Who is telling lies to whom?

1. 1
PACOIMATODAY
Volume 2, Issue 1
January 2015
“A warm reception to Assembly Member Patty Lopez by
Parade organizers”
While other Elected Offi-
cial and VIPs rode at the
front of the parade in
convertibles; newly elect-
ed Assembly Member
Patty Lopez was placed
towards the end of the
line in back of a pick up
truck. That of course did
not erase the proud smile
on her face or eliminated
the affectionate welcome
by community members
in Pacoima.
Assembly Member Patty Lopez proudly smiles to community members
during the Pacoima Holiday’s Parade.

Patty Lopez, State Assy 1
47th Pacoima Parade 1
Subscribe to CityWatch 2
PNC 2
LAMC Violations 3
Thanks to CD7 3
Lawn Parking Violations 3
CA Hide Speed Rail 4
XMAS PARADE Entry 4
The 47th
annual Pacoima Holiday Parade
We wish to express our congratulations to the office of Council Member Fuentes
and his staff for making it possible; we know the community appreciated the fact
that it was not cut short as originally planned. The parade was a well-attended
SUCCESS! But, does anyone know why the Pacoima Chamber of Commerce
gave up the leadership in organizing the parade after so many years of being it’s
fund raising event or why, at least this year, it was a fund raising event for the
“Pacoima Beautiful” organization. The Council’s office could have done the same
while keeping the fund raising for the Chamber, if finances were the issue.

2. 2
Pacoima
Co-Editors & Publishers:
Morris Pichon
moepichon@aol.com
Edwin Ramirez
ramediv@yahoo.com
CityWatch
Politics. Perspective.
Participation
Subscribe at:
While the membership is elected by com-
munity members, it is hard to believe that
after 12 years in existence most residents
are not aware of their activities, meetings or
even how to get in contact with them. They
are funded by the City and could use those
funds for massive outreach or, at the very
least, an effective and organized manner of
reaching the residents; they have access to
City resources and departments but have
not found a way to use them and to be fair,
they lack the support and information need-
ed to do so. But not everything has been a
lost; over the last 12 years, they have be-
come a funding source for many groups,
organizations, City departments, the Coun-
cil’s office and even the City (unused
funds); they all have projects, events and
activities that could be funded by the
Neighborhood Council, as a benefit for the
community, of course. Sadly, the Neigh-
borhood council has no projects, activities
or events of their own.
The PNC mission is to improve the quality
of life, promote participation, facilitate the
delivery of City services and empower
the residents by sharing information
(partial). Their purpose is to offer a forum
to engage all Pacoima residents and delib-
erate on matters affecting the community;
to advocate for Pacoima to both govern-
ment and private agencies; to develop and
implement standards that protect the
health, welfare and aesthetic quality of the
community and (only accomplishment) to
(fund) collaborate with other groups and
organizations the PNC desires to support
(partial). Their policy is to inform all resi-
dents of forthcoming projects; to create a
forum to enable individuals, organizations
to speak out on any side of any issue and
to remain non-partisan.
The PNC failure is based upon the lack of
community awareness; you simply cannot
improve the quality of life when not famil-
iar with it or choose to ignore; cannot pro-
mote participation without commitment
and will not facilitate the delivery of City
services when the fear of making some-
one uncomfortable is greater than the de-
sire to meet a mission statement or a pur-
pose.
As for the PNC policy to inform the resi-
dents about coming projects, you cannot
inform those that you cannot reach and
there is nothing to inform, if you do not
know! And, while their general meetings
could be a great opportunity for an open
forum where community members and
organizations could speak out on any side
of any issue; the PNC has turned these
meetings into promotional opportunities
for those responsible for community safe-
ty; services and improvement or a venue
for funding request. Their new office ac-
commodations are a reflection of the sup-
port they get from the City Council’s office
and the respect from the new organization
running the center.
Whether PNC members are satisfied with
these conditions and accomplishments,
depends on the reasons why they wanted
to be involved. Perhaps some for atten-
tion, opportunities, bore or simply like to
be in front of people, the results are the
same: no support, respect, direction and
no meaningful agenda but plenty of oppor-
tunities to fund other groups projects and
activities!
er
The Pacoima Neighborhood Council (PNC)
 SUBSCRIBE TODAY 







3. 3
Pacoima Today January 2015
Volume 2 Issue 1
SEC. 80.71.3. LAMC PARKING IN FRONT YARDS.
(Added by Ord. No. 170,903, Eff. 3/16/96.)
No person shall park any vehicle in the front yard of any residential property. “Residential prop-
erty” shall mean any property used for human habitation and shall include, but not be limited to,
any property in the “A” or “R” Zones of the City. The front yard shall consist of that area in the
front of the property between the adjacent street and any building or structure thereon, exclusive
of any area used as a driveway to access a garage or other parking structure.
SEC.12.21.C1(g) LAMC (Amended by Ord. No. 164,563, Eff. 5/5/89.) Every required front,
side and rear yard shall be open and unobstructed from the ground to the sky, except for those pro-
jections permitted by Sections
12.08.5, 12.09.5 and 12.22 of this Code.
No automobile parking space shall be provided or maintained within a required front yard.
Except where a lot is developed with a building meeting the requirements of Section 12.08.3 B 1 of
this Code not more than 50 percent of a required front yard shall be designed, improved or
used for access driveways.
mp
It is estimated that 30% on the single family homes in Pacoima are in violation of the SEC.80.71.3. LAMC
PARKING IN FRONT YARDS . Nearly 40% of front yards in Pacoima are in violation of SEC.12.21.C1(g) LAMC
NO MORE THAN 50% OF REQUIRED FRONT YARD CAN BE IMPROVED OR USED FOR PARKING.
WHAT CITY DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCEMENT THE
BELOW LOS ANGELES MUNICIPAL CODE VIOLATIONS?
Attention Council District 7
“THANK YOU” TO CD7 STAFF
In the past two (2) months there has been a re-
markable improvement in trash removal in the
Community of Pacoima. As one who continually file
complaints, I feel it necessary that I must stand up
and praise the individuals who are instrumental in
the improvement of our community.
We would like to say “thanks” to Yolanda Fuentes,
District Director of CD7, Reuben Zaragoza, Field
Deputy CD7and Luis Sanchez of the Department of
Street Services.
We request your continue attention to the Pacoi-
ma area and providing the city services we pay tax-
es to ensure. Besides clean streets, we have others issues that we desire your help and assistance in re-
solving. As you can see, the adjacent photograph shows a residence with its whole front yard paved from
one end to the other. A violation of SEC.12.21.C1(g) LAMC PARKING IN FRONT YARDS.
Thanks again, the community of Pacoima appreciate you. mp

4. 4
Pacoima Today January 2015
Volume 2 Issue 1
The California High-Speed Rail Authority
reached a settlement agreement with the City of
Bakersfield, which will result in the dismissal of
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) liti-
gation over the Final Environmental Impact Re-
port/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS)
for the Fresno to Bakersfield project section of the
high-speed rail program. Ultimately every City is
most likely fighting for their fair share of the 68
Billions but not the City of Los Angeles, they
might already have a settlement and that is why the
community members are opposing this project
without the support of the City officials.
In Pacoima, at the Pacoima Neighborhood Council
(PNC) meeting, former State Assembly Member
Bocanegra promoted the construction of the high
speed rail without mentioning the possibility of res-
idents loosing their homes or properties to eminent
domain, he did not comment on the fact that jobs
would be for union workers (campaign contribu-
tors) or even mentioned that other than paying for
this project (with our taxes) there was no benefits
for our communities. Pacoima is just part of the
tracks.
Council Member Fuentes (CD7) has been in at-
tendance at the same meetings (several times) but
has avoided the issue since nobody has the courage
to question or ask for his support in opposing it
(minutes will reflect this), no one from Nury Mar-
tinez’s office (CD6) who also represents a portion
of Pacoima has bother to face the PNC (minutes
will reflect) But then again, it is just the PNC, half
the time they are not aware of the implications nor
do they care to confront those in office.
What will be the fair share for Los Angeles by dis-
missing the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) litigation over the final Environmental
Impact Report and/or the Environmental Impact
Statement (EIR/EIS)?
What is the City’s selling price of those communi-
ties and residents affected by the HSR? We have
two Council Members in Pacoima and they are not
holding meetings to inform or collect comments
and information from their constituency. Could it
be that they are negotiating an agreement that
would benefit their careers? er
CALIFORNIA
HIGH SPEED RAIL
47TH ANNUAL PACOIMA HOLIDAY PARADE ENTRY FORM
Organization Name:
________________________________________________
Contact Person:
________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________ City:
__________________________________
Phone: ___________________________________
Email: ___________________________________________
□ Marching Band # of Band Members ___________
□ Dance Group # of Dancers __________
□ Drill Team # of Members _________
□ Equestrian Group # of Horses _________
□ Car Club # of Vehicles ________ (max. 6)
□ Motorcycle Club # of Motorcycles _______ (max. 6)
□ Business Description
__________________________________________
□ Church/Religious Org. Description
__________________________________________
□ Sports Organization Description
__________________________________________
□ Other Description
__________________________________________
Registration Fees: $75 group/business $100 Equestrian Group
$100 car/motorcycle club (max 6 vehicles)
* Schools are free, 20% discount for Chamber Members*
Please make check payable to: Pacoima Beautiful (memo: Parade
Entry) Mail your completed entry form to: 13520 Van Nuys Blvd.

5. 5