"America is a great country; it always has been. Our challenge now is to continue to wave the flag of freedom in the face of fear and uncertainty. I am confident we can do that."

When I was on the Cleveland High School swim team, I remember day after day of exhausting laps in the pool. As we trained hard for our swim meets, one of the things that got me to push through those last meters was the sound of that unforgettable anthem of the Olympic Games.

Councilmember Krekorian delivered this speech during the 2016 Veterans Day Celebration at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Click here to watch the speech: youtu.be/QAfiffTTBZw.

My Dad, who rests here at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, was a Marine Corps veteran of World War II, and as his son I very much appreciate seeing the many Americans who celebrate this day. 

LOS ANGELES - My LA2050 is giving $1,000,000 in grant money to fund projects dedicated to improving Los Angeles, and you can vote right now to help support your favorite community projects and organizations. LA2050 is an organization dedicated to civic engagement and making financial investments via the My LA2050 Grants Challenge to support individuals and organizations working to make LA the nation's best place to learn, create, play, connect and live.

One in four women will be a victim of domestic violence in her lifetime. Three women a day die at the hands of an abuser. One in three teens is a victim of dating abuse. These are sobering facts about domestic violence, one of the most serious issues facing our society. Most of its victims are women and children who are not safe in their own home.

Last week, I introduced two City Council motions aimed at curbing consumer fraud in Los Angeles. The need to take urgent action became apparent when I learned about the massive deception perpetrated by Wells Fargo at the expense of its customers. Because the City of Los Angeles is one of Wells Fargo's customers, my first motion instructs the city's Office of Finance to investigate whether or not the banking giant defrauded the city by creating fake bank accounts in the city's name, as happened to tens of thousands of unsuspecting individuals. The motion also ensures that the city won't pay unnecessary bank fees from bad actors.

Last week, I introduced a motion to ensure that our LA River revitalization efforts stay on track and to prevent our city from getting pushed into a bad high-speed rail route that would adversely impact San Fernando Valley communities.

The Los Angeles City Planning Commission just voted overwhelmingly to approve NOHO West, a critical redevelopment project that will revitalize Laurel Plaza and make this East San Fernando Valley commercial corridor thrive once again. This is a huge step forward for what I believe will be the cornerstone of a bright commercial future in the area. Securing a worthy redevelopment project here and in Valley Plaza has been my top economic development priority since I took office in January 2010. With NOHO West, we can all look forward to 24+ acres of top-notch, brand new retail, entertainment, office and housing options for Valley residents.

The San Fernando Valley is a treasure trove of hidden commercial gems. From restaurants and coffee shops, to great boutiques and salons, some of the best places to eat, shop and play are tucked away in our neighborhoods, just around the corner from where we live. Our communities wouldn't be the same without these go-to destinations. That's why I want to you to tell me about the important community fixtures that bring so much vibrancy to our neighborhoods. 

In this quick and easy survey, please share your favorite places, how you get there and what makes them so special to you.