FEBRUARY ARCHIVES
1998

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Restaurant Inspection Update - Board Adopts Yaroslavsky Call to Implement Toughened Restaurant Inspection Policy Countywide; County Posts Restaurant Ratings on DHS Website - On February 3, the Board unanimously approved a joint motion by Supervisors Yaroslavsky and Antonovich to once again urge all 88 cities in Los Angeles County to adopt necessary ordinance amendments to implement fully the County's stringent new restaurant inspection policies, adopted in December 1997. These include requiring restaurants to post "A-B-C" letter grades, furnish current inspection reports to patrons upon request, and maintain a certified food handler on duty to supervise at all times. Press reports had indicated that a number of restaurants were failing to comply, and that County health inspectors currently lacked the statutory authority outside unincorporated County area to compel them. Meanwhile, the Department of Health Services Website at www.dhs.co.la.ca.us is now posting restaurant inspection scores monthly, and restaurant closures weekly. DHS officials report that since the airing of KCBS-TV's investigative series in mid-November, inspectors have closed six times as many restaurants, identified 50% more violations per visit, and are spending 25% more time on each inspection visit. Twenty new trained inspectors have been added, and 44 more staff positions will soon follow.

Yaroslavsky Moves to Expand County Child-Care Programs - Acting on a motion by Yaroslavsky on February 3, the Board took the first step toward establishing a policy directing County officials to incorporate child-care centers into new or substantially renovated County facilities. The motion also provides a source of funds for program enhancements at existing child-care sites.

Yaroslavsky Announces Grand Opening of Valley Care Mobile Health Clinic - On Friday, February 13, Yaroslavsky was joined by other elected officials and school and health workers for a grand opening and ribbon-cutting at Sepulveda Middle School in North Hills for the new Valley Care Mobile Health Clinic, an innovative new program to provide school-based health services in the San Fernando Valley. The Mobile Clinic itself will operate out of the County's Mid-Valley Comprehensive Health Center to serve numerous elementary, middle and high schools in the Grant/Van Nuys and Kennedy/Monroe Clusters.

Yaroslavsky Formally Opens Innovative “SCAN” Child-Abuse Detection Center at Olive View/UCLA Medical Center - On Wednesday, February 25, Supervisor Yaroslavsky formally opened Olive View/UCLA Medical Center’s Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) Center in Sylmar, an innovative clinic program combining health, social-service and law-enforcement personnel and resources to examine children for early signs of child abuse and neglect, to expedite intervention, treatment, and potential prosecution of perpetrators. Click on press release for additional details.

Yaroslavsky Kicks Off “Year of Healthy Children” Campaign by Promoting County Medi-Cal Outreach Effort - On Monday, February 23, Yaroslavsky spoke to a group of parents, school officials, and health professionals at Pacoima Elementary School to promote the County’s “Year of Healthy Children” campaign (initiated in January on a motion by Yaroslavsky), and to encourage parents to sign up their eligible uninsured children for Medi-Cal health insurance coverage for low-income Californians. Yaroslavsky noted that some 700,000 - or nearly one out of four - of the County’s children lack health coverage, and an estimated 80,000-100,000 of them reside in the San Fernando Valley. The County hopes to enroll 100,000 children in the Medi-Cal program Countywide, including 16,000 San Fernando Valley residents. Click on press release for details.

Yaroslavsky Calls on Congress, President to “Remember the Counties!” in Proposed National Tobacco Settlement - Speaking at a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington on Friday, February 27, Supervisor Yaroslavsky and other county officials from around the nation called on Congress and the President to ensure that counties are properly compensated for their losses in any contemplated national tobacco lawsuit settlement and codifying legislation. “If there is to be a settlement,” Yaroslavsky declared, “the counties must be a part of it - because there is a close cooperative relationship between federal, state and local government, with the counties carrying the major responsibility for providing health care, and consequently for absorbing the smoking-related health care costs.” In a June, 1996 motion, Yaroslavsky won Board approval to initiate a lawsuit against the tobacco industry to recover hundreds of millions in smoking-related health care costs, making Los Angeles County the largest local jurisdiction in the nation to do so.

President Clinton Declares Los Angeles County a Federal Disaster Area, Extends FEMA Assistance - On Thursday, February 26, President Clinton formally declared Los Angeles County a federal disaster area in the wake of El Nino-driven storm damage due to flooding and landslides. Supervisor Yaroslavsky hailed the announcement in a statement, noting that County residents and businesses will now be eligible for a variety of state and federal disaster assistance, covering everything from real estate repairs and replacement of lost contents to temporary housing, medical coverage and crisis counseling. For FEMA claims, Yaroslavsky urged affected residents to call (1-800) 462-9029, and be prepared to supply the following information:

Yaroslavsky also noted additional disaster relief through property tax reductions and income-tax deductions. Affected property owners may be eligible for expedited reappraisal of damaged properties, since storm-damage losses exceeding $5,000 qualify under state law for property tax relief. Those interested may obtain further information through the main office of the Los Angeles County Assessor at (213) 974-3211, through their nearest regional offices, or on-line at the Assessor’s Home Page, located at http://www.co.la.ca.us/assessor.

In addition, residents of Los Angeles County and other presidentially declared disaster areas can claim losses either on 1998 tax returns, or on 1997 tax returns. Further information and assistance may be found through the state Franchise Tax Board, at (800) 852-5711.

Children and Family Services Hotlines - With 1998 formally proclaimed the “Year of Healthy Children” in Los Angeles County, Supervisor Yaroslavsky reminds all County residents that the County’s Department of Children and Family Services currently offers three toll-free hotlines aimed at providing information and assistance 24 hours a day, as well as recorded information at an adoption intake number to help acquaint the public with the adoptions process in the County:

Yaroslavsky Announces New Local, Commuter Bus Lines Serving Valley - Supervisor Yaroslavsky has announced the launch of two new bus lines aimed at better serving Valley, Hollywood and downtown area residents.

Yaroslavsky Hails Elimination of Hollywood Hills Subway Crossover Tunnels, Saving $27 Million and Reducing Scheduled Blasting by 50% - Supervisor Yaroslavsky praised the MTA Board action on Thursday, February 26, which dropped from subway construction plans two crossover tunnels scheduled to be blasted out underneath Runyon Canyon Park in the Hollywood Hills west of the Hollywood Bowl. Yaroslavsky had previously declared the tunnels to be costly and unnecessary, and noted that their elimination will save County taxpayers an estimated $27 million in construction and environmental mitigation costs, and reduce scheduled blasting under the park by 50% and 70,000 pounds of explosives. Yaroslavsky, who earlier had fought successfully for a slate of environmental mitigations prior to approving the Hollywood Hills tunneling, expressed delight at the Board action to eliminate the crossovers entirely. “This is a win-win decision for the community, the taxpayers, and the agency,” Yaroslavsky said. “And you don’t find too many of those.” Click on press release for more details.

Yaroslavsky Announces Funding for Improvements in Santa Monica, Venice Public Housing Complexes - Supervisor Yaroslavsky has announced Board approval on February 10 of contracts for seismic retrofitting, rehabilitation and improvements at two Westside public housing facilities, funded by federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grants:

blueball.gif (924 bytes) Yaroslavsky Announces Commission Appointments in February (+ designates reappointment)

02/10/98 Theodore J. Eckberg, M.D., +Development Disabilities Board-Area 10 for Los Angeles

02/17/98 Charleen Kabrin, +Point Dume Community Services District Board of Directors

02/24/98 Hope Judith Boonshaft, Citizens Economy and Efficiency Commission

blueball.gif (924 bytes) Yaroslavsky Motions Adopted in February

02/03/98 FLEXIBILITY AND INNOVATION IN EXPANDING WELFARE-TO-WORK "GAIN" PROGRAM
A motion by Yaroslavsky to contract with for-profit and community-based organizations to supply at least 25% of additional staffing required by the Department of Public Social Services to expand its Greater Avenues for Independence (GAIN) welfare-to-work program. Yaroslavsky cited the plan's significance in preserving hiring flexibility and presenting opportunities for innovative approaches by experienced non-governmental agencies.

02/10/98 IMPROVING HEALTH CARE IN THE HOLLYWOOD COMMUNITY
A motion by Yaroslavsky directing the Department of Health Services to analyze and report back by 2/24/98 on the cost, benefits and opportunities associated with the pending sale of non-profit Queen of Angels-Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center to the for-profit Tenet Healthcare Corporation, in light of its potential impact on in-patient, out-patient, emergency, obstetrical, HIV-AIDS and other health services for the medically indigent in the Hollywood area.

02/10/98 EXPANDING LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO THE PUBLIC
A motion to assess, improve and expand programs aimed at assisting those people (known as "pro per litigants") who choose to represent themselves in court, rather than hire a lawyer. Particularly prevalent in Family Court, such litigants often do not understand the legal system's rules and procedures, resulting in delays and frustration on all sides.

02/10/98 CENSUS ACCURACY
A motion to establish a Census 2000 Complete Count Committee, comprising representatives from the Chief Administrative Office, the Department of Regional Planning, County Counsel, Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, and Department of Community and Senior Services, aimed at obtaining a full and accurate Census 2000 count to ensure that Los Angeles County receives its fair share of state and federal resources and congressional representation. Amended by Supervisor Knabe to include representatives from the Community Development Commission, the Departments of Health Services and Public Social Services, and the Office of Education.

02/17/98 VALLEY SECESSION
A motion to afford proponents of San Fernando Valley secession the same opportunity and time-frame enjoyed by residents of most other cities to gather sufficient signatures on petitions to launch a feasibility study by the County's Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) of the impact and implications of establishing a new and separate city in the San Fernando Valley.

02/24/98 FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY ASSISTANCE TO FLOOD-STRICKEN AREAS
A motion formally declaring a local emergency in Los Angeles County to speed the processing of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance to flood-stricken areas, particularly in the City of Malibu and in portions of the San Fernando Valley, in the wake of continued El Nino-driven storms.

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