By Mary O’KEEFE

More than 65% of LA County is unincorporated and is governed by the LA County Board of Supervisors with County departments providing municipal services. The County is divided into five supervisorial districts; La Crescenta/Montrose is in the fifth district. In some areas town councils, or neighborhood councils, have been in place since the 1960s; however, in the 1990s former Fifth District Supervisor Michael Antonovich began working to organize and expand the councils.

“The [CV Town] Council is the conduit between residents of the unincorporated area of Los Angeles County/La Crescenta-Montrose and Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s office,” explained Harry Leon, president of the Crescenta Valley Town Council. Barger replaced Antonovich as the fifth district supervisor.

The town council representatives are elected and work in an advisory position to the supervisor of their district. The Councils have their own bylaws and are also non-profit organizations.

CVTC has worked for the community in many ways through its committees, including land use and design review, and its philanthropic outreach. During the Foothill (210) Freeway pavement rehabilitation project that began in 2015, CVTC invited representatives from Caltrans several times to its monthly meetings to update the community on the progress of the project. Glendale Unified School District representatives attend the monthly meetings to discuss current and upcoming issues at the district schools including the Sagebrush territory transfer.

“We [also] bring information from Supervisor Barger’s office in regard to any ordinances or any issue [her office] would like us to [share] with the community,” Leon said.

Leon has been on the CVTC for 10 years, three of those years he served as vice president, and this is his third term as president. He has made it his mission to attend as many community events as possible and to listen to anyone who wants to talk about Crescenta Valley, even those who have negative comments.

“Sometimes it’s not easy,” he said. “I have developed a [thick skin]. In every situation you have some who are for [an issue] and some who are against it.”

He continues to work and attend so many events because La Crescenta is his home.

“My passion is for my community,” he added.

Leon founded the CVTC-Youth Council about nine years ago. The kids are appointed to the youth council and work as liaisons between the youth of the community and the Council. They learn how to share their concerns about issues and how government works, Leon said. “It’s a way to teach our children about civic duty.”

Several concerns of local residents have their roots in a state or federal issue.

“Some of the biggest issues we are facing in the community right now are density allowance and the [proposal of] AB 516,” he said.

AB 516 is a bill that is now in the California senate that proposes to change the towing ordinance for vehicles parked overnight. The bill is not designed to affect parking ordinances that are already law in cities and counties.

“People are also concerned about illegal dumping,” Leon added.

Furniture, like sofas, is often dumped on sidewalks around La Crescenta. Leon is contacted by neighbors who find furniture and other items dumped in front of their homes.

Leon invites residents to come to the monthly CVTC meetings that are held at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at the La Crescenta Library community room, 2809 Foothill Blvd. The CVTC-Youth Council meets at 6 p.m. prior to the CVTC meeting.

“This community is very vibrant. It’s a good community that is family-oriented where everybody knows everybody … and we want to keep it that way,” he said. He urges community members to come to the meetings, to share issues and learn about what is happening in their neighborhoods.

“Residents here are passionate about their fellow citizens,” he said. “Things are changing in our community and we want to be ready for whatever changes are coming our way.”

  Mary Okeefe