When I had the honor of becoming CV Town Council president in 2014, one of the goals I set for Council was to start reaching out to our neighbors, not just within our unincorporated area, but our neighboring cities as well. Issues do not stop at Pennsylvania Avenue and Foothill Boulevard or Montrose Avenue. For example, for quite some time we have been supporting our neighboring cities to the east with regard to the 710 tunnel. We have lent our support to V.O.I.C.E to save the Verdugo Golf Course as well. These are just a few examples. We do not live under a dome in La Crescenta and what is happening in our neighboring cites many times will have some type of reverberating effect on our own neighborhoods and sometimes our daily lives.

At this month’s CV Town Council meeting on Feb. 19, we will be hearing several presentations regarding an issue that may impact our neighbors to the west. Our first presenter will be the High Speed Rail Authority followed by a presentation from S.A.F.E., a homegrown citizen group fighting to protect their neighborhoods.

In brief, the High Speed Rail Authority has three proposed routes that, if approved, would create tunnels through the hills on each side of Big Tujunga Wash. A bridge carrying the high speed train would span the entire width of the wash connecting the tunnels from Kagel Canyon across to Shadow Hills. Many of our own residents enjoy a variety of outdoor activities in the south Sunland, Shadow Hills and Lake View Terrace neighborhoods. Some of these activities include fishing, hiking, golfing, Boy and Girl Scout events as well as a variety of equestrian events. Learn more about S.A.F.E. by visiting www.dontrailroad.us and the High Speed Rail at www.hsr.ca.gov.

Continuing the theme this month about supporting neighbors, Council will continue to keep you informed about items that may affect where you live. L.A. County Streets and Lighting will also be making a presentation at our February meeting to discuss “street light petitions.” Currently there is petition circulating in a specific area within La Crescenta. County representatives will be available to discuss the process a petitioner must follow and how petitions are responded to once submitted. For or against street lights in La Crescenta, you may want to stop in and hear this information.

Lastly I would like to take a moment to clarify a letter Council drafted to the City of Glendale and Supervisor Antonovich with regard to the proposed Arroyo Verdugo Bike path. The CV Town Council has not endorsed this project. The Council did request Supervisor Antonovich support a feasibility study; we have not yet had a response as to whether or not he will provide his support. At our Thursday council meeting, a revised letter to the City of Glendale and the supervisor will be presented for Council approval. A copy of our original letter can be found on our website under Council documents 2014 correspondence.

We hope to see you all at our Thursday meeting on Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. in the La Crescenta Library Community Room. Looking ahead to our March 19 meeting, Council has invited all of the GUSD School Board candidates to participate in a good old-fashioned debate. Our moderator will be Councilmember Mike Claessens who will present questions accompanied by one of our CV Youth Town Council members. Candidate questions can be submitted to contact@thecvcouncil.com.

Robbyn Battles, President 

CV Town Council

robbyn@thecvcouncil.com

  Robbyn Battles