A summary of selected City Hall actions this past week affecting Central Los Angeles.
CITY COUNCIL
* SCHOOL CRIME: Approved a proposal by Councilman Nate Holden asking the city to aid in seeking funds to continue the School Crime Suppression Program in the Los Angeles Unified School District. The program, which is funded by the county and run by county probation officers, is threatened by budget cutbacks.
* PROJECT RESTORE: Approved a proposal to close Spring Street between 1st and Aliso streets and Main Street between Temple and Aliso streets from 5 p.m. to midnight Oct. 23 for the Project Restore fund-raiser at City Hall. Project Restore is a public-private partnership that is leading a effort to spruce up City Hall, which is 65 years old.
* FOLK ART: Approved a proposal by Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas to display banners announcing the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum’s exhibit Visiones del Pueblo: The Folk Art of Latin America. The exhibition will contain Latin American objects dating from 1600 to the present. City permit fees amounting to $9,200 will be waived.
* LATINA/LATINO/HISPANIC MONTH: Approved a proposal by Councilman Mike Hernandez declaring Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 as Latina/Latino/Hispanic Heritage Month in the city of Los Angeles.
HOW THEY VOTED
How South-Central and Eastside City Council representatives voted on selected issues. * SCHOOL VOUCHER: Approved a proposal opposing the school voucher initiative, Proposition 174, on the Nov. 2 ballot. The author of the proposal, former school board member Rita Walters, said the parental choice measure will take money from public schools and give it to private schools, creating more problems for the public institutions. Less money for the public schools will result in fewer teachers, aides and security officers, and more crowded classrooms, she said. Passed: 14-0. Voting yes: Richard Alatorre, Hernandez, Holden, Ridley-Thomas and Walters. Absent: Rudy Svorinich Jr.
* WOMEN’S RESTROOMS: Approved a proposal requiring that twice as many restroom stalls for women as men be provided in large new public facilities or those undergoing major remodeling, such as theaters and auditoriums. Passed: 13-0. Voting yes: Alatorre, Hernandez, Holden, Ridley-Thomas and Svorinich. Absent: Walters
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