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Volume 2, Issue 1 January 2015

“A warm reception to Assembly Member Patty Lopez by Parade organizers”

While other Elected Offi-cial and VIPs rode at the front of the parade in convertibles; newly elect-ed Assembly Member Patty Lopez was placed towards the end of the line in back of a pick up truck. That of course did not erase the proud smile on her face or eliminated the affectionate welcome by community members in Pacoima.

Assembly Member Patty Lopez proudly smiles to community members during the Pacoima Holiday’s Parade.

Patty Lopez, State Assy 1

47th Pacoima Parade 1

Subscribe to CityWatch 2

PNC 2

LAMC Violations 3

Thanks to CD7 3

Lawn Parking Violations 3

CA Hide Speed Rail 4

XMAS PARADE Entry 4

The 47th annual Pacoima Holiday Parade

We wish to express our congratulations to the office of Council Member Fuentes and his staff for making it possible; we know the community appreciated the fact that it was not cut short as originally planned. The parade was a well-attended SUCCESS! But, does anyone know why the Pacoima Chamber of Commerce gave up the leadership in organizing the parade after so many years of being it’s fund raising event or why, at least this year, it was a fund raising event for the “Pacoima Beautiful” organization. The Council’s office could have done the same while keeping the fund raising for the Chamber, if finances were the issue.

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Pacoima

Co-Editors & Publishers: Morris Pichon moepichon@aol.com Edwin Ramirez ramediv@yahoo.com

CityWatch Politics. Perspective.

Participation

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While the membership is elected by com-munity members, it is hard to believe that after 12 years in existence most residents are not aware of their activities, meetings or even how to get in contact with them. They are funded by the City and could use those funds for massive outreach or, at the very least, an effective and organized manner of reaching the residents; they have access to City resources and departments but have not found a way to use them and to be fair, they lack the support and information need-ed to do so. But not everything has been a lost; over the last 12 years, they have be-come a funding source for many groups, organizations, City departments, the Coun-cil’s office and even the City (unused funds); they all have projects, events and activities that could be funded by the Neighborhood Council, as a benefit for the community, of course. Sadly, the Neigh-borhood council has no projects, activities or events of their own. The PNC mission is to improve the quality of life, promote participation, facilitate the delivery of City services and empower the residents by sharing information (partial). Their purpose is to offer a forum to engage all Pacoima residents and delib-erate on matters affecting the community; to advocate for Pacoima to both govern-ment and private agencies; to develop and implement standards that protect the health, welfare and aesthetic quality of the community and (only accomplishment) to (fund) collaborate with other groups and organizations the PNC desires to support (partial). Their policy is to inform all resi-dents of forthcoming projects; to create a forum to enable individuals, organizations to speak out on any side of any issue and

to remain non-partisan. The PNC failure is based upon the lack of community awareness; you simply cannot improve the quality of life when not famil-iar with it or choose to ignore; cannot pro-mote participation without commitment and will not facilitate the delivery of City services when the fear of making some-one uncomfortable is greater than the de-sire to meet a mission statement or a pur-pose. As for the PNC policy to inform the resi-dents about coming projects, you cannot inform those that you cannot reach and there is nothing to inform, if you do not know! And, while their general meetings could be a great opportunity for an open forum where community members and organizations could speak out on any side of any issue; the PNC has turned these meetings into promotional opportunities for those responsible for community safe-ty; services and improvement or a venue for funding request. Their new office ac-commodations are a reflection of the sup-port they get from the City Council’s office and the respect from the new organization running the center.

Whether PNC members are satisfied with these conditions and accomplishments, depends on the reasons why they wanted to be involved. Perhaps some for atten-tion, opportunities, bore or simply like to be in front of people, the results are the same: no support, respect, direction and no meaningful agenda but plenty of oppor-tunities to fund other groups projects and activities! er

The Pacoima Neighborhood Council (PNC)

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

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Pacoima Today January 2015 Volume 2 Issue 1

SEC. 80.71.3. LAMC PARKING IN FRONT YARDS. (Added by Ord. No. 170,903, Eff. 3/16/96.) No person shall park any vehicle in the front yard of any residential property. “Residential prop-erty” shall mean any property used for human habitation and shall include, but not be limited to, any property in the “A” or “R” Zones of the City. The front yard shall consist of that area in the front of the property between the adjacent street and any building or structure thereon, exclusive of any area used as a driveway to access a garage or other parking structure.

SEC.12.21.C1(g) LAMC (Amended by Ord. No. 164,563, Eff. 5/5/89.) Every required front, side and rear yard shall be open and unobstructed from the ground to the sky, except for those pro-jections permitted by Sections 12.08.5, 12.09.5 and 12.22 of this Code. No automobile parking space shall be provided or maintained within a required front yard. Except where a lot is developed with a building meeting the requirements of Section 12.08.3 B 1 of this Code not more than 50 percent of a required front yard shall be designed, improved or used for access driveways. mp

It is estimated that 30% on the single family homes in Pacoima are in violation of the SEC.80.71.3. LAMC PARKING IN FRONT YARDS . Nearly 40% of front yards in Pacoima are in violation of SEC.12.21.C1(g) LAMC NO MORE THAN 50% OF REQUIRED FRONT YARD CAN BE IMPROVED OR USED FOR PARKING.

WHAT CITY DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCEMENT THE BELOW LOS ANGELES MUNICIPAL CODE VIOLATIONS?

Attention Council District 7

“THANK YOU” TO CD7 STAFF In the past two (2) months there has been a re-markable improvement in trash removal in the Community of Pacoima. As one who continually file complaints, I feel it necessary that I must stand up and praise the individuals who are instrumental in the improvement of our community. We would like to say “thanks” to Yolanda Fuentes, District Director of CD7, Reuben Zaragoza, Field Deputy CD7and Luis Sanchez of the Department of Street Services. We request your continue attention to the Pacoi-ma area and providing the city services we pay tax-es to ensure. Besides clean streets, we have others issues that we desire your help and assistance in re-solving. As you can see, the adjacent photograph shows a residence with its whole front yard paved from one end to the other. A violation of SEC.12.21.C1(g) LAMC PARKING IN FRONT YARDS. Thanks again, the community of Pacoima appreciate you. mp

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Pacoima Today January 2015 Volume 2 Issue 1

The California High-Speed Rail Authority reached a settlement agreement with the City of Bakersfield, which will result in the dismissal of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) liti-gation over the Final Environmental Impact Re-port/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) for the Fresno to Bakersfield project section of the high-speed rail program. Ultimately every City is most likely fighting for their fair share of the 68 Billions but not the City of Los Angeles, they might already have a settlement and that is why the community members are opposing this project without the support of the City officials. In Pacoima, at the Pacoima Neighborhood Council (PNC) meeting, former State Assembly Member Bocanegra promoted the construction of the high speed rail without mentioning the possibility of res-idents loosing their homes or properties to eminent domain, he did not comment on the fact that jobs would be for union workers (campaign contribu-tors) or even mentioned that other than paying for this project (with our taxes) there was no benefits for our communities. Pacoima is just part of the tracks. Council Member Fuentes (CD7) has been in at-tendance at the same meetings (several times) but has avoided the issue since nobody has the courage to question or ask for his support in opposing it (minutes will reflect this), no one from Nury Mar-tinez’s office (CD6) who also represents a portion of Pacoima has bother to face the PNC (minutes will reflect) But then again, it is just the PNC, half the time they are not aware of the implications nor do they care to confront those in office. What will be the fair share for Los Angeles by dis-missing the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) litigation over the final Environmental Impact Report and/or the Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS)? What is the City’s selling price of those communi-ties and residents affected by the HSR? We have two Council Members in Pacoima and they are not holding meetings to inform or collect comments and information from their constituency. Could it be that they are negotiating an agreement that would benefit their careers? er

CALIFORNIA HIGH SPEED RAIL

47TH ANNUAL PACOIMA HOLIDAY PARADE ENTRY FORM

Organization Name:

________________________________________________

Contact Person:

________________________________________________

Address: ______________________________ City:

__________________________________

Phone: ___________________________________

Email: ___________________________________________

□ Marching Band # of Band Members ___________

□ Dance Group # of Dancers __________

□ Drill Team # of Members _________

□ Equestrian Group # of Horses _________

□ Car Club # of Vehicles ________ (max. 6)

□ Motorcycle Club # of Motorcycles _______ (max. 6)

□ Business Description

__________________________________________

□ Church/Religious Org. Description

__________________________________________

□ Sports Organization Description

__________________________________________

□ Other Description

__________________________________________

Registration Fees: $75 group/business $100 Equestrian Group

$100 car/motorcycle club (max 6 vehicles)

* Schools are free, 20% discount for Chamber Members*

Please make check payable to: Pacoima Beautiful (memo: Parade

Entry) Mail your completed entry form to: 13520 Van Nuys Blvd.

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