May 17, 2006 -- Volume II, Issue VI

Calendar of Events

Mon., May 22, 2006
Starts at 2 p.m.
Alamed Corridor East (ACE)
Board of Directors Meeting
Irwindale Council Chambers
5050 Irwindale Ave.
Irwindale, CA 91706

Mon., May 22, 2006
Starts at 2:30 p.m.
Rivers and Mountains
Conservancy (RMC) Meeting
Rosemead Community Center
Garfield Room
1908 Garvey Ave.
Rosemead, CA 91770

Tues., May 23, 2006
Starts at 9:30 a.m.
L.A. County Board of
Supervisor Meeting
Public Hearing
500 W. Temple St., Rm. 381B
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Wed., May 24, 2006
10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Marsh Street Pocket Park
Grand Opening
2960 Marsh St.
Los Angeles, CA 90039

Thurs., May 25, 2006
Starts at 9 a.m.
MTA Board of Directors
Meeting
1 Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Thurs., May 25, 2006
3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Huntington Park Library
Grand Opening
6518 Miles Ave.
Huntington Park, CA 90255

Thurs., May 25, 2006
Starts at 6 p.m.
* Info at (213) 891-2965 *
Grand Avenue Public Unveiling
and Community Input Meeting
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Grand Hall
135 N. Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Mon., May 29, 2006
Memorial Day Holiday
* County buildings closed *

Tues., May 30, 2006
Starts at 1 p.m.
L.A. County Board of
Supervisors Meeting
500 W. Temple St., Rm. 381B
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Wed., May 31, 2006
10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Angela Chanselor
Renacimiento Community
Center Dedication and
Open House
2382 Chanselor St.
Pomona, CA 91766

Fri., June 2, 2006
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Whittier Coordinating
Council Banquet
Ritz Garden
11201 1^st Ave.
Whittier, CA, 90603

Wed., May 3, 2006
Starts at 9 a.m.
MTA Board of Directors Meeting
1 Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Mon., June 5, 2006
Starts at 10 a.m.
Grand Avenue Committee
Board of Directors Meeting
500 W. Temple St., Rm. 743
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Tues., June 6, 2006
* Election Day *

Wed., June 7, 2006
Starts at 9:30 a.m.
L.A. County Board of
Supervisors Meeting
500 W. Temple St., Rm. 381B
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Thurs., June 8, 2006
8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m
Irwindale Chamber of
Commerce Business
Forum Breakfast
Irwindale Community Center
16102 Arrow Highway
Irwindale, CA 91706.

DOWNTOWN L.A.'S GRAND AVENUE PLANS UNVEILED

Downtown Los Angeles currently is undergoing a major transformation that is noticeable to anyone already living or working in the area. Recently, design plans officially were unveiled that showcase what is in store specifically for downtown's Grand Avenue. Designed by the renowned Frank Gehry -- whose signature Walt Disney Concert Hall already has become an L.A. icon -- the $1.2 million square-foot, $750 million mixed-use neighborhood will bring a 50-story world class hotel, retail shops,

restaurants, and many new residences to the city's cultural center and will be situated just a stone's throw away from the Bunker Hill skyscrapers that dominate the L.A. skyline. Gehry's bold design features two residential towers that will offer many new residences. The 50-story tower at the corner of Second Street and Grand Avenue will house 250 condominiums on the upper floors. At Olive and First Streets, a 25-story residential tower will feature 150 lofts and condominiums along with 100 affordable apartments. I fought hard to ensure this affordable housing component because I believe strongly that as downtown L.A.'s revitalization gathers steam, we

must have something to offer everybody -- regardless of their income. That is largely why I insisted that plans to transform Grand Avenue include a grand civic park, which will be located between City Hall and the Music Center. Though situated in downtown L.A., this magnificent 16-acre park will serve as a new destination point for people from all corners of L.A. County. (The public is encouraged to provide their input on what this park should include at a community workshop being held on June 21st at 6 p.m. at the Court of Flags in downtown L.A. between 1st and Temple Streets just south of Hill Street.) It is estimated that the Grand Avenue project will generate 25,000 construction jobs and 5,300 permanent jobs plus $28 million in annual revenues for the city, county, and state. This first phase of the project should be complete by 2009. We can't wait.

SOUTHEAST L.A. CELEBRATES EARTH DAY

Our goal behind greening the L.A. River is to make this waterway much more than just a concrete funnel for rainwater making its way to the Pacific Ocean. So recently, I celebrated Earth Day with local schoolchildren from the Ellen Ochoa Learning Center at the groundbreaking of the Cudahy-Bell/Los Angeles River Riverfront Project in Southeast L.A. We joined staff from North East Trees and the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy to plant trees and shrubbery that eventually

transform this river access point. The Cudahy-Bell Riverfront Project also will feature decorative fencing, new signage, two rest stops, a softened riverbed, and a pathway people can use to walk, bike, or rollerblade along the L.A. River. The entire project totals $2.3 million. Hopefully, this riverfront project will provide the Cudahy-Bell neighborhood -- one of the most densely-populated areas in L.A. County -- with a new destination point for families to enjoy.

EASTSIDE JR. CHEERLEADERS: 'WE ARE PROUD OF YOU!'

Three Eastside junior cheerleading squads made L.A. County's First District proud by placing in the Sharp Internationals Cheer competition earlier this spring. The Belvedere Park All Stars won the All Stars Trio Division Prize. The Roosevelt Park Sparks won the National Championship in the Youth 1AA funk/Hip Hop competition.

The City Terrace Starz Cheerleading Team (pictured) won the Sharp Internationals Cheer Competition First Place prize. Congratulations to these stellar squads!

EAST L.A. FIELD OFFICE MOVES TO 3^RD ST. 'COUNTY HALL'

We have moved our East L.A. Field Office from its Beverly Blvd. location to the newly opened "county hall" at 4801 E. 3^rd St., Los Angeles, CA 90022. Situated just blocks away from the 60 freeway's Atlantic Blvd. southbound exit at the corner of 3^rd St. and Civic Center Way, the East L.A. county hall is adjacent to the magnificent East L.A. Library and the newly landscaped Belvedere Park. Staff from my office and most county departments are ready to assist you. To contact my East LA. Field Office, call (323) 881-4601.

VOTE EARLY BY TOUCHSCREEN MAY 24 TO JUNE 2

Avoid long lines on Election Day! Vote early by touchscreen ballot from May 24^th to June 2^nd at any one of these three locations in the First District:

East L.A. Public Library
4801 E. 3^rd St.
Community Room
Los Angeles, CA 90022
Tel. (323) 264-0155

Downtown Central Library
630 W. 5^th St.
Meeting Room A
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Tel. (213) 288-7272

Monterey Park City Hall
320 W. Newmark Ave.
Community Room
Monterey Park, CA 91754
Tel. (626) 307-1458

Available in six languages besides English, touchscreen voting allows people with disabilities -- including the blind and visually impaired -- to cast their ballots unassisted. For more information, access the Internet at www.lavote.net or call (800) 815-2666.