Krekorian Kicks It Off

On the eve of the announcement of his run for the Second District City Council Seat (something we predicted months ago) vacated by now Controller Wendy Greuel, Assemblyman Paul Krekorian visited the Mid-Town North Hollywood Neighborhood Council Wednesday evening to shake hands and introduce himself.

Krekorian spent most of his time during public comment on non-agenda items (which unlike voters who attend City Council meetings is not timed for elected officials) touting various achievements during his legislative career and to squarely peg Governor Schwarzenegger for the state's budget mess.

Krekorian was asked by a board member of the Neighborhood Council "what he was running for," to wit he answered he is "considering" the CD2 seat.  The Burbank Assemblyman who recently moved into an apartment in Valley Village announced his entry into the race - which has already attracted a wide field of candidates - at a press opportunity Thursday in Valley Glen.

The election to choose Greuel's successor will take place September 22nd.  Expect a crazy campaign between now and then.

Live Twittering of the Neighborhood Council

Starting in about an hour, get live Tweets from my Neighborhood Council meeting at twitter.com/mayorsam. Woo hoo!

Neighborhood Council Hosts Town Hall on NoHo Development

Here's an opportunity to have an input on the development going on in the greater North Hollywood area including the Valley Plaza shopping district, NoHo Arts District and the area around the North Hollywood Metro Station on Monday, November 17th from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The Mid Town North Hollywood Neighborhood Council presents: A Town Hall - Call to Action: "NoHo - the Vision for the Arts & Future Development."  The event will be held at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences at 5220 Lankershim Blvd (near Magnolia Blvd),North Hollywood, CA 91601.Parking will be provided in the Academy garage.

To RSVP to Gary Baratta, Chairman of the Mid Town North Hollywood Neighborhood Council Planning, Land-Use, Housing and Transportation committee, please click here or email netengineer2000us@yahoo.com.

Jamiel's Law Gets Support of the Midtown North Hollywood Neighborhood Council

Disclosure: I am a member of the Midtown North Hollywood Neighborhood Council Board of Directors.

Wednesday evening Jamiel and Anita Shaw spoke before the Board of Directors of the Mid-Town North Hollywood Neighborhood Council, re-telling the tragic murder of their 17 year old son Jamiel and their efforts to pass Jamiel's Law, which will provide one tool against ending gang violence.

The Board passed unanimously passed a resolution is support of Jamiel's Law when it comes to the ballot as well as called on the City Council to move a similar measure sponsored by Council Member Dennis Zine out of Jack Weiss' Public Safety Committee so it may proceed to a full vote by the Council.

Jamiel and Anita Shaw speak to the Midtown North Hollywood Neighborhood Council

At the same meeting, the Council also approved a resolution I authored offering our support for the Los Angeles City Council's position in opposition to Proposition 8, a measure on the November California ballot that would overturn a recent court decision allowing same-sex couples to marry legally.

A previous decision by DONE and the City Attorney has ruled that Neighborhood Councils may not take positions on state or federal legislation however we determined that our Board could take a position supporting the City Council's position.