Got an App for that? I sure do...

I am proud to announce that I have my very own iPhone App. It's an MLS real estate search tool. And it's awesome. Download it today and enter the code number 5334 to get FREE access to property listings in Southern California. Click on the image below and you are on your way to access. Enjoy!

5334

Home Buyers Tax Credit passes Congress. Now awaiting Pres. Obama signature...

The Home-buyers Credit just passed through Congress. The credit has been extended and expanded. The bill is on its way to the President and still needs to be signed into law. However, as far as we can tell, the credit will be available till April 30th, 2009.

Here is the press release from CAR:

NOVEMBER 5th -
"More good news for consumers, our members, and the housing market recovery. Following the Senate’s favorable vote yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives just voted 403 to 12 to extend the home buyer tax credit, expanding the parameters to include existing homeowners and not just first-time buyers. As you may know, C.A.R. and our partners at NAR have worked for months urging Congress and the Senate to extend and expand this crucial piece of legislation. We expect President Obama to sign the legislation in short order.

As it now stands, the federal tax credit will be extended through April 30, 2010, with a 60-day extension if a binding contract is in place prior to the deadline. First-time home buyers will continue to be eligible for a tax credit of up to $8,000, while existing homeowners will be eligible for a reduced credit of up to $6,500. To qualify for the $6,500 credit, existing homeowners must have lived in their current residences for at least five years. The bill also increases the qualifying income limits from $75,000 for single tax filers and $150,000 for joint filers to $125,000 and $225,000, respectively. The purchase price of the home is capped at $800,000 in both instances.

Under additional provisions included in the bill, taxpayers can claim the credit on purchases completed in 2010 on their 2009 income tax returns. The legislation maintains the provision that home buyers do not have to repay the credit provided the home remains their primary residence for 36 months after purchase, and waives this requirement for active duty military personnel who move due to a military order."

ENCOUNTERS WITH WILDLIFE SYMPOSIUM - Saturday, November 14, 10 AM until 2 PM

A Public Symposium is being organized by the Sierra Club's Endangered Species and Wildlife Committee and WE WANT YOU TO BE INVOLVED. Contributing to the discussion will be the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks (LADRP), Los Angeles Wildlife Officers, City Council members, including Tom LaBonge and Staff, California Wildlife Center, Duane Tom, DVM, Wildlife Rehabbers and many other experts including interested community members.

The Symposium is not designed as a defense or as a condemnation of recent incidents occurring in Griffith Park, our large Urban Recreation Area, which resulted in 8 Coyote deaths by the Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services. What we want in this meeting (or meetings) is to generate interest from all entities and to go forward to formulate guidelines for State and local wildlife and animal control entities which will equally respect the needs of both human and animal species. The LA Recreation and Parks Department has already identified some actions which they hope to initiate, such as more bi-lingual signs, new trash receptacles which have firm lids and are placed in different locations, and a bi-lingual program of education for children and adults.

As this notice goes to press, we hope that Representatives from the Chumash Tribe, the Humane Society of the US, a concerned citizenry and other experts will join in the much needed discussion.

The Symposium will be held on Saturday, November 14, 10 AM until 2 PM, at the Griffith Park Ranger Station Auditorium on Zoo Drive in Griffith Park. We expect a large turn-out, so come early.

Requests for further information or questions should be directed to Dr. Rosemarie White, Chairperson for the Endangered Species and Wildlife Committee, at 818-769-1521

FYI: Hollywood Community Plan documents now available online

We would like to inform you that several additional sections of the
Draft Hollywood Community Plan are now available online for your review
and comment. These sections include the following: the Draft Land Use
and Zone Change Map; the Draft Matrix of Existing, Planned and Proposed
Land Use; the Draft “Q” Qualified Conditions; the Draft “Q”
Qualified Condition and “D” Development Limitation Appendix; and the
Draft Street Designations. You may find these documents on the City
Planning Department’s website, http://cityplanning.lacity.org, under
“New Community Plans - Hollywood - Latest Plan Update - What’s
New”.

Copies of all available sections of the Draft Hollywood Community Plan
will be placed in the following public libraries:
● Frances Howard Goldwyn-Hollywood Regional Library, 1623 N. Ivar
St., LA 90028.
● John C. Fremont Branch Library, 6121 Melrose Avenue, LA 90038.
● Los Feliz Branch Library, 1874 Hillhurst Avenue, LA 90027.
● Will and Ariel Durant Branch Library, 7140 W. Sunset Boulevard, LA
90046.

Please note that the Draft Hollywood Community Plan documents are
presented in draft form and no formal recommendations have yet been
made. Staff will prepare recommendations after the first public
hearing.

The last feature of the Draft Hollywood Community Plan to be released
will be the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR). The release of
the DEIR should occur sometime in the fall. At that time we will start
scheduling briefings with the neighborhood councils and other major
stakeholder groups. The briefings will provide an opportunity to go
over the proposed policies, programs and land use changes, answer
questions, and gather input from the community. The series of briefings
will conclude with an Open House/Public Hearing.

Your active participation in the review of the Draft Hollywood
Community Plan is greatly appreciated. Any questions or comments about
this process may be addressed to Mary Richardson at
Mary.Richardson@lacity.org, (213) 978-1205, or Jon Tanury at
Jon.Tanury@lacity.org, (213) 978-1214. We have updated our email
list and encourage your feedback so that we can improve our outreach.

Good news for Griffith Park users, neighbors and the planet!

Good news for Griffith Park users, neighbors and the planet!

At the DWP 2009 Holiday Light Festival planning meeting on Sept 17, the community expressed concerns about several aspects of the 2009 draft plan. Two of them have been addressed by the DWP and Kimberley Hughes and her staff deserve thanks for their responsiveness. (final plan message follows)

1. Because the 2009 draft plan did not change the ratio of walking vs. driving nights over last year--as proposed, 2009 would remain 1/3 people power, 2/3 engines--the community asked the DWP to please rethink this and strive for a 50/50 split this year. They did, turning the ratio in the right direction...15 walking nights vs. 13 driving nights this year.

2. Because the 2009 draft plan again proposed deploying buses on walking nights to shuttle visitors parking from lots remote from the walking route, the community asked the DWP to obviate the need for buses by directing visitors to the Zoo parking lot. They did, saving $$$ and lowering pollution.

3. Because with exception of Bike Night, bicycles are prohibited for the Festival's duration, the community asked that they be allowed access. This has not been addressed, although additional bike racks will be available this year at both ends of the light displays.

One very significant change...this year's event will be ten days shorter in duration, beginning on December 3 instead of Thanksgiving week.

Incremental progress is being made towards a combustion-engine free Light Festival. THANK YOU to all who have worked on this, sending letters and e-mails, advocating in person and petitioning.

Bernadette Soter
Parks, River and Open Space Committee (PROS)
Greater Griffith Park Neighborhood Council (GGPNC)
bsoter@earthlink.net




The revised plan for the 2009 Holiday Light Festival will be as follows:

Preview Bike Night (opening night) Thursday, December 3, 2009 5-10PM

“Vehicle Free” Nights Friday, Dec. 4 through Thurs., December 17, 2009 5-10PM
Parking at the zoo - that will be the only location promoted.

Family Fun Mini Fair Friday, Dec. 11, Saturday, Dec. 12, Sunday, Dec. 13 5-10PM
Culminates the final weekend of “vehicle free” days

Traditional Festival Route
(driving, walking on path, shuttles) Friday, Dec.18 through Wednesday, Dec.30, 2009 5-10PM

Speeding along Hillhurst and Vermont in Los Feliz

It's been a problem for awhile and now it's time to take action. I am sure you have noticed the increase in traffic in the last several years in our community. But have you also noticed the speeding occurring as well? It's getting dangerous and out of control.

There is an upcoming SLO (Senior Lead Officer) Summit July 29th 6:30 PM at Dodger Stadium, Stadium Club Parking Lot L

More info: http://www.losfelizvillageonline.com/807/

The Summit would be a great place to voice your concern. Also Tom LaBonge’s office. There is also currently a light scheduled to be installed at Hillhurst & Finley (corner of Farfalla).But, what with the budget crisis, it may be a project that ends up being cut.

Time to make your voice count!

TASCHEN Book Sale

"We’re having our semi-annual sale this weekend. It starts on Friday and runs through Sunday. As usual, tons of tomes at 50-75% off (this time even more than that on some titles). Hope to see you there!"

TASCHEN Warehouse Sale

June 19th – 21st

TASCHEN Hollywood

Farmers Market, 6333 W 3rd St

Clock Tower

Los Angeles, CA 90036

Friday/Saturday 9am -9pm, Sunday 10am-7pm




TASCHEN Beverly Hills

354 N Beverly Dr.

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Friday/Saturday 10am-7pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm

Eastside - Who's side is it?

The L.A. Times today (Sunday May 31, 2009) posts an article about where the true Eastside really exists. Everyone has a voice. You decide. Post your comments. I think Silver Lake/Los Feliz and basically any area East of Hollywood is part of the Eastside...

Read article here