About Us

- Federal
- State
- Local
- Community

News

UCLA Community & Local Government Relations
Fiscal Year 2008-2009 Update

The following report is an overview of the activities Community & Local Government Relations (C&LGR) conducted and monitored for FY 2008-2009. C&LGR's expertise and resources to the local community and elected officials have offered a unique experience for all involved during the year.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT | WESTWOOD NEIGHBORS AND WESTWOOD VILLAGE | REGIONAL ADVOCACY AND PRIORITY CITIES | CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

I. LOCAL GOVERNMENT

C&LGR remains the primary contact and resource to local elected officials throughout the City and County of Los Angeles , including our priority cities of Culver City , Inglewood , Long Beach , San Fernando , and Santa Monica .

• Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa began his second and final term as the mayor of the City of Los Angeles . Controller Wendy Greuel and City Attorney Carmen “Nuch” Trutanich each began their first terms.
• Newly elected Councilmember Paul Koretz ('79) began his first term as a Los Angeles City Councilmember for District 5. As Councilmember for District 5, he represents UCLA/Westwood as well as the neighborhoods of Bel Air, Carthay, Century City , Encino, Fairfax , and Sherman Oaks. Community & Local Government Relations is in the process of planning a campus visit for Koretz to meet with university leadership. He and his wife Gail have one daughter, Rachel, who will be attending UCLA in the Fall 2009. Koretz served in the California State Assembly from 2000-2006, and previously served as City Councilmember and Mayor of West Hollywood.
• This year, odd numbered Council seats were up for election, with returning incumbents Ed Reyes ('85, District 1), Dennis Zine (District 3), Jan Perry (District 9), Eric Garcetti (District 13), and Janice Hahn (District 15). All are in their final terms as Councilmembers. Also re-elected were incumbents Richard Alarcon (District 7) and Bill Rosendahl (District 11). The even numbered City Council seats will be on the ballot in 2011. 
• UCLA's annual Day with Local Government provided an opportunity for the university's alumni, faculty, staff, and community based programs to visit intimately with local elected officials and staff in October 2008. During the Day with Local Government, relationships between the university, city, and the county were strengthened, further illustrating UCLA's commitment to research, service, and academia. The over 100 Bruin volunteers delivered a strong message of UCLA's pledge to civic engagement and support within the Los Angeles region as a resource in education and sustainability.
• The citizens of the County of Los Angeles passed Measure R on the November 4, 2008 ballot with the required two-thirds of the vote. Passage of the measure implements a half-cent sales tax in the County of Los Angeles for the next 30 years, which is projected to raise approximately $38 billion for the County. Projects on the slate include the “Subway to the Sea” which would provide service from Downtown Los Angeles to Westwood. UCLA faculty and staff toured the Los Angeles subway system with the Metropolitan Transit Authority in April 2009 to better understand the system and how it would impact the Westwood Village area and the UCLA campus.
• Two candidate forums were hosted on campus for the primary and general elections on February 11, 2009 and April 20, 2009, respectively, to fill the office of Council District 5, vacated by Councilmember Jack Weiss. The district encompasses the neighborhoods of Bel Air, Carthay, Century City , Encino, Fairfax , Sherman Oaks, Westwood, and UCLA. Partnering with Manatt, Phelps & Phillips and Southern California Gas, UCLA hosted the two forums moderated by KABC-TV reporter Adrienne Alpert which were televised on KABC. Councilmember Paul Koretz won this seat.
• Los Angeles City Councilmember Wendy Greuel hosted the fifth annual UCLA School of Public Affairs Day at Los Angeles City Hall on February 27, 2009. Students spent the day at City Hall studying an important public policy issue: “Is Los Angeles Building Green Enough?” The question, in reference to the City of Los Angeles' nearly year-old Green Building Program Ordinance, was considered by environmentalists, elected officials, developers, civic leaders, and educators, resulting in a white paper prepared by the students with recommendations for best practices.
• UCLA, the City of Los Angeles , Community Redevelopment Agency, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, LA Business Council, Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation, University of Southern California , and California Institute of Technology signed a Memorandum of Understanding on April 15, 2009 in support of the City's CleanTech Los Angeles initiative. The purpose of the initiative is to bring and retain companies that focus on green endeavors such as solar, wind, battery and hydrogen fuel cell technologies to Los Angeles.
• Los Angeles City Deputy Mayor of Education Miriam Scott Long visited UCLA on April 23, 2009. Deputy Mayor Long met with faculty and staff from the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies (GSE&IS), Student Affairs, and the Center for Community Partnerships, and was briefed on the schools and programs that are making an impact on education, and youth and families in the City of Los Angeles.
• Los Angeles City Councilmember Tony Cardenas visited the UCLA campus on June 2, 2009 to speak on the Juvenile Justice Project with the School of Public Affairs . He discussed the needs and concerns of youth involved in the juvenile justice system, and their next steps following release from the system.
• Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's Hire LA Youth press conference drew over 100 businesses which pledged to hire Los Angeles youth during the summer of 2009. UCLA reasserted its pledge to employ over 400 youth this year.

Back to top

II. WESTWOOD NEIGHBORS & WESTWOOD VILLAGE

C&LGR works closely with the local business community and community groups in Westwood Village , offering expertise and consultation.

• Chancellor Gene Block and Mrs. Carol Block hosted the first annual Chancellor's Brunch for Westwood neighbors on July 19, 2008. The brunch provided an opportunity for members of the various Westwood homeowners associations, business owners, and community leaders to communicate with the Blocks in the relaxed setting of the Residence. The Chancellor was also afforded the opportunity to emphasize UCLA's “good neighbor” policy, which is important to maintaining positive relationships with the region surrounding campus.
• The Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center (RRUMC) opened on July 23, 2008. As a level 1 trauma center, RRUMC has a heliport to transport critically injured patients. Since opening, the hospital has received numerous concerns from the neighboring community regarding noise pollution from the arrivals and departures of the helicopters. RRUMC staff held a community meeting with neighborhood and homeowners groups including the Bel Air Association, Holmby Westwood Property Owners Association, North Village Association, and Westwood Hills Property Owners Association to address the concerns. The dialogue resulted in the creation of a website to address and monitor this matter.
• The intersection of Le Conte and Westwood, one of the main entrances to the UCLA campus, was selected as a site for a scramble crosswalk pilot project in the City of Los Angeles . The crosswalk was installed August 7, 2008, highlighted by a press conference with Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa and former Councilmember Jack Weiss.
• The Los Angeles Times hosted the 13 th annual Festival of Books on campus in April 2009. The Festival continues to attract more than 130,000 attendees and included nearly 300 exhibitor booths representing booksellers, publishers, literacy and cultural organizations.
• The Westwood Village Farmers' Market reopened June 17, 2009 on Broxton Avenue after more than one year of being absent. The market now services Westwood Village on Wednesday afternoons and continues as a staple for UCLA faculty, staff, and students.
  

Back to top

III. REGIONAL ADVOCACY & PRIORITY CITIES

C&LGR works closely with regional cities and advocates connecting the university's faculty, staff, and programs with the communities.

• On the November 4, 2008 ballot, the City of Santa Monica considered the measure Proposition T ( Residents' Initiative to Fight Traffic ). The controversial and contested measure failed. If passed, the measure would have limited the total square footage for which the City could approve building permits to 75,000 sq ft per year, which would have affected any potential future expansions or building by the Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center.
• The citizens of the City Long Beach voted in favor of Measure I , the Long Beach Infrastructure Reinvestment Act on the November 4, 2008 ballot . The measure was approved by the required two-thirds of the voters that authorized the City to impose a special tax on parcels of real property with the City. This measure amended the Municipal Code by adopting an Ordinance entitled the "Long Beach Infrastructure Reinvestment Act" to raise revenue solely for the purpose of financing certain infrastructure projects.

Back to top

IV. CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

Civic engagement is one of UCLA's top priorities. UCLA maintains and continues to increase its presence in the community by actively participating and collaborating with local organizations.

• On September 28, 2008, at the invitation of former City Councilmember Wendy Greuel, UCLA participated in the First Annual Valley Fair at Grant High School . C&LGR coordinated with the Early Academic Outreach Program to represent UCLA at the fair.
• On behalf of Mrs. Carol Block, C&LGR coordinated two volunteer service projects at the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank . The events, held on December 20, 2008 and on June 27, 2009, attracted close to 80 faculty, staff, students, and alumni to participate. Partnerships included the UCLA Department of Transportation and the office of former Councilmember Jack Weiss.
• UCLA has a visible presence and is an active participant in the City of Los Angeles Mayor's Days of Service and Resource Fairs . With seven regional Days of Service throughout the year, C&LGR assisted with the planning and recruitment of volunteers. In addition, C&LGR coordinated with Undergraduate and Admissions Relations with Schools (UARS) to attend the resource fairs. Over 100 Bruin volunteers participated in the days of service.
• At the invitation of Council President Eric Garcetti's office, City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo's office, and the Los Angeles Unified School District , UCLA participated in a “College Evening” at Irving Middle School in Northeast Los Angeles . C&LGR invited the Early Academic Outreach Program to participate and speak with parents and students about college opportunities. The presentation was done in Spanish to the mostly monolingual audience.

Back to top

If you have any questions, please contact our staff:
Community & Local Government Relations
Executive Director, Felicia Brannon, (310) 794-6824
Assistant Director, David Broome, (310) 794-6826
Assistant Director, Marco Perez, (310) 794-6830
Assistant Director, Vincent Wong, (310) 794-6825
Executive Assistant, Sharon Hogan, (310) 794-6837