June Archives

June 2001

Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky (left) recently paid a visit to Morrison Ranch outside of Calabasas to mark the dedication by Shea Homes of 325 acres of prime open space as a part of Shea's development agreement for its Mont Calabasas project. The dedicated parcel land includes rolling ridgelines, deep ravines, walnut woodland, coastal sage habitat, stunning views and recreational trails that will link up to trails in the adjacent 4,475 acres of Cheeseboro and Palo Comado Canyons. Nearly a decade ago, at the insistence of then-Supervisor Ed Edelman,

the initial project's proposed residential units were scaled back by about two-thirds; commercial development and grading were slashed by roughly 50%, a proposed extension of Thousand Oaks Blvd. was dropped, and 325 acres was to be set aside as open space. After Yaroslavsky took office in 1994, his office persuaded Shea, who had inherited the project from the previous developer, to dedicate that parcel to the National Park Service, which owns all the abutting parkland northwest of the site into Cheeseboro Canyon. Joining Yaroslavsky, from the left, are John Franklin, Shea Homes; Nancy Helsley, President, Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains; Art Eck, Superintendent of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area; Lesley Devine, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Calabasas; Dave Brown, Calabasas Planning Commission; Michael Harrison, Councilmember, City of Calabasas. (6/30/01)

S A R A B E R M A N G R E E N W A Y

	Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky (center) dedicates the "Sara Berman Greenway," a community project to landscape a portion of the Exposition Boulevard railroad right-of-way in memory of homeowner activist and civic leader Sara Berman. Berman was co-founder and president of the West of Westwood Homeowners Association, representing some 1,000 households concentrated mostly west of Westwood Boulevard between National and Pico Boulevards. The former Director of Adoptions for the County of Los Angeles, Berman died tragically in 1998 after being struck as a pedestrian at Los Angeles International Airport after returning from a work-related trip to Sacramento. Joining Yaroslavsky for the dedication, from the left, are Ginny Kruger, Assistant Chief Deputy for Yaroslavsky; Lee Berman, Sara's mother; Barbara Orlik, Sara's sister, and Mitch Orlik, Sara's brother-in-law. (6/24/01)

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Santa Fe-style design elements add a distinctive touch to the Library entrance.

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Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky (in red tie) is joined, from the left, by San Fernando Mayor Cindy Montañez; Martha Aszkenazy, co-owner with husband Severyn Aszkenazy of Pueblo Contracting Services, Inc., builder of the Library Plaza project; Severyn Aszkenazy; R.D. Lottie and Nestor Correa, Pacific Coast Region, Small Business Corporation, prime commercial lenders for the project.

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Stylish and comfortable reading tables and full state-of-the-art Internet access stations are among the amenities of the new San Fernando Library.

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Information and Help Desk in the Library's spacious interior.

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Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky (right) is joined by San Fernando Mayor Cindy Montañez (left) to present a plaque to Kathy Coakley, Community Library Manager for the new San Fernando Library, dedicated on June 20, 2001.

Yaroslavsky Invites Public to Celebrate "Bay Days" on June 30 at Windward Plaza in Venice - Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky is inviting all those interested to come down to the Venice Beach Ocean Front Walk's newly refurbished Windward Plaza to celebrate "Bay Days," sponsored by Los Angeles County and Heal the Bay. The festival will be held on Saturday, June 30 from 10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. The following morning, a big community beach cleanup will take place from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. "Bay Days" is intended to inspire Southern Californians to have fun in the sun while respecting and protecting our coastal resources. Toward that end, Heal the Bay has planned a number of activities devoted to ocean education and exploration, along with trapeze demonstrations, kite flying, arts & crafts, marine aquarium displays, sports exhibitions, street performers, lifeguard and CPR demonstrations, and professional sandcastle building. Live entertainment for children and adults will be offered on two different stages throughout the day. Click BayDays, or call (310) 453-0395, x112 for more details on this exciting event.

Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky Greets President Moshe Katsav of Israel

Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky presents a welcoming plaque to President Moshe Katsav of Israel at a special reception for the President and First Lady Gila Katsav held at the Beverly Hills Hotel during the couple's recent visit to Los Angeles. Yaroslavsky was joined by Los Angeles City Council President Ruth Galanter, Councilmember Mike Feuer, Israeli consular officials, and Jewish community leaders. (6/4/01)

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Board Takes Up Yaroslavsky Call to Governor to Support "Clean Beach Initiative" - The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to take up Supervisor Yaroslavsky's motion formally calling upon Gov. Gray Davis to fully fund the Governor's proposed "Clean Beach Initiative," a $45 million program intended to improve beach water quality statewide. Yaroslavsky said that priority projects in the County of Los Angeles would include Cabrillo Beach, Mother's Beach and the legendary Malibu Surfrider Beach and Lagoon, three of the most popular yet poorly rated beaches in Southern California. Yaroslavsky said the proposed funding would be used to improve water circulation and provide critical storm drain filtration and disinfection systems at these locations.

Topanga Beach Bus Rolling Again - Supervisor Yaroslavsky has announced that the Topanga Summer Beach Bus will once again start rolling on June 25. The Summer Beach Bus offers residents of Topanga and the Woodland Hills neighborhoods around Ventura Boulevard between Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Reseda Boulevard easy and affordable public transportation to Topanga and Will Rogers State Beaches and Santa Monica City Beach. Yaroslavsky said the service will run throughout the summer from June 25 through September 3, and costs 50 cents each way for children and adults under 62, and only 25 cents each way for seniors and people with disabilities. For more information on schedules and stops, call (888) 769-1122.

Yaroslavsky Announces Launch of Pet ID Microchip Implant Program - Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky has announced that the County of Los Angeles animal shelters are beginning a program to implant pet ID microchips in all dogs and cats adopted from the County's six shelter facilities. Launched through a motion sponsored by Yaroslavsky, the program is designed to speed the process of reuniting lost pets with their owners, cut down on shelter expenses and minimize the need to euthanize unclaimed stray animals. The implants, about the size of a grain of rice, will cost only $5 as a portion of the overall adoption fee. For more information on shelter locations and other programs offered by the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control, click animal control or click here for release.

Yaroslavsky Announces Commission Appointments in June (+ designates reappointments)

06/19/01 Janice Kamenir-Reznik, Esq.+, Commission on Judicial Procedures

06/12/01 James D. Adler, Esq.+, Commission for Public Social Services

06/12/01 Stephanie Carter, Community Advisory Committee (Sunshine Canyon Landfill)

06/05/01 Fred A. Flores+, Los Angeles County Veterans’ Advisory Commission