Virtual Town Hall with U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu, CA Sen. Ben Allen and LA CM Mike Bonin, this coming Thursday, May 6, 5:30-6:30pm. Join our elected federal, state and local officials for a discussion about COVID-19 resources and updates. Tune in live on the 6th at Sen. Ban Allen's Facebook page!
Leaders Conference with CM Bonin
On April 23, Councilmember Bonin held a video conference with CD11 NC & CC leaders, including PPCC Chair David Card and WRAC Chair Maryam Zar. Topics discussed:
City Budget: All city departments except Fire and Police will be cut 10% in the next fiscal year, according to the Mayor’s first draft of a budget. That includes furloughs of employees, and 10% cuts in salaries. The homeless budget will not be cut.
Homeless: Mike would like the City to buy hotels and motels that are available to buy for use as homeless housing, rather than hedge funds and big money interests snapping them up as investments that do not benefit the unhoused.
Camping at the VA is full, but some campers remain outside the fence for several reasons, for example they don’t like the VA regulations (no alcohol, sober pledge). One tent fire was caused by meth use.
Judge Carter, overseeing one federal homeless case, is urging the parties to start settlement talks.
The April 30 conference was cancelled because Mike had a budget committee meeting.
Coronavirus Testing in Los Angeles
Free COVID-19 testing is now available to all Los Angeles residents, including those without symptoms. Individuals with symptoms and frontline workers will receive priority for same or next-day testing. To register for tests, visit Coronavirus Testing.
Los Angeles Emergency Supply Chain
CD11 advises that the City Emergency Management Dept. (EMD) has instituted a new Supply Chain Resiliency Initiative (SCRI). The SCRI is a public-private partnership in emergency management research and practice. Although the City does not currently have a store of emergency supplies, EMD is working to obtain strategic partnerships and purchasing arrangements, focusing on 6 critical sectors: Food, Medical Goods, Pharmaceuticals, Water, Fuel & Transportation. Partners will work with the City on providing immediate disaster resources to the public. For more information, visit SCRI.
Local Business Information/Resources
Here are a few local resources that we hope will be helpful:
The new PaliBiz website includes information about essential businesses open in the Palisades as well as available loans programs & small business assistance.
Palisades Chamber member restaurants that are open for delivery/take-out may be found on Chamber Restaurants.
Information about Palisades Village restaurants & stores (open for delivery/take-out or for online shopping) is available on Palisades Village.
PPTFH May-June Bulletin
We invite the community to see PPTFH's May-June bulletin, which is chock full of information about homelessness in the Palisades and the activities of dedicated PPTFH volunteers. In the issue, respected PPTFH President (and PPCC Area 1 1st Alternate) Doug MCormick bids farewell to the community, and new PPTFH officers and board members are also introduced (including new co-Presidents Sharon Browning & Sharon Kilbride). Please note that the next PPTFH community meeting will take place on July 27, conditions permitting (the May 18 meeting has been postponed due to the pandemic). Photo credit: PPTFH (a client happy with the re-opening of beach resttrooms)
Homeless Shelter Status
To our knowledge, there has been no change in the status of the proposedPalisades Recreation Center homeless shelter -- the center is "still on the list" but won't be activated as a shelter unless necessary (i.e., once the other shelters are full). As of 4/28/20, 24 recreation center shelters had been opened in Los Angeles (see RAP shelter list); according to news reports the City is seeking to shelter more individuals in hotels and motels (Project Roomkey; see also Mike Bonin's comments to community leaders noted above). We'll let the community know if we learn anything new from elected officials about this situation.
LAPD SLO Michael Moore
Our Senior Lead Officer Michael Moore is back on the job this week after recovering from a serious coronavirus infection. We are happy he's returned! Here he is on the scene & masked at the Via bluffs on Monday. Please note: contact information for SLO Moore is on the PPCC website: Govt. Contacts. NEW: to reach the LAPD West LA Station during the pandemic, use this unique email address: WestLA@lapd.online. Photo credit: Jeff Spitz
We continue to thank all of our brave frontline
healthcare workers and first responders!
Note: All Palisades events through May 15 are either cancelled, postponed or will be held via virtual conference; later cancellations may be required depending on conditions. Please check with event sponsors for status.
