Local Student Reporter Honored by Assemblymember Mike Gatto

Ivanhoe Elementary 4th grader, Charlotte Gilmore, was recently honored by California Assemblymember Mike Gatto (43rd District) for her reporting and writing on school events for the Los Feliz Ledger.

Gilmore received a certificate from Gatto that reads: “California Legislature Assembly Certificate of Recognition Presented to: Charlotte Gilmore. Ivanhoe Elementary School.  Congratulations on having your writing piece “Our New Principal and More News” published in the Los Feliz Ledger. Your hard work, determination, and efforts are truly commendable and will open many doors in your future.  I wish you many more years of academic success.”

This article originally appeared in the Los Feliz Ledger.  You can read this article and more in the Los Feliz Ledger by clicking HERE

Zoo Drive Hit and Run Victim To Survive But May Lose His Legs

By Colin Stutz, Los Feliz Ledger Contributing Writer

GRIFFITH PARK—The 36-year-old bicyclist who was victim to a hit and run that dragged him 600 feet down the Interstate 5 onramp near the Los Angeles Zoo in February, Damian Kevitt, may lose both his legs but will survive the brutal incident.

Meanwhile, his accident has sparked increased awareness of bicycle and pedestrian safety in the region, and may help lead to stricter hit-and-run legislation statewide...

...Kevitt was wearing a helmet but broke 20 bones and crushed his right leg, which was later amputated below the knee. His left foot is missing skin and tissue and may also need to be amputated. His road rash was so extreme, his left elbow was exposed to the bone and his buttocks will require skin grafts.
He has now been released from the hospital’s intensive care unit.

Los Angeles City Councilmember Tom LaBonge (CD4) announced a $25,000 reward for information leading to the identification, apprehension and conviction the driver. So far it has yielded no successful results. The van was also identified to have a “for sale” sign in the window.

“A car shouldn’t be a weapon. Let’s do our part to end this kind of violent crime,” LaBonge said in a statement...

...To address the issue, a month before Kevitt was hit, California State Assemblyman Mike Gatto introduced a bill that will extend the statute of limitations for such offenses to three years from the date of the offense, or one year after a possible suspect is identified by law enforcement, whichever is later. Under current law if a motorist is not identified within three years, he cannot be prosecuted.

“Damien Kevitt is just one of thousands hit-and-run victims who suffer life-threatening injuries annually,” said Gatto in a statement. “Allowing the perpetrators to avoid prosecution just adds insult to these injuries.”

Added Eric Bruins, Planning & Policy Director for the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, “It’s hard for us to encourage people to bike and walk, when our streets are treated like the Wild West.”

An online fundraising account has been setup to help Kevitt handle his medical fees: www.gofundme.com/26nbpc

You can read this article and more at the Los Feliz Ledger HEREMike Gatto is the chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the California State Assembly. He represents Burbank, Glendale, La Cañada-Flintridge, and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Atwater Village, and portions of the Hollywood Hills and East Hollywood.   www.asm.ca.gov/gatto

[Mike Gatto] Post-Election a time for Healing and Unity

A couple of weeks ago, I attended a vigil for victims of domestic violence. Taking place only ten days before the election, my week had been filled with divisive campaign rhetoric. The vigil on the other hand was filled with neighbors setting aside political differences to show support for one-another and help each other succeed.

I believe that the vast majority of people, regardless of political affiliation, or background, want to see their neighbors and their country succeed. Despite the rhetoric to the contrary, our electoral process has never been about our desire to succeed, it is about how that success is best realized.

But now that the ballots have been counted, the final decision we must make is to set aside our differences and unite as a community.  Division does not end simply because the polls close on Election Day. Division ends when we choose to recognize and respect the humanity and dignity of all people.  After all, we are united in the government we share.

We are certainly capable of making the decision to unite. I see it in my everyday life, in situations as simple as parents who look out for a neighbor’s child or as complicated as firefighters who risk their lives with no regard for the political affiliation of the person whose house is burning.

I even saw it in our Presidential candidates, who after the election spoke of the need to come together as a country for the betterment of all. This type of unity should hold a mirror to us all that even when times are tough and money is scarce, when we work together, we can make our communities better for everyone.

As the political season comes to a close, I am happy to see President Obama reelected.  As we enter the holiday season, it is time for us to come together as neighbors, and heal as a country.  I also invite you to share with me additional ideas of how State government can unite with you and your neighbors to make our communities better for everyone.  Happy Holidays to all and best wishes for the New Year.

You can read this article and more in the Los Feliz Ledger by clicking HERE

Mike Gatto is the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the California State Assembly.  He represents Los Feliz, Silver Lake, and portions of Atwater Village along with the cities of Burbank and Glendale and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Toluca Lake, Valley Glen, North Hollywood, and Van Nuys.  His web site is asm.ca.gov/gatto or e-mail Mike at: assemblymember.gatto@assembly.ca.gov, or call him at (818) 558-3043.

[Mike Gatto] Sunnynook Park Highlights Cooperation in Tough Economic Times

Recently, I participated in an event that exemplified the great things we can accomplish through federal, state, local and community cooperation. This project—the groundbreaking for a new park—demonstrated when government and communities work together, we can preserve our environment and make our neighborhoods better.

On July 25th, I joined with Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District Commander Col. Mark Toy; Los Angeles City Council members Tom LaBonge, Eric Garcetti and Ed Reyes; representatives of the Bureau of Engineering; the Dept. of Recreation and Parks, and numerous community organizations to break ground on Sunnynook Park.  Senior citizens from the Griffith Park Community Center and cyclists on the Los Angeles River Bicycle Path will find the park particularly well situated as each will have a new place to rest and relax along the riverfront.

Sunnynook Park will be a 3.4 acre park located along the bike path on the narrow stretch of land between the Los Angeles River and Interstate 5. The park is located on land owned by the Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power and CalTrans, using funds from the Santa Monica Mountain Conservancy and the State Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation (EEM) Grant Program.  Plans have taken a cooperative effort by many government agencies as well as community organizations such as Friends of the Los Angeles River (FoLAR).As part of the Los Angeles River Master Plan, Sunnynook will not only create more green space within our community but will also improve accessibility to the river, expand adjacent native habitat by removing invasive—exotic species and planting additional native plants—and provide river-related environmental education.

Sunnynook Park demonstrates that even in tough economic times, cooperation facilitates progress.  I invite you to share with me additional ideas of how State government can work with you to serve and improve our communities.

Read this article and more at the Los Feliz Ledger by clicking HERE

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Mike Gatto is the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the California State Assembly.  He represents the cities of Burbank, Glendale, and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Los Feliz and Silver Lake.  E-mail Mike at: assemblymember.gatto@assembly.ca.gov, or call (818) 558-3043.

Website of Assemblyman Mike Gatto: www.asm.ca.gov/gatto

[Mike Gatto] Recycled Water for Carwashes is Common Sense

August 2, 2012 - Carwashes are among the biggest retail users of water.  And unlike restaurants or schools or homes, the water used in carwashes is meant to get dirty.  So does it make sense to wash a dirt-encrusted Jeep with drinking water?

That’s the premise behind my Assembly Bill 2230.  It would require that 60% of the water in new carwashes come from recycled sources.

I’m not saying AB 2230 is utopian, but it does start from a question, of how we would design our water laws in 2012 (as opposed to 1912), given the current state of affairs.  We live in a time where everyone has changed habits so as to conserve our state’s precious resources.

And water-recycling technology has advanced to such a point that there is little difference between the water it produces and the water that comes from a tap.  Carwashes, by their very nature, can play an important role too.  They can use the same water again and again.  Filtration technology can remove the dirt and detergents and turn it into water that is just fine for rinsing or washing a car.

The idea for this bill came from my father, Joe Gatto, a Silver Lake resident, who was on the forefront of things like organic farming and conservation, years before the modern environmental movement.  He taught me to never take more than I needed, and to do everything possible to conserve resources for everyone.  But at his core, my father is a pragmatist, who likes common-sense solutions that appeal to even the most skeptical.

I believe the inarguable logic and pragmatism behind this bill is why it has received such strong, bipartisan support in both the Assembly and Senate.

Assuming the bill continues to proceed and is signed by the Governor, it will save enough water in its first year to meet the needs of all of tens of thousands of households.  Think of that: by this simple step, we can conserve water equivalent to what Los Feliz and Silver Lake use in an entire year.  And that water coming out of the tap will continue to be available for drinking or growing vegetables, especially when carwashes can easily and cheaply use the recycled variety.


Read this article and more at the Los Feliz Ledger by clicking HERE

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Mike Gatto is the Assistant Speaker Pro Tempore of the California State Assembly.  He represents Los Feliz, Silver Lake, and portions of Atwater Village along with the cities of Burbank and Glendale and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Toluca Lake, Valley Glen, North Hollywood, and Van Nuys.  He has served in the Assembly since June 2010. His web site is asm.ca.gov/gatto or  e-mail Mike at: assemblymember.gatto@assembly.ca.gov, or call him at (818) 558-3043.

Los Feliz Ledger: Mike Gatto's Homemade Food Act

Last year, my constituent Mark Stambler was shut down by the Los Angeles Dept. of Environmental Health for selling homemade bread to a local cheese shop, but not for health violations. Mark was shut down because he didn’t bake his bread in fancy—-and expensive—commercial ovens.

This action counters the spirit of artisan food making and entrepreneurship that strengthens our community.

In response, I introduced the California Homemade Food Act to allow homemade bakers and other safe food producers to bake and supplement their incomes.

This act—consistent with recent law changes of 32 other states—makes foods, including breads, tortillas, jams, jellies, and cookies, available for sale.

The legislation establishes a two-tier system of operations based upon the point of sale or trade. Homemade bakers opting to sell directly to the consumer would be subject to registration with the local health department and the completion of a food handler’s course.  Producers opting to sell through a retail outlet, such as a neighborhood coffee shop, would be subject to inspections by the local health department. Both would have labels declaring their products “homemade” and have traceable information.

Farmer’s markets and street fairs are flourishing in California.  They bring a sense of community in a modern, impersonal world.  If we can promote these interpersonal relationships at a time when people are struggling to supplement their incomes, then we have accomplished something important for our neighborhoods and small businesses—the goal of the California Homemade Food Act.

Hearty, homemade treats created in community kitchens make their way to a growing number of local bakeries and farmer’s markets—let’s keep this wonderful traditional alive and available for everyone.

 Read more at the Los Feliz Ledger HERE

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Mike Gatto is the Assistant Speaker Pro Tempore of the California State Assembly.  He represents Los Feliz, Silver Lake, and portions of Atwater Village along with the cities of Burbank and Glendale and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Toluca Lake, Valley Glen, North Hollywood, and Van Nuys.  He has served in the Assembly since June 2010. His web site is asm.ca.gov/gatto or  e-mail Mike at:assemblymember.gatto@assembly.ca.gov, or call him at (818) 558-3043.