Reyes, Community Give Plastic Bags the Sack

Today, I joined with local groups for the second annual “A Day Without a Bag” at Big Saver supermarket in Cypress Park.

Miguel Luna, of Urban Semillas, Raul Macias, of Anahuak Youth Sports Association, and Eileen Alduenda, of Arroyo Seco Foundation joined me to help launch this countywide event in coordination with Heal the Bay.

Today, businesses and environmental groups handed out more than 25,000 environmentally friendly reusable bags at more than 75 locations throughout Los Angeles County. In my district, ten businesses in Cypress Park and Highland Park handed out hundreds of reusable green totes along Figueroa Street as part of the event.

Plastic bags are given out free everyday at our supermarkets and department stores. But in reality, they are not free. They take an enormous toll on the City and its waterways, especially the Los Angeles River.

There is also the economic impact of all this plastic.

Annually, California taxpayers pay $25 million to collect & landfill plastic bag waste. That’s $94 per person, at up to 17¢ per bag for disposal by our city. And this does not include the enormous toll on our City’s waterways, especially the Los Angeles River.

Single use plastic bags have been the graffiti of the LA River for decades. Plastic bags clog our waterways. Plastic bags choke our birds. Plastic bags pollute our neighborhoods.

“A Day Without a Bag” is a movement spearheaded by Heal the Bay in partnership with major and community retailers, local governments and community-based organizations like Anahuak Youth Sports Association, the Arroyo Seco Foundation and Urban Semillas.

As Councilmember of the First District and Chair of the Los Angeles River Ad Hoc Committee, I am very proud to be part of "A Day Without A Bag."

Cypress Park Posada at LA River Center and Gardens

The First District community is invited to come together and share in a traditional posada event at the Los Angeles River Center and Gardens this Saturday. The 7th Annual Cypress Park Posada will have piñatas for children, tamales and champurrado for everyone and local carolers and musicians playing holiday music.

The soon-to-be reopened La Morenita in Cypress Park is providing the tamales and champurrado.

The Friends of Cypress Park Community Improvement Association and I look forward to sharing the holiday season with you.

Los Angeles River Center and Gardens

5 -8 p.m.
570 W. Ave. 26
Los Angeles, CA 90065
(323) 221-8900

Northeast Gang Prevention and Youth Development Meeting

I encourage the Northeast Los Angeles community to attend a gang prevention meeting at Nightingale Middle School in Cypress Park today at 6 p.m. to meet and greet the leaders of the new gang reduction and youth development program from the Mayor’s office.

The Children’s Hospital Los Angeles has taken the lead to work with at-risk youth between ages 10-15 residing in the Northeast. The focus of these services is geared toward preventing street gang involvement.

Nightingale Middle School
6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
3311 N. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA 90065
(323) 221-2128

Environmental Youth Conference 2008

I encourage you to learn more about the green impact we can have on our city by attending the Environmental Youth Conference on Saturday.

Be part of the largest youth environmental event in the West Coast on December 13, 2008 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Admission is FREE for youth 12 to 21, although all Los Angeles residents ages are invited to this green education event for the youth and by the youth.
Come with your school, church or neighborhood group, and learn all about environmentalism through tree plantings, green jobs, and eco-friendly shopping. Surprise guests will highlight this fun-filled learning experience.

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

**Parking is free if you bring a copy of this flyer.

Reyes Brings Winter Wonderland to First District Children

Nearly 400 children from the First District began Christmas a little early this year with the 7th Annual Winter Wonderland hosted by Councilmember Reyes. They rode sleds and threw snowballs in the 18 tons of snow at Grace E. Simons Lodge in Elysian Park. The children, bussed in from elementary schools throughout the district, also enjoyed activities such as a puppet show, magic tricks, lunch and photo with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Every child went home that day with a wrapped gift, a full tummy and great memories.

Los Angeles River Update Meeting

Councilmember Reyes invites you to attend a River Update meeting tonight, Thursday, December 4, to hear the latest on the Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan (LARRMP). The River Update meeting will be a two-part session. City staff will discuss LARRMP implementation activities from 5:30-7 p.m. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will then discuss scoping for the Los Angeles River Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study from 7-8:30 p.m. City staff will provide progress reports on a variety of topics related to the LARRMP, including:

• The River Improvement Overlay (RIO) District
• The Cornfields Arroyo Seco Specific Plan (CASP)
• The River Authority
• Discussion on River access and uses
• The River Revitalization Corporation
• The River Foundation
• Various River projects

Thursday, December 4, 2008
5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Metropolitan Water District
Board Room (1st Floor)
700 North Alameda Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

For more information, please call or e-mail:
Carol Armstrong of the City’s Los Angeles River Project Office
(213) 485-5762, Carol.Armstrong@lacity.org.
Cathy Shuman of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District Office
(213) 452-3797, Catherine.M.Shuman@usace.army.mil.

To find out more about the City’s ongoing efforts to revitalize the Los Angeles River, please visit http://www.lariver.org/.