June 2006
Be Safe on the 4th of July!
Every 4th of July, people all over LA use illegal fireworks, endangering them and disturbing their neighbors.

To help educate people about the dangers and consequences of illegal fireworks, I've requested that the LAPD put a fireworks response plan into place in every division in the City.  I have also asked that our LAPD Senior Lead Officers reach out to our neighborhood councils, residents association and community members to educate them about illegal fireworks.

There are a number of great fireworks shows all over the City.  For residents in my district, we will have fireworks at Cabrillo Beach in the Harbor Area and at the Coliseum in South L.A.  For a list of all City shows visit: http://www.lafd.org/july4.htm

Fighting to Clean Up Our Water
In November 2004, voters in LA overwhelmingly approved Proposition O-a $500 million bond that cleans up storm water that flows into our rivers, lakes and beaches; and also provides funding for various Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro                     river, lake, ocean and bay protection and clean-up.  Two years later, we still have not spent any of those funds to clean up the water in Los Angeles.

When I campaigned for Proposition O I told voters in the Harbor Area that the funds would be used to clean up Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, which is notorious for receiving F grades from Heal the Bay.  I also told people that we could use the money to clean up Lake Machado at Harbor Regional Park (where we think Reggie the alligator still resides).  So, the fact that we are still waiting to spend Prop O funds is upsetting to me.  It's these types of delays that sour voters to approving similar ballot measures.

I've put the pressure on our City staff to speed up the process and the City Council should be approving some great Prop O projects, which I expect will include Cabrillo Beach and Lake Machado, in 30 days so that we can finally start to clean up our water. 

Keeping the Peace in Watts 
Between Christmas 2005 and the end of January 2006, there were 19 gang related shootings and seven deaths in the Watts community.  In January, I started holding weekly 
Councilwoman Hahn and Nickerson basketball players meetings with community members to stop the violence and put a cease fire in place. We have been pretty successful in stopping the shooting between long warring gangs in the community.

As you can imagine, in working toward the cease fire, a number of other issues came up.  The community has clearly been underserved for years and has still not recovered from the stigma of the Watts riots 40 years ago.  Watts still lacks good recreational opportunities.  

A few local men, who work at Nickerson Gardens Public Housing Development, have put together a Wednesday night basketball game to bring everyone together for fun, food and companionship.  I attended a game a few weeks ago and had a great time.  

The community has also organized a number of peace marches.  I recently attended a march with the Women of Watts to call for peace.By working Councilwoman Hahn with the Women of Watts            together and continuing to create opportunities for the kids and residents in Watts, I hope we can sustain the cease-fire and improve the community.  

Little League Gets Another Season
Eastview Little League in San Pedro found out last year that the fields they have been playing on for years were soon to be gone.  The land had been purchased by Target for a new store.  I have been working daily to try to find the Little League a new home. 

The best idea I have had is to move the City's sanitation yard in San Pedro and build a youth sports complex on the site.  It is the perfect spot because it located next to our 'Field of Dreams' AYSO soccer fields.  But, relocating the sanitation yard and building the sports complex will take some time and Target had only given Eastview until the end of this June to play on their current fields.

To help out, I personally wrote to Target and called the corporate office to ask for an extension for Eastview.  After a lot of pleading, I finally got Target to allow Eastview to continue playing on the fields for one more season.  They can now stay until June of 2007.  But there is still a need for some temporary fields until their permanent ones are built.  So, we are planning to use land up on Knoll Hill, next to our dog park, for temporary fields.

My son Mark, who is now 22, played little league at Eastview and I am glad that they will be able to continue playing ball in San Pedro.  


Don't forget to visit our website for regular updates, announcements and information: http://www.janicehahn.com