Research on the Effect of Sunlight on the Virus

Newsweek reported May 22, 2020 that research showed that sunlight deactivated the virus in 7-14 minutes. Full Newsweek Article on Sunlight & Coronavirus.

Safety Alerts

Stay on top of the Mayor’s latest updates at: https://corona-virus.la/updates

Have you got your face mask handy? They are required when you head out of the house. Masks or cloth face coverings can prevent COVID-19 transmission to others, and this is their most important use for us. If we lower the likelihood of one person infecting another, the impact is exponential. Even a small reduction results in a huge decrease in deaths. Make sure you wear a face covering when you leave the house.

Youtube: How to make a face covering

Center for Disease Control: PDF Instructions for Making a Mask

Avoid Scams

DMV Expands Virtual Office

Customers can now take care of more essential transactions without an office visit

The California Department of Motor Vehicles is expanding the DMV Virtual Field Office at virtual.dmv.ca.gov to create more digital options for transactions that previously required an in-person office visit. Available transactions now include:

• Vehicle title transfers (transfer of ownership) and duplicate titles
• Complex vehicle registration renewals that require additional documentation, including partial year registration for commercial vehicles
• Submission of commercial driver medical certificates
• Temporary driver license extension (drivers encouraged to renew their license online if eligible)
• Online renewals and reinstatements for vehicle salespersons
• Customers with pending virtual transactions can check the status online

“Creating these virtual options provides Californians more opportunities to take care of DMV business without visiting an office,” DMV Director Steve Gordon said. “Dozens of DMV services are available online and through the Virtual Field Office. The DMV continues to use technology to improve the customer experience.”

The Virtual Field Office – which allows customers to upload documents, provide an e-signature (if required) and pay associated fees with an e-check – builds on the many other online services already available to DMV customers at dmv.ca.gov, including eligible driver license and vehicle registration renewals. The most recent online service added is duplicate driver license.

The DMV continues to provide essential services via mail, online, kiosks, call centers, available business partners and virtually to process critical transactions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Customers can use the Services Advisor on the DMV website to learn their options to complete DMV tasks.

Full DMV Press Release

DWP Services

As some businesses start to open up and we transition into this new phase of Safer at Home, our top concern remains making sure you have the essential services you need to get through this crisis. If you’re facing a financial hardship and need help paying your bill, we can help. We offer extended payment plans and discount programs. We don’t charge late fees and don’t report late payments to credit bureaus – it’s one less thing to worry about. We’re in this together.

Financial Assistance

DWP reminds if you are reopening your business, to flush your pipes and faucets to ensure water quality.

Electrical Safety Education

Looking for ways to keep your kids entertained in a fun, educational way? We have several free online activities to teach kids (and parents!) the basics of electrical safety at home and outdoors. Access fun activities and games on our website at e-SMARTkids.

With the City providing tools, processing and training on virtual meetings, the Van Nuys Neighborhood Council is up and running again and we invite you to join us by taking a seat on the Council. We have openings for:

• Education Representative
• Non Profit Community Based Organization Seat #1
• At Large Industrial Seat #1
• Youth Representative

Please complete the VNNC Boardmember Application and email it to the VNNC President sam.woolf@vnnc.org by July 1 for consideration.

As a result of the Safer at Home Order and State of Emergency, the Van Nuys Neighborhood Council has been unable to hold meetings, but been given the opportunity to use $5,000 in emergency funds from our budget for the community.

We started by designating emergency funds to support Van Nuys families in need of water. On Fridays, families were able to get up to 5 gallons of water at two select water dispensaries for a three week period. After that time, the dispensaries closed to take care of their families.

The emergency funds available to us increased and we then got approval to give $1, 526 to the Mid Valley Family YMCA, Hope of the Valley and the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission. Following is information on how each of those organizations benefit Van Nuys.

Mid Valley Family YMCA

The Mid Valley Family YMCA is a part of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, and now more than ever the Y is needed to meet our communities needs. The LA Y is responding in major ways but here is how your local Y is responding in the Van Nuys community.

• We currently are providing 2,700 grab and go meals for our community members over two days on Monday and Wednesday and leveraged this meal program outreach to engage our community members with Census outreach, we will be adding to this by providing free delivery of produce and essential items to those community members that need us most.
• In partnership with the American Red Cross we hosted a blood drive where 43 donors and 28 first time donors came together to collect 46 units of bloods which is enough to potentially save the lives of 138 people – we will be hosting another one on May 21st and May 28th
• In partnership with Valley Presbyterian Hospital we launched a childcare site for the staff of the hospital, as well as we have reopened our preschool located at our site in Van Nuys to serve essential workers for free.
• In partnership with the City of Los Angeles and Sanitation department we re-opened our doors to be able to provide hot showers to those members of our community who are unsheltered. I was also able to connect with 2 organizations a few weeks ago in order to provide 1,200 free towels to the 9 Ys that are providing the shower program as well as provide 2,500 pads and 2,500 liners to ensure that women can have the feminine hygiene products they need. On Tuesday we had a young lady who was walking out who stopped and just started to cry in our lobby we all asked her if she was ok and she just turned to us and said “you don’t know how happy this made me today, I am so thankful you guys are doing this”
• While the stay at home order has been extended we are working on how we can be creative and still have our Annual Pancake Breakfast in partnership with Van Nuys Airport – some ideas include providing pancake making kits to our community members and engaging with them on social media to share how they are celebrating by making pancakes at home with their family.

A donation from the Van Nuys Neighborhood Council would help to enable the Y to continue the vital programs we are providing for as long as needed.

Hope of the Valley

For $1526 we would be able to purchase 744 meals and care for individuals experiencing homelessness. Hope of the Valley has opened numerous new shelters throughout the valley and is a staple in the Van Nuys community. They are an Access center for individuals who are homeless and do immeasurably good work.

The San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission

Established in an effort to serve the homeless in the greater San Fernando Valley, the roots of the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission grow deep, span over 40 years and were established as an outreach ministry of the Rescue Mission Alliance – a Christian based non-profit organization. Founded in 1998, the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission began as the Rescue Survival Outreach Services (S.O.S.) Program serving meals to the Valley’s homeless. In 2002, the Mission launched the Family Shelter program in a collaborative effort with San Fernando Valley area churches in response to the critical unmet need for a year round emergency shelter. The program has been designed to provide homeless men, women, children and families an opportunity, not only to obtain food, shelter, and basic life necessities, but also provides a foundation for individual and family restoration by developing a personalized plan based on their needs for achieving personal growth, employment, and housing.

We are grateful to these non profit partners for serving our community!

April 28, 2020

A safe parking lot first proposed by Councilmember David Ryu moved forward this week, as a motion introduced by County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl to identify funding for converting the lot into safe parking was unanimously approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

The roughly 20,000 square foot lot, located at 15380 Oxnard Street, was proposed for safe parking by Councilmember Ryu in February. It is owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on a long-term lease to the City of Los Angeles. Senator Dianne Feinstein helped facilitate an agreement between Los Angeles and the federal government to allow for a Safe Parking program on the lot. Supervisor Kuehl’s motion seeks a report back in 30 days with funding sources for the development of the lot as well as one year of operation as part of a Safe RV Pilot program.

Image source

Press release

Safer at Home

As you have probably heard, the Safer at Home Emergency Order is extended through May 15 and we are all to wear masks when doing business out in public, as are employees, LAPD and others. DPH Social Distancing Protocol describes actions for each essential business to take according to County Public Health.

Check out the Van Nuys Neighborhood Watch News

DWP reminds us that our drinking water supply undergoes rigorous testing and treatment before it reaches your tap. Your tap water is safe to drink and there is no need to buy expensive bottled water.

Drive Through Testing

L.A. County residents with COVID-19 symptoms may now receive free testing, though priority will still be given to those with underlying health challenges or over 65. For more information about eligibility and to sign up for an appointment, visit Coronavirus.LACity.org/Testing. Drive through testing is available by appointment in the Valley at Hansen Dam, Northridge Medical Center and Warner Center. Check out this video explaining what to expect.