Services

stages, but the church has started growing its network. Rainbow Services gave a presentation of its services to the church near the end of January. Stevenson also has a relationship with the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health. He used to be part of the department’s clergy roundtable, and would sit in on their meetings.

“There’s just little nuances and things that you need to be aware of as it relates to the mental health community, and to know how to help them, and how to communicate with them.”

Stevenson said that in the African-American community, it can be taboo to seek mental health services.

“I wear a sweatshirt that says ‘Jesus and therapy,’” Stevenson said. “Making sure that we understand in the Black and brown community

Mayor Bass Applauds State’s Funding of $196.2 M for Affordable Housing in County LOS ANGELES — Mayor Karen Bass alongside California Secretary Lourdes M. Castro Ramírez (Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency) Feb. 9 announced that the state is awarding $196.2 million for multifamily development and infill development in the City of Los Angeles and across Los Angeles County. This funding was awarded through a new state process that streamlined four separate applications into just one submission.

Mayor Bass made the following statement:

“Thank you Gov. Newsom and Secretary Castro Ramírez for locking arms with Los Angeles to increase the speed and lower the cost of affordable housing constructions,” said Mayor Bass. “With more than 40,000 Angelenos living unhoused today, the time to clear bureaucratic delays at all levels of government is now. We all must act with urgency, and that’s what the State is doing with this initiative.”

McOsker Looks to Hire Employees for Park Gate Closure

Program

LOS ANGELES — Councilman Tim McOsker introduced a motion Feb. 10 to receive a report on the hiring process related to Los Angeles Police Department’s park gate closure program.

The park gate closure program is a special detail under the LAPD’s Securities Services Division or SECSD that opens and closes parks that have gated enclosures. Despite being under the LAPD, the program’s staff are unarmed city employees.

the signs of suicidal ideations in teenagers, as well as the signs of domestic violence among youth.

Stevenson also wants to teach financial literacy.

“In impoverished communities, we have not been trained to understand budgeting and financial literacy and watching our money grow, and how to manage our money,” Stevenson said.

Stevenson said that it is common for a Black person to die without having life insurance.

“That’s why you will drive down in San Pedro and you will see Black and brown communities having car washes, or selling food,” Stevenson said. “Because they are trying to raise money for these things, that comes back to financial literacy.”

Stevenson said that information for these financial services has not always been there in Black and brown communities, but he hopes to change that with his church.

Three members of the church have been diagnosed with cancer. Stevenson said it’s one thing to pray for them, but having members that can go with them to appointments, and talk to them while understanding what they are going through makes a difference. He also has been working to help incarcerated people. He’s been working to help them get their IDs, and other documentation to help them and reduce recidivism.

Stevenson said that to pay for the program, the church will fundraise, but will also have partnerships with other organizations. He said his church is very supportive of the program.

“We’re assessing members to find their gifts and their strengths,” Stevenson said.

Once the church figures out what areas members should work in, it will give them the proper training.

“I don’t just want bodies,” Stevenson said. “I want people who are passionate about the work.”

There are 100 parks on the gate closure list and the city only secures about 55% of these parks on a rotational basis, according to the LAPD. Priority and sunset parks are to be secured nightly through this program and much of this work has been through the supervisor assisting in securing the parks.

McOsker’s motion, seconded by Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, calls for the personnel department and LAPD to report back to the personnel, audits and hiring committee, of which McOsker is the chair, with an overview of the hiring process related to the program. He has requested that the report include any barriers to hiring as well as alternatives to expediting hiring.

Details: https://tinyurl.com/mr2349sx

City Demands Billboard Company Vacate Signage on Gaffey

SAN PEDRO — The LA City Department of General Services renewed its demand on Regency Outdoor Advertising on Feb. 7 to respond to the city with its plans for removing the billboard at the entrance to San Pedro at 427 N. Gaffey Street.

In 2015, the City of Los Angeles authorized the acquisition of the property in an effort to improve visibility, safety and public access to the San Pedro community by removing the billboard structure.

On Feb. 7, the general manager of the General Services Department sent a letter to the billboard agency to remind it of the deadline to remove the billboard, citing the city has not received an update yet on their plans for removal. The letter also stated that “the City reserves its right to file an unlawful detainer action at any time in order to seek the return of possession.”

On his first day of Council in December 2022, Councilman Tim McOsker introduced a motion to instruct the Department of General Services to issue all necessary notices to the owner and lessee of the property to remove the billboard and vacate the property.