Honoring Fallen Soldiers and Their Families on Memorial Day
 Councilmember Huizar sponsored two Memorial Day ceremonies on Monday giving thanks to those who died in service and their families. In Boyle Heights he joined Council President Eric Garcetti (a Naval Reserve Officer) and other electeds for the Cinco Puntos Memorial Day event presented by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4696.
And in Highland Park, Councilmember Huizar joined Councilmember Ed Reyes for an event at the Highland Park Memorial Square put on by American Legion Post 206. Councilmember Huizar recently provided a new United States Flag for the Memorial Square and Councilmember Reyes’ office had trees trimmed and repairs made on the fountain that surrounds Old Glory.
See the Highland Park Patch.com story here.
Eighth Annual Adelante Awards – Honoring Students and Families
 Continuing a tradition he launched as an LAUSD board member, Councilmember Huizar hosted his Eighth Annual Adelante (Onward) Awards, honoring 111 elementary, middle and high school students from 59 schools throughout Council District 14.
Designed to encourage students to pursue higher education, the Adelante Awards recognize academic and community-building excellence and are handed out to the two top students from each participating school. Before receiving their trophies, the students, their parents and school representatives enjoyed brunch and a magic show at this year’s ceremony at Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral.
Special thanks to this year’s sponsors: Anjac Fashion Buildings, Academic Advantage, USC Civic and Community relations, Proyecto Pastoral, CVS Pharmacy and Citi.
Congratulations to the 2011 Adelante winners and their families!
Read La Opinion story here.
York Blvd., Huntington Drive Plans Moving Forward
 There has been extensive community participation in the selection of locations and possible projects for the new York Boulevard Vision Plan and the Our Downtown Huntington Drive Plan, corridor-improvement projects sponsored by Councilmember Huizar.
At its most recent meeting, community members working on the York Boulevard plan focused on street porch projects and temporary outdoor living rooms to bring the community together and enhance the pedestrian experience on York Boulevard. The other two potential projects include installing vintage light fixtures on existing light poles on York and – for a longer term focus – to work on placing a park on one of the vacant parcels.
And in El Sereno, project community participants broke into five working groups at their latest meeting to discuss several projects. Following a walking tour along Huntington Drive, participants selected the top sites for mini-plazas from a list of 14 possibilities located along the corridor. They also created a design for each potential plaza.
For information on the York Boulevard project, please call Zenay Lorea at (323) 254-5295.
For information on the Huntington Drive project, please call Arturo Gonzalez at (323) 226-1646.
Huizar Receives 2011 Spirit of VIC Government Leadership Award
 For his successful effort to save City senior meal programs and other senior services in 2010 during the state budget crisis, along with his other emergency food legislation, Councilmember Huizar was selected the 2011 Spirit of VIC (Valley Interfaith Council) Government Leadership Award winner. VIC is a respected San Fernando Valley organization that promotes interfaith dialogue while serving as a leading provider of Senior meal and service programming.
In 2010, Councilmember Huizar worked with the Department of Aging to identify more than $2 million in bridge loans for organizations like VIC to continue vital senior services uninterrupted during the state’s record 100-day budget stalemate. Because of Councilmember Huizar’s actions, more than 537,000 meals were served to seniors throughout the City of Los Angeles during this precarious time.
Other 2011 Spirit of VIC Award winners include Daily News Journalist Rick Orlov and Dr. Jay Grossman, founder of “Homeless, not Toothless,” which provides millions of dollars of free dental care to homeless individuals.
Read Daily News story here.
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The Los Angeles City Council approved and the Mayor signed a $6.9 billion balanced budget for 2011-2012, cutting $336 million while avoiding layoffs. The Council halted a plan to permanently cut 318 positions at the Los Angeles Fire Department as part of the department’s Redeployment Plan, which aimed to save $190 million over three years.
After 14 years without a rent agreement with approximately 60 merchants at El Pueblo Historical Monument (Olvera Street), the City Council supported recommendations to implement new rent/lease agreements recently. The agreement, which has faced numerous hurdles through the years, was ushered in with significant input from Councilmember Huizar’s office and ensures that El Pueblo will be self-sufficient and no longer be subsidized by Los Angeles residents. 