2019 Year-In-Review and Highlights

PROMOTING HEALTHY LIFESTYLES FITNESS CHALLENGE

Olympic swimmer John Moffet presents students with a medal for completing the 2019 Fitness Challenge at Bellevue Recreation Center.

City Hall 200 N Spring St, Rm. 480 Los Angeles CA 90012 213-473-7013

District Office 1722 Sunset Boulevard Los Angeles CA 90026 213-207-3015

Contact us online councilmember.ofarrell@lacity.org

CD13.com

CouncilmemberMitchOFarrell

MitchOFarrell

ASSISTING OUR SENIORS

Two-time Olympic swimmer John Moffet helped kick-off the sixth annual Fitness Challenge, an event which serves to promote healthy and active lifestyles in the 13th Council District. O’Farrell’s annual event included 5th graders from Alexandria, Fletcher Drive, Micheltorena, Vine Street, and Rosemont Elementary Schools. The students participated in five activity stations, including gymnastics, a one-mile run, a relay exercise, yoga, and an educational health and hygiene experience.

The Fitness Challenge is one of many initiatives by the Councilmember to improve the health and wellbeing of young Angelenos across the City.

More than 200 seniors participated in our annual resource fair which is geared toward providing even greater access to supportive services for those constituents in their golden years. The event is sponsored by Councilmember O’Farrell, and serves to bring government agencies and community organizations together to provide attendees with information regarding services.

Partner organizations include: Department of Aging, City of Los Angeles Housing Authority, Department on Disability, Metro Los Angeles, LA LGBT Center, and St. Barnabas Senior Services. We were also honored to have two fantastic performances from the Pink Lady & Senior Star Power and STOP Senior Scams.

PLACEMAKING IN THE HEART OF HOLLYWOOD

The Hollywood community participated in a dedication ceremony to highlight new wayfinding signs along the historic Walk of Fame.

Councilmember O’Farrell and local stakeholders celebrated the launch of a new project to improve the pedestrian experience through a series of wayfinding signs in the historic core of Hollywood, part of larger collaborative efforts and the first of many improvements through the ‘HEART of Hollywood’ initiative. The initiative promotes economic growth and a sense of community along Hollywood Boulevard and the Walk of Fame. There are various projects in the works to achieve these goals, beginning with a new ‘master plan’ for the Walk of Fame.

Councilmember O’Farrell is partnering with the Bureau of Engineering on the Red Car Bridge, one of four infrastructure projects that are either currently under construction or are scheduled to open along the Los Angeles River in the 13th District.

GREENING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS COMMUNITY CLEAN UPS AND BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS Councilmember O’Farrell is taking action on the Los Angeles City Council to make our neighborhoods cleaner, safer, and more inviting. Since taking office in 2013, Councilmember O’Farrell organized more than 56 community walks throughout the 13th District. The events are geared toward bringing City Hall and its resources to residents, and also serves to introduce constituents to their Senior Lead Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department. Month after month, hundreds of volunteers and community partners join the event to participate in service projects to improve the neighborhood.

Councilmember O’Farrell, our community partners, and local volunteers joined us in Historic Filipinotown and Westlake for one of our monthly Councilmember in Your Corner events.

Friends, As we welcome a new decade, I want to share with you a snapshot of the neighborhood projects and legislative items we’ve worked on together this past year to improve the quality of life in the 13th District.

Being your representative on the Los Angeles City Council is one of the greatest privileges of my life, and I am committed to deliver on my plan that I outlined when I was first sworn into office more than six years ago.

Creating more affordable housing, providing services to people experiencing homelessness, enhancing pedestrian safety, and beautifying our public spaces are my priorities, and they are critical to uplifting every neighborhood.

As we head into 2020, I will continue to lead the way to make our neighborhoods cleaner, healthier, and safer. I look forward to furthering our work together in the new year and beyond!

Kind regards,

Mitch O’Farrell Councilmember, 13th District

CONNECTING OUR RIVER COMMUNITIES The Red Car Bridge is one of four bridge projects taking shape along the Los Angeles River in the 13th District, connecting the river communities of Silver Lake and Atwater Village.

Once completed, the newly built infrastructure will provide much needed accessibility for pedestrians and other non-motorized uses during the three year seismic retrofit and historic restoration of the Glendale-Hyperion Complex of Bridges. North Atwater Bridge will come online in 2020, and Taylor Yard Bridge is expected to be completed in 2021.

Councilmember O’Farrell installed a pedestrian activated crosswalk at Hollywood Blvd and Rodney Dr. The enhancement will improve safety for families along this busy corridor.

CD13 CLEAN TEAM MAKING A DIFFERENCE ENHANCING PEDESTRIAN SAFETY Councilmember O’Farrell’s top transit priority is improving pedestrian safety and accessibility along major corridors and around our learning institutions. During his first term in office, O’Farrell completed five streetscape projects; Sunset Streetscape in Echo Park, Sunset Junction Streetscape in Silver Lake, and the Micheltorena Safe Routes to School Streetscape also in Silver Lake; Fletcher Drive in Glassell Park; and the Hollywood-Western Streetscape.

Each streetscape includes improvements such as sidewalk repair, high visibility crosswalks, upgraded signals, and in some cases new trees and bike infrastructure. In addition to these improvements, Councilmember O’Farrell worked with local stakeholders and City departments to install new signalized crosswalks at some of the district’s busiest stretches of roadway, such as the t-intersection of Mohawk and Sunset Blvd near Fire Station 22. O’Farrell also worked on the installation of two high-visibility scramble crosswalks -- one at Hollywood Blvd and Highland Ave, and another at Hollywood Blvd and Vine Street. The new amenity enables pedestrians to cross safely from any direction.

Councilmember O’Farrell contracted with the Los Angeles Conservation Corps to create two Council District 13 (CD13) Clean Teams. The crews go out to every neighborhood in the district, including the Los Angeles River, six days a week from Monday to Saturday, to pick up bulky items and trim overgrown shrubs and trees that might be blocking sidewalks and line of sight on our roadways. Across the 13th District, both Clean Teams serviced close to 700 sites in 2019.

They have also assisted staff at numerous neighborhood events and worked with local organizations on clean up projects and maintaining our community gardens.

Follow Councilmember O’Farrell on social media to see a weekly “before and after” photo of the work taking place.

PROVIDING SHELTER AND SERVICES FOR THE UNHOUSED Councilmember O’Farrell is the Chair of the City’s Homelessness and Poverty Committee, and within the last year, he opened two bridge housing facilities in Hollywood with a total of nearly 200 beds that will temporarily house homeless individuals while connecting them to permanent housing. Additionally, Councilmember O’Farrell established mobile restroom facilities throughout the district and is supportive of expanding these services to include mobile showers. He is also working to launch Safe Parking sites throughout the district, which will include case management and supportive services. While he is working to address the housing crisis, Councilmember O’Farrell is also directing policy to help increase our affordable housing stock.

O’Farrell supported Measure HHH, and helped break ground on the first project in the City to utilize these funds, with plans underway to build 400 units of permanent supportive housing near Vermont Ave and Beverly Blvd, and affordable permanent supportive housing on a city-owned lot on Glendale Ave in Echo Park.

A Bridge Home housing facility was built on a city-owned parking lot on Schrader Avenue in Hollywood. The site accommodates up to 72 people at a time, for up to six months, while more permanent housing is secured for those experiencing homelessness.

IMPROVING OUR PUBLIC SPACES Councilmember O’Farrell and the Hollywood Community Housing Corporation dedication

Over the last year, Councilmember O’Farrell collaborated with local stakeholders to enhance several public spaces in the 13th District. Last year, we broke ground on the Echo Park Skate Park (see photo below), which utilizes the former community pool to create a mini-bowl along with other street-style skate elements. In addition, we installed a new skate park at the Chevy Chase Recreation Center, along with a new water fountain, new security lights, and several new trees. We also re-opened a new skate park at the Lake Street Community Center, and in East Hollywood, we partnered with Trust for Public Land on the re-imaging of a parcel of land into a pocket park and community garden on Madison Ave in East Hollywood.

BUILDING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING Councilmember O’Farrell continues to focus on the production of housing, especially affordable housing units across the city. Since taking office, O’Farrell has ensured more than 1300 units have been built in the 13th Council District alone. Councilmember O’Farrell also negotiated hundreds more through the City Planning process. The value capture initiative spearheaded

by Councilmember O’Farrell in 2014 prior to Measure JJJ, continues to result in tangible units of affordable housing city-wide. Councilmember O’Farrell’s support for construction of residential, mixed-use and commercial developments furthers the city’s economic and housing goals, while creating thousands of good-paying construction and permanent jobs.

1154 Trees Trimmed

15,529 Tons of Mixed Refuse

19.47 Lane Miles Resurfaced

22,040 sq. ft.

Potholes Fixed

Councilmember O’Farrell is partnering with the Bureau of Engineering on the Red Car Bridge, one of four infrastructure projects that are either currently under construction or are scheduled to open along the Los Angeles River in the 13th District.

GREENING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS COMMUNITY CLEAN UPS AND BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS Councilmember O’Farrell is taking action on the Los Angeles City Council to make our neighborhoods cleaner, safer, and more inviting. Since taking office in 2013, Councilmember O’Farrell organized more than 56 community walks throughout the 13th District. The events are geared toward bringing City Hall and its resources to residents, and also serves to introduce constituents to their Senior Lead Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department. Month after month, hundreds of volunteers and community partners join the event to participate in service projects to improve the neighborhood.

Councilmember O’Farrell, our community partners, and local volunteers joined us in Historic Filipinotown and Westlake for one of our monthly Councilmember in Your Corner events.

Friends, As we welcome a new decade, I want to share with you a snapshot of the neighborhood projects and legislative items we’ve worked on together this past year to improve the quality of life in the 13th District.

Being your representative on the Los Angeles City Council is one of the greatest privileges of my life, and I am committed to deliver on my plan that I outlined when I was first sworn into office more than six years ago.

Creating more affordable housing, providing services to people experiencing homelessness, enhancing pedestrian safety, and beautifying our public spaces are my priorities, and they are critical to uplifting every neighborhood.

As we head into 2020, I will continue to lead the way to make our neighborhoods cleaner, healthier, and safer. I look forward to furthering our work together in the new year and beyond!

Kind regards,

Mitch O’Farrell Councilmember, 13th District

CONNECTING OUR RIVER COMMUNITIES The Red Car Bridge is one of four bridge projects taking shape along the Los Angeles River in the 13th District, connecting the river communities of Silver Lake and Atwater Village.

Once completed, the newly built infrastructure will provide much needed accessibility for pedestrians and other non-motorized uses during the three year seismic retrofit and historic restoration of the Glendale-Hyperion Complex of Bridges. North Atwater Bridge will come online in 2020, and Taylor Yard Bridge is expected to be completed in 2021.

Councilmember O’Farrell installed a pedestrian activated crosswalk at Hollywood Blvd and Rodney Dr. The enhancement will improve safety for families along this busy corridor.

CD13 CLEAN TEAM MAKING A DIFFERENCE ENHANCING PEDESTRIAN SAFETY Councilmember O’Farrell’s top transit priority is improving pedestrian safety and accessibility along major corridors and around our learning institutions. During his first term in office, O’Farrell completed five streetscape projects; Sunset Streetscape in Echo Park, Sunset Junction Streetscape in Silver Lake, and the Micheltorena Safe Routes to School Streetscape also in Silver Lake; Fletcher Drive in Glassell Park; and the Hollywood-Western Streetscape.

Each streetscape includes improvements such as sidewalk repair, high visibility crosswalks, upgraded signals, and in some cases new trees and bike infrastructure. In addition to these improvements, Councilmember O’Farrell worked with local stakeholders and City departments to install new signalized crosswalks at some of the district’s busiest stretches of roadway, such as the t-intersection of Mohawk and Sunset Blvd near Fire Station 22. O’Farrell also worked on the installation of two high-visibility scramble crosswalks -- one at Hollywood Blvd and Highland Ave, and another at Hollywood Blvd and Vine Street. The new amenity enables pedestrians to cross safely from any direction.

Councilmember O’Farrell contracted with the Los Angeles Conservation Corps to create two Council District 13 (CD13) Clean Teams. The crews go out to every neighborhood in the district, including the Los Angeles River, six days a week from Monday to Saturday, to pick up bulky items and trim overgrown shrubs and trees that might be blocking sidewalks and line of sight on our roadways. Across the 13th District, both Clean Teams serviced close to 700 sites in 2019.

They have also assisted staff at numerous neighborhood events and worked with local organizations on clean up projects and maintaining our community gardens.

Follow Councilmember O’Farrell on social media to see a weekly “before and after” photo of the work taking place.

EMBARKING ON NEXT STEPS FOR THE RESERVOIR Councilmember O’Farrell and the City’s Bureau of Engineering (BOE) are partnering on a two year, communitydriven process to develop a new Master Plan for the Silver Lake Reservoir Complex. As project manager, the BOE will help guide the future improvements at the site. Hargreaves Associates is currently engaging community stakeholders and City staff on a plan for the Complex. This is one step of many in working with Silver Lake residents to craft a vision for the future of the facility.

SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS During his first term in office, Councilmember O’Farrell has worked to bring more jobs to the 13th District, strengthen the economy, and make it easier for our locally owned mom-and-pop businesses to thrive in the City of Los Angeles. O’Farrell announced his ‘Open For Business’ reform initiative which has helped streamline the way entrepreneurs obtain permits, cut the bureaucratic red tape associated with opening a business, and reduce the upfront costs for operators to open their doors.

Councilmember O’Farrell is a member of the committee that oversees citywide policy on the entertainment industry in Los Angeles.

Each year, Councilmember O’Farrell spends the Saturday after Thanksgiving supporting our locally-owned small businesses as part of a nationwide event to highlight those operators in our communities.

PROMOTING HEALTHY LIFESTYLES FITNESS CHALLENGE

Olympic swimmer John Moffet presents students with a medal for completing the 2019 Fitness Challenge at Bellevue Recreation Center.

City Hall 200 N Spring St, Rm. 480 Los Angeles CA 90012 213-473-7013

District Office 1722 Sunset Boulevard Los Angeles CA 90026 213-207-3015

Contact us online councilmember.ofarrell@lacity.org

CD13.com

CouncilmemberMitchOFarrell

MitchOFarrell

ASSISTING OUR SENIORS

Two-time Olympic swimmer John Moffet helped kick-off the sixth annual Fitness Challenge, an event which serves to promote healthy and active lifestyles in the 13th Council District. O’Farrell’s annual event included 5th graders from Alexandria, Fletcher Drive, Micheltorena, Vine Street, and Rosemont Elementary Schools. The students participated in five activity stations, including gymnastics, a one-mile run, a relay exercise, yoga, and an educational health and hygiene experience.

The Fitness Challenge is one of many initiatives by the Councilmember to improve the health and wellbeing of young Angelenos across the City.

More than 200 seniors participated in our annual resource fair which is geared toward providing even greater access to supportive services for those constituents in their golden years. The event is sponsored by Councilmember O’Farrell, and serves to bring government agencies and community organizations together to provide attendees with information regarding services.

Partner organizations include: Department of Aging, City of Los Angeles Housing Authority, Department on Disability, Metro Los Angeles, LA LGBT Center, and St. Barnabas Senior Services. We were also honored to have two fantastic performances from the Pink Lady & Senior Star Power and STOP Senior Scams.

PLACEMAKING IN THE HEART OF HOLLYWOOD

The Hollywood community participated in a dedication ceremony to highlight new wayfinding signs along the historic Walk of Fame.

Councilmember O’Farrell and local stakeholders celebrated the launch of a new project to improve the pedestrian experience through a series of wayfinding signs in the historic core of Hollywood, part of larger collaborative efforts and the first of many improvements through the ‘HEART of Hollywood’ initiative. The initiative promotes economic growth and a sense of community along Hollywood Boulevard and the Walk of Fame. There are various projects in the works to achieve these goals, beginning with a new ‘master plan’ for the Walk of Fame.