July Archives

July 2000

Yaroslavsky Joins I Palpiti Chamber Orchestra as Guest Narrator for "Carnival of the Animals" at John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, Colburn School - If there's one thing Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky has learned through more than 25 years in politics and seven election campaigns, it's how to tell a great story. Yaroslavsky will soon put his storytelling skills to the test with an entirely new and different crowd: the classical music fans of all ages who will come to hear him narrate two programs of the I Palpiti Chamber Orchestra's performance of Camille Saint-Saëns' "Carnival of the Animals" at the downtown Colburn School of the Performing Arts on Wednesday, August 2; and a performance at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre on Friday, August 4. Tickets for the Wednesday, August 2, 7:30 p.m. performance at the Colburn School, 200 S. Grand Ave. in downtown Los Angeles, may be obtained by calling (213) 621-2220. Tickets for the Friday, August 4, 8:00 p.m. performance at the Ford, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, in the Cahuenga Pass northeast of the Hollywood Bowl, may be obtained by calling (323) GO1-FORD. Additional information on the performers may be found at http://www.youngartists.org, and on the historic Ford Amphitheatre and its programs at http://lacountyarts.co.la.ca.us/ford.html.

Yaroslavsky Opens New NE Valley Office for Assessor

On Wednesday, 7/26, Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky joined Assessor Rick Auerbach and former Assessor Kenneth Hahn to cut the ribbon for a brand new Assessor's Office at 13800 Balboa Blvd. in Sylmar. Yaroslavsky noted that the new office represents the consolidation and modernization of several scattered Assessor offices in the Glendale area, San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys. As more operations move on-line, Yaroslavsky said, there's a diminishing need for costly office space, additional personnel, and overhead expenses from unnecessary bureaucracy. Eventually, nearly all satellite offices will be eliminated in favor of four centralized regional facilities, he said, which will cost less and deliver more in services.

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Yaroslavsky Announces Malibu Pier Funding Approval - Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky has announced Board approval of $2.9 million to help repair and restore the historic Malibu Pier. Yaroslavsky said the vote clears the way for a fully funded tri-party agreement between the County, the City of Malibu, where the Pier is located, and the State of California, which owns and will operate the Pier. State parks officials are planning a public meeting in August to gather community input on the restoration plan, which includes restaurants, retail and fishing facilities. The Pier is currently open daily to pedestrians from 8 a.m. to sunset. Admission is free, with adjacent parking available for $6. The Pier will close temporarily once construction resumes in October.

Yaroslavsky Announces San Fernando Valley "Government Day" Event for Saturday, July 22 - Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky is inviting all interested residents to attend the Panorama Mall’s 20th Annual Government Day, sponsored by his office, to be held on Saturday, July 22, from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the Mall, located at the corner of Roscoe and Van Nuys Boulevards in Panorama City. "This is a great opportunity for adults and families to learn about the government and the community services that are available to them," Yaroslavsky said, noting that representatives of more than 40 agencies from all levels of government will meet with and provide information to the public. Click here for additional information.

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U.S. to Extend Waiver on L.A. County Health Funds

Capped last weekend by a meeting between President Clinton and Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky--federal officials agreed late Tuesday to extend a waiver of Medicaid rules for five years.

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Yaroslavsky Urges Eligible Voters to Register On-Line - Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky is urging eligible voters to take advantage of California's new on-line voter registration system in time to cast a ballot in this November's presidential elections. Registration must be completed at least 29 days before the November 7 election. To be eligible, an applicant must be a United States citizen, at least 18 years old on or before the day of the election, a legal California resident, and cannot be a convicted felon. Click here http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/votereg1.html for further information.

Yaroslavsky Announces Grant to Mountains Restoration Trust for Topanga and Malibu Creek State Parks Wildlife Corridor - Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky has announced Board approval for a $90,000 grant to the non-profit Mountains Restoration Trust toward the purchase of a 3.14-acre parcel near Mulholland Highway and Las Virgenes Road for wildlife and oak woodland habitat conservation and as part of the County's Master Trail System. "Acquiring this property will protect a vital east-west wildlife corridor between Topanga State Park and Malibu Creek State Park," Yaroslavsky said. "It will also help us preserve the bordering Soka University Connector Trail, a vital trail link east of Las Virgenes and an integral part of the County's Master Trail Plan," he added. Click here for further information.

Swim Safe, Play Safe, Yaroslavsky Reminds Residents - As summer heats up, Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky is reminding all area residents to follow recognized safety guidelines around backyard pools. "Drowning is the leading cause of death among toddlers from one to four years old," Yaroslavsky said. "These are tragedies that just don't have to happen." Yaroslavsky urged residents take precautions such as maintaining an adequate barrier between house and pool; keeping a phone in the pool area; keeping a long-handled hook nearby that can reach someone in trouble in the water; learning CPR; ensuring that no toys are left in the pool area; and always having adults supervise children when they are in or near the pool. For more information about the County's safety education program, Water Awareness Training for Children in the Home (WATCH), call (323) 881-2411.

Yaroslavsky Announces Arts Grants - Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky has announced Board approval for some $1.9 million in County Arts Commissions grants to various Los Angeles-based non-profit organizations in a wide variety of performing and creative disciplines. "This year's grant recipients offer one of the most diverse and dynamic talent pools that we've seen," Yaroslavsky said. "I'm delighted that we're able to help them follow their muse in pursuit of new creative endeavors." Yaroslavsky said that small-budget arts organizations would receive $382,000 in funding; mid-sized budget organizations a combined total of roughly $705,000; and large-budget organizations some $815,000. Click here for further details.

Yaroslavsky Off to Mexico to Observe Historic Presidential Election Balloting - Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky recently traveled to Mexico to take part in a special international delegation invited to monitor the July 2, 2000 presidential elections, which analysts consider potentially the most open and competitive elections ever conducted in there. "This is a rare privilege to witness first-hand history in the making," Yaroslavsky said. The observer mission is sponsored by the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, an organization funded largely by the U.S. government to strengthen and promote democracy abroad. Yaroslavsky has participated in several previous NDI efforts, including as an election observer in 1990 in Romania following the fall of dictator Nicolae Ceaucescu, and as a lecturer in various leadership training programs for local government officials in the former Soviet Union after the collapse of the Communist regime. Click here for additional information on the Mexico trip; click here for additional information about the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs.
	Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky (center) is joined by former Texas Gov. Ann Richards and former Guatemalan President Ramiro de Leon Carpio, leaders of a special delegation comprising among more than 30 invited participants in an international observer mission to Mexico for the historic July 2, 2000 presidential elections.
	Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky (center) and Olivia Barclay Jones (center right), an investment attorney and wife of former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Jim Jones, join a group of voters at a polling place outside of Morelia, capital of the state of Michoacan, during the presidential elections. (7/2/00)

Yaroslavsky Announces New County Public Library Project for City of San Fernando - Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky will by joined by San Fernando city officials and project developer Severyn I. Aszkenazy to break ground August 2, 2000 for the new Library Plaza project, an 8,601 sq.ft. facility housing office and library space. "We're very excited about these plans for a new and expanded County Library in San Fernando," Yaroslavsky said. "Since 1988, we've been leasing a 47-year-old building nearby that we've simply outgrown. This new facility allows us to serve the community with a full range of services in a state-of-the-art building that's 33% larger." The new Library Plaza is a redevelopment project funded in part by a loan from the City's Redevelopment Agency, noted San Fernando Mayor Silverio Robledo. "The Library project is symbolic of the city's commitment to revitalize its commercial areas and provide quality services to its residents," he said. Said developer Severyn Aszkenazy, "I'm very proud to be part of a project that will bring a new library to the San Fernando community as well as providing a much-needed economic boost to the downtown business area." Yaroslavsky said the new library will offer improved amenities and services for patrons, including two additional Internet computers for public use, an expanded children's area, a new Young Adult area, an expanded Homework Center, the reestablishment of a Literacy Center for tutoring and literacy services, and space to expand the library's collection in the future. Click here for additional information.

Yaroslavsky Announces City of Calabasas to Take Over County's Gates Canyon County Park - Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky has announced Board approval for the County to convey Gates Canyon Park to the City of Calabasas, which will maintain the property for park and recreational purposes for the benefit of unincorporated and incorporated areas of the County. The site - located less than a quarter of a mile from the City of Calabasas - was originally dedicated by a developer to the County in 1988 to comply with provisions of the Quimby Act, which requires residential subdividers to set aside project land for parks.Since September 1, 1993, the City has leased the park from the County, and continues to maintain and improve the facility. Click here for further information.

Yaroslavsky Hails Loan of Three Mitsubishi Sport Utility Vehicles to Sheriff's Search and Rescue Teams - Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky has announced that three Mitsubishi sport utility vehicles have been loaned to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department search-and-rescue teams based at Lost Hills Station in Agoura and two other stations in San Dimas and Marina del Rey. "We are delighted that the Southern California Mitsubishi Dealers Advertising Association has been so willing to support our Sheriff's Department and its community policing efforts in this fashion," Yaroslavsky said. Click here for additional information.