Reyes Helps Spanish-Speaking Cyclists Get Safer Commute

Mario Rodas, 24, just got a new bike yesterday. Mario, of Westlake, is one of countless residents who pedal through congested City streets day and night to get to work. Many ride bikes out of necessity because they can't afford a car. Today I was happy to hand Mario, and many other Spanish-speaking cyclists, free helmets and bike lights, thanks to a $25,000 grant from Kaiser Permanente to the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition. After the event at a Day Labor Center(1600 Shatto in the Home Depot Shopping Center) near MacArthur Park, I spoke with cyclists about the importance of bicycle safety and how to weigh in on the City's Bicycle Plan Update. The safety of our City's bicyclists, especially in my district, is just as important as that of our drivers and pedestrians. Thank you for working with me to help make our City safer.

Reyes Helps Spanish-Speaking Cyclists Get Safer Commute

WHEN: Monday, November 9 2009, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

WHERE: Day Labor Center
1600 Shatto at Wilshire and Union
(Southeast corner of Home Depot Shopping Center)
Los Angeles CA 90017

PARKING: Fifteen complimentary parking spaces located in the lower level of The Home Depot parking
garage (accessible via ramp located off Wilshire directly in front of The Home Depot
store)

WHAT: With the increase of cyclists sharing the road with motorists and the recent daylight saving time change, there is a greater need for cyclists to be visible and to use safety equipment. Many of the cyclists are Spanish-speaking immigrants who rely on bicycles as their primary form of transportation because they cannot afford to own cars. Many are riding during early mornings or nights without lights and helmets and are not aware of traffic laws that can make their commutes safer.

"Countless residents traverse the City’s congested streets daily to get to work,” said Reyes. "Many do so more out of necessity than recreation. The safety of our City’s bicyclists, especially in my district, is just as important as that of our drivers and pedestrians. We need to do everything in our power to ensure their safety. That’s why programs like this are so important.”

To address that need, Kaiser Permanente has provided a $25,000 grant to the Los Angeles
County Bicycle Coalition. The grant will fund more bike safety supplies such as bike lights and helmets for the day laborer cyclists. It also enables LACBC to further its mission to bring together the diverse bicycling community in a united mission to make the entire L.A. county region a safe and enjoyable place to ride.

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Reyes, Federal Fish and Wildlife, Bring Wilderness to Pico-Union School

November 6, 2009

Contact: Monica Valencia/Reyes (213) 280-0740, monica.valencia@lacity.org
Mary Loquvam/Audubon (323) 664-1294, maryloquvam@laaudubon.org

Councilmember Ed P. Reyes will join hundreds of K-5 students, families, Audubon and Los Angeles Unified friends tomorrow, Saturday, November 7, to transform a Pico-Union school yard into a lush ecosystem of oak woodland, vernal pools, and grassland just blocks from the 10 freeway. The event will take place from 10 a.m.-Noon at the Leo Politi Elementary School yard, 2481 West Eleventh St., Los Angeles, CA 90006.
"Together we are transforming 6,000 square feet of school yard into an urban oasis in Pico-Union, one of the most park poor communities in Los Angeles," said Reyes.
Reyes will join about 400 people to plant native oak and sycamore trees, wild grasses and plants, helping to protect and restore Coastal Sage Scrub, a plant community unique to Southern California that has been drastically reduced due to urbanization.
Los Angeles Audubon helped Leo Politi secure a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service School Yard Habitat Grant of $18,000 for the project. The School Yard Habitat Program is a new one for the Fish & Wildlife Service and Leo Politi is the program’s inaugural school in Southern California, and a model for other schools in Los Angeles.
Leo Politi Elementary lies in the Pico-Union neighborhood, one of the City’s densest neighborhoods. Yet since its construction in 1991, the school has emerged as an urban oasis for its 818 pre-K-5 students, their families, the community, and hundreds of birds-some resident, some migratory. The 8-acre campus is home to more than 200 trees and the planting of trees has been part of the school’s culture since ground was broken.
The school’s vision is one which began with its namesake, Leo Politi, a Caldecott Award winning author of children’s books. When Leo moved to L.A. in the late 1920s, he embraced the city’s multiculturalism, children, history, flora and fauna. Leo focused his artistic eye on the City’s urban parks and the wonders found within them. The school seeks to fulfill Leo’s dream of making this city a peaceful, safe and happy place for its youngest citizens-a place where their imaginations can run wild and where they can explore all the wonders of the natural world.

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Bicycle Plan Update Meeting TONIGHT in Highland Park

I will be holding a Bicycle Plan Update public meeting tonight in northeast Los Angeles in response to a great interest from you in making L.A. more bicycle-friendly. Join me tonight at Ramona Hall, 4580 N. Figueroa St., in Highland Park to learn about, and weigh in on, the City's Bicycle Plan. Tamales and refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Jill Sourial at (213) 473-7001, or Jill.Sourial@lacity.org, or visit http://www.labikeplan.org/.

Northeast Los Angeles (Highland Park)

When: Wednesday, November 4, 2009, from 6-8 p.m.

Where: Ramona Hall, 4580 N Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90042

Information: www.labikeplan.org

Day of the Dead Celebration at Francis Community Garden

Councilmember Reyes invites you to celebrate the Day of the Dead at the Francis Community Garden, at 2909 West Francis Ave., on Sunday, Nov. 1 from Noon-4 p.m. Tamales and hot chocolate will be sold for $1 to benefit the Community Garden. Pork, chicken, cheese, vegetarian sweet tamales and vegan bean tamales will be sold at the event. For more information, please call (213) 572-0188.

Chinatown Halloween Carnival

Enjoy Halloween with the kids at a community carnival from 9 a.m.-6 p.m at Alpine Recreation Center, 817 Yale Street in Los Angeles on Saturday, October 31. The carnival will feature rides, game booths and food. Information: (213) 485-5448. Have a safe and happy Halloween!

Cash for College

Councilmember Reyes invites you to the Cash for College Family Night, Wednesday, October 28 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The FREE event focuses on how to pay for college, how to create a college-going environment in your home and college access regardless of immigration status. Students could win one of 10 $1,000 Cash for College scholarships.

Where: Los Angeles Convention Center, South Hall

1201 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015

When: Wednesday, October 28, 2009

5:30 -9 p.m.

For more information, visit http://www.lacashforcollege.org/

"Muertos de La Guerra/War Dead" Art Exhibit Runs Through Nov. 10

Councilmember Reyes encourages you to support our local artists at the "Muertos de La Guerra/War Dead" art exhibit. The exhibit runs through November 10 at 2003 East First Street in Los Angeles.
There will be a reception/altar dedication on Thursday, October 29 at 8 p.m. A special Sneak Preview Screening of "As Long As I Remember: American Veteranos," a new documentary film by Laura Varela, will take place before the dedication at 7 p.m. at CASA 0101 at 2009 East First Street.
The exhibit features work by the following artists: J. Michael Walker, Claudia Agraz, John Berrios, Rolando Conseguera, Ignacio Gómez, Roberto Guerrero, Sergio Hernández, Michelle Juárez, John Carlos de Luna, Nico, Francisco T. Norzagaray, Christy Ramírez, Hector Silva, Antonio Sorcini, Anabel Tovar, Arturo Urista, Laura Varela, Todd Waters and Jaime "Germs" Zacarías.
Information: (323) 780-9089.

"3rd Annual Gathering of Community Gardens"

Councilmember Reyes invites you to a two-day ecological and educational event aimed at increasing community gardens in the City. The event will feature break-out sessions for networking, information booths and a garden tour of select community gardens. The garden tour will take place on Saturday, October 24th. Please RSVP in advance at www.lagardencouncil.org. Lunch will be provided on a first come, first serve basis.

When: Saturday, October 24th
8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sunday, October 25th
8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Where: Farmlab
1745 N. Spring Street, Unit #4
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Cost: FREE event, Suggested $10 DONATION

Community Health Fair in Pico Union

Join Councilmember Reyes and Senator Gil Cedillo at a Community Health Fair on Saturday, October 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The health fair features FREE health screenings for the entire family, as well as children's activites.

Where: Red Shield
1532 W. 11th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015

Join Councilmember Reyes for Cypress Park Neighborhood Council Meeting

Join Councilmember Reyes today at 7:30 p.m. to hear his vision for Cypress Park. The meeting will be held at 1118 Aragon Avenue at Aragon Elementary. Get to know your neighbors and hear Councilmember Reyes' vision for the community of Cypress Park.