Metro Los Angeles continues to finalize the planning phase for the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Corridor. As part of this phase, Metro has started Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) work along Van Nuys Bl and local cross streets.

GPR is a non-invasive, relatively quiet activity that entails marking locations on the street surface with temporary paint if an underground structure is detected.

Please note this activity will begin this Monday, August 3, 2020 during nighttime hours to minimize traffic impacts along Van Nuys Bl.

The Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District (GLACVCD) has confirmed mosquito samples to test positive for West Nile virus (WNV) in Valley Glen, Van Nuys, North Hollywood, Valley Village, Studio City and Sherman Oaks! GLACVCD routinely monitors populations of adult mosquitoes and tests groups of adult female mosquitoes for the presence of WNV and other mosquito-borne viruses.

For the updated numbers, go to: https://www.glacvcd.org/mosquito-borne-diseases/latest-west-nile-virus-statistics/

WNV is transmitted to people and animals through the bite of an infected mosquito. There is no cure for WNV. One in five persons infected with the virus will exhibit symptoms. Symptoms can include fever, headache, body aches, nausea, or a skin rash. There is no human vaccine for WNV, and severe cases can lead to paralysis or even death.

Mosquito Prevention and Protection

Mosquito control is a shared responsibility and residents must take an active role in reducing the threat of WNV in their neighborhoods by taking the following steps:

• Eliminate standing water in clogged rain gutters, rain barrels, discarded tires, buckets, watering troughs or anything that holds water for more than a week.
• Ensure that swimming pools, spas, and ponds are properly maintained.
• Change the water in pet dishes, birdbaths and other small containers weekly.
• Request mosquitofish from your local vector control district for placement in ornamental ponds.
• Wear insect repellent when outdoors where mosquitoes may be present.
• Report neglected (green) swimming pools in your neighborhood to your vector control district.

THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES ROLLS OUT 
EMERGENCY RENTERS ASSISTANCE SUBSIDY PROGRAM
to assist Los Angeles renters who have been economically impacted by COVID-19

LOS ANGELES – The General Manager of the Los Angeles Housing + Community Investment Department (HCIDLA), Ann Sewill, announced today the implementation of the City of Los Angeles Emergency Renters Assistance Subsidy Program (ERAS). The application will be open for five (5) days, starting at 8 AM on July 13th, and closing at 11:59 PM on July 17, 2020.

To assist LA’s tenants and rental property owners affected by the current COVID-19 health pandemic, LA City Council President Nury Martinez, the City Council and HCIDLA, with the support of Mayor Eric Garcetti, created the Emergency Rental Assistance Subsidy Program, the largest COVID-related emergency rental assistance program in the nation. The program allocates $103,000,000 to provide a rent subsidy for low-income tenants in the City of Los Angeles who are unable to pay rent due to circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic. HCIDLA is charged with the implementation of the ERAS Program.

The subsidy is anticipated to assist an estimated 50,000 Los Angeles households. It will provide a grant of up to $1,000 per month, with a maximum grant of $2,000 per household, and will be paid directly to the tenant’s landlord on behalf of the tenant. Eligible tenants are those whose household income is at or below 80% of the Area Median Income.

Households must meet the program requirements to pre-qualify for renters assistance:

• households who reside in multi family rental units in the City of Los Angeles,
• selected applicants will be required to provide proof of tenancy,
• total household income of all adults, 18 years of age or older, living in the home, with total annual incomes at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI)* level prior to March 13, 2020; and,

*(Source: US Dept of Housing and Urban Development)

• households can provide documentation that they have suffered a loss or reduction of income due to COVID-19.

It is anticipated that the number of applications for a rent subsidy will far exceed available funding, therefore all applications submitted during the application period that meet all  requirements listed above will be placed in a  random selection system  to determine which households will go forward in the application process for  the rent subsidy.

City of Los Angeles tenants may apply at the HCIDLA website at hcidla.lacity.org starting at 8:00 AM on Monday, July 13th, through 11:59 PM, Friday, July 17th, 2020. After the application deadline, all applications submitted by 11:59 PM July 17th will be included in the random selection process. Applicants will be updated of the status of their application including notification of a 10-day time period during which applicants should submit supporting documentation to complete the verification process.

Interested renters in the City of Los Angeles are encouraged to apply online. The application will be available online 24/7 at hcidla.lacity.org through 11:59 PM on July 17th. Persons with limited online access may call the Application Hotline: 844-944-1868, every day between 8 AM and 10 PM,  starting 8 AM, July 13 through 10 PM on July 17, 2020 to apply over the phone. TTY: 844-325-1398 is available for persons with  hearing or speech impairments during the same hours. The program is open to all renters, regardless of immigration status.

For more information and “Frequently Asked Questions” about the program please visit hcidla.lacity.org.

Fireworks Have Consequences.

Fireworks kill on average 40 people per year. More than 3,000 people are hospitalized.
More than half of those victims are children.

There are many other reasons to avoid the personal use of fireworks, including:

• Our patriotic veterans may have bad combat-related flashbacks
• Our pets will be terrified, and many run away, often never being reunited with their families
• Older adults will be frightened and not know how to “turn the noise off”
• Babies and small children will be terrified and the noise will hurt their ears
• 1,300 homes burn as a result of fireworks (annual average)
• 300 vehicles burn as a result of fireworks (annual average)

STATE LAWS
It’s not just in Los Angeles that fireworks are illegal.

FIREWORKS: Under California Health and Safety Code Fireworks Penalties, Section 12700 states, “any person who violates any provision of the State Fireworks laws or Regulations is guilty of a misdemeanor. A misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of not less than $500, but not to exceed $1,000 by imprisonment in the county jail for up to one year, or both.”

DANGEROUS FIREWORKS: Under California Health and Safety Code Fireworks Penalties, Section 12700(B) states, “a person in possession of unaltered dangerous fireworks in violation of the State Fireworks Law is punishable as a misdemeanor or a public offense with fines ranging from $500 to more than $50,000, depending on the gross weight of unaltered dangerous fireworks in possession.”

LOCAL LAWS IN LOS ANGELES
From Los Angeles Police Department:

All fireworks are illegal in the City of Los Angeles, SEC. 57.55.01(A) Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC). It shall be unlawful for any person to use, give, possess, sell or discharge any fireworks. Fireworks are considered explosive devices, and they are extremely dangerous. Every year numerous children and adults are injured or burned as a result of playing with fireworks.

If you have questions about enforcement or other fireworks issues, you may contact the Los Angeles Police Department by calling the following number, toll free:

1-877-ASK-LAPD (1-877-275-5273)
TTY 1-877-275-5273 for the hearing impaired.

Turn in your fireworks

You may turn in your fireworks to any Los Angeles City Fire Department station without penalty.

Report fireworks

You can help. If you have a tip about illegal fireworks in your neighborhood contact https://complaint.lacity.org/Complaint/fireworks/ or

https://www.lacrimestoppers.org/ and submit your information anonymously.

Find out about the law on fireworks and create your own lawn sign: https://www.mysafela.org/fireworks-safety/

You can also call the non-emergency number 877-ASK-LAPD (877-275-5273).