 miles of uninterrupted closed on December 22, 2010 after a bikeway along the Los Angeles River in Winnetka, on August 28, 2014. large hole was discovered on the bridge deck due to heavy rain and erosion. street lighting on the bridge and new Project improvements created a safer traffic signals at the intersection of Mason Avenue and Vanowen Street. and more attractive bridge and included: A) replacing and widening the existing bridge by approximately LA River Bikeway 11 feet on the south side and 14 feet In August 2014, Los Angeles City on the north; B) widening the road- Councilmember Bob Blumenfield way approaches to match the new was joined by City officials and bridge width; C) replacing the exist- community members to cut the ing barrier rails with architectural ribbon on the third and final phase barrier railings; and D) installing new of the LA River Bikeway in Winnetka, running along the southern portion of the Los Angeles River from Winnetka to Mason. The first phase began at Vanalden.

Board of Public Works President Kevin James joins Councilmember Bob Blumenfield in removing the sign that had alerted drivers and pedestrians to bridge construction since 2011, on March 20, 2014.

“The completion of the LA River Bikeway project is a milestone accomplishment in realizing the dream of the LA River as a 51-milelong natural and recreational resource, and is an important addition to the bike infrastructure of the San Fernando Valley,” said Blumenfield.

The bikeway includes asphalt concrete paving bounded by a bioswale full of vegetation for the drainage and treatment of storm water. Solar light-emitting diode (LED) lighting helps ensure safety while saving energy and reducing maintenance costs.

Blumenfield leads a group of neighbors, bike activists, and others down the LA River Bikeway during his 2nd Annual Blumenfield Community Bike Ride, on January 24, 2015.

Delivering for Woodland Hills Warner Center 2035 Shortly after taking office in 2013, Blumenfield got to work finalizing the Warner Center 2035 Specific Plan. Council gave its final approval to the plan in October of that year, making it the most up-to-date specific plan in the City. The result of 8 years of collaboration between the City and local stakeholders, the Warner Center 2035 plan provides critical certainty to project proponents while delivering much-needed peace of mind to surrounding communities. Blumenfield worked to ensure that the plan would be the cleanest and greenest in the City. Blumenfield worked to secure guarantees that the Village at Westfield Topanga project would be completed prior to the end of 2015. In March 2015, Westfield announced that the Village, a transit and pedestrian oriented project built in keeping the spirit of the plan, would be completed ahead of schedule in September 2015.

Fire Station 84 Park Following an extensive outreach effort to determine the future of the former Fire Station 84 site at the corner of Canoga Avenue and Costanso Street, Blumenfield joined community members and the firefighters of Fire Station 84 to break ground on a new pocket park last August.

Progress is documented at the new pocket park at the site of the Former Fire Station 84 in Woodland Hills, on May 12, 2015. The project was designed to honor the site’s legacy as a fire station, and the community's vision.

Community input has been central in 554,000 square feet of thirsty turf at the development of the park as a their Woodland Hills campus. neighborhood resource. The cost of the project was offset by Early on in the process, Blumenfield rebates from the Department of hosted a design planning meeting to Water and Power (LADWP). Bluallow the community to work collab- menfield urged all Angelenos to take oratively with the City to mold and advantage of LADWP rebates to shape the plans for the future park beat the drought. and to hear and address issues and Woodland Hills Rec concerns. Blumenfield requested a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to ensure that concerns have been mitigated to the fullest extent possible and, most importantly, that the resulting project is a safe place for kids to play.

Center

In March 2015, Blumenfield celebrated the groundbreaking of the new Woodland Hills Recreation Center.

When completed, the new center will be a jewel for the West Valley and Additionally, Blumenfield launched a will house a new gymnasium, amphicontest to solicit possible names for theater, pool facilities, classrooms, a the future park. picnic area, and new play spaces. The Costanso Fire Station 84 Park honors the site’s former use as a fire station, while reflecting the community’s vision.

Waterwise Partners Blumenfield is joined by neighbors and local firefighters to break ground on a new park at the former Fire Station 84, on August 7, 2014.

Blumenfield joined representatives from Anthem Blue Cross, in April 2015, as they unveiled new waterwise landscaping that replaced some

Blumenfield speaks at the groundbreaking of the new Woodland Hills Recreation Center, on March 26, 2015.

I. Engaging, Listening, Taking Action I often say that we’re stronger when we work together to achieve our shared goals. To that end, I believe that true leadership comes from listening and engaging the community, and then delivering. As your Councilmember, I pride myself on providing constituent service that is not just efficient and effective, but truly a first-class, concierge level experience. It’s a style of governance I honed during my time representing our West Valley communities as your Assemblymember. The issues may be different, but our commitment to serve is stronger than ever. Call my office anytime with any issues or concerns. We’re here to help.” —Councilmember Bob Blumenfield

Bringing City Hall to You

Blumenfield to address community concerns at a DWP Town Hall in the West Valley.

Bringing City Hall to the West Valley  is among Blumenfield’s top priorities as Councilmember. Throughout his first two years in office, Blumenfield has hosted events designed to bring City leaders to West Valley neighborhoods to engage directly with  communities.

Blumenfield has brought the Los Angeles Police Commission and Chief Charlie Beck to the West Valley for special community meetings.

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In a first for a City Councilmember, Blumenfield invited City Attorney Mike Feuer and representatives from the Department of Aging to join him on a Telephone Town Hall focused on senior issues. Thousands joined to learn about available resources, fraud prevention, Blumenfield’s Senior BobCAT and more.

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Blumenfield hosted City Controller Ron Galperin for a demonstration of ControlPanelLA, the City’s open data platform.

A former senior staff member of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, Blumenfield is dedicated to expanding Los Angeles’s network of parks and open space. Over the past two years, Blumenfield has overseen the development of new open space resources, including:

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Blumenfield partnered with the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) to bring LADOT General Manag er Seleta Reynolds to the San Fernando Valley for a Transportation Town Hall. DWP General Manager Marcie Edwards accepted an invitation from Councilmember

The Aliso Creek Confluence Project which aims to build a two-acre park with one mile of walking paths and three-quarter miles of bicycle path and greenway at the confluence of the Aliso Creek and Los Angeles River.

New Open Space

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Blumenfield welcomes callers to a Telephone Town Hall with City Attorney Mike Feuer, focused on issues affecting Valley seniors, on December 11, 2014.

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A new pocket park at the former Fire Station 84 site in Woodland Hills. Blumenfield conducted an extensive outreach effort to determine the future of the former fire station, even asking residents to pick the name. The park opened to the public on July 2, 2015.

The Lanark Skate Plaza in Lanark Park in Canoga Park. The 40,000 sq. ft. facility is the only skatepark west of the Sepulveda Basin. The new Woodland Hills Recreation Center. When completed, the new center will house a new gymnasium, amphitheater, pool facilities, classroom space, a picnic area, and new play spaces.

Blumenfield is joined by pro-skateboarder Tony Hawk to inaugurate the Lanark Park Skate Plaza, on June 19, 2015. (Photo by John McCoy, Daily News)

West Valley Community Bike Ride Each year, Blumenfield hosts hundreds of community members, bicycle activists, and others for the annual Blumenfield Community Bike Ride. The ride is a great way to tour West Valley neighborhoods and highlight bike infrastructure in the San Fernando Valley.

Blumenfield’s bike outings guide riders of all ages through iconic Valley locations such as the farm at Pierce College and down historic Sherman Way, and allows the opportunity to explore some of the Valley’s existing bicycle infrastructure, including bike lanes on Wilbur and De Soto as well as the Orange Line Bike Path, and LA River Bikeway.

Each Community Action Team has a specific issue focus, including: 

Business and Economic Development

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Neighborhood Beautification

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Seniors

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Veterans

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Domestic Violence

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Emergency Preparedness

In the months since, Community Action Teams, under the leadership of volunteer co-chairs, have met to address community concerns, even proposing legislation that has begun to work through the committee process.

Bus Transportation To assist nonprofits, schools, and senior organizations in his district, Blumenfield sets aside a limited amount of funds each year to provide special bus transportation to events or outings. He does this to encourage groups that might otherwise lack access to take advantage of educational, cultural, and recreational opportunities in the area. For example, an elementary class might take a field trip to a local museum, or a senior citizens group may attend a musical performance. Hundreds of constituents have benefitted from this program.

Neighborhood Beautification Truck Blumenfield leads Valley residents along the LA River Bikeway during his 2nd annual Community Bike Ride, on January 24, 2015.

Community Action Teams

In line with his commitment to clean, safe neighborhoods, Blumenfield secured an old Department of Sanitation truck and re-dedicated it for the exclusive use of beautifying West Valley communities.

In the time since the truck was officially dedicated in June 2014, Upon being sworn into office in July working with the Neighborhood 2013, Blumenfield committed him- Beautification BobCAT, Blumenfield self to the principle of collaborative and his team have been seen around leadership, announcing the creation the West Valley, picking up bulky items, cleaning gutters and streets, of six volunteer-led, issue-focused and even helping one constituent Community Action Teams, or shore up a hillside ahead of a storm. BobCATs for short.

Blumenfield provided bus transportation for students at the Pierce College Child Development Center to visit the Natural History Museum, on May 19, 2015.

Sidewalk Office Hours In addition to taking meetings and hosting walk-in visits from constituents at his office, Blumenfield makes a special effort to reach out directly in neighborhoods via "Sidewalk Office Hours." He began this outreach program while in the Assembly and for more than six years has regularly conducted sidewalk office hours to meet with constituents.

Blumenfield joins community members at a community clean-up on Crebs Ave. in Reseda, on May 19, 2014. Blumenfield re-dedicated an old Department of Sanitation truck for the exclusive use of beautifying West Valley communities in June 2014.

Whether residents need help with City services, have a question on policy or legislation, or just want to say “hello,” Sidewalk Office Hours are another example of Blumenfield’s commitment to being accessible and serving the community. 9

II. Restoring Fiscal Balance When I was sworn in as a freshman legislator in the State Assembly in December 2008, the State faced a looming fiscal emergency and a deficit of $40 billion. As then-Chairman of the Assembly Budget Committee, I seized the challenge of retaining core services while making tough decisions. It was painful, but it worked. The budget we passed in 2013 shortly before I was sworn in to the City Council was the third consecutive balanced budget passed on-time, a feat not seen since the mid1980’s. As a result, a state that was once written off as “broken” is thriving and our budget is seeing a surplus in the billions. As your Councilmember I’ve been honored to serve on the Council’s Budget and Finance Committee where we face many of the same challenges I faced in Sacramento—and where I have been working to build on the work I started in the Assembly: holding the line on spending and allocating City resources in line with our priorities and values.” —Councilmember Bob Blumenfield

A New Budget In his second year as a member of the Council’s Budget and Finance Committee, Blumenfield worked to pass a 2015-16 budget that serves as a statement of priorities for Los Angeles. That budget includes more money for fire, police, and critical services such as sidewalks and tree trimming. Blumenfield fought hard for key Valley priorities including: 

Replacing Topanga Police Station’s broken gate with a longer-lasting one;

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$750,000 for a badly needed new storm drain on Ventura Blvd. from Oakdale to Quakertown in Woodland Hills; and

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$800,000 for enhancements at Reseda’s Aliso Creek Confluence Park, currently under construction.

While it is not a growth year, this transitional budget represents a chance to reassess, refocus and redouble the City’s efforts to be more efficient and employ measurable metrics to judge performance.

With hundreds of responses, despite a diversity of ideas, a clear consensus emerged: public safety must remain our top priority, and we need to remain focused on growing and improving the City’s physical and environmental infrastructure to make LA a safe, clean, green, and friendly place for people and businesses while ensuring our long-term, fiscal sustainability.

The ideas, values, and priorities set Transparency forth by Blumenfield’s West Valley In a budget survey distributed prior constituents helped guide his work throughout the nearly three weekto April’s budget deliberations, long budget process, the results of Blumenfield asked Angelenos to voice their opinions and priorities for which are evident in the 2015-16 budget approved by the Council. the City’s budget. 10

Budget Quick Takes:  $8.6 billion budget  Increased LAFD hiring

with 5 new training classes  $31 million in sidewalk

repair  2,400 lane miles of road

paving  Increase tree trimming

by 50% to 57,000 trees.

III. Seizing Economic Opportunities With nearly 1.8 million residents, mighty freeways, industrial, commercial and residential neighborhoods, the Valley is a regional economic force unto itself. In the past two years, we have worked to accentuate and enhance that economic might to maximize economic opportunity and job creation, and send a strong message across Los Angeles and throughout California that the West Valley is open for business and job creation.” —Councilmember Bob Blumenfield

New Opportunity in Warner Center

It is a transit-oriented plan that embraces the Los Angeles River, and includes 30 million square feet of In 2013, Blumenfield set the course new non-residential space and some for investment in the Valley’s Warn- 32 million square feet of new residential space. er Center as the Los Angeles City Council gave its final approval to the Already the plan is making the West Warner Center 2035 Specific Plan. Valley a world class destination for The plan opens the door to visionary investment, with the $350 million projects that truly reflect the comVillage at Westfield Topanga project munity’s values and priorities. nearing completion and exciting new proposals at the former Daily News The Warner Center 2035 plan was property and the 47-acre Rocketdyne the result of 8 years of collaboraproperty tion between the City and local stakeholders, and represents an Lifting Angelenos Out exciting opportunity for economic development and job creation in the of Poverty West Valley. Following the Mayor’s Labor Day In taking it over the finish line, Blumenfield worked to ensure that the plan would be the cleanest and greenest specific plan in the City.

2014 announcement that he would be asking the Los Angeles City Council to raise the city’s minimum wage, Blumenfield got to work to ensure that any policy would be Warner Center is already becoming a magnet for new, green jobs—some reflective of a thorough and deliberative process. 40,000 of them.

Blumenfield’s concerns focused on questions on two key policy areas: 1) Impacts to nonprofits and small businesses; and 2) how the City would monitor and adapt to changes in the local economy resulting from increases to the minimum wage. Many nonprofits, especially those serving our most vulnerable populations, including people with developmental disabilities, rely almost exclusively on state and federal reimbursement rates to cover their operating costs—costs that would rise with an increase in the minimum wage. In October, Blumenfield, a former Chair of the Assembly’s Budget Committee, testified before California’s Senate Human Services Committee and worked to pass a resolution urging the state to increase reimbursement rates to take into account increases in local cost of living and wages. As the Council began the process of deliberating on the wage, Blumenfield pushed for additional studies of impacts to nonprofits and small businesses, and successfully pushed for a phased-in implementation schedule for some small businesses and nonprofits to allow time to adjust. Key to any successful implementation will be complete understanding of the future impacts of the increase through extensive monitoring. Blumenfield worked with economists from UCLA’s Anderson School of Business to develop a proposal to evaluate changes in the local economy resulting from increasing the minimum wage.

Blumenfield surveys progress at Westfield’s Village at Westfield Topanga, on June 15, 2015. The $350 million project is set to open ahead of schedule in Fall 2015.

Blumenfield’s proposals heavily influenced the final ordinance approved by Council and signed by the Mayor in June 2015. 11

Reseda Rising

“I applaud Councilmember

Blumenfield's commitment to improving Blumenfield in 2015 announced an the economy and quality of life in the ambitious plan to unleash Reseda’s potential. Blumenfield has unified West Valley and all of Los Angeles." the multiple fronts of economic -Mayor Eric Garcetti development in which he is engaged in Reseda and along the Sherman In 2014, Blumenfield successfully Way corridor under the banner of lobbied the Mayor for the inclusion “Reseda Rising.” of Reseda’s Sherman Way corridor in the City’s first set of Great Streets. The Great Streets initiative is designed to make streets more pedestrian-friendly and attract new investment to our communities.

Blumenfield and Mayor Eric Garcetti during a tour of West Valley neighborhoods to highlight job creation opportunities, on May 19, 2014.

At its launch, Reseda Rising is focused on multiple economic development initiatives, including leveraging previously untapped resources such as excess CRA bond dollars, properties formerly held by the redevelopment agency, and Prop K money earmarked for the development of a local ice rink.

“Reseda Rising is about creating a neighborhood-driven campaign to activate Reseda’s potential,” said Blumenfield. “Working together with an engaged and driven community, I know Reseda’s best days are ahead.”

Keeping Filming Jobs in Los Angeles

In October of 2014, Blumenfield joined Governor Jerry Brown at the historic Chinese Theater in Hollywood as the Governor signed new legislation that more than triples existing Film and TV tax credits. Ahead of key production deadlines, Blumenfield voted to approve a set of emergency draft regulations for the expanded and improved California Film & TV Tax Credit Program. The approval came in time to get the program up and running in time to accept applications for the network TV season in May, 2015.

Supporting Internet Business In a move that will protect hightech jobs in Los Angeles, Blumenfield led the effort to extend reduced business tax rates for Internet-based businesses.

Without Council action, the tax rate for internet based businesses was set to see a five-fold increase this A member of the California Film December as the 2010 ordinance Commission since 2011, Councilmember Blumenfield is a longtime reached its sunset date. The motion advocate for entertainment industry also initiated a study of the impact and effectiveness of the internet jobs. Blumenfield coauthored and Blumenfield has also retained the based business tax reduction. Los Angeles Neighborhoods Initia- was a major advocate of AB 2026, tive (LANI), an organization dedicat- which extended California’s existing Among the companies advocating for the extension was Intuit, whose ed to improving underserved neigh- $100 million tax credit to qualified productions through 2017. He has Los Angeles offices are located in borhoods, to undertake a months also been a strong proponent of Woodland Hills, in Blumenfield’s long visioning process with Reseda intellectual property rights. West San Fernando Valley district. stakeholders.

IV. Investing in Infrastructure There are few issues that will secure and strengthen the future of Los Angeles more than our commitment over the next decades to invest in our infrastructure. Whether it’s our sidewalks, our roads, freeways and bridges, or our virtual highways and byways, first class infrastructure is the key to a healthy economy.” —Councilmember Bob Blumenfield

Tackling LA’s Broken Sidewalks

the Americans with Disabilities Act and making them passable and safe for all Angelenos.

On June 1, in a special joint hearing of the Council’s Public Works and Gang Reduction Committee and the Budget and Finance Committee, of which Councilmember Blumenfield is a member, the City Council took first steps toward bringing City sidewalks into compliance with

With an estimated 10,750 miles of sidewalks, there are substantial challenges in the development and implementation of a citywide sidewalk repair program. Bureau of Street Services has previously estimated that 40% of the system, or 4,620 miles, is in disrepair.

Uprooted sidewalk in Woodland Hills. Bureau of Street Services has previously estimated that 40% of the system or 4,620 miles is in disrepair, with a majority of the disrepair caused by tree roots.

The action follows a City agreement to expend approximately $31 million a year for 30 years to repair Los Angeles’s broken sidewalks. Blumenfield is leading an effort to repair LA’s sidewalks in an affordable and sustainable way.

Improving the Orange Line for the Valley

Blumenfield is already working with Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) General Manager Seleta Reynolds to study ways the City can make improvements right away, including safely increasing speeds along the route and using real-time information gained from the signal system and the location of buses to develop software to signal operators when to speed up or slow down as they approach signals.

The Orange Line is without a doubt the most important single piece of public transit infrastructure in the Ensuring Earthquake West Valley. Today, carrying Preparedness thousands of riders to and from work, school and recreation, the Continuing his leadership on earthOrange Line is at capacity. quake preparedness, Blumenfield has pushed the City to embrace new In 2005, when Blumenfield helped deliver funds for the Orange Line as approaches to seismic resiliency. District Chief of Staff to Congress- In the wake of the 21st Anniversary man Howard Berman, experts of the Northridge Earthquake, expected 12,000 daily boardings Blumenfield introduced a proposal with headway every 8 minutes. Ten to strengthen the City’s communiyears later, service is every 4 minutes cations infrastructure by ensuring with 30,000 daily boardings. that cellular communications towers At Blumenfield’s urging, the Metro are built to withstand vigorous shaking. The measure requires future Board is considering long-term capacity, safety, speed, and efficiency towers be built to an Importance Factor of 1.5—the same standard ugrades, including: currently required by public safety  grade separation; facilities, and makes Los Angeles the first major City to enact such  gates; standards. Ensuring that communi signal changes; cation can continue uninterrupted is central to emergency response and  articulated buses; rebuilding efforts.  modified platforms; and “In the event of an earthquake or  conversion to light rail. major disaster Angelenos rely on our wireless communications networks to coordinate response, check-in on family and loved ones, and call for help. We must be proactive in our efforts to strengthen and expand that infrastructure,” said Blumenfield, who Chairs the City’s Innovation, Technology and General Services Committee.

A young bicyclist speeds down the Orange Line Bike Path during Blumenfield’s West Valley Community Bike Ride, on January 24, 2015.

Blumenfield also put forward concrete steps to include Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing programs as an option to help property owners make seismic upgrades. PACE is a state-run program that assists property owners to finance upgrades by

Blumenfield speaks with CBS This Morning’s Omar Villafranca regarding his plan to make Los Angeles the first major City to enact standards to ensure cell phone towers are built to withstand major seismic events, on May 8, 2015.

allowing them to be paid off through their property taxes. The PACE program explicitly allows for earthquake retrofits. “The PACE program will make buildings safer through sensible financing. As an Assemblymember, I championed the PACE program as an innovative financing mechanism for critical energy and water upgrades. Last year, as a Councilmember, I made sure the City was taking advantage of those programs, and now it’s time for the City to include earthquake retrofits for soft-firststory buildings to help business owners absorb costs and make their buildings safer,” concluded Blumenfield.

CD 3 By the Numbers: 

2,529 trees trimmed

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51 trees planted

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51 miles of street resurfacing

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143 miles of slurry seal

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63 new access ramps

V. Creating a 21st Century City Whether it’s leading cities in an embrace of the open-data movement, or taking common sense steps to increase environmental sustainability while improving our bottom line, in order for Los Angeles to become a truly modern City we must continue to think outside the box to find innovative solutions to complex problems. It’s a principle I’ve been committed to since my days in the Assembly, where I was the author of more than 50 State laws including programs to expand access to recycling for our City’s many renters, incentivize electric vehicles and encourage the use of e-textbooks in our classrooms, and more. As Chair of the City’s Innovation, Technology and General Services Committee, I have worked to push the City into the 21st Century, fomenting a nationally recognized embrace of technology in Los Angeles.” —Councilmember Bob Blumenfield field announced the release of a Request for Participants (RFP) as the City seeks private sector partners to commit to deploying advanced wireline and wireless networks that can provide one gigabit broadband speed or more to all residents and businesses, as well as free wireless services.

National Recognition

Blumenfield, Mayor Eric Garcetti, and Council President Herb Wesson distributing refurbished City computers to Angelenos who otherwise would be unable to afford one at the OurCycleLA launch and distribution event, on March 27, 2015.

Digital Infrastructure and Connectivity Just as Los Angeles’s highways and byways need to be strong to allow for free flow of commerce, in a digital age, so too do the City’s virtual onramps. But today, roughly 30% of Angelenos do not have broadband access in the home.

Councilmember Blumenfield participates in a demonstration of Google Glass at the Googleplex, on June 5, 2014.

As Chair of the City’s Innovation, Technology and General Services Committee, Blumenfield has made finding ways to make government work better and smarter by harnessing technology a top priority. In the last year, Blumenfield and Los Angeles have been recognized for those efforts.

Los Angeles was ranked #1 for cities with populations of 250,000 or more That’s why Blumenfield believes that in the 2014 Digital Cities Survey, in order to remain competitive in the conducted by e.Republic’s Center for information age, Los Angeles needs Digital Government. to be a leader in digital infrastruc- In 2015, Blumenfield was honored ture investment. alongside Mayor Eric Garcetti, Deputy Mayor Rick Cole, and As Chair of the City’s Innovation, Controller Ron Galperin as one of Technology, and General Services Government Technology’s Top 25 Committee, Blumenfield has been Doers, Dreamers & Drivers. pushing a visionary plan to make Los Angeles a gigabit city while connecting every resident and visitor to the web. Increasing access to super-high-speed broadband and wireless internet across the City, through what is now called CityLinkLA, will pay dividends in closing the digital divide while enhancing Los Angeles’ global competitiveness in business and tourism. After gathering input from consumers and technical experts, Blumen-

Recycle & Refurbish Technology

would need to be replaced following that make city government work Microsoft’s decision to halt support better and faster and that save for machines running Windows XP. money.

In March 2015, Blumenfield joined with Mayor Eric Garcetti and Council President Herb Wesson to launch OurCycleLA, a new City of Los Angeles program to refurbish City computers slated for replacement and distribute them to Angelenos in need. Computers not suitable for refurbishment will be recycled by a local e-waste social enterprise company committed to providing job training to previously incarcerated Angelenos who face barriers to employment.

The City collected approximately 10,000 old computers from all departments to jump start the OurCycle LA program. Of those, approximately 3,000 computers were determined to be refurbishable and are being fully retooled and loaded with software including Microsoft Windows 7, MS Office, and a web browser before being distributed to nonprofit partners and families in need.

OurCycleLA grew out of a motion introduced last year by Wesson and Blumenfield, in response to news that thousands of City computers

In 2014 Blumenfield joined Mayor Eric Garcetti to launch the new $1 million Innovation Fund which will support ideas from city employees

Innovation Fund

The first round of ideas were selected and funded in the 2015-16 Budget. They include: 

a nurse practitioner unit for LAFD;



procurement of a drone for dangerous LADWP facility inspections;



utilization of 3D printing at the Bureau of Engineering;



simplified new parking signs;

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a mobile app for City employees to access paycheck information; and

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online police reports.

VI. Enhancing Public Safety The most basic and essential responsibility of government is to maintain public safety. When our streets are not safe, our students suffer, our economy suffers, and our quality of life suffers. Our West Valley neighborhoods are patrolled by the finest men and women in uniform. As your Councilmember, I am committed to making sure Los Angeles is the safest big city in America.” —Councilmember Bob Blumenfield

Fighting Crime Providing peace of mind to residents and businesses is essential and the most basic job of local police and firefighters. The West Valley remains one of the safest places in Los Angeles to raise a family, but significant challenges remain:



Blumenfield joins the men and women of the LAPD’s Air Support Division for roll-call and a 2½ hour shift patrolling the skies over the West Valley, on May 21 2015.

In the West Valley Division, Promoting Emergency Violent Crime fell by 19.4% between 2014 and 2015, led by a Preparedness 25.7% decrease in aggravated As an aide to Congressman Howard assaults. Berman during the 1994 Northridge Property Crime remains among Earthquake, Blumenfield was responsible for securing more than $14 the district’s most persistent billion in relief for the San Fernando issues, with increases of 5.3% Valley. Since that time, Blumenfield and 5.6% in the Topanga and West Valley divisions, respective- has been committed to the work of emergency preparedness. ly. And while we’ve seen a two year decline in burglaries from motor vehicles in the retail-heavy Topanga Area, where incidents are down 21.9% since 2013, in 2014 incidents actually increased by 5.5%, a reminder of the need to “Lock it, Hide it, Keep it,” to prevent becoming a victim of theft.

As a Councilmember, Blumenfield has worked on a series of measures to enhance Los Angeles’s resilience ahead of the next major earthquake, including strengthening communications networks and ensuring that homeowners have access to low cost PACE financing mechanisms for seismic retrofits.

The VPREP Task Force he started Blumenfield takes the safety of our in the Assembly has expanded into communities seriously, and is work- the Emergency Preparedness ing with Topanga Division’s Captain Community Action Team. The Emergency Preparedness BobCAT, Ryan and West Valley Division’s Captain Egan to reduce crime in the which now has permanent office space at the West Valley Municipal district. 15

Center, works to ensure that Valley Taking Care of Our communities are ready to respond in the event of a disaster and to quickly Most Vulnerable return to normal and get the local Working to ensure our emergency economy moving again. services take into account the unique needs of all Angelenos, Blumenfield Advocating Public passed a motion to push police and Safety Funds fire departments to report on the special needs treatment and A member of the Budget and Fiprocedures which may be needed nance Committee, Blumenfield is when called for service involving committed to ensuring that our dementia sufferers. police and firefighters have the necessary resources to keep our communities safe. In the recently passed 2015-16 Budget Blumenfield fought for: 



 

Maintaining current sworn personnel levels at LAPD and hiring additional civilian staff and detention officers to put more police men and women on the street.

Given the unique needs that dementia patients have, it is important to understand what the departments do well and where they can improve.

Blumenfield meets with some of LAFD’s finest at Fire Station 73 in Reseda, on April 10, 2015.

Top 911 Calls

Did you know that only 9% of LAFD incidents are for fires or alarms? The majority of LAFD calls are for medical help. Here are the top 10 LAFD calls in Council Hiring veterans to perform much District 3: needed maintenance on our  Sick public safety radio towers.

CD 3 LAFD INCIDENT COUNT Fires/ Alarms

Other

5 new training classes to bring in  Difficult Respiration the best and brightest new  Chest Pain/Heart recruits to LAFD.  Fall A 2nd set of turnouts (personal protective gear) for firefighters.  Unconscious Implementation of an LAFD Nurse Practitioner Unit, allowing LAFD to treat minor medical needs on scene, rather than transporting them to the hospital--freeing up critical fire resources for emergency needs.



Traffic Accident



Automatic Fire Alarm



Person Down



Assault



Seizure

Basic Life Support

Advanced Life Support

VII. Leading by Example As an elected official, I feel a strong responsibility to lead the charge for social justice, fairness and dialogue. I believe that an essential part of my job is to educate and enlighten.

As a City, we must leverage our size and influence to lead California and the nation. The moral arc of the universe is long, and indeed it bends towards justice, but as the largest city in California, and the second largest city in the United States, we can help make it bend more rapidly and decisively.” —Councilmember Bob Blumenfield

Celebrating Diversity : Los Angeles is among the world’s most diverse Cities. With 25 Sister Cities globally, and some of America’s largest expatriate communities, Los Angeles is a melting pot of culture, faith, and food. 16

In the City, Blumenfield has embraced and promoted that diversity, seconding a resolution to establish Muslim Heritage Month in Los Angeles, marching to commemorate the centennial of the Armenian Genocide, welcoming Prop 8 plaintiffs to City Hall, co-hosting the

City’s annual commemoration of Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month, participating in the Council’s annual Nowruz celebration during the Persian New Year and hosting the first ever Council celebration in honor of Israeli Independence Day, or Yom Ha’atzmaut.

Strengthening International Ties

Blumenfield in 2009—an effort which touched off years of collaboration between Blumenfield, the Last year, Blumenfield gaveled-in the Consul General of the State of Israel, inaugural session of the Los Ange- the Governor, and others. les-Eilat Innovation and CooperaReparations for Holotion Task Force to facilitate the caust Survivors exchange of ideas and innovation between Israeli companies, education For years, Blumenfield has been communities, and nonprofits with engaged in an effort to bring their counterparts in the City of Los France’s state rail company SNCF to Angeles. The task force, which was account for its crimes during established by a Blumenfield council the Holocaust. In late 2014, an motion, builds on the 55 year old agreement was finally reached to Sister City relationship between Los create a $60 million fund to distribAngeles and Eilat. ute reparations to thousands

require companies seeking contracts to build California’s High Speed Rail system to disclose their involvement in deportations to Nazi concentration camps.

Standing With Israel, for Peace

of Holocaust survivors who were deported by SNCF during the Nazi occupation. The settlement is expected to be among the last major Holocaust reparations settlements.

“Although it took far too many years to achieve this resolution, I am gratified by the admission of accountability by SNCF for its role in the horrific crimes of the Holocaust,” said Blumenfield. “It is only by coming to terms with the past that we can ensure a better future."

Blumenfield is joined by City leaders to call for a peaceful resolution to the fighting in Gaza and show support for the people of the State of Israel, on August 5, 2014.

SNCF, paid per head and kilometer, transported about 76,000 French Jews to concentration camps, but had long failed to take full accountability for its actions. Blumenfield joins Prime Minister Netanyahu, at the signing of a historic MOU between California and the State of Israel, on March 5, 2014. That MOU grew out of Blumenfield’s 2009 efforts.

Blumenfield previously joined California Governor Jerry Brown as he signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to strengthen trade, research, and economic development ties between California and the State of Israel, with an emphasis on water conservation, alternative energy, and other cutting edge sectors. The MOU evolved out of a similar proposal by then-Assemblymember

As a fragile ceasefire held in the Middle East in the Summer of 2014, Blumenfield gathered Los Angeles City elected leaders to reaffirm their solidarity with the people of Israel, support for Israel’s right to defend In 2010, then-Assemblymember itself against terrorism, and their Blumenfield passed AB 619, the Holocaust Survivor Responsi- desire to secure a lasting peace for the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. bility Act, legislation that would The gathered officials held a moment of silence in memory of all innocent lives lost in the recent conflict.

Maurice Polar shares his remembrances of the Holocaust at City Hall’s Yom Ha’Shoah commemoration, on April 15, 2015. Polar is among the survivors on whose behalf Blumenfield fought to secure reparations from the French national railroad, SNCF.

Blumenfield also played the familiar air-raid siren, evoking the sensation that led millions of terrified Israelis in to bomb shelters as nearly 4,000 rockets fell from the sky, to the gathered leaders including Mayor Eric Garcetti, City Attorney Mike Feuer, City Controller Ron Galperin, City Council President Herb Wesson, City Councilmembers Mitch Englander, Tom LaBonge, Joe Buscaino and Paul Koretz. 17

VIII. Greening the Valley, Fighting the Drought A lifelong environmentalist, I believe that protecting natural resources, combatting climate change, and securing our environment for future generations is among the most pressing human rights issues of our time. As a legislator and Councilmember, through my efforts to green the Valley, I am committed to ensuring that Los Angeles is the most sustainable City in the nation.” —Councilmember Bob Blumenfield

Beat the Drought With California continuing to experience historic drought conditions, Blumenfield, who serves as ViceChair of the City’s Energy and Environment Committee, has been pushing the City to take innovative new approaches to beat the drought, including: 

Convening the City’s largest water and energy customers to work collaboratively to cut usage. Anheuser-Busch recently announced it would spend $20 million to make its Van Nuys brewery more efficient.



Instructing City Departments to utilize drought-tolerant landscaping for City facilities.



Ensuring Angelenos have access to cost-effective home water upgrades through Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing.

Blumenfield joins officials from the Los Angeles Public Library, the Department of Water and Power, and Department of Recreation and Parks, on November 24, 2014.

landscaping options.

“By replacing our thirsty lawns with California-friendly landscaping, the City of Los Angeles is leading the way and educating Valley residents on the range of options for turf  Creating new standards for environmentally friendly artificial replacement, while saving the City water,” said Blumenfield. turf so Angelenos interested in replacing their parkways with low Blumenfield began discussions on -water alternatives will have how best to reduce the Municipal options. Center’s water footprint shortly after Blumenfield has also held a series of taking office in July 2013. workshops designed to give Angelenos the tools and information they need to reduce their own water usage at home.

Turf Replacement As part of his ongoing work to “green the Valley,” Blumenfield is replacing some 20,000 square feet of thirsty lawn at the West Valley Municipal Center and neighboring West Valley Library with a demonstration garden featuring California-friendly 18

Blumenfield has taken similar steps at his Woodland Hills home, replacing 1,750 square feet of turf with California-friendly landscaping.

Safe and Sustainable Energy A longtime leader on environmental issues, Councilmember Blumenfield has sought a sustainable and safe mix of energy for Los Angeles. As an Assemblymember, Blumenfield championed a series of bills to increase the use of renewable energy by colleges, government, homeowners, and businesses.

Blumenfield meets with members of the LA Conservation Corps who are working on the Blumenfield Water Wise Demonstration Garden at the West Valley Municipal Center, on April 10, 2015.

As a member of the Los Angeles City Council, Blumenfield has continued this work, exploring ways to increase the number of electric vehicle chargers at City-owned properties and writing strict new green building practices into the Warner Center 2035 Specific Plan.

He has also helped lead the fight against dangerous hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, supporting a series of bills in Sacramento, and seconding a Council action supporting some of the nation’s toughest anti-fracking laws.

Innovative Pavers

River as a Resource: The Los Angeles River forms in Canoga Park at the confluence of Bell Creek and the Arroyo Calabasas, and as an Assemblymember, Blumenfield was among the most vocal advocates of the River as a critical recreation and economic resource. As a Councilmember, Blumenfield has continued to deliver on that vision.

Blumenfield demonstrates innovative permeable pavers at a City Hall press conference, on April 8, 2014.

Moving beyond outdated concrete, Blumenfield has been driving a change toward the use of environmentally friendly sidewalk paving materials. Blumenfield has also pushed for the use of permeable surfaces at Recreation and Parks facilities.

In late 2014, Blumenfield travelled to Blumenfield, Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell and City Washington, D.C. to successfully Engineer Carol Armstrong cross the Capitol rotunda in the midst of a day spent lobbying congressional leaders on lobby the White House and of Alternative 20, a proposal to restore 719 acres congressional leaders on behalf of behalf of river habitat in Los Angeles, on October 29, 2013. Alternative 20, a proposal to restore 719 acres of river habitat in Los along the banks of the Los Angeles Angeles. River. Taking swift action before an Blumenfield has worked to develop important end-of-the-year deadline, and build out the LA River Blumenfield secured City Council Bikeway, introducing legislation this approval to allow the Trust for year to close the estimated 12 miles Public Land, in partnership with of gaps in the San Fernando Valley the City, to move forward on the portion of the bikeway. In 2014, Aliso Creek Confluence project. Blumenfield cut the ribbon on 2½ Construction is expected to begin miles of uninterrupted bikeway soon on this project to bring critical- along the LA River through Winly needed open space to Reseda netka.

“Concrete is about as cutting edge as the wheel,” said Blumenfield upon introducing the measure in February of 2014. “It doesn’t hold up to tree roots; it doesn’t allow for groundwater recharge. If we’re serious about greening the Valley and beyond, we should be looking towards a more sustainable and cost effective mix of paving materials as we tackle our City’s unique infrastructure challenges.” The Bureau of Street Services (BSS) has experimented in the past with alternative sidewalk materials including rubber panels, recycled plastic materials, poured rubber materials, and porous concrete. Decomposed granite is another option, though it has not been studied by BSS.

Blumenfield, his family, and their new rescue dog Brush, take a ride on the LA River Bikeway on May 31, 2015.

“There is no higher honor than to serve. Contact me for help with any city service or issue.”

City Hall Office

District Office

200 N. Spring Street, Room 415

19040 Vanowen Street

Los Angeles, CA 90012

Reseda, CA 91335

Phone: (213) 473-7003

Phone: (818) 774-4330

Blumenfield.LAcity.org BobBlumenfield BobBlumenfieldSFV 20

Canoga Park ● Reseda Tarzana ● Winnetka Woodland Hills