AUGUST ARCHIVES
Yaroslavsky Calls for County Government Reform to Expand Board, Establish Elected County Executive – On August 24, Board members approved Yaroslavsky’s motion directing County Counsel to draft two charter amendments to reform County government. The measures would be placed before Los Angeles County voters on the November 2000 ballot. One measure would expand the size of the Board from the current five to as many as nine members. The companion measure would create a new Countywide office of elected County Executive as a separate and co-equal branch of County government, which would exercise the executive powers which currently reside - along with the legislative powers - with the Board of Supervisors. "Despite a population approaching 10 million residents, Los Angeles County is still governed by a Board comprising only five elected members, none of whom is elected by the entire County," Yaroslavsky wrote in the motion. "Further," Yaroslavsky added, "Our Constitution enshrines a doctrine of ‘separation of powers’ which has served the national, state and many local governments around the country quite well for more than 200 years. Yet, in Los Angeles County – which is more populous than 42 states – we lack this most fundamental check and balance." County attorneys were ordered to report back in 45 days with draft language. Yaroslavsky, Officials Break Ground for New Chatsworth Municipal Courthouse – On August 19, Yaroslavsky joined Presiding Municipal Court Judge Veronica McBeth and other officials to break ground for the eagerly-awaited Chatsworth Municipal Court, the first new courthouse for the San Fernando Valley in nearly a decade. When completed by October 2001, the four-story facility will boast 10 courtrooms, with expansion capability for six more, in a 290,000 square foot building. The $58.9 million facility – financed entirely by court fees and fines, not general tax dollars - will serve nearly half a million residents annually, saving driving and waiting times associated with travel to the San Fernando or Van Nuys courthouses. Yaroslavsky, Sheriff Lee Baca, Mayor Richard Riordan Urge Approval of Needle Exchange Legislation – In an August 20 opinion-page article in the Los Angeles Times, Yaroslavsky was joined by Mayor Richard Riordan and Sheriff Lee Baca in urging the state Legislature and Gov. Gray Davis to enact legislation authorizing communities to initiate controlled needle-exchange programs to stem the spread of AIDS infections. Sharing dirty needles can spread the AIDS virus among injection-drug users, who can then infect their partners and even unborn children. The article noted that a clean needle costs less than a dollar, while the cost of treating a person with AIDS can top $120,000 over a lifetime. Gov. Davis subsequently signed a bill that will permit local communities to implement needle-exchange programs without fear of state prosecution. Yaroslavsky Announces Improvements to Virginia Robinson Gardens – Supervisor Yaroslavsky has announced that Los Angeles County has completed repairs and improvements to the main house and guest pavilion at the County’s Virginia Robinson Gardens facility in Beverly Hills. The project is one of more than 200 capital improvement projects undertaken by the County Parks Department which were funded by the voter-approved Safe Neighborhood Parks ballot measures of 1992 and 1996. The Virginia Robinson estate was one of the first homes in Beverly Hills, and was bequeathed to the people of Los Angeles County and later opened to the public in 1982. Known for its six sloping acres of lush gardens, the estate is available for guided tours by appointment only, Tuesday-Friday, by calling (310) 276-5367. For further information please click on http://parks.co.la.ca.us/virginia_gardens.html. Yaroslavsky Urges Holocaust Survivors to Apply For Restitution Payments – Supervisor Yaroslavsky is urging Holocaust survivors and their kin to apply for restitution payments under a new application process recently established to reclaim lost WWII assets from the group of major Swiss banks, which settled litigation over the issue last year. Yaroslavsky urged those interested to call 1-888-635-5483 and request a Mailed Notice and Initial Questionnaire to help determine their potential eligibility for compensation. Yaroslavsky Announces Browns Creek Access Road Repairs – Supervisor Yaroslavsky has announced that a project will soon be underway to seal cracks and resurface the Browns Creek access road in the Chatsworth area, which were badly damaged in the January 1994 Northridge earthquake. Yaroslavsky explained that the repairs would ensure that workers would be able to access the channel for maintenance and emergency response during storms. Click here for further information. Yaroslavsky Announces Venice, Marina del Rey Water Main Repairs – Supervisor Yaroslavsky has announced that a project will soon be underway to install more than 5,200 feet of 24-inch steel pipe water main in the Venice and Marina del Rey areas, running along Washington Boulevard and Abbott Kinney Boulevard in the Oxford/Victoria Avenue area. Click here for further information. Yaroslavsky Announces Old Topanga Canyon Road Guardrail, Retaining Wall Project – Supervisor Yaroslavsky has announced that a project will soon be underway to construct a retaining wall and install guardrails on Old Topanga Canyon Road near Mile Marker 2.15 in Calabasas. Yaroslavsky said that the project would stabilize and restore some of the embankment that was eroded during last year’s storms. Click here for further information. Yaroslavsky Announces Tire Recycling Program Contract – Supervisor Yaroslavsky has announced that the County has awarded Pasadena-based Parsons Engineering Science, Inc. a one-year $179,000 contract to determine the feasibility of building a waste-tire recycling plant to reduce the number of used tires dumped into landfills, and to develop programs aimed at waste-tire recycling. Click here for further information. Yaroslavsky Announces Staff Changes – Supervisor Yaroslavsky has announced that Deputy Laura Fay Shell will be taking on new duties for handling most planning and land-use issues in the unincorporated County area of the Third District, principally the Santa Monica Mountains. Field Deputy Lupe Jaramillo assumes new responsibility for field operations in the East San Fernando Valley, and caseworker Benita Trujillo now joins her in the Van Nuys field office for constituent services.
08/03/99 Carol Oughton Biondi, Commission for Children and Families 08/03/99 Lucy T. Eisenberg, Esq.+, Family Support Advisory Board 08/03/99 Fred A. Flores+, Los Angeles County Veterans’ Advisory Commission 08/03/99 Robert L. Koff+, Community Advisory Committee (Sunshine Canyon Landfill) 08/03/99 Charles G. Rubin, Ph.D.+, Commission for Public Social Services 08/17/99 Joseph A. Cislowski, Library Commission 08/17/99 Fred Cowan+, Los Angeles County Courthouse Commission 08/17/99 Charles "Bud" Hayes+, Beach Commission 08/17/99 Sandra L. Klasky, Ph.D.+, Community Advisory Committee
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Yaroslavsky Announces Commission Appointments in August (+
designates reappointment)