A Winter Wonderland, a Downtown Spring
11/20/2009 @ 4:25p by Antonio Villaraigosa
Today, in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, surrounded by students from San Pedro Elementary and some phenomenal figure skating champions, I helped kick off the 12th Annual LA Downtown on Ice. Through the holidays, Pershing Square will be transformed into Southern California's largest outdoor ice-skating rink.
Our answer to Rockefeller Center lets locals and tourists enjoy the renewed urban landscape of downtown while taking a yuletide glide in true LA fashion -- under sunny skies and without a jacket.
11/19/09 @ 4:55p by Antonio Villaraigosa
Today, I'm proud to announce a down payment of over $4 million dollars to start putting Angelenos who dropped out of high school back to work through the Workforce Investment Act. We're also launching the Reconnections Academy, which will help put more than 1,000 young adults back to school and back to work. The Academy will help them earn their high school degrees, and then find them good jobs that will place them on a pathway to a career. And an additional $750,000 will be used to hire workers to weatherize buildings and make our communities more energy efficient.
All of these projects are your stimulus dollars at work in your city.
11/17/09 @ 3:44p by Skipp Townsend
Breaking street gangs' grip on our young people is going to take more than tough talk and locking people up.
Trust me. I grew up in a poor neighborhood, surrounded by violence, in a school system that didn’t expect me to succeed, with no career path in sight. I know why so many kids in that situation join a gang, because I did myself. At least I had my homeboys' loyalty, a family, a community. At least I had respect and people who had my back.
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THE NEW CHIEF OF POLICE
November 3, 2009--Today Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa nominated Deputy Chief Charlie Beck to be the next Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department.
“Beginning his career with the LAPD 32 years ago, Chief Charlie Beck has earned the reputation as a progressive police reformer,” Villaraigosa said.
“He is a man of character and integrity, a police officer who is tough on crime, and he is a leader with a deep respect and understanding of the police officers under his command and the communities they are sworn to protect and serve. Chief Charlie Beck is the right man to lead the Los Angeles Police Department.”
Read more HERE
November 19th - January 19th, 2010, 10a.m. - 10p.m. -- 12th Annual Downtown on Ice at Pershing Square
Situated amid the downtown skyscrapers, the rink will be open for ice skating daily, including holidays.
Site: Pershing Square, 532 S. Olive St., Downtown Los Angeles
Cost: $8 per hour
INFO: (213) 847-4970,
www.laparks.org
November 23rd - December 30th, 5p.m. - 10p.m. -- 14th Annual Holiday Light Festival
This attraction features a mile-long stretch of lighted displays depicting various seasonal messages. The event can be enjoyed from within a vehicle, a free shuttle on weekends, or during a casual walk. November 23rd is set aside for bicyclists.
Site: Griffith Park, along Crystal Springs Dr., Los Angeles
Cost: Free
INFO: (323) 913-4688, www.laparks.org
November 22nd, 10:00a.m. - 4:30p.m. -- 12th Annual Mariachi Festival
This is a celebration of the Mariachi tradition with performances, education, and children's art activities to preserve global diversity in Mariachi music.
Site: 1st St. and Boyle, Boyle Heights
Cost: Free
INFO: 818-509-0088
November 15th - May 3rd, 2010 -- MOCA's First Thirty Years Exhibition
On the occasion of its 30th anniversary, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA), debuts Collection: MOCA's First Thirty Years, the largest-ever installation of its renowned permanent collection featuring more than 500 artworks by over 200 artists.
Site: The Museum of Contemporary Art, 250 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles
Cost: See tickets.moca.org
INFO: (213) 621-1741, www.moca.org