July Archives

July 2002

Board Adopts 2002-2003 County Budget – On Wednesday, June 26, 2002, the Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to adopt a spending plan for the coming 2002-2003 fiscal year, which begins for the County on July 1.

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Board of Supervisors Chairman Zev Yaroslavsky joined Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, Sheriff Lee Baca, Los Angeles City Councilman Nick Pacheco and other local elected officials on the steps of the County-USC Medical Center to call on Gov. Gray Davis and the state Legislature not to inflict massive cuts on local government services in an effort to balance next year’s state budget. “We’re here to let state legislators and the Governor know that their budget decisions will have a direct and lasting impact on their constituents and on the critical local services that all Los Angeles residents rely on,” Yaroslavsky declared. As of July 1, the beginning of the state’s fiscal year, no state budget had yet been adopted.

Judge Throws Out Most Allegations of Open Meeting Act Violations by County, Notes Board Efforts to Enact Reforms – On Tuesday, June 25, Superior Court Judge Dzintra Janavs tossed out most of a civil suit against the County of Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Times alleging violations of the Brown Act, the state’s open-meeting law for local governments. Judge Janavs found three minor technical violations of the Brown Act, but levied no damages or penalties on the County. Because the violations were not part of a “nefarious” pattern or likely to be repeated, Judge Janavs found, “it would be an abuse of discretion” to grant the injunctive relief sought by the Times and a co-plaintiff. In addition, Judge Janavs noted that some of the reforms sought by plaintiffs had been previously adopted by the Board (contained in a Yaroslavsky Brown Act motion, in which items #1-#6 were approved on April 2, 2002.)

Yaroslavsky Announces County Bioterrorism Preparedness Funding – Board of Supervisors Chairman Zev Yaroslavsky announced the award to the County of Los Angeles of $13.6 million in federal funding for bioterrorism preparedness. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson notified Yaroslavsky by mail that federal officials had approved the County’s work plans for enhancing state and local preparedness for bioterrorism and other public health emergencies, and were releasing the balance of $28.2 million in funding initially allocated to the County. “On behalf of the Board, I’m very grateful to President Bush and Secretary Thompson for this vote of confidence in our preparedness efforts,” Yaroslavsky said. “We all agree with the Secretary that federal, state and local coordination is the only way to successfully develop a truly national public health infrastructure.”

Board Votes to Call Special Election For, and File Legal Challenge Against, Homecare Workers Initiative – On June 4, 2002, the Board voted unanimously to authorize the filing of a lawsuit by O'Melveny and Meyers to challenge the In-Home Supportive Services initiative which qualified for the November ballot. At the same meeting, the Board voted unanimously to approve a Yaroslavsky motion to carry out the Board’s ministerial responsibility and, pending the outcome of the County’s legal challenge, proceed with placing the measure on the November ballot.

County Files Suit Against City, CRA over City Center Redevelopment Project – A month after the Los Angeles City Council voted to approve the proposed City Center Redevelopment Project south of downtown – a plan strongly opposed by Supervisor Yaroslavsky in this CRA op-ed published in the Los Angeles Times on the day of the Council vote – the County filed suit on June 26, 2002, alleging that the City project violates state law by including non-blighted parcels in the redevelopment zone.

Yaroslavsky Replies to KNX Editorials on Sheriff’s Budget – In the weeks leading up to Board consideration of the proposed 2002-2003 County budget, Sheriff Lee Baca launched a public-relations campaign aimed at garnering more funds for his department. Some media outlets supported the Sheriff’s demands, as in this KNX editorial. Yaroslavsky responded to KNX by pointing out the Sheriff’s consistent overspending in this Zev reply.

John Anson Ford Launches Season, Continues Shuttle Service – The John Anson Ford Theatre 2002 performance season is now underway! Click Ford Season for full details. On June 4, 2002, the Board voted to renew its John Anson Ford Theatre free shuttle service program for the next three years with two additional one-year options, to bring audiences from park-and-ride lots in Hollywood and North Hollywood to the Ford Theatre throughout the summer and fall performing schedule. In North Hollywood, the lot is located at 3400 Cahuenga Boulevard West, 1.8 miles north of the Ford, just north of Barham Boulevard. Parking is $3.00 with validation at the theatre (available at the box office or the shuttle stop at the upper entrance). In Hollywood, the Cherokee Parking Structure is 1.3 miles south of the Ford at 1718 North Cherokee between Hollywood and Franklin. Parking is $2.00 for the first 2 hours and $1.50 for each additional 30 minutes to a maximum of $5.50, but is only $3.00 with validation at the theatre. For further details on parking and directions, click Ford Directions.

Yaroslavsky Announces Commission Appointments in July (+ designates reappointments)

07/09/02 Edward L. Kussman+, Los Angeles County Commission on Aging

07/09/02 John C. Law+, Small Craft Harbor Commission

07/02/02 Bradley H. Mindlin, Real Estate Management Commission

07/02/02 Robert A. Ringler+, Los Angeles County Highway Safety Commission

07/02/02 Corinne Sanchez, Esq.+, Commission for Public Social Services