It helps the low-income homeowner maintain his or her dwelling with minor repairs and with reduced-cost building materials and supplies from a restore, according to Erin G. Rank, president and chief executive officer for Habitat’s Greater Los Angeles affiliate now based here at 8739 Artesia Blvd.

“We have a special fund to make home repairs for veterans and a fund to repair or replace mobile homes if owned by the qualifying occupant,” Rank said.

Called “Habitat for Heroes,” the veterans’ program seeks to assist, engage, mobilize and educate military members and veterans about the program and services.

“The ReStore was established in 2004 to provide a self-sustaining funding source and to provide our local communities with low-cost building and home improvement materials,” Rank said, adding that many of the items are sold at about half the retail cost.

Also for sale at the ReStore is used furniture and home appliances donated to Habitat.

Board members of the nonprofit, established in 1990, said that people were calling, asking if they could donate used items, but we could not accept them.

“The ReStore also helps the environment by keeping building materials and used items out of area landfills,” Rank said. “Building materials make up about half the tonnage taken to landfills.”

Some of the materials and building supplies, such as paint and lumber, may be used in constructing a home if it gets quality approved by cities where homes are being built.

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles and its ReStore moved to Bellflower last year from Gardena, where is was in rented quarters.

“When the Bellflower site became available, we decided it would be less expensive to own our own buildings,” Rank said.

An affiliate office and ReStore is located in Torrance.

As of July 1, both ReStores are open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Ian McGough is manager of the Bellflower store.

The ReStore will pick up donated items free of charge, except for a $5 fuel fee.

Since its founding in 1990, the local Habitat chapter has built or repaired more than 1,000 homes locally and internationally.

The organization is nationwide and has about 1,600 affiliates in the United States and in 70 other countries.

On May 16, Habitat began building six units in Downey and also has built homes in Culver City, Long Beach, Lynwood, Norwalk and Montebello.

In some cities, Habitat for Greater Los Angeles acts as a community housing development organization, which allows cities to allocate federal funds as loans for construction, to be repaid by the sale of the homes.

The latest project is in Bellflower where the City Council June 27 allocated a loan of $250,000 in federal funds for construction of six units at 8809 Ramona St. to the local Habitat affiliate, Partnership Housing Inc.

The loan is to be repaid with proceeds from the sale of the units to occupants.

Six three-bedroom, two-bathroom townhomes will be built on the currently vacant 1,690-square-foot site Habitat representative Darrell Simien, director of real estate, told the City Council.

Habitat was founded by a Christian group in 1976 but serves all low-income residents and accepts volunteer work from the entire community.

Rank has a $20 million annual budget with funding from the ReStore, cities using federal funds and private individuals, businesses and corporations.

She has a nine-member staff and help from more than 10,000 volunteers including in the ReStore and construction of the homes.

Prospective homebuyers their families must perform up to 500 hours of what Habitat calls “Sweat Equity,” working on the building, must be low-income eligible, but with good credit and able to make a small down-payment, must take two Habitat education programs and be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

“I started with Habitat as a volunteer and enjoyed the work and accepted when the board offered me a full-time position,” Rank said. “I was the [L.A.] chapter’s first paid staff member.”

The Habitat for Humanity for Greater Los Angeles board is composed of 23 members from the business and faith communities in the area. The current chairman is Bill Blake, senior vice president of Zurich North America, an insurance company.

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After opening ceremonies, there is a survivor’s lap around a track, followed by an evening luminaria  ceremony in which bags of sand with lighted candles are placed around the track in memory cancer victims.

The event is open to the public free of charge to spectators. There is food for purchase, cancer information booths and live entertainment.

Information: Robin Snow at (562) 404-1287.

Other upcoming events include:

Friday, July 8

Political fundraiser: Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-South Gate; and union official Maria Elena Durazo speak at a breakfast fundraiser for Bell City Councilwoman Ana Maria Quintana from 7:30 to 10 a.m. at Mole de Los Reyes, 6242 Maywood Ave., Bell, to kick off her campaign for the March 2017 municipal election.

Teen art programs: The Norwalk Library, 12350 Imperial Highway, offers art programs for young people 3 to 17 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Each week features a new visiting artist who will teach those present something about mosaic tiles, origami, headdresses or something else they can make. (562) 868-0775

Library market: A farmers market is open in the Bruggemeyer Library parking lot, 318 S. Ramona Ave., Monterey Park, from 4 to 8 p.m. It features fresh and organic fruits, vegetables and flowers grown at California farms. Also available are hummus, breads and tamales, raw honey from Energy Bee Farms, peaches from Arnett Farms and a wide selection of Asian vegetables from Vu Produce of Fresno. (626) 307-1388

Rabies clinic: Low-cost vaccinations ($6) are given at a pet clinic from 4 to 7 p.m. on the Norwalk City Hall lawn, 12700 Norwalk Blvd. Microchipping services and flea control products also are available and dog licenses can be renewed. All dogs must be on a leash. (562) 929-5711

Saturday, July 9

Downey market: A farmers market offers fresh produce and other items from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Downey Avenue between Second and Third streets in Downey. Parking is available in the city’s parking structure there or on marked spaces on surrounding streets. (562) 904-7284

Monday, July 11

Bellflower market: A farmers market operates from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Simms Park, 16614 S. Clark Ave., Bellflower. Fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, plants, breads, sprouts, honey and more are available. (562) 866-7510.

South Gate market: Harbor Area Farmers Markets sponsors a farmers market from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at South Gate Park, Tweedy Boulevard and Walnut Avenue. Fruits, vegetables, herbs, nuts, fish, eggs, honey, baked items and gardens plants are available. (323) 774-0159

Dance class:Michael Trusnovec, a principal dancer with the Paul Taylor Dance Co., hosts a master class on modern dance for intermediate and advanced dance students from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at Rio Hondo College, 3600 Workman Mill Road, Whittier. (562) 692-0921

Junior golf: Youngsters from 7 to 17 may participate in the Pico Rivera Junior Golf Club at the Pico Rivera Golf Course, 3260 Fairway Drive, from 5 to 6 p.m. Cost is $10 per week or $30 for the month. (562) 692-9933

Park concert: The city of Whittier’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services conducts a free concert at 7 p.m. at Central Park, 6532 Friends Ave., featuring Blackburn County, a country band. Pets, barbecues and alcoholic beverages are not allowed. (562) 567-9400

Tuesday, July 12

Farmers market: The Norwalk Committee on Aging conducts a farmers market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Excelsior High School south parking lot, on the south side of Alondra Boulevard west of Pioneer Boulevard. Fresh fruits, flowers, vegetables and fish are available.

Wednesday, July 13

Fresh produce:The Huntington Park Farmers Market offers fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and other items from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Salt Lake Park, 3401 E. Florence Ave. (323) 584-6218

Pet vaccination: A low-cost vaccination clinic for dogs and cats is offered by the city of Santa Fe Springs from 5 to 8 p.m. at Santa Fe High School, 10400 Orr and Day Road. Rabies vaccination and flea control products are available. (562) 409-1850

Golf program: Women in Business conduct a golf program from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Lakewood Country Club, 3101 Carson St. Cost is $15 for lessons and shooting a few holes. Food is available for purchase. RSVP to Vivian Hansen, ceo@NorwalkChamber.com or Jodee Kilroy at advertise@lakewoodchamber.com

City Hall concert: The Norwalk Parks and Recreation Department conducts a free concert at 7 p.m. featuring Como La Flor Band, a Selena tribute, on the north lawn of the Civic Center, 12700 Norwalk Blvd. Those attending may bring blankets, lawn chairs and food, but food also is available for purchase. (562) 929-5702

Twilight concert: Downey’s free Twilight Summer Concert series at 7 p.m. at Furman Park, 10419 Rives Ave., features Knyght Ryder, playing music of the 1980s. Those attending may bring blankets and lawn chairs and food, although Miss Downey and members of the Downey Rose Float Association are selling snacks as a fundraiser. (562) 904-7238 

Thursday, July 14

Coloring club: The Norwalk Library, 12350 Imperial Highway, conducts a coloring club called Color us Happy from 1 to 2 p.m. Coloring is a no-pressure art form that helps people unwind from a day at the office. Materials are provided. (562) 868-0775

Paramount concert: The Paramount Parks and Recreation Department conducts a free concert by Mariachi Divas, an all-woman band, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at Paramount Park, 14400 Paramount Blvd. (562) 220-2121

Concert in Bell Gardens: The Bell Gardens Parks and Recreation Department hosts a free concert at Veterans Park, 6662 Loveland St., at 7 p.m. featuring 1980s music by Past Action Heroes. Those attending may bring lawn chairs and dance to the music. A food booth is available. (562) 806-7650

Parnell Park concert: The city of Whittier’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services conducts a free concert at 7 p.m. at Parnell Park, 15390 Lambert Road, featuring Heartache Tonight, an Eagles tribute band. Pets, barbecues and alcoholic beverages are not allowed. (562) 567-9400

Saturday, July 16

Toxic wastes: The Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County conduct the free disposal of hazardous household wastes and electronic wastes not appropriate for regular trash pickup from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in parking lot C at Cerritos College, 11110 Alondra Blvd., Norwalk. Accepted are used motor oil, paint, household cleaners, televisions and stereo sets, computers and printers, small electric appliances and cellular telephones.Not accepted are large appliances, tires, hazardous materials or explosives, ammunition, radioactive materials and weapons. (888) 238-0172

Cancer benefit: A 24-hour Relay for Life fundraiser begins at 9 a.m. in South Gate Park, 4900 Southern Ave. in South Gate to benefit the American Cancer Society. After opening ceremonies, there is a survivor’s lap around a track, followed by an evening luminaria ceremony in which bags of sand with lighted candles are placed around the track in memory of cancer victims. The event is open to the public free of charge to spectators. There is food for purchase, cancer information booths and live entertainment. (800) 227-2345

Items for the Community Calendar may be submitted in care of Wave Newspapers, 3731 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 840, Los Angeles, 90010 or by email to dwanlass@wavepublication.com. Please include a daytime phone number.

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The city of Pico Rivera will host its annual fireworks spectacular at El Rancho High School, 6501 Passons Blvd., beginning at 5 p.m.  July 2.

The event will feature jumpers, food booths and other family-friendly activities, a city spokesperson said.

The evening also features live concerts with the Wise Guys taking the stage at 5 p.m. and Stone Soul beginning at 7 p.m.

A special sky diving demonstration will take place at 7:45 p.m. leading up to the fireworks show at 9 p.m.

Bleacher seating for the fireworks show is available in the football stadium.

Attendees can also bring blankets and lawn chairs for ground level seating, the spokesperson said.

Information: (562) 801-4430.

Norwalk will conduct its Independence Day program from 6 to 9 p.m. July 3 on the north lawn of the Civic Center 12700 Norwalk Blvd.

There will be music, games and food booths, with a fireworks display at 9 p.m., a city spokesperson said.

As part of the annual event, professional hair stylists will give free haircuts from 1 to 8 p.m. to those wishing to donate their hair to make wigs for persons who have lost their hair because of treatment for an illness or other reasons.

Donated hair must be at least 10 inches long and cannot be bleached or highlighted. Colored or permed hair is acceptable and curly hair may be stretched to measure the minimum length, the spokesperson said.

Information: (562) 929-5702.

Santa Fe Springs will conduct its Independence Day program July 3 from 8 to 9 p.m. at Los Nietos Park, 11143 Charlesworth Road.

There will be live entertainment and fireworks. Food and beverages are for sale and craft booths are open from 3 to 9 p.m., a city spokesperson said.

Features include a family games and face painting. Wading pools, a cool zone and a dunk tank will be available. Games include watermelon eating contest, seed spitting contest and a water balloon toss.

The schedule includes a horseshoe tournament at 8:30 a.m., Pinewood Derby contest at 3:30 p.m., a 1980s cover band, Flashpants, at 4 p.m., a patriotic ceremony with color guards at 6:30 p.m., music by the Latin funk band Soto at 7 p.m. and fireworks at 9 p.m.

Information: (562) 863-4896.

The Alhambra Parks and Recreation Department will conduct an Independence Day program starting at 2 p.m. July 4 at Almansor Park, 800 S. Almansor Ave.

There will be games and activities with food for purchase. Live entertainment begins at 7:30 p.m. with music by the MVPs band, followed by fireworks at 9 p.m., a city spokesperson said.

Information: (626) 570-3242.

Downey will conduct a freedom fireworks festival from 6 to 9 p.m. July 4 at Downey High School Stadium, 11040 Brookshire Ave.

The festival includes live entertainment by the Swing Kings and Roscoe’s Rascals, carnival games, food for purchase and swimming in the high school pool.

Stadium doors open at 5:30 p.m. Attendees may bring blankets and lawn chairs if seating in the stands is unavailable.

Free open swimming is from 5 to 8:30 p.m. on a first-come basis.

Fireworks begin at 9 p.m.

Information: (562) 904-7238.

A private company will conduct a four-day carnival at Salt Lake Park, 3401 E. Florence Ave., Huntington Park, leading up to a fireworks display July 4.

Schoeppner Shows will conduct the carnival July 1-4 and pay the city 20 percent of its proceeds from rides, along with $50 for each booth the company sells to a vendor, said Josette Epinosa, director of parks and recreation.

The carnival will include rides, game booths and food vendors.

Schoeppner will be in charge of the event costs including security and clean up at no cost to the city.

The company will also provide free entertainment and work with city staff to provide local talent to perform, Espinosa said.

Revenue from the carnival will go toward the $25,000 cost of the fireworks display, contracted to a private company earlier this year, she added.

Information: (323) 584-6218.

Lynwood offers a free fireworks show beginning at 9 p.m. July 4 at Lynwood City Park, 11301 Bullis Road.

Information: (310) 603-0220/

Monterey Park will have games, activities and live entertainment from 4 to 9 p.m. July 4 leading up to the fireworks show, a city spokesperson said.

Information: (626) 887-1388.

South Gate will mark the holiday with a carnival and fireworks display July 4 at South Gate Park, 4900 Southern Ave.

A carnival will operate from July 1 through July 4 at the park, off of Tweedy Boulevard and Walnut Avenue, said Parks and Recreation Director Paul Adams.

Hours of operation are 5 to 11 p.m. July 1 and 2 to 11 p.m. July 2, 3 and 4.

There will be carnival rides, midway games and snacks for purchase.

The Junior Athletic Association conducts baseball games on ball diamonds 5 to 10 beginning at 9 a.m., Adams noted.

Information: (323) 563-5479.

Whittier will commemorate Independence Day July 4, with a flag-raising ceremony and freedom walk starting at the Palm Park Greenway Trailhead, 5703 Palm Ave.

The ceremony will begin at 8 a.m., featuring patriotic entertainment and the singing of the national anthem, said Parks, Recreation and Community Services Supervisor Stacey Arismendez.

Immediately following the flag raising, there will be a community freedom walk along the Greenway Trail.  Prior to the walk, there will be a craft booth for children to make fun items, Arismendez said.

Information” (562) 908-3666.

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Garza, a former planning commissioner, was appointed to the City Council June 14 to fill the remaining term of retiring Councilman Scott Larsen.

Larsen cast the deciding vote, with Mayor Dan Koops and Councilman Ray Dunton picking Garza over Victor Sanchez, the other finalist out of a field of nine applicants. Mayor Pro Tem Ron Snablegger and Councilman Sonny Santa Ines voted for Sanchez, a 2008 graduate of Bellflower High School who is active in volunteer work.

Both Sanchez and Garza are expected to seek terms in the March 2017 municipal election.

If residents Nov. 8 vote to have Bellflower elect council members by district and if Garza is elected in 2017, he would be running against Dunton, who appointed him to the Planning Commission, in 2020.

Both Garza and Dunton live in what would be District 5.

“I will proudly represent the city of Bellflower,” said Garza, who is a school teacher and a consultant in a 25-year career which included a stint in the U.S. Army and then National Guard. He earned his master’s degree in public relations at Cal State Long Beach.

“I will put my years of experience to work for you,” Garza promised residents, adding that public safety and economic development will be his main concerns.

Garza and his wife, Mayra, have three sons, Juan Jr, 17; Benjamin, 9; and Daniel, 7.

The post Garza sworn in to Bellflower City Council appeared first on Wave Newspapers.

Although the council filing period is July 18 to Aug. 12, six potential candidates have formally established committees for the race, City Clerk Adria Jimenez said.

They are current Mayor Alex Saab, seeking re-election in District 5, the at-large district; Planning Commissioner Hector Lujan and businesswoman Blanca Pacheco, seeking to replace termed-out Councilman Luis Marquez in District 1 on the city’s southeast side; and Planning Commissioner Luis Morales, Frine Madram and Rick Rodriguez seeking the seat of termed-out Councilman Roger Brossmer in District 3 on the city’s northwest side.

Rodriguez owns RMI Security, currently contracted to protect the city parking structure and downtown area. City Attorney Yvette Abich Garcia said if he is elected to the council, the city would have to terminate the agreement or let it expire without change.

In a separate action June 27, the council extended the contract for six months, from July to January. If elected in November, Rodriguez would take office in December.

The agreement may be terminated at any time, said Aldo Schindler, director of community development.

Saab, the only incumbent running Nov. 8, was the lone dissenter on the ballot issue, saying he was concerned that future councils would not use the money for public safety and a proposed oversight committee selected by council would be a “rubber stamp.”

The other four council members supported placing it on the ballot, saying the residents would decide.

“We can get by and be an OK city, but we could be a great city with the planned improvements,” City Manager Gil Livas said.

He estimated the half-cent sales tax hike would  bring in about $9 million a year on top of the current city sales tax of 1 percent which raises about $18 million annually.

He said the funds would be primarily used to upgrade public safety — the police and fire departments — but some would go for improvements on residential streets and parks along with senior citizens and youth after-school programs.

Asked by a restaurant owner during the public hearing if businesses would be affected, Livas said calls to surrounding cities where sales tax hikes have been approved, such as La Mirada, Pico Rivera and South Gate indicate no observable business loss.

“If a shopper plans to spend $100 in Downey he would not likely go to another city to save 50 cents,” Livas said, adding “public safety is expensive, but people like to shop in safe cities.”

Mark Daniels of the Downey Police Officers Association agreed with Livas, saying the police department needs more officers to cope with high crime rates caused by state laws to let convicted criminals out of prison early.

“My father says we should just tighten our belts, but no amount of belt tightening could save the $12 million needed to maintain residential streets,” Brossmer said.

“When I campaigned door to door for City Council, street maintenance was a major concern,” Councilman Sean Ashton said.

Marquez said “public safety is our main priority. No grant will address the needs of this community.”

“As the owner of two businesses in Downey, I would be the most affected,” said Mayor Pro Tem Fernando Vasquez, who supported the ballot issue after Fire Chief Mark Gilaspie said city fire stations are 50 to 60 years old and Police Chief Carl Charles said his department needs more officers to combat a crime increase.

The post Downey places proposed sales tax hike on November ballot appeared first on Wave Newspapers.

If the council decides to go ahead with a sale, residents would vote on it Nov. 8.

Koops spoke at a public hearing June 27 to obtain resident input on the sale. The hearing was continued to the council meeting of July 11.

The companies in negotiation are California American Water Company, California Water Service Company, Golden State Water Company and Liberty Utilities. A total of 14 requests for proposals were sent out, Assistant City Manager Leo Mingle Jr. said.

City officials estimate the system is worth at least $20 million, but a number of issues are under discussion, besides the sale price. They include maintaining water rates for customers and future maintenance, plus water pumping rights in the Central Basin Municipal Water District.

“It’s very complicated,” Koops said. “That’s why we are not in a rush to make a decision.”

Koops said the city could decide in August to put off the sale if a satisfactory sale agreement could not be reached.

In a written report to the council, City Manager Jeffrey L. Stewart noted that because the council normally does not meet the fourth Monday of July, a decision would be needed Aug. 8 to place the issue on the Nov. 8 ballot by the Aug. 12 deadline.

Oct. 9 would be the last day for the “acquiring entity” to make the required disclosure to existing customers, Stewart added.

At the public hearing June 27, Ken Glenn, a member of the council-appointed Water Advisory Board, supported a sale.

A new owner must maintain the system and keep water rates low under the council’s May 9 request for proposals from prospective water companies.

Bellflower purchased the former privately operated Peerless Water Company in 2007 for $5.8 million after a number of the 1,800 customers voiced fears of drastically increased rates if Peerless sold the system to Golden State Water Company, which serves many cities in the area.

But officials soon learned that the previous owner had not properly maintained the system and spent millions on improvement of the infrastructure and a new well in the public works area on Flora Vista Street.

The post Bellflower negotiating on water system sale appeared first on Wave Newspapers.

Jones is at the ground level when it comes to getting things done, according to Elementary Education Director Alysia Odipo and Secondary Education Director Colleen McKinley, who nominated Jones for the honor.

She coordinates buses for elementary schools, activities for the GATE program, materials for elementary training programs and handles elementary parent concerns. She is a go-to person for classified staff across the district, helping them navigate such complex tasks as budgets and work orders, the spokesperson said.

“Eileen is not only a tremendous member of our team, she is also a delight to work with day in and day out,” Superintendent Brian Jacobs said. “She brings vast knowledge, a sunny demeanor and a high level of proficiency to ensure the work of the district is done efficiently and effectively.”

Jones has worked for Bellflower Unified since 1997, starting as an instructional aide. She has worked as a school secretary, served as PTA Council president six times and as a member of the Citizens Task Force for 18 years — currently as its chairperson. She is also active on the Superintendent’s District Advisory Group.

She is also known for dressing up for holidays and special events in costumes as simple as bunny ears and as detailed as a picnic table. She brings homemade cakes on birthdays and treats for holidays, and coordinates a holiday cookie exchange.

“She is a gem,” Odipo said. “She expertly juggles many tasks, volunteers to lead events like Relay for Life, helps her colleagues at the drop of a hat and is always there when we need her, no matter what. And her sense of humor never fails to raise everyone’s spirits.”

McKinley echoed the sentiment.

“Mrs. Jones is one of the most experienced and dedicated people I have ever worked with,” she said. “She truly has a heart for students and works tirelessly to serve the Bellflower Unified School District community. I am lucky to have her additional support every day.”

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Wen, a Bellflower resident who is a naturalized U.S. citizen, was looking for something fulfilling to do after finishing college and getting together with friends for a while to run a start-up clothing company. He had heard through fraternity brothers that Faulconer was looking for good, young help.

He applied and helped Faulconer win the election,

Wen, 24, is now the campaign manager for Steve Napolitano’s bid for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors’ Fourth District seat in the Nov. 8 election.

“I wanted to make a difference,” said Wen about working in politics. “I realized it was something I really loved to do.”

As campaign manager, Wen helped Napolitano finish in second place in the June 7 primary to gain a spot on the November ballot against U.S. Rep. Janice Hahn, D-San Pedro. Napolitano received about 37 percent of the vote to 43 percent for Hahn. A third candidate, Whittier Union school board member Ralph Pacheco, received about 16 percent of the vote.

Wen said he believes in the principles of limited government, lower taxes and fiscal responsibility.

He said he learned to appreciate those values by way of his experience as a Chinese immigrant. He came to the United States with his parents when he was 3.

When his parents divorced while he was in grade school, he learned about low-income living and the hard work that’s needed to move ahead socioeconomically. He later learned when his father, an architect, was dying of cancer, to get serious about schooling and making a career for himself.

“I didn’t want my family experience to dictate my future and how I treat other people,” said Wen, who remembers how proud the family always felt about coming to the U.S. and earning citizenship. “I use it for motivation, to keep going and to pursue the American dream every day.”

Wen has worked on several successful Republican races for the state Assembly and Senate, city councils and local ballot measures.

He has managed hundreds of campaign workers and has always made sure they reflected a mix of races, ethnicities, sexual orientation, ideologies and political parties. He has also brought in independents, veterans and disabled people, the spokesperson said.

“You couldn’t get a better melting pot of people than those I have in my campaign groups — the on-ground teams, volunteers and interns,” Wen said.

Napolitano learned of Wren’s talents and hired him help to run a campaign in the cosmopolitan Fourth District, a crescent-shaped territory that extends from Diamond Bar through Long Beach to Marina del Rey and west to Catalina Island.

Napolitano, who is running to replace Supervisor Don Knabe, who will leave office because of term limits, previously served as mayor and city councilman in Manhattan Beach and currently serves as a senior deputy to Knabe.

Wen and his teams have visited many households around the district. He said he is absolutely convinced that voters, especially undecided ones, value the personal touch and interaction when a campaign makes the extra effort to have a representative go out and knock on doors.

Billboards, mailers and TV commercials can only go so far, he said.

“In my experience, that’s what makes the difference,” said Wen about creating dialogues with residents and working to earn their votes. “Because they’ll remember at the polls that someone tried talking to them, someone wanted to get to know them. And because at a local level of politics such as this, every vote truly does count.”

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Voters will be asked to increase Los Angeles County’s sales tax by another half-cent, and continue the existing Measure R half-cent tax indefinitely. MTA officials had originally planned to have the proposed tax hike sunset in 40 years — which would have raised $120 billion — but announced earlier this month that they plan to propose a tax without a sunset date.

The ballot measure still requires approval from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors before it can be placed on the ballot.

The permanent total one-cent sales tax for transit would create a sustained funding source for construction and operation, and would allow the acceleration of nine projects, including a five-year acceleration in planned improvements on the Orange Line, an eight-year acceleration of the northern extension of the Crenshaw/LAX rail line to Hollywood and a five-year acceleration of the Green Line extension to the Norwalk Metrolink station.

The board also approved an amendment that earmarks funding for a bus rapid transit project in the San Fernando Valley.

MTA board chair and County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas said that the transportation plan funded by the proposed tax hike and extension would be potentially “transformative” for Los Angeles County.

“It’s about time the county of Los Angeles with respect to mobility steps squarely into the 21st century,” he said.

Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Bonin, who sits on the MTA board, noted a feeling that both riders and other county residents who currently rely on cars are eager for a more complete public transportation system in Los Angeles, and they are willing to pay a higher tax for it.

“Folks have a very palpable hunger for us to do more,” he said. “I’ve sensed they have a lot of faith that we can do that.”

The two board members who voted against the measure — Lakewood City Councilwoman Diane DuBois and County Supervisor Don Knabe — had raised concerns that not enough was being done to ensure all areas of the county are equally represented among the major projects included in the transportation plan.

Most cities in Los Angeles County, including the city of Los Angeles, currently have a nine-cent sales tax.

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“We can’t just have moments of silence when we see American lives perish,” Rep. Xavier Becerra said. “It’s time to allow the American people to speak through their representatives and have a vote in Congress on legislation to prevent gun violence.

Becerra issued the call exactly a week after House Democrats held a sit-in on the floor of the House of Representatives for 26 hours to demand that House Speaker Paul Ryan and House Republicans allow an immediate vote on bipartisan, common-sense gun safety legislation to help keep guns out of dangerous hands.

The bills included the bipartisan King-Thompson legislation to expand and strengthen the background check system and the bipartisan “No Fly, No Buy” bill to keep guns out of the hands of suspected terrorists.

“You will never truly understand the gun violence epidemic until it happens to you,” said Mandy Pifer, the fiancé of Shannon Johnson, who was killed in the San Bernardino shooting last December. “I strongly believe that to ignore the role that guns play in this public health epidemic — homicides, suicides and terrorism — is like throwing away the last piece of a puzzle you’ve been working on for a very long time. It’s frustrating and nonsensical.”

The event was part of a National Day of Action for Common-Sense Gun Violence Prevention. Gun violence prevention advocates held sit-ins and other events throughout the country to demand that Congress act on commonsense gun violence prevention legislation.

Becerra was joined at City Hall by other members of the Southern California congressional delegation, including Reps. Maxine Waters, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Judy Chu, Karen Bass, and Alan Lowenthal; as well as Los Angeles City Councilmen Mitch O’Farrell, Paul Krekorian, Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Curren Price.

“Enough is enough. It is long past time for Congress to make sensible gun control a national priority,“ Roybal-Allard said. “Democrats are ready to vote on bills to strengthen our background check system and keep terrorist suspects from buying guns.

“In the name of my constituents, in the name of the countless American families whose lives have been shattered by gun violence, and in the name of all those who fear that a gun in the wrong hands could harm them or their loved ones, I am calling on House Republican leaders to hold a vote on these bipartisan gun bills,” Roybal-Allard added.

“Americans have had enough of mass shootings and of feeling unsafe because Congress refuses to allow a vote on even the most common sense gun restrictions — like keeping guns away from those on the No Fly List, or expanding background checks, a proposal supported by 92 percent of Americans,” Rep. Chu said.

“The problem of gun violence is more than just mass shootings. It’s a daily plague. Today, with our National Day of Action, we are speaking out as one to say that it is time for Congress to take action to end the senseless gun violence that is tearing apart our communities.”

“It is unfortunate that House Republicans have refused to take up the issue of gun violence through legislative action, particularly after it is clear that it’s what the American people want, “ Rep.Bass said. “It is critical that we continue the protest efforts started last week by House Democrats in our communities across the country to keep the drumbeat going and that is what we are all hoping to accomplish today.”

Earlier in the day, Rep. Becerra convened a roundtable with residents affected by gun violence, including representatives from Women Against Gun Violence, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, the Trevor Project, Equality California, Interfaith Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, Violence Prevention Coalition of Greater Los Angeles, and the Wall Las Memorias Project.

“I want to thank Rep. Becerra for helping lead the fight against our nation’s gun violence crisis,” said former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, co-founder of the gun violence prevention organization Americans for Responsible Solutions, who was the victim of an assassination attempt in 2011. “Speaking is difficult for me. But I haven’t been silenced. And neither should the American people. Their representatives must vote to make our communities safer.”

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