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OUR HOLLYWOOD

HELLO FRIENDS: I WANT TO THANK THE HOLLYWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, ALL SPONSORS OF THIS EVENT, AND THE TAGLYAN COMPLEX, FOR HOSTING THE STATE OF HOLLYWOOD ADDRESS. WORDS CANNOT FULLY EXPRESS HOW GRATEFUL AND THRILLED I AM TO BE THE ONE GIVING THIS SPEECH! I WANT TO THANK THE MANY PEOPLE IN THIS GREAT HALL WHO HELPED ME GET TO THIS PODIUM. BEFORE I GET STARTED, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY PARTNER IN LIFE GEORGE BRAUCKMAN, WHO IS HERE TODAY. GEORGE PROVIDES ME WITH THE SPACE AND STABILITY I NEED TO BE AN EFFECTIVE PUBLIC SERVANT AND HE ALWAYS HAS. I HAVE NOW BEEN IN OFFICE FOR NEARLY 7

MONTHS. MY VERY FIRST OBJECTIVE BEFORE GETTING SWORN IN ON JULY 1ST WAS TO HIRE A STAFF THAT NOT ONLY REFLECTED WHO I AM, BUT A STAFF OF PROFESSIONAL PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO DELIVER AN EXCEPTIONAL LEVEL OF SERVICE TO MOVE THIS DISTRICT FORWARD. WE ARE A MOTIVATED BUNCH AND WE WANT TO TAKE THE 13TH DISTRICT TO NEW HEIGHTS. MY GOAL WAS TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING ON DAY ONE AND I BELIEVE WE WERE SUCCESSFUL AT THAT! LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY STAFF IS MY PROUDEST ACHIEVEMENT SO FAR AND MANY OF THEM ARE HERE TODAY. I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM: HECTOR VEGA, ADAM BASS, ANGELO YENKO, ARAM TASLAGYAN, SYLVAN DE LA CRUZ, WILLIAM AYALA, DAVE CANO, GIGI GALIAS, MARIE RUMSEY, TONY ARRANAGA, CHRISTINE PETERS, STAR PARSAMYAN, HAROUT SMERDJIAN, GARY BENJAMIN, STEVEN WHIDDON, MARISOL SALGUERO, MARY RODRIGUEZ, AND MY CHIEF OF STAFF JEANNE MIN. THIS IS MY TEAM OF ALL STARS WORKING EVERYDAY TO IMPROVE OUR HOLLYWOOD, OUR COUNCIL DISTRICT, AND OUR CITY! OUR HOLLYWOOD IS NOT JUST ANOTHER

NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES; IT IS ONE OF THE MOST SPECIAL PLACES IN THE WORLD. A NEIGHBORHOOD, A TOURIST DESTINATION, A WORLD RENOWNED BRAND UNLIKE ANY OTHER. ARGUABLY, NO OTHER COMMUNITY ANYWHERE GETS AS MUCH ATTENTION. THROUGHOUT ITS HISTORY, IMMIGRANTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND MIGRANTS FROM EVERYWHERE IN THE U.S. HAVE MADE IT A DESTINATION; TO BUILD A LIFE, START A CAREER, OR RE-INVENT THEMSELVES. THERE ARE AS MANY HOLLYWOOD STORIES AS THERE ARE RESIDENTS. MY HOLLYWOOD STORY GOES BACK EXACTLY 32 YEARS THIS WEEK WHEN ON JANUARY 21ST, 1982, I ARRIVED HERE FROM OKLAHOMA CITY. I HAD $500 TO MY NAME AND LITTLE MORE THAN THE CLOTHES ON MY BACK. HAVING SOME PROFESSIONAL THEATRE EXPERIENCE UNDER MY BELT, I HAD SCHEDULED AN AUDITION THE NEXT DAY WITH A PROMINENT PRODUCER AND CHOREOGRAPHER WHO WAS PUTTING TOGETHER A MUSICAL REVUE TO TAKE OVER SEAS.

WHEN I ARRIVED, I WAS 21. I HAD SAVED JUST ENOUGH MONEY TO RENT A CAR FOR ONE WEEK, AND STAY IN THE CHEAPEST HOTEL I COULD FIND FOR A TOTAL OF 3 NIGHTS. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT I GOT THE JOB BUT IT WOULDNT BEGIN FOR 5 MONTHS. I DECIDED TO STAY PUT BUT I NEEDED WORK, SO I WOULD STAY IN A HOTEL ONE NIGHT, THEN FIND A SAFE LOOKING, QUIET STREET AND SLEEP IN MY RENTAL CAR THE NEXT. EVERY DAY I WOULD LOOK FOR WORK AND ATTEND AUDITIONS THAT I LEARNED ABOUT FROM THE TRADES. BY THE END OF THAT FIRST WEEK, I HAD GOTTEN A JOB WAITING TABLES IN BEVERLY HILLS AND HAD MOVED TO AN APARTMENT WITH 6 ROOMMATES AT HAWTHORNE AND ORANGE JUST AROUND THE CORNER FROM A SHUTTERED ROOSEVELT HOTEL. I SLEPT ON THE FLOOR AND WOULD GO TO MY RESTAURANT JOB DURING THE DAY, AND TAKE DANCE AND ACTING CLASSES AT NIGHT. I WOULD OFTEN GO JOGGING AROUND THE TRACK AT HOLLYWOOD HIGH JUST DOWN THE STREET. EVERY CHANCE I GOT, I WOULD VENTURE OUT AND EXPLORE HOLLYWOOD ON FOOT. WHEN I WOULD SAVE A LITTLE MONEY I WOULD EAT AT

HAMBURGER HAMLET, OR MUSSO AND FRANK, OR MICELIS, SEE A MOVIE AT THE CHINESE THEATRE, OR GRAB A HOT FUDGE SUNDAE AT C.C. BROWNS ICE CREAM PARLOR. ON MY FIRST EXPENSIVE OUTING, ANOTHER STRUGGLING ARTIST AND I ATE AT YAMASHIROS AND ENJOYED THE SPECTACULAR CITY VIEWS. THE FIRST TIME I COULD AFFORD TO BUY DECENT CLOTHES I BOUGHT THEM AT THE BROADWAY DEPARTMENT STORE AT HOLLYWOOD AND VINE. IT WOULD BE 2 YEARS BEFORE I COULD AFFORD TO BUY A CAR SO I BOUGHT A BIKE INSTEAD AND EITHER RODE OR TOOK BUSES EVERYWHERE. THOSE EARLY MONTHS WERE MAGICAL FOR ME. I WAS HOOKED ON HOLLYWOOD! ALTHOUGH I WAS NEW HERE, I COULD TELL HOLLYWOOD WAS IN A STATE OF DECLINE. HOLLYWOOD WAS A PLACE THAT HAD SEEN BETTER DAYS AND ONE HAD THE SENSE THERE WAS LITTLE INTEREST IN CARING

FOR IT. THERE WAS ESSENTIALLY NO ECONOMIC GROWTH, NO NEW CONSTRUCTION, AND NO MOMENTUM. THE ONLY DECENT HOTEL FOR VISITORS WAS THE HOLIDAY INN, SITE OF THE CURRENT LOEWS HOTEL. CONSIDERABLE BLIGHT AFFECTED JUST ABOUT EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT DESPITE THE GRIME, DESPITE THE PERCEPTION THAT NO ONE WAS PAYING ATTENTION TO HOLLYWOOD, IF YOU LOOKED PAST THE DESPAIR, YOU COULD SENSE THAT THIS COMMUNITY WAS CAPABLE OF BOUNCING BACK, THAT JUST BENEATH THE GRITTY SURFACE, IT STILL HAD SOME SPARKLE. THERE WERE CERTAINLY THOSE THAT HAD GIVEN UP ON HOLLYWOOD BUT THERE WERE PLENTY WHO HADNT. LIKE THE FOLB FAMILY, WHO HAD DEVELOPED AND INVESTED IN HOLLYWOOD SINCE THE 1950S, OR THE FARHADI FAMILY WHO CREATED STARLINE TOURS, OR THE SUNDHER FAMILY WHO BUILT THE HOLLYWOOD WAX MUSEUM, OR OSCAR AND NYLA ARSLANIAN WHO WERE BUILDING THE HOLLYWOOD ARTS COUNCIL WHILE PROMOTING HOLLYWOOD WITH THEIR DISCOVER HOLLYWOOD MAGAZINE.

THE LATE, GREAT JOHNNY GRANT HAD BEGUN DEDICATING HIS LIFE TO TURNING THIS COMMUNITY AROUND. THE HOLLYWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PERSEVERED AND NEVER GAVE UP ON HOLLYWOOD, CARRYING ON WITH THE WORLD FAMOUS STAR CEREMONIES, AND THE HOLLYWOOD CHRISTMAS PARADE. AND NOW AUTHOR SERVICES INC. HAS UPPED THE ANTE EVEN FURTHER BY HOSTING THE ANNUAL PARADE, MAKING IT BIGGER, EVEN MORE STAR STUDDED, AND BETTER THAN EVER! COUNCILMEMBERS LIKE PEGGY STEVENSON AND JOHN FERRARO HELD STEADFAST AND FOUGHT VALIANTLY AGAINST THE DECLINE. THERE WERE OTHERS TOO, INCLUDING OUR FRIEND, COUNCILMAN TOM LABONGE, A FORTY-YEAR PUBLIC SERVANT, AND MANY MORE THAT I DID NOT HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING WHO ACTUALLY KEPT HOLLYWOOD GOING THROUGH THE TOUGH TIMES. IT IS NOT LOST ON ME THAT THE LEGIONS, WHO TOIL DAILY TO MAKE THIS COMMUNITY BETTER, AND HAVE DONE SO FOR YEARS,

DO SO WHILE NO ONE IS LOOKING. THAT INCLUDES MOST OF THE GOOD PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM AND I HOPE ALL OF YOU CAN TAKE SOME SATISFACTION IN KNOWING YOU ARE MAKING AN ENORMOUS DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF EVERYONE WHO LIVES, WORKS, OR VISITS HOLLYWOOD. IN 1914, EXACTLY 100 YEARS AGO, CECILE B. DEMILLE DIRECTED THE FIRST FEATURE FILM SHOT HERE, THE SQUAW MAN, AND HOLLYWOOD HAS DAZZLED AND ENCHANTED PEOPLE EVER SINCE. DESPITE ITS CHALLENGES, I FELL IN LOVE WITH HOLLYWOOD IMMEDIATELY. IT HELD SUCH PROMISE FOR A DREAMER LIKE ME. LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, I WANTED HOLLYWOOD TO SUCCEED, TO COME BACK. I USED TO TELL PEOPLE BACK HOME THAT I WAS SO PROUD TO LIVE HERE, THAT IT WAS THE GREATEST, MOST EXCITING PLACE IN THE WORLD AND THAT SOME DAY, I WOULD FIND SUCCESS HERE! GROWING UP IN OKLAHOMA, I USED TO FANTASIZE ABOUT LOS ANGELES AND HOLLYWOOD. HOLLYWOOD REPRESENTED PROMISE AND OPPORTUNITY, A LAND OF

ADVENTURE AND POSSIBILITIES WHERE A PERSONS DREAMS COULD COME TRUE. HORACE GREELEY FAMOUSLY EXTOLLED, GO WEST YOUNG MAN AND I DID. IN BETWEEN CONTRACTS WHERE I WAS SOMETIMES GONE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AT A TIME, I WOULD GO BACK TO WAITING TABLES. IN 1986 WHEN I WORKED AT THEODORES RESTAURANT AT THE NEWLY RE-OPENED ROOSEVELT HOTEL, I WAITED ON NEW COUNCILMAN MIKE WOO OF THE 13TH DISTRICT. I HAD NO INKLING WHATSOEVER THAT MY DESTINY WOULD EVENTUALLY LEAD ME TO TAKE HIS PLACE SOME DAY. HE AND MANY OTHERS HAD ALREADY BEGUN PUTTING THE BUILDING BLOCKS IN PLACE TO BRING HOLLYWOOD BACK. THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY HAD BEEN FORMED AND THE HOLLYWOOD BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS WERE NOT FAR BEHIND. A SPIGOT OF BADLY NEEDED RESOURCES HAD BEEN OPENED AND IMPROVEMENTS TO HOLLYWOOD BEGAN TO TRICKLE IN. I REMEMBER LISTENING IN ON CONVERSATIONS AT THEODORES, WHERE INITIATIVES WERE DISCUSSED TO MOVE THIS COMMUNITY FORWARD. I WAS CERTAIN THAT THE HOLLYWOOD

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RENAISSANCE WAS JUST AROUND THE CORNER AND IT WAS. OUR HOLLYWOOD HAS COME SO FAR SINCE THE 1980S, THE BEGINNING OF MY HOLLYWOOD STORY. DISNEY REOPENED THE EL CAPITAN THEATRE. THE RED LINE SUBWAY OPENED IN HOLLYWOOD NEARLY 20 YEARS AGO, AND THE FAMOUS HOLLYWOOD FARMERS MARKET BEFORE THAT. LATER DONELLE DADIGAN SAVED THE OLD MAX FACTOR BUILDING AND TURNED IT INTO THE ONE AND ONLY MUSEUM DEDICATED TO HOLLYWOOD HISTORY. JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE CAME TO TOWN. WE HAVE THE MUSICIANS INSTITUTE, THE HOLLYWOOD FILM SCHOOL, AND THE AMERICAN MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC ACADEMY, ALL BUSTLING WITH ACTIVITY AND INCREDIBLY TALENTED STUDENTS AND FACULTY FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. ONE OF THE GREAT ACTING STUDIOS, STELLA ADLER, HAS PERSEVERED THROUGH BAD TIMES AND GOOD. THE CREATIVE CLASS HERE IN HOLLYWOOD IS UNRIVALED ANYWHERE ELSE. WE NEED TO FOSTER THESE INSTITUTIONS SO WE CAN CONTINUE DEVELOPING THE KIND OF TALENT THAT IS OUR LEGACY, AND CELEBRATE

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ITS HISTORY. WHILE THE GREAT RECESSION BROUGHT MOST OF THE CITY, STATE, AND NATION TO A SCREECHING HALT, HOLLYWOOD POWERED THROUGH AND CONTINUED ITS FORWARD MOMENTUM. FOR THE MOST PART, THE PROJECTS THAT DID STALL ARE NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION, LIKE THE CAMDEN PROJECT AT VINE AND SELMA. IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THE CAMDEN SITE IS WHERE THE SQUAW MAN WAS FILMED. OTHERS ARE GETTING READY TO MOVE FORWARD, WITH MANY MORE, LIKE THE PALLADIUM RESIDENCES AND THE MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT, YES THE MILLENIUM (!) EITHER GOING THROUGH A COMMUNITY PROCESS OR CONDUCTING DUE DILIGENCE BEFORE OBTAINING THE PERMITS TO BUILD. I HAVE SAID THIS BEFORE AND WILL SAY IT AGAIN, SURFACE PARKING LOTS IN THE HEART OF HOLLYWOOD ARE NOT THE HIGHEST AND BEST USES OF LAND AT OUR URBAN CORE, ESPECIALLY AT THE ICONIC CORNER OF HOLLYWOOD AND VINE.

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IN HOLLYWOOD, WE WILL ACCEPT NOTHING LESS THAN HIGH QUALITY PROJECTS. THIS IN TURN WILL CREATE QUALITY, MIDDLE CLASS JOBS WHILE IMPROVING THE VIBRANCY, THE LOOK, AND FEEL OF THIS GREAT COMMUNITY. NOR WILL WE SACRIFICE WHAT IS SO GREAT ABOUT OUR RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS WHILE OUR COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS GROW. HISTORIC PRESERVATION CAN AND DOES GO HAND IN HAND WITH GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. CONDITIONS CAN BE EMBEDDED INTO ALL PERMITS THAT GIVE PROTECTIONS OR COMMUNITY BENEFIT RESOURCES TO SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS, SUCH AS TRAFFIC CONTROL MEASURES, DASH BUS SERVICE, STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS, OR SUPPORTING LOCAL NON-PROFIT WORK THAT BENEFITS THE COMMUNITY. HOLLYWOOD HERITAGE HAS BEEN DOING THIS IMPORTANT WORK FOR YEARS AND THIS IS SOMETHING MY EXPERIENCED STAFF AND I KNOW HOW TO DO.

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THE WALK OF FAME IS BEING REFURBISHED. OUR MOVIE PALACES HAVE BEEN RESTORED. WE HAVE ICONIC NEW BUILDINGS, LIKE EMERSON COLLEGE AND TECHNICOLOR GRACING SUNSET BOULEVARD. SUNSET BOULEVARD IS ALSO EMERGING AS A PLACE FOR NEW MEDIA AND DIGITAL MEDIA, AND WILL SERVE AS A HUB FOR THE REGION. THERE ARE MORE QUALITY PROJECTS ON THE WAY IN OUR MAJOR CORRIDORS. OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS HOLLYWOOD HAS HAD THE GREATEST ECONOMIC GROWTH OF ANY NEIGHBORHOOD IN LOS ANGELES. THE YEARS OF NEGLECT, INERTIA, AND UNCERTAINTY HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH A RESURGENCE OF INVESTMENT, GROWTH, JOBS, AND OPTIMISM. MOST OF HOLLYWOODS RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS ARE SEEING SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS, AND COMPANIES LIKE SIREN STUDIOS AND SUNSET BRONSON STUDIOS ARE PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE, AS IS PARAMOUNT PICTURES. SUNSET GORDON IS CLOSE TO OPENING AND EMERSON COLLEGE IS UP AND RUNNING. BOULEVARD 6200, COLUMBIA

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SQUARE, AND OUR VERY FIRST TARGET STORE WILL BE OPENING WITHIN THE NEXT 12 CALENDAR MONTHS. WE HAVE BECOME KNOWN FOR QUALITY RESTAURANTS AND BARS - LIKE FABIOLAS, MERCANTILE, ST. FELIX, AV, BESO, LOTERIA GRILL, AND THE NEXT DOOR LOUNGE, TO NAME A FEW. HEALTHCARE IS THE DISTRICTS LARGEST EMPLOYER. KAISER, CHILDRENS HOSPITAL , AND HOLLYWOOD PRESBYTERIAN ARE ALL CURRENTLY EXPANDING OR PLANNING TO OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. THEY WILL BE HIRING BY THE THOUSANDS. I WILL BE HERE TO HELP ACCOMMODATE AND SUPPORT THAT GROWTH. WE ARE NOT LEAVING ANYONE BEHIND. KERRY MORRISON AND THE HOLLYWOOD BID CONTINUE TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN HELPING TO HOUSE OUR HOMELESS. WITH HOLLYWOOD FORWARD, THEY HAVE CREATED A NEW TEMPLATE THAT IS THE ENVY ACROSS THE CITY AND BEYOND, FOR INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT OF HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND YEARLY HOMELESS COUNTS. THEY GET TO KNOW PEOPLE WHERE THEY LIVE AND TAILOR ASSISTANCE TO THEIR NEEDS.

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WE HAVE OTHER HEROINES LIKE AILEEN GETTY WHO CREATED *GETT LOVE*, AND YOLANDA BROWN OF BLESSED SACRAMENT, WHO ALSO HELP PEOPLE LIVING ON THE STREETS AND ON THE MARGINS OF SOCIETY. I AM PROUD TO SHARE THAT THIS WEEK I WILL BE INTRODUCING A COUNCIL MOTION ALLOCATING $1.5MIL TO BLESSED SACRAMENT IN ORDER TO REHABILITATE THEIR HOMELESS SERVICE CENTER. THIS FUNDING WILL HELP THEM CONTINUE THE GOOD WORK THE GROUP HAS BEEN DOING FOR DECADES. I AM PROUD THESE GROUPS HAVE PERSEVERED ALL THESE YEARS, GIVING AID TO OUR MOST VULNERABLE. WE ALL KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR THE HOMELESS AND WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO FULFILL THIS NEED. LAST FALL -- I INTRODUCED AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLAN THAT SPECIFICALLY CALLS OUT PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR HOMELESS VETERANS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR OUR SENIORS,

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STRUGGLING WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND PROFESSIONALS THAT HAVE BEEN PRICED OUT OF THE MARKET. WE ALSO HAVE THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF HOMELESS YOUTH. MY PLAN WILL ALSO SUPPORT THE SEVERAL NON PROFITS THAT ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, LIKE COVENANT HOUSE, LOS ANGELES YOUTH NETWORK, MY FRIENDS PLACE, A COMMUNITY OF FRIENDS, PATH, HOLLYWOOD COMMUNITY HOUSING CORP. , ST. ANNES RESIDENTIAL CENTER, STEP UP ON SECOND, AND GETT LOVE. I AM COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES ON THIS MAJOR POLICY OBJECTIVE AND WILL LEAD THE WAY TO COMMIT A PORTION OF THE REDEVELOPMENT BOOMERANG FUNDS TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING. MY COLLEAGUE FELIPE FUENTES AND I WILL WORK TO BUILD SUPPORT ON THE LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL, COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, AND HOUSING AND BUSINESS ADVOCATES OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS TO DEVELOP THE RIGHT MIX OF INCENTIVES TO ENSURE WE ADDRESS OUR HOUSING CRISES ACROSS THIS GREAT CITY.

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ONE OF THE OTHER GREAT ISSUES CONFRONTING US TODAY IS THE LOSS OF JOBS DUE TO RUNAWAY PRODUCTION. I AM VERY PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT ONE OF MY KEY CAMPAIGN OBJECTIVES HAS BEGUN. A LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL AD HOC COMMITTEE ON THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY HAS BEEN FORMED AND I WILL SERVE AS VICE-CHAIR ALONG WITH CHAIR PAUL KREKORIAN, AND OUR COLLEAGUE CURREN PRICE JR. PAUL AND CURREN BRING A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE TO THE DISCUSSION WITH THEIR WORK AS STATE LEGISLATORS IN SACRAMENTO FIGHTING FOR MEANINGFUL INCENTIVES TO KEEP PRODUCTION IN CALIFORNIA. TOGETHER WE WILL EXPLORE EVERY POSSIBILITY AT THE LOCAL AND REGIONAL LEVEL TO BRING STABILITY TO FILMING IN LOS ANGELES, ALONG WITH INCENTIVES THAT WILL NOT ONLY STOP THE BLEEDING OF ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY JOBS HERE, BUT HELP TO MAKE THE INDUSTRY STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE AND SET IT ON A COURSE OF GROWTH WELL INTO THE FUTURE. WE HAVE A PARTNER IN MAYOR ERIC GARCETTI. OUR MAYOR HAS APPOINTED HIS OWN HEAVY HITTER, TOM SHERAK, TO LOBBY SACRAMENTO FOR STRONGER STATE INCENTIVES. WE

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MUST APPROACH THIS AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL. FOR EXAMPLE, WE NEED TO CHALLENGE THE FACT THAT THE LADWP SET STUDIO POWER RATES AT PEAK HOURS OF PRODUCTION, DOUBLING, EVEN TRIPLING IN SOME CASES, BY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS PER MONTH, THE PRICE OF ELECTRICITY TO KEEP THEIR SOUND STAGES OPEN. WE NEED TO CHALLENGE THE COUNTY AND OTHER MUNICIPALITIES ON HAPHAZARD AND SOMETIMES EXORBITANT FEES TO FILM IN PUBLIC PLACES THAT DRIVE TELEVISON SHOWS AND FEATURE FILMS OUT OF THE REGION. WE ALSO NEED TO OFFER A CONCIERGE SERVICE TO SMALL AND INDEPENDENT PRODUCTIONS, INCENTIVIZING THEM TO STAY HERE AND HELP THE LOCAL ECONOMY. INCENTIVES MUST BE AVAILABLE TO NETWORK TELEVISION SHOWS FOR THE RUN OF THE PRODUCTION. OUR GOAL IS TO KEEP THOSE CREWS IN LOS ANGELES RATHER THAN LETTING THEM SLIP AWAY TO ANOTHER STATE. HALF A MILLION JOBS ARE AT STAKE, ALONG WITH AN ENTIRE INDUSTRY, A BIG PIECE OF OUR IDENTITY,

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AND A KEY COMPONENT OF OUR LOCAL ECONOMY. I AM NOT JUST COMMITTED TO KEEPING OUR SIGNATURE INDUSTRY HERE. I AM DETERMINED TO HELP IT GROW AND THRIVE! SPEAKING OF JOBS, LOS ANGELES NEEDS MORE OF THEM. WHEN ECONOMISTS SPEAK OF A JOBLESS RECOVERY, THERES NO BETTER EXAMPLE THAN LOS ANGELES. OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE STILL HOVERS ABOVE 10%, LAGGING FAR BEHIND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. I PLACE THE BLAME ON CITY HALL. FOR YEARS, THE BUREAUCRACY HAS BEEN A BARRIER TO SERVING ENTREPRENEURS, ESPECIALLY OUR SMALL BUSINESS CREATORS WHO NEED TO OPEN SO THEY CAN HIRE WORKERS. SMALL BUSINESSES EMPLOY THREE QUARTERS OF ALL WORKERS IN LOS ANGELES AND YET, THEY ARE SOMETIMES TREATED WITH INDIFFERENCE OR EVEN CONTEMPT WHEN THEY COME TO CITY HALL FOR ASSISTANCE. WE NEED TO BE IN THE BUSINESS OF SERVING, NOT JUDGING, HELPING, NOT HINDERING. THIS WILL TAKE REAL REFORM, NOT THE GIMMICKS OF THE PAST, A CHANGE IN THE CULTURE OF COMPLACENCY THAT PERVADES OUR CITY BUREAUCRACY, NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL. OUR

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ANTI-BUSINESS REPUTATION IS RENOWNED ACROSS THE REGION, IF NOT THE COUNTRY. THE RECENT AND VERY SOBERING REPORT PUT OUT BY THE 20/20 COMMISSION APPOINTED BY CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT HERB WESSON, CALLS OUT THE VERY SERIOUS CHALLENGES THIS CITY FACES. WE SHOULD TAKE THIS CRITICISM SERIOUSLY, AND NOT DEFENSIVELY. OVER THE NEXT TWELVE MONTHS YOU WILL SEE ME INTRODUCE REFORMS THAT WILL CHIP AWAY AT THIS PROBLEM. OUR ECONOMIC WELL BEING HERE IN HOLLYWOOD AND ACROSS THE CITY DEPEND ON NOTHING LESS. WE RECENTLY RECEIVED SOME GREAT NEWS FROM THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION. A BIG PART OF HOLLYWOOD AND THE 13TH CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT HAS BEEN CHOSEN AS A PROMISE ZONE. THIS MEANS WE WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR UP TO $500 MILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL GRANTS OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS, PLACING A PRIORITY ON JOB CREATION, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, EDUCATION AND QUALITY OF LIFE IMPROVEMENTS IN NEIGHBORHOODS IN HIGH POVERTY AREAS. SADLY, THAT STILL INCLUDES SEVERAL PARTS OF HOLLYWOOD.

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THE YOUTH POLICY INSTITUTE, VERY ACTIVE IN HOLLYWOOD AND IN THE PICO UNION NEIGHBORHOOD WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE AWARDING OF THIS GRANT. YPI IS LED BY THE AMAZING DIXON SLINGERLAND. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, HE AND HIS TEAM HAVE PUT THE BUILDING BLOCKS IN PLACE TO MAKE THIS GRANT POSSIBLE. I WILL BE WITH THEM EVERY STEP OF THE WAY TO ENSURE THAT WE UTILIZE THESE SOURCES OF FEDERAL FUNDING TO LIFT OUR STRUGGLING NEIGHBORHOODS OUT OF POVERTY ONCE AND FOR ALL. ANOTHER ONE OF THE MAIN SIGNATORIES WHO HELPED SECURE THIS DESIGNATION IS FRIENDS OF THE HOLLYWOOD CENTRAL PARK. THE 44-ACRE PARK, WHICH WILL BE BUILT OVER THE 101 FREEWAY BETWEEN BRONSON AND SANTA MONICA BOULEVARD, IS SPECIFICALLY ELIGIBLE BECAUSE OF THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS THE PROJECT WILL CREATE. THE INDOMITABLE LAURIE GOLDMAN AND HER INTREPID BOARD OF DIRECTORS ARE BUSY EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK, ON THE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS VISIONARY PARK AND THEY DESERVE A BIG ROUND

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OF APPLAUSE! THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW IS NOW UNDERWAY AND SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE WITH CALTRANS AND OTHER STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES. WE WILL BUILD THIS PARK. OUR PARK! FOLKS, IT SEEMS THE MEDIA HAS RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT AN EARTHQUAKE FAULT RUNS SOMEWHERE ALONG THE BASE OF THE HOLLYWOOD HILLS. WHO KNEW? WE DID! THIS IS SOMETHING EVERYONE ELSE HAS KNOWN FOR DECADES. A RECENT STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY DRAFT MAP WAS PUBLISHED AND EXACTLY AS PREDICTED, A FAULT LINE IS BELIEVED TO BE IN THE VICINITY. THE THREAT OF AN EARTHQUAKE SHOULD NEVER BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. ON THE OTHER HAND, FEAR AND PARANOIA SHOULD NOT DRIVE PUBLIC POLICY AND NEEDLESSLY STYMIE GROWTH AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

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ANY PROJECT BEING BUILT WILL STILL NEED TO MEET THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE SEISMIC REQUIREMENTS OF ANY MUNICIPALITY IN THE UNITED STATES. JUST LIKE THE 101 FREEWAY, THE CAPITAL RECORDS BUILDING, THE RED LINE SUBWAY, AND COUNTLESS OTHER STRUCTURES, HOLLYWOOD WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP, AND GROW UTILIZING STATE OF THE ART SEISMIC ENGINEERING STANDARDS IN ALL NEW BUILDING CONSTRUCTION. LOS ANGELES IS A CITY WHERE SEVERAL EARTHQUAKE FAULTS CRISSCROSS NEIGHBORHOODS EVERYWHERE, INCLUDING DOWNTOWN. WE WILL DEAL WITH THIS SERIOUS ISSUE, RESPONSIBLY, AND DELIBERATELY, AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW. WE ALSO KNOW A TENTATIVE RULING HAS BEEN ISSUED REGARDING THE HOLLYWOOD COMMUNITY PLAN UPDATE AND A FINAL RULING IS EXPECTED VERY SOON. ONCE IT IS RELEASED WE WILL HAVE A CLEAR IDEA ON HOW TO PROCEED.

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I SUPPORT THE HOLLYWOOD COMMUNITY PLAN AND ITS GOALS AND INTEND TO WORK WITH EACH OF YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PROGRESS CONTINUES. WE WILL MITIGATE ANY ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IN THE PLAN UPDATE AND KEEP OUR HOLLYWOOD MOVING FORWARD. SINCE TAKING OFFICE WE HAVE ENACTED THE SIGHT-SEEING BUS ORDINANCE TO QUELL THE FREE FOR ALL SIDEWALK SALES OF SOME TOUR BUS OPERATORS THAT HAVE GIVEN HOLLYWOOD A CARNIVAL LIKE ATMOSPHERE WHILE BLOCKING ACCESS TO PEDESTRIANS ON THE HISTORIC WALK OF FAME. WE ADOPTED AND ARE FINE TUNING A VALET ORDINANCE, BRINGING SOME PREDICTABILITY TO VALET FEES FOR VISITORS, AND EMPOWERING BUSINESSES TO TAKE CONTROL OF WHAT HAPPENS IN FRONT OF THEIR ESTABLISHMENTS. WE ARE WORKING TOWARD VOLUNTARY CONDITIONS AND REGULATIONS FOR COSTUMED STREET CHARACTERS ON THE WALK OF FAME TO DISCOURAGE

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THE CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR BY SOME AND ENCOURAGE GOOD BEHAVIOUR SO THAT THEY MAY BE THOUGHT OF AS AMBASSADORS OF HOLLYWOOD AND NOT PREDATORS WHO HARASS OR IN SOME CASES ASSAULT UNSUSPECTING TOURISTS. IF WE DONT DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SET A HIGHER STANDARD ON THE BOULEVARD FOR THE TOURIST EXPERIENCE, WE STAND TO LOSE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF REVENUE A YEAR TO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY. WE KNOW THAT 2011 WAS A RECORD YEAR FOR TOURISM HERE WHEN WE HAD 42 MILLION VISITORS TO LOS ANGELES, WITH MANY MILLIONS OF THEM COMING TO HOLLYWOOD. WE MUST KEEP THEM COMING BACK AND SET THE STAGE FOR VISITORS TO STAY IN HOLLYWOOD LONGER. WE DO THAT BY PROVIDING A QUALITY EXPERIENCE WHERE RESIDENTS, BUSINESS OPERATORS, AND VISITORS FEEL SAFE AND SECURE. SPEAKING OF TOURISTS, WE WANT MORE OF THEM! WE NEED TO DRAW REGIONAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL VISITORS.

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AS CHAIR OF THE ARTS, PARKS, HEALTH, AGING, AND THE LOS ANGELES RIVER COMMITTEE, I AM PUSHING FOR THE PACKAGING AND MARKETING OF THE HOLLYWOOD AND GRIFFITH PARK EXPERIENCE. IN ADDITION TO THE PARK AND ARGUABLY THE BEST URBAN HIKING TRAILS IN THE U.S., WE HAVE THE EXQUISITE GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY, THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN, THE GREEK THEATRE, THE ZOO, MOONLIGHT HORSE RIDING TOURS, GOLFING, TRAVEL TOWN, A CAROUSEL, SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK, AND THE AUTRY NATIONAL CENTER. IF SOUTHLAND RESIDENTS, INCLUDING ANGELENOS BY THE THOUSANDS CAN GO TO SAN DIEGO EVERY WEEKEND AND ENJOY THEIR WILD ANIMAL PARK, THEIR ZOO, AND THE MANY ATTRACTIONS THERE, THEN WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THE SAME FOR LOS ANGELES. BUT WE CAN THROW IN THE UNIQUE GLAMOUR OF HOLLYWOOD WITH OUR WONDERFUL HOTELS, FINE RESTAURANTS AND QUALITY ENTERTAINMENT VENUES LIKE THE PANTAGES THEATRE, THE RICARDO

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MONTALBAN THEATRE, OR THE AVALON. ALL OF THESE ATTRACTIONS ARE CONCENTRATED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO ONE ANOTHER AND YOU WOULDNT EVEN NEED A RENTAL CAR! WE CAN MAKE THE HOLLYWOOD EXPERIENCE MORE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE. WHAT VISITOR WOULDNT WANT TO END THE DAY AT THE W ROOFTOP POOL, WITH A BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE AND CITY VIEWS, OR ENJOY TOP-SHELF SERVICE AT THE REDBURY, LOEWS, THE HOLLYWOOD HOTEL, OR THE ROOSEVELT HOTEL. WE JUST NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF MARKETING OUR SPECIAL BRAND. I WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE TOM LABONGE AND THE LOS ANGELES TOURISM AND CONVENTION BOARD TO HELP MARKET HOLLYWOOD BETTER. OF COURSE, NONE OF THIS CAN BE FULLY REALIZED UNLESS WE FEEL SAFE. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SALUTE OUR WONDERFUL HOLLYWOOD POLICE DIVISION AND THE LEADERSHIP OF CAPTAIN PETE ZARCONE. CAPTAIN ZARCONE, ALONG WITH CAPTAIN CORY PALKA

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HAVE MADE A BOLD, FEARLESS IMPRESSION SINCE COMING TO HOLLYWOOD LAST SUMMER AND WE ARE BETTER OFF FOR IT. CAPTAIN ZARCONE WAS PRECEDED BY COMMANDER BEA GIRMALA, WHO FOR FIVE YEARS, HELPED SET A NEW STANDARD IN HOLLYWOOD. WE ARE ALL BETTER OFF FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP. THE CRIME STATS CAME OUT JUST LAST WEEK AND THEY ARE VERY ENCOURAGING. ALTHOUGH HOLLYWOOD EXPERIENCED SOME HIGH PROFILE CRIME LAST SPRING AND SUMMER, THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT HOLLYWOOD HASNT BEEN THIS SAFE SINCE 1949. SERIOUS CRIME, ASSAULTS AND MURDERS ARE DOWN BY MORE THAN 50% OVER A TEN-YEAR PERIOD AND BY DOUBLE DIGITS SINCE LAST YEAR ALONE. THE VERY FIRST OFFICIAL MEETING I HAD AFTER MY ELECTION AND WEEKS BEFORE BEING SWORN IN WAS WITH CHIEF CHARLIE BECK. I DEMANDED MORE FOOT PATROL OFFICERS ON HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD. THE DENSITY OF PEOPLE ON THE SIDEWALKS EVERY DAY IS NOT UNLIKE TIMES SQUARE IN NEW YORK. OUR POLICE PRESENCE MUST REFLECT THAT WITH BOOTS ON THE

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GROUND. CRIME SUPPRESSION IS KEY WHERE LARGE CROWDS GATHER. THANKFULLY, WE NOW HAVE 60 ADDITIONAL OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO HOLLYWOOD INDEFINITELY. AND THEY HAVE GREAT PARTNERS IN KEEPING HOLLYWOOD SAFER WITH THE OUTSTANDING WORK OF ANDREWS INTERNATIONAL, WHO PROVIDES SECURITY FOR THE HOLLYWOOD BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. THE LAPD KNOWS THAT AS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, I WILL DO MY PART IN MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO CONTINUE A ROBUST POLICE PRESENCE IN HOLLYWOOD AND ACROSS THE GREAT 13TH DISTRICT. HOLLYWOOD HAS ADDITIONAL NEW PARTNERS IN IMPROVING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE HERE. OUR NEW CITY ATTORNEY MIKE FEUER HAS BEEN GREAT TO WORK WITH. MIKE WAS THE SECOND OFFICIAL I MET WITH AFTER THE ELECTION, RIGHT AFTER THE TRAGIC MURDER OF CHRISTINE CALDERON. WE DISCUSSED MEASURES TO MAKE HOLLYWOOD SAFER, SUCH AS INCLUDING THE ENTIRE HOLLYWOOD ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT IN THE ISSUANCE OF STAY AWAY ORDERS, RATHER THAN JUST THE TYPICAL 500 FOOT DISTANCE, FOR KNOWN VIOLENT

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INDIVIDUALS SO THAT SOMEONE WHO HAD MADE THREATS OR COMMITTED A CRIME ON ONE END OF THE BOULEVARD NO LONGER HAS THE OPTION OF ACTING OUT HIS CRIMINAL INTENT JUST DOWN THE STREET. THIS POLICY HAS BEEN IN PLACE NOW SINCE LAST SUMMER. WE ALSO HAVE THE EXCEPTIONAL ANDRE QUINTERO, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PROSECUTOR, TO FILE THE CASES THAT THREATEN TO DIMINISH THE HOLLYWOOD EXPERIENCE WE ARE ALL WORKING SO HARD TO PROVIDE. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HOLLYWOOD IS ON THE WAY UP BUT, AS YOUR COUNCILMAN, I PLAN ON DOING MUCH, MUCH MORE, AND I KNOW I HAVE ALLIES IN THIS ENDEAVOR. LETS GET US TO THAT WORLD CLASS STANDARD WE DESERVE! OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS, YOU HAVE SET THE STAGE FOR THIS DAY. NOW IS THE TIME. THIS IS OUR HOLLYWOOD! FROM LITTLE ARMENIA TO THAI TOWN, FROM THE DELL TO MELROSE HILL, WE KNOW THAT HOLLYWOOD ISNT JUST A LOS ANGELES NEIGHBORHOOD. HOLLYWOOD AND ITS WORLD FAMOUS BOULEVARD BELONGS TO ALL

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OF LOS ANGELES AND WE MUST VALUE IT, TREAT IT WITH RESPECT, NURTURE ITS PROGRESS, AND HELP IT REALIZE ITS FULL POTENTIAL. THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE IT ANYWHERE ELSE. THERE ARENT MORE CAPABLE PEOPLE ANYWHERE ELSE OUTSIDE THIS ROOM TO HELP MAKE IT HAPPEN. YOU HAVE MY LONG TERM COMMITMENT TO LEAD AND TO PARTNER, TO MAKE HOLLYWOOD NOT JUST BETTER, BUT BETTER BEYOND OUR WILDEST DREAMS. WE CAN DO THIS. WE WILL DO THIS. WE WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN. THANK YOU! THANK YOU HOLLYWOOD!