Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association

POWER CRISIS

Jun 24, 2001

Our June 20th Meeting will focus on the current electricity crisis facing the State of California. Harvey Rosenfield of the Foundation for Taxpayers?’ and Consumers?’ Rights is an expert on the problem ?– how we got here and what is the solution.
Although Los Angeles City has so far been spared blackouts and large price increases, there is talk about the State requiring Los Angeles residents to ?“feel the pain?” in order to force conservation. There are rumors that the Stale may force the City to sell electricity into the State power grid and make City residents and businesses participate in blackouts and pay the same higher rates as those that are supplied by the private utility companies.
Among the questions to be discussed are:
?• Has the $8 billion spent by the State so far produced any results?
?• What has the Governor been doing and what must he do to solve the problem?
?• Did the power companies sell their generating plants, dividend the proceeds and now are crying poverty?
?• How will the State purchase of electricity affect its budget?
With the hot weather just beginning, blackouts and escalating problems may now only be beginning. Harvey Rosenfield will explain what must be done to solve this crisis.

Jules Feir announces that the ?“Restaurant of the Month?” is the very popular Baja Fresh. Their recently opened location at the La Reina Center is already a neighborhood success. The owners, Dennis Rhode and Greg Finefrock, opened their first restaurant at Ventura and Coldwater and since then have opened several very successful Westside locations. What makes Baja Fresh so popular? You will find out when you attend our June Meeting and enjoy a sampling of some of their great food during our social hour starting at 6:30 p.m.
* * *
According to the Daily News, the 405/101 Freeway Interchange is the second busiest interchange in the State. It was built in 1956 for 200,000 vehicles a day. Currently, 551,000 vehicles per day try to squeeze through the Interchange.
As you know, during a major portion of the day the northbound 405 traffic is backed up to Mulholland Drive.
Former Assemblyman Wally Knox spearheaded efforts to get State and local funding to expand and rebuild the Interchange. Knox left office last December and Assemblyman Paul Koretz, who represents the western portion of Sherman Oaks, is now in charge of getting this project completed.
At a recent meeting hosted by Assemblyman Koretz, we learned for the first time that the expansion project will not be completed until 2008. Although work is currently under way for adding an exit lane on the 405 northbound between Mulholland and Greenleaf, the main bottleneck is the roadway between the Ventura Boulevard exit and the 101 roadway. For some unknown reason, that area is the last to be widened. As the result of the recent meeting with CalTrans, Assemblyman Koretz has written the Director of CalTrans requesting that the project be ?“fast tracked.?”
We will keep you advised concerning the success of Assemblyman Paul Koretz.
* * *
Sherman Oaks has one of the largest Preferential Parking Districts (District 51) in the City. However, the District is only as good as the enforcement by the City. We have been receiving more and more complaints from area residents that the City is not enforcing the posted time restrictions. Also, people have been using fraudulent annual and visitors?’ passes as well as expired passes.
If you live in District 51 and want to join our Committee, please contact Michael Mattes (818/789-3668) or Chuck Betz (818/990-4388). Please continue to report parking violations (blocking driveways, longer than 2-hour parking, parking before 8:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m.) to Valley Parking Enforcement (818/756-9418) (Supervisor is Sergeant Cotton, 818/756-9408).
* * *
Sharon Mayer, Chief Field Deputy for Councilman Feuer, reports that the restaurant Casa Vega is planning a significant remodel to their restaurant. The City Planning Department indicates that the Plans conform with the Venture Boulevard Specific Plan and additional parking will be needed. Sharon will be obtaining copies of the plans for the Association.
Sharon also conveys Councilman Feuer?’s and his staff?’s appreciation to the Association?’s Members for the opportunity to serve Sherman Oaks and achieve so much during the last six years.
* * *
You should be receiving shortly your invitation to the annual Barbecue at Bloomingdale?’s, which will be held on Saturday evening, July 14th. It will be a fun evening with dinner, a great band, an intriguing Silent Auction, and of course our famous Celebrity Fashion Show.
The event is the principal method for us to raise money for tree planting along Ventura Boulevard. In addition to being a fun event, this is an opportunity for you to help your community and meet with your neighbors.
Bloomingdale?’s will donate 10% of all sales to Association Members on Saturday, July 14th to the Association for the Ventura Blvd. Tree Planting. We urge you to shop on July 14th at Bloomingdale?’s. When you enter the store volunteers from the Association will give you information.
Attendance is limited (over 500 people attended last year) so we urge you to respond to the invitation as soon as you receive it. If you would like to volunteer to help at the event, contact Jules Feir at 818/990-1615.
* * *
On June 30th, Councilman Michael Feuer will retire as Councilman representing Sherman Oaks. We want to express our sincere thanks to him for his service and support for the past six years. We also want to thank his staff at the Sherman Oaks office for their dedication to keep Sherman Oaks a great community. Those of us who have worked with Sharon Mayer, his Chief Field Deputy, can attest to her commitment and dedication. In addition, Field Deputies Ben Fiss, Kimberly Hlaing, and Jimmy Gomez have all done a great job and we thank them for their hard work and support.
* * *
The Los Angeles Police Department invites you to a Symposium on Domestic Violence featuring Police Chief Bernard Parks and District Attorney Steve Cooley. It will be held on Thursday evening, June 28th, at 5:30 p.m. at Church on the Way, 14800 Sherman Way, Van Nuys.
* * *
As is normally the case, we will not have a July meeting or Newsletter. It is therefore important that we have your email address if we need to contact you prior to the next Newsletter (mid August). If you have not received a Sherman Oaks Update, we do not have your email address. Please email your address to us at soha914@hotmail.com.
We hope to see you at the June 20th meeting and the July 14th Barbecue at Bloomingdale?’s.