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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The three-alarm fire on June 14 gutted the warehouse in the 3500 block of Fruitland Avenue that housed Gemini Plastic Enterprises, authorities said.

Magnesium, copper, zinc and lead were among the explosive materials present at the business, along with chemicals and propane, Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Daryl Osby said.

The fire sparked a series of strong explosions that sent a thick plume of noxious smoke over the region and resulted in evacuations.

In the aftermath of the blaze, a unified command was established that includes personnel from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and the Los Angeles County Fire Department Health Hazardous Materials Division.

“Since June 30, 16 households were moved from their previous temporary accommodations to new hotels or motels,” a statement released by the joint command staff said.

“All displaced households were offered free public transportation cards, food and water provided by the Food Center, Tzu Chi Water Company and Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis’ office. Further, the Los Angeles Dodgers donated free tickets to an upcoming baseball game to all displaced residents.”

The first residence for re-occupation was approved July 2 by the Department of Public Health and Unified Command.

“The returning household was greeted by representatives from the city of Maywood, L.A. County Fire Department,” as well as the Department of Public Health and the EPA, the statement said.

“Residents were provided a ‘Welcome Home’ gift basket by [the city] in celebration of their re-occupancy.”

Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Commerce, toured the site June 22 and went to 52nd Street to see some of the homes that were directly impacted.

The congresswoman wanted to better understand how this incident occurred, and, more importantly, to figure out how to help prevent any similar future incidents in the community, a Roybal-Allard spokesperson said.

She requested the tour and a briefing from the Unified Command.

Immediately after the briefing and site tour, Roybal-Allard and her staff took part in a community resource fair at Maywood Academy to provide an update and resources to the families affected by the fire, the spokesperson said.

Four more residences were approved for re-occupation on July 3, the same day that all outdoor cleanups were completed and 14 of the properties were signed off by cleanup and assessment teams.

Four more residences were approved for re-occupation July 5 and it is anticipated that eight more will be cleared in the next two days.

According to the Unified Command:

• 37 households have been temporarily relocated, including four on the south side of East 52nd Street.
• 172 people remain temporarily relocated.

• All outdoor soil sampling, which was conducted at 24 parcels, including seven parcels on the south side of East 52nd Street, has been completed.

• Outdoor cleanup is nearly complete on three parcels not yet cleared for reoccupation.

• All indoor sampling has been completed.

• And nine residences have been identified as requiring indoor cleaning, and all have been cleaned up, but officials are awaiting verification sampling results to return before clearing the homes for re-occupancy.

Authorities opened a community information center last week for residents and businesses affected by the fire.

The center, at the corner of Everett Avenue and East 52nd Street in Maywood, is open daily and can be reached by calling (323) 267-3843. More information is available at publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/fire.

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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 council voted to move ahead with a five-year, $31 million contract with Taser International Inc. to purchase about 7,000 body cameras and 4,400 stun guns. The agreement will include equipment replacement and upgrade, as well as video storage for footage taken by the cameras.

A little over $23 million will go toward providing police officers with Sprint cell phones that they can use to review and manage their body camera video footage and perform other police duties while on the go.

The plan also includes about $4 million toward infrastructure costs for the body camera program.

City officials say the cameras, which officers can wear on their chest, will likely be given out to police officers by fiscal year 2017-18.

Los Angeles Police Commission officials say the cameras will make interactions with police officers more transparent, leading to fewer complaints from the public and potentially reducing incidences of excessive force or abuse by police officers.

Mayor Eric Garcetti, who pushed for outfitting all Los Angeles police officers with body cameras, said the council action “is an investment in my vision of a Los Angeles Police Department that leads in transparency and accountability — values that protect officers and everyday Angelenos, and that are fundamental to policing in the 21st century.”

This is a historic moment for the LAPD, and I am proud of the leadership shown by everyone who played a part in getting us to this day,” he said.

The city received a $1 million U.S. Department of Justice grant to help pay for the program.

City Council members initially put the issue on hold due to concerns about staffing costs, and it was further delayed in April when Councilman Mitch Englander called for more study of the plan’s costs and contracting process.

Englander told City News Service that following a cost-benefit analysis, he now believes the body camera plan will not only increase transparency and safety for police and the public, but “will also save taxpayer funds, as well.”

The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California has opposed the body cameras as long as city officials maintain their policy of not releasing video footage to the public, even to a victim’s family.

“A lot of the public support for body cameras hinges on the widespread belief that the public will get to see the videos, but that’s just not true,” Catherine Wagner, an attorney with the ACLU of Southern California, told City News Service.

“The LAPD does not plan to release the videos.”

Wagner said the proposed purchase of the body cameras “was a big opportunity for public officials to weigh in on the policies that will govern this program,” especially through the Public Safety Committee, but that did not take place.

“One of the most troubling things here was that the city has spent a lot of time looking at the financial aspect” of the body camera plan, but did not look into “how the technology will actually be used.”

Police and city officials have argued that the video footage should be treated like any other police evidence, which is typically not disclosed except when required in court or if it serves the department’s purposes, according to Wagner. But she said body cameras were not necessarily proposed solely for use in investigations, but rather as a way to promote transparency and accountability.

Wagner noted the money spent on body cameras is “on a whole different scale of expenditure of public funds.”

“It’s a new technological tool that has been touted as changing the nature of police transparency and accountability, and as a tool for improving public trust,” she said. “If people think these body cameras will improve transparency and accountability, they’re mistaken. It’s money down the drain.”

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Barr, a Silver Lake resident and founder of charter school nonprofit Green Dot Public Schools, issued a statement on his Facebook page saying he plans to “disrupt the political establishment and turn our city around.”

“We’re going to build a grassroots movement to rally around and transform all of L.A.’s schools, end the homeless and affordability crisis, and fight for a city where every family can thrive,” he wrote.

Barr, who filed fundraising paperwork with the City Ethics Commission, has not previously held public office, though he has dipped into the political arena in other ways.

He was a co-founder of the Rock the Vote youth civics engagement campaign in the 1990s, and helped push for passage of the so-called “Motor Voter” law, which allowed people to sign up to vote at DMV offices, according to his campaign website.

Barr has appeared to center his campaign on tackling education. He said in his 15 years running charter schools, he has seen students in Los Angeles’ “highest-need areas” graduating at greater rates and going on to college, so it is frustrating “to go down the street [at LAUSD schools] and see that’s not happening.”

Barr lamented there has been “little sense of urgency” among local elected officials, including Garcetti, around the issue of education, saying most politicians have opted for “staying in their lanes.”

Some have argued that unlike in Chicago and New York, the mayor in Los Angeles does not have direct control of the school district, which limits Garcetti from doing more. But Barr said that because past mayors like Antonio Villaraigosa have made education a priority, there are now programs like Partnership for Los Angeles and an expanded charter school systems in place that have improved student achievement.

The mayor is in a better position than most to rally Angelenos and lawmakers around the issue, according to Barr.

“It’s not out of the question — it takes leadership,” he said, adding that while there is a school board, its members are relatively unknown, but “Everybody knows who the mayor is.”

“You can’t be a great city if you have a quarter million kids going to sub-par schools,” he said. “It seems to me it would be driving me crazy if I were mayor and everyday I’m plugging the holes” of problems like crime and poverty that could be fixed by creating a better education system, he said.

Barr said part of the reason he is running is because he is tired of trying to get elected officials to feel “as passionately as I feel about” education, and “as passionately I feel people in this city feel about it,” so it occurred to him that “maybe I gotta shut up and run myself.”

Mayor Eric Garcetti

Garcetti’s campaign manager Bill Carrick said the mayor has “done a lot of stuff for young people, a lot of stuff for students — meaningful things that will change young people’s lives and students’ lives.”

Carrick said Garcetti has been especially “innovative” in raising private funding to supplement the lack of public dollars for schools.

Carrick pointed to Garcetti’s initiative to raise private dollars to expand a summer youth jobs program from 5,000 to 15,000 jobs, with a goal of reaching 20,000 by another four years.

According to Carrick, Garcetti also helped two areas in the city obtain status as Promise Zones, an Obama Administration program that is expected to bring to South Los Angeles and other parts of the city more federal support and funding for “anti-poverty” programs around education, access to health foods and workforce development.

Garcetti has also embraced a program that would provide a free year of community college beginning next fall. When the mayor announced the partnership with the Los Angeles Community College District in his State of the City speech earlier this year, college district board member Scott Svonkin told City News Service that Garcetti was expected to help with a $3 million fundraising effort toward implementing the program.

The mayor also increased funding for the city’s Gang Reduction and Youth Development program 20 percent to $26 million, and has expanded these gang prevention and intervention services citywide for the first time, Carrick said.

“These are all practical and doable things that the mayor can get done here in Los Angeles, and he’s doing that,” Carrick said, adding that “the mayor is obviously going to speak out on education issues whenever he thinks he can be constructive and make a difference.”

“The reality is, much of education policy is done in Sacramento,” and with the local school district, Carrick said.

Barr, who will be going up against an incumbent who has already amassed a campaign war chest amounting to about $2.2 million — nearly $400,000 of which has been spent as of December — is the second major challenger to declare his candidacy.

In January, longtime Democratic operative Mitchell Schwartz, a political strategist for Barack Obama’s first presidential campaign and a communications director in former President Bill Clinton’s administration, announced his bid for the mayor’s seat.

The 55-year-old Schwartz cited homelessness and crime as major concerns, as well as problems with aging infrastructure and what he characterized as unchecked real estate development in the city.

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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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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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The event was moderated by “Fruitvale Station” and “Creed” star Michael B. Jordan, with participation from actress Yara Shahidi of ABC’s “Black-ish.” It was live-streamed on Facebook Live and on the U.S. Justice Department’s social media platforms.

Lynch noted that using social media is an important tool for building relationships between law enforcement agencies and the public.

“I think we can use social media to show what school officers in school are doing as well,” she said. “How are they interacting with kids? I know parents would love to see that. Other kids would love to see it. One of the things I’ve learned also on this tour and I’ve talked to young people in different communities, they talk about the fact they just want to get to know who officers are, you know, are they even people?

“It can seem like a different world. Having a way to connect and using social media is really important. It can be a great tool.”

The town hall audience included local high school and college students, Los Angeles Police Department “cadets” and 15 officers from the Hollenbeck Police Activities League and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

On June 29, Lynch met with LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, Mayor Eric Garcetti and U.S. Attorney Eileen Decker for an LAPD technology briefing, discussing real-time crime analysis. Lynch was also briefed on the department’s Virtual Ride Along and body-camera programs.

“The challenge for law enforcement today, the challenge of 21st Century policing, is how to ensure that we are using the best and most innovative tools available involving technology and social media, and also protect the public to ensure the well-being of our communities,” Lynch said following the meeting with Beck, Garcetti and Decker.

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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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The event features a concert by L.A.’s Acoustic Generation and speeches by City Councilman Jose Huizar and actor Ed Begley Jr.

Other upcoming events include:

Friday, July 1

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

Dance night: Parnell Park, 15390 Lambert Road, Whittier, hosts Friday night dances from 6 to 10 p.m.Dance professionals Rudy andMaria Hernandez offer lessons on a specific style of dancing from 6 to 7 and then a dance party runs from 7 to 10 p.m. Cost is $10 and includes light refreshments. (562) 567-9450

Saturday, July 2

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

Tuesday, July 5

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.

Sports trivia: The summer reading program at the Norwalk Library, 12350 Imperial Highway, offers sports trivia games from 3 to 4:30 p.m. for young people between the sixth and 12th grades. Summer reading bookmarks also can be turned in for prizes and weekly drawing entries. (562) 868-0775

Bridge project: Residents of Boyle Heights can receive an update on the progress of the Sixth Street Viaduct Replacement Project from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Art Share LA, 801 E. Fourth Place, Los Angeles. Information is available on demolition, detours and construction timelines. (213) 400-8398

Wednesday, July 6

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

Anime program: Teens who love anime and Japanese pop culture may join the Teen Otaku Club at the Norwalk Library, 12350 Imperial Highway. The club meets from 4 to 5:30 p.m. for young people between the eighth and 12th grades. (562) 868-0775

City Hall concert: The Norwalk Parks and Recreation Department conducts a free concert at 7 p.m. featuring Mariachi Cachanilla 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 starts at 7 p.m. at Furman Park, 10419 Rives Ave., featuring Smith, the Band, performing country music. 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 7

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

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 Scot Bruce performing early Elvis Presley music. Pets, barbecues and alcoholic beverages are not allowed. (562) 567-9400

Friday, July 8

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

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

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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