COMMUNITY MEETINGS, FORUMS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Women Lawyers Host Seminar

The Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles will host Business Development: Establishing And Maintaining Relationships with In-House Counsel, on July 31, at the Century Plaza Towers, 2029 Century Park East, Suite 410, Los Angeles.

Registration: 5:30 p.m. Program: 6 p.m.

Information: (213) 892-8982 or www.wlala.org.

Board Approves Burke’s Request to Schedule Public Hearing on Baldwin Hills Cell Tower

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has approved a request by Supervisor Yvonne B. Burke to review a disputed plan to build a cell tower atop a pharmacy in a Baldwin Hills neighborhood.

The board approved Burke’s request to facilitate a public hearing in September, where community residents will have an opportunity to voice concerns in accordance with County Code requirements.

In June 2008, the County of Los Angeles’ Regional Planning Commission tentatively approved a permit authorizing the construction of a nine-antenna T-Mobile tower on the roof of a CVS Pharmacy at 4501 W. Slauson Ave. in the unincorporated areas of View Park/Windsor Hills.

“There were many issues and questions raised that have not been adequately addressed,” Burke said about the project that has sparked protests from some area residents.

Burke added that her request was in response to more than 550 residents who signed a petition opposing the structure, citing fears that it would lower property values and could possibly pose health risks.

Speaker Applauds Passage of Foreclosure Reform Measure

On a bipartisan 55-18 vote, the State Assembly passed Senate Bill 1137 (Perata) to reform the home foreclosure process.

“Home foreclosures are raging across California—from San Diego to Shasta County. The crisis is real and it is the responsibility of the State Legislature to protect homeowners,” said Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, who is a principal co-author of the bill with Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland. “The passage of SB 1137 shows that states have the right and ability to regulate how lenders can do business.”

S.B. 1137 improves communication between lenders and borrowers and broadens the ability to modify mortgage terms.

Recent legislation passed out of the Assembly targeted certain types of mortgage products and the general rights of consumers.

Speaker Bass continued: “I look forward to both houses continuing in their pursuit of good policy that addresses the needs of homeowners. California, along with New York and North Carolina, will continue to make strides in protecting consumers. We cannot continue to rely only on federal regulations, particularly for something as important as home mortgages.”

House Passes Veterans’ Permanent Housing Bill

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Homes for Heroes Act (H.R. 3329) on July 9, legislation which will expand the supply of permanent housing for veterans.

California Rep. Maxine Waters (35th District), chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, co-sponsored the legislation.

H.R. 3329 will strengthen housing assistance for homeless veterans and their families by providing a yearly $200 million to fund a federal assistance program. This program will provide for the production of permanent supportive housing and allocate an additional 2,000 rental housing vouchers a year to be used by veterans and their families.

H.R. 3329 fills a tremendous void in the current federal response to veterans’ homelessness as there is currently no other program in place to develop permanent housing for veterans and their families.

Veterans are just one-tenth of the general population, but they comprise nearly one-fourth of America’s homeless.

MTA Receives $16.1M in Security Funding

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has received $16.1 million from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security as part of the yearly funding for transit security contained within the Proposition 1B bonding measure approved by the voters in November 2006.

The transit security funding will be used toward implementation of a gating system on the Metro Red and Purple Lines as well as selected light rail stations.

A total of 379 fare gates will be installed and security at the stations will be augmented as part of the gating program. Once in place, within the next 18 to 24 months, the gates are expected to reduce the need for civilian fare inspectors and sworn law enforcement also will be freed of fare checking responsibilities at gated stations, allowing them to focus primarily on station security.

Also receiving approximately $1.3 million in Prop 1B security funding were various other municipal transit operators that included Long Beach Transit, Foothill Transit, Santa Monica Big Blue Bus, Torrance Transit, Antelope Valley Transit and the City of Gardena and Culver City.

Summer Pet Photo Contest Opens

The 2008 Summer Pet Photo Contest, sponsored by the International Pet Owners Club is open and accepting entries. Cash and prizes are up for grabs including a $1,000 cash grand prize, Pet Smart gift cards and trophies.

The entry deadline has been extended to Aug. 15 to allow more pet owners to participate. The contest is open to everyone and entry is free.

Dog or cat photos are welcome. The photo may contain one pet or several and may include different pet types in the same photo. There is a strict limit of one photo per household.

Entries can be submitted online or by postal mail. To enter online, visit www.intpetclub.com. To enter by postal mail send one photograph, full color or black and white of any size. All photo entries must include the photographer’s name and address on the back. Photographs should be sent to: The Pet Club Photo Contest, P.O. Box 4470, Olathe, KS 66063. All entries must be postmarked by Aug. 15.

Information: (520) 231-5001 or admin@intpetclub.com.

Memorial Billboards Thank Community for Outpouring of Support for Slain Officer

Memorial billboards posted in honor of Los Angeles Police Department Officer Randal Simmons were installed the week of July 16 around Southern California.

The 20 billboards for the slain officer thank the community for their many expressions of caring and support. The first billboard went up in Los Angeles at Florence Avenue, just west of Fifth Avenue, on Clear Channel Outdoor location No. 2533.

“Partnering with the Los Angeles Police Protective League, we wanted to recognize Officer Simmons’ service to Los Angeles and to the nation with these billboards,” said Layne Lawson, public affairs director for Clear Channel Outdoor. The posting of the billboards was donated by Clear Channel Outdoor.

Simmons was shot and killed as he and other members of the Los Angeles Special Weapons and Tactics Team made entry into a home on Feb. 7. The team had been deployed to the home after a suspect inside called 9-1-1 and claimed to have murdered three family members. As the team entered, the suspect opened fire, striking Simmons and a second officer. The suspect was later shot and killed by another member of the SWAT team as the standoff continued. Simmons had served with the Los Angeles Police Department for 27 years.