FEBRUARY ARCHIVES
1999

Yaroslavsky Unveils Plan to Speed Secession Study, Cut Cost - Calling for improved cooperation between Los Angeles City officials and proponents of a study of the merits of San Fernando Valley secession, Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky on February 24 unveiled a new plan to complete the analysis in a timely and cost-effective manner. Yaroslavsky's seven-step proposal lays out a strategy for identifying, collecting and analyzing the necessary data and assigning the various tasks to either City officials, the County's Local Agency Formation Commission, or new cityhood proponents. Yaroslavsky said the goal was to reduce the scope of the study wherever possibly, thereby avoiding costly and unnecessary research and ensuring delays. For a copy of Yaroslavsky's proposal, click on attachment.

Yaroslavsky Calls For Reform in County Supermarket Inspection Program - Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky won Board approval on February 23 for his motion calling on County health officials to review existing policies and statutes and develop recommendations for improvements to strengthen County oversight of supermarkets and meat counters. Yaroslavsky’s measure came in the wake of undercover investigative reports on KCBS-TV Channel 2, "Shop At Your Own Risk," which revealed highly questionable and potentially illegal repackaging practices of raw meat, fish and poultry products in area markets.

Yaroslavsky Dedicates Westridge Canyon Back Park Dedication - On February 20, Supervisor Yaroslavsky dedicated the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy’s newest park, a breathtaking 1,518-acre open space preserve above Mandeville Canyon formerly known as the Eastport property. The parcel had earlier been approved for development of more than 500 homes, and was the single largest privately owned open space remaining in the City of Los Angeles. Bordered by Mandeville, Sullivan and Rustic Canyons and Mulholland Highway, Westridge-Canyon Back Park adjoins the 20,000-acre urban wilderness park system known as the "Big Wild." After several decades of effort, its purchase was finally made possible through funding provided by Prop. A, a 1996 park and open-space measure spearheaded by Yaroslavsky. For additional information on the Conservancy and its activities, click on http://www.ceres.ca.gov/smmc .

Yaroslavsky "Healthy Student" Efforts Surge Ahead - Supervisor Yaroslavsky is continuing his efforts to expand health care opportunities for uninsured area schoolchildren, directing County health officials in a February 16 letter to work with administrators at Pacoima’s Vaughn Learning Center, a charter elementary school, to develop a school-based health clinic linked to the County’s Olive View Medical Center. Yaroslavsky championed his "Healthy Student Partnership" initiative in a February 19 op-ed article in the Los Angeles Daily News. Yaroslavsky also noted that a new national toll-free number has been established to boost enrollment in Medicaid and the lagging Children's Health Insurance Plans (CHIP). Callers to 877-KIDS-NOW (877-543-7669) will be connected automatically to the Medicaid agency or health department in the state from which they are calling. White House officials estimate that at least half of the 10.7 million uninsured children in the U.S. are eligible for Medicaid or CHIP. Click here for more information on Yaroslavsky’s "Healthy Student Partnership" proposal.

Yaroslavsky Calls for Action to Combat "Weapons of Mass Destruction" Terrorism - On February 23, the Board of Supervisors approved Yaroslavsky’s motion to support state legislation aimed at combating terrorism using, or threatening to use, "weapons of mass destruction" such as deadly chemical, biological or nuclear materials. Yaroslavsky cited recent threats alleging anthrax exposure in public buildings - which in all cases, proved to be false - as pointing up the need to be both prepared for real incidents, and to impose heavy penalties for costly and disruptive terrorism hoaxes.

Hot Weather Spell Means "Bee Careful" - Los Angeles County agriculture officials are warning that the recent hot weather spell has brought out swarms of Africanized bees. County residents are urged to report problems with swarming or nesting in and around structures by calling 1-800-925-3800 to be put in touch with the vector control district in their area. For multiple stinging emergencies, call 911. For medical information for physicians and bee sting victims, call the L.A. Regional Drug & Poison Information Center at 1-800-876-4766. Yaroslavsky reminded residents that for their own safety, if they should encounter a swarm, cover their heads, run and hide - do not attempt to swat at the bees, which will only anger them.

Westridge-Canyon Back Park Caption

Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky (second from right) was recently on hand for the dedication of the newest park owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, Westridge-Canyon Back Wilderness Park. A spectacular 1,518-acre parcel located north of Mandeville Canyon, adjacent to Rustic and Sullivan Canyons and south of Mulholland Highway, the former Eastport property was the single largest privately owned open space parcel in the City of Los Angeles, and had earlier been approved for development of more than 500 homes. Joining Yaroslavsky, from the left, are Joe Edmiston, Executive Director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy; Cindy Miscikowski, Los Angeles City Councilmember; Brad Sherman, member of Congress; and Ed Begley, Jr., actor and environmentalist. (2/20/99)

Board Adopts Yaroslavsky Call for Tougher Penalties for Hate Crimes - On February 16, the Board unanimously adopted Supervisor Yaroslavsky’s call to support state legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Wally Knox (D-Los Angeles) which would permit imposing a sentence of "life without parole" for hate-crime murders based on the gender, sexual orientation or disability of the victim. Noting that current law limits the "special circumstances" triggering tougher sentences for such homicides to motivation based on race, ethnicity, religion, and nationality, Yaroslavsky declared that "The type of criminals who murdered Matthew Shepard in Colorado last fall because of his sexual orientation deserve to receive life without parole just as surely as if they had killed him because of his race." Click here for the motion.

Crime Victims to Get Early Warning System - Supervisor Yaroslavsky has announced that crime victims in Los Angeles County now have a measure of protection from their incarcerated assailants that they never had before: Access to a toll-free hotline providing up-to-the-minute information on the custody status and facility location of all offenders in the County jail system. For victims of rape, stalking, or domestic violence, the service will offer potentially life-saving notification if the offender has any intentions of returning to repeat his assault. Once callers register by providing their phone number, pager, and a 4-digit Personal Identification Number, the VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) program computers will automatically notify them when a designated offender is released, transferred, or escapes from custody. The hotline number is (1-877) VINE4LA.

County to Offer Real-Time Spanish Translations of Weekly Board Meeting Telecasts - On February 2, Supervisor Yaroslavsky won approval for his proposal to begin offering real-time Spanish translations of weekly Board meeting telecasts on KLCS-TV, the Los Angeles Unified School District TV station. Once it’s up and running, the service will be available to Spanish-speaking viewers on the cable channel’s second audio track. The Board’s action follows approval of an earlier motion in December to begin offering closed-caption summaries to hearing-impaired viewers. Click here for Spanish-translation motion.

Lost Pets Can Soon Be Found, on the Web - Acting on a motion by Yaroslavsky, the Board on February 2 ordered the development of a new and comprehensive Web site for the County’s Department of Animal Care and Control aimed at providing improved access to services offered by the Department. The site is expected to include photographs of some animals in County shelters, which may help owners locate their lost pets and boost the adoption rate.

Yaroslavsky "Junk Gun" Sales Ban Wins Final Approval - Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky’s ordinance banning the sale of new "Saturday Night Specials" and other junk handguns in the unincorporated County area won final approval on Feb. 9 by the Board of Supervisors. The ordinance takes effect in 30 days, on March 11. Click here for a copy of the ordinance and accompanying press release explaining the "junk gun" ban.

Board Approves Yaroslavsky Motion to Post $25,000 Reward in Principal Beating - Also on Feb. 9, the Board unanimously approved Yaroslavsky’s motion to post a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the beating of Panorama City elementary school principal Norman Bernstein on the morning of Feb. 1 in the school’s parking lot. Yaroslavsky’s motion also calls upon the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission to investigate the incident as a possible "hate crime" and develop recommendations to help eradicate such activity in the future. Click here for a copy of the press release.

Whiteman Airport Improvements Soon to be Underway - Yaroslavsky has announced that improvements will soon be underway at Whiteman Airport in Pacoima, with the award Feb. 9 of a $597,094 contract to Geo-Cal, Inc. of San Bernardino for a project to construct two 20,000-gallon aviation fuel tanks. The new tanks will increase by 33% the fuel capacity of the existing obsolete equipment.

Yaroslavsky Announces Commission Appointments in February  (+ designates reappointment)

02/16/99 Jeff Jennings, Los Angeles County Beach Commission

02/16/99 Esther Simmons, + Community Advisory Committee (Sunshine Canyon Landfill)

02/02/99 Julie Jaskol, Los Angeles County Commission on HIV Health Services

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