This week the Los Angeles City Council approved my motion to provide $850,000 for a stormwater infrastructure project at Ben Avenue and Victory Boulevard, site of intense flooding in the past. The money comes from Proposition O, approved by the voters in 2004 to provide funds to prevent and remove pollutants from waterways and oceans. Continue reading

Last week, the City of Los Angeles and my office lost a dear friend. Captain Alberto "Albert" Torres, a veteran Park Ranger who served with the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks for 40 years, died of a heart attack after patrolling parks affected by the Saddleridge Fire.     Continue reading

This past year, I have been working closely with East Valley residents, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the departments of Transportation and Sanitation to make public health and safety enhancements along freeway underpasses across the Second District. Continue reading

Late last week I visited the makeshift memorial dedicated to Delia Huerta Arrearan, a Los Angeles Department of Transportation crossing guard who was struck by a vehicle on September 16 while guiding a student through the crosswalk at Sunnyslope and Vanowen. Several hours later, Delia succumbed to her injuries. Thankfully, the student, also struck by the vehicle, was not seriously hurt. Continue reading

This past Sunday, I had the honor of serving as host for the first-ever visit to Los Angeles by Nikol Pashinyan, the Prime Minister of Armenia. He was joined by his spouse, Anna Hakobyan, who visited Los Angeles and the City Council earlier this year. Continue reading

Javier Frias is quietly transforming Council District 2, one bulky item, blighted alley, overgrown tree, and weed-infested lot at a time. Continue reading

Last week, I joined the inaugural meeting of the Southern San Fernando Valley Airplane Noise Task Force, a group that was established by the Hollywood Burbank and Los Angeles World Airports to address the community concerns regarding the increased noise from aircrafts departing from Hollywood Burbank and Van Nuys airports.  Continue reading

This month, I launched a new program in the East Valley to beautify our neighborhoods and help our neighbors experiencing homelessness get a fresh start, called Clean Streets Clean Starts. Continue reading

Every November, we celebrate Veterans Day in honor of the millions of brave Americans who have served in the Armed Forces. These ordinary men and women embody our greatest ideals of patriotism and freedom through their extraordinary service and sacrifice. Continue reading

This September, the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission commemorated 20 years of service to Los Angeles.   It has been my honor to serve on the Rescue Mission's advisory board during my years on the City Council, and I was grateful to be honored by the organization last week during their celebration event.   Continue reading

Taking a step forward in the City's fight to end homelessness, Mayor Garcetti officially opened the first "A Bridge Home" temporary bridge housing site this week. Located near the El Pueblo Historical Monument in downtown Los Angeles, the housing is the first of a series of projects planned for construction across the city to bring homeless people off the streets and into housing. Potential bridge housing sites across the city are being explored by every member of the City Council.  Continue reading

Homelessness is the biggest social issue facing Los Angeles and I am committed to finding sensible solutions to this crisis. While the crisis is regional, its impacts are felt in different ways in every Council District 2 neighborhood. Continue reading

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of breaking ground on New Directions for Youth's (NDY) Health and Recreation Center in North Hollywood. This was a special event for me because I have long supported NDY's work with at-risk youth. For more than 43 years, NDY has transformed tens of thousands of young lives by creating a positive atmosphere for children in the San Fernando Valley. NDY serves 3,000 youth each year and has provided free services for a whopping 90,000 people in our communities.  Continue reading

Last Thursday, I sponsored the East Valley Town Hall on Homelessness at Los Angeles Valley College in Valley Glen. More than 400 of my constituents came to discuss the defining issue of our time. Continue reading

  Happy New Year! As we begin 2018, I'm happy to offer you this special edition of Our Valley News as a way to remember what made 2017 so special in our city. Continue reading