I’d like to start off by welcoming the brand-new members of the Crescenta Valley Town Council. Daniel Kim will serve a three-year term and Sarah Todd will serve a one-year term as a second alternate. They, along with the slate of officers, were voted in at January’s general meeting of the Council. 

It is my distinct honor and privilege to continue serving you as president; it is a pleasure to serve alongside the returning Mike Claessens as vice president, Aram Ordubegian as recording secretary, and Sophal Ear as corresponding secretary. I look forward to working with our new treasurer, Kyle Studebaker, and I welcome her among the ranks of executive officers. I thank Mariam Barnes for her service as treasurer in 2017.

On Jan. 13, we were regaled by Daniel Kim, who was an emcee for the recent installation ceremony of the incoming president, Teddy Choi, and chairman, Sang Lee, of the Korean-American Federation of North Los Angeles. The installation took place at the YMCA. The largest contingent of public officials was from our very own Town Council, which was a point of pride. Congratulations to all!

Speaking for the Council and public officials, we appreciate the help of the office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, especially the hard work of her field deputy, Sussy Nemer, and the entire staff of the supervisor. Indeed, in the last week of January, Supervisor Barger took to the streets of Monrovia for the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s annual homeless count, which gathered data to better see and serve our homeless population. As she shared in her weekly newsletter, “We cannot allow the most vulnerable people in our communities to languish on our streets without help. I am happy to share that the Board of Supervisors passed a motion I authored with Supervisor Ridley-Thomas that will pursue legislation ensuring lifesaving medical care for those with a mental illness … Currently, 37 other states consider medical treatment a basic human right. It’s time for California to do the same. I am ready and willing to do the hard work needed to service those who are suffering and cannot fend for themselves. Thank you for your support in our effort to extend a helping hand to those who need it most.”

This does not need repeating but, as you well know, the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County are not part of any city and are governed by the LA County Board of Supervisors, which acts as your “city council” and establishes policies and regulations that affect you and your neighborhood. Locally, the purpose of our Council is to serve as an advisory body to Supervisor Barger. The Council provides a monthly forum/meeting to discuss issues of concern to the residents and businesses of unincorporated La Crescenta and Montrose.

If you have not recently attended a Town Council general meeting, please join us Thursday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. in the La Crescenta Library community room. This month, aside from first responders and other regulars, you will hear from LA County Public Works about our run-offs and catch basins and its operations throughout the county (including sediment removal that involves trucks going up and down Pennsylvania Avenue that you may have been wondering about). You are all encouraged to speak about issues or concerns and make community announcements. 

Speaking of the County, you may have noticed Two Strike Park is having its basketball court beautifully resurfaced with new basketball hoops and backboards by the Dept. of Parks and Recreation; also, we are in the process of working with Parks & Rec in regard to the trees that were taken down at Two Strike Park.

On this theme of unincorporated Los Angeles County, the “Welcome to Glendale” border signs have caused much consternation. We are not in control of those signs, as you know, because they are located in Glendale. The Town Council continues to echo the sentiments of our community members because the signs pose a safety hazard to motorists due to their placement and muted visibility.

For regular readers of this column, as you know I usually start off with the I-210, but I’d like to end with news of the 210 Freeway by reminding all of you to go on social media for the latest updates, Facebook, Nextdoor, etc. Things have improved from a year ago (do you remember how bad the traffic jams were at the 2 to 210 interchanges?), and they’ll continue to improve, but stay on top of closures that could derail your commute, especially at night.

I look forward to seeing you on Thursday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. in the La Crescenta Library community room at 2809 Foothill Blvd.

Harry Leon is the president of the
Crescenta Valley Town Council.