jeremygrant.com

I have one of those!

Retail sales show an increase of 2% in 2009 vs. 2008 figures — clients are now gearing up to hire for next years hopeful 2% increase in projects. (source)

Good luck to everyone looking for and working on projects.

If you require services in or near Los Angeles please inquire within.

from http://stephenbox4citycouncil.com/

LOS ANGELES – CALIFORNIA

Stephen Box takes citizenship and declares his LA City Council District 4 (CD4) campaign today, digitally on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. While he could have made a grand proclamation at the steps of City Hall Stephen chose to make the announcement June 23 shortly after taking the oath of citizenship at the Convention Center and released the tape on YouTube this morning. The website stephenbox4citycouncil.com lists his “VISION-driven” platform and dedication to providing “ACTIVE solution alternatives” as the foundation of his campaign for the March 8, 2011 election.

Box is well known for his blog soapboxla writing about his very public experience in the everyday minutia of LA CITY politics and services. Once you get to working with the CITY for a while you will hear the buck stops here line, “Now, let me tell you how ‘it’ works and why we cant do that.” BOX says, “Then ‘it’s’ not working the way it is.” He’s not the only one. Both the Mayor and the Police Chief(s) have made the headlines recently shown trying to improve and connect Los Angeles with the leading global standards of other major international cities. Our budget crisis is a national news mockery. All the while its the PEOPLE who suffer the consequences. Stephen demands “a city that works” and invites the people to participate (3.8 million residents: 1.5 million registered voters : 1/2 million participate ~ 13%). He calls for a collaborative customer service plan at City Hall — the complaint driven system is NOT working.

“Forward . . for a Change.”

His campaign is “not an issue based campaign” and in preference has a vision of connectivity, great city/urban plan aspirations, a sustainable budget (instead of entropic) and a progressive respect for the PEOPLE. Stephen squares off with Tom LaBonge, a decade long incumbent following the 35 year City Council term (longest ever) of millionaire, football star, conservative, southern strategist, police backer, insider John Ferraro. Box sees “LA as the ‘City of the Future’” and not one stymied by failures of the past or inaction of the present. When faced with the long history — difficulties in repairing the CITY — he challenges the impotent nature of the current General Plan and the fated sum rejection of the utopian vision lost eighty years ago. Today we are faced with a critical juncture between the next Great Depression or Great OPPORTUNITY and Box endeavors for a new community plan that endures.

Stephen Box is a first-time candidate, newly-minted American citizen and a veteran of civic engagement, community campaigns, and grassroots politics.

For more information,

Contact: Stephen Box, Candidate for District 4
Box4CityCouncil@Gmail.com
(323) 864-7586

Thanks to Chief Beck, Commander Doan and Sgt. Krumer for this public service announcement. This comes after a lot of hard work by the many cyclist/citizens that have dedicated their time and effort lobbying the LAPD, LA Bicycle Advisory Committee and LA City Council to actively and visibly promote safety and responsibility on the streets. Kudos.

Have a safe Bike Week LA 2010!

Save the date! Saturday, May 22nd, 5pm Bikerowave (12255 Venice Blvd) will host Bikeside for Bikeside’s new bike talk series: Bikeside Speaks! Everyone is welcome, and we’ll have food and drink. Afterward we’ll have a film screening, the second of it’s kind at Bikerowave.

Bikeside Speaks is a lightning round of talks on current projects in bike activism, each of them followed by Q&A. We’ll also have several heavy hitters giving talks on their interface with cycling, to be announced! Here’s part of the lineup:

* Mihai Peteu: Winning with Data – Crowdsourcing & LA Bike Map
* Sara Bond: Personalizing Hit & Run
* Jeremy Grant: Connecting LA with the Backbone Bikeway Network
* Enci: Moving LA with The Greensters
* Stephen Box: Changing the world with Cyclists’ Rights
* Ron Durgin: Every street is a People Street – Sustainable Streets
* and a special presentation on Bikerowave, and it’s incredible progress as a bike co-op.

Alex Thompson will emcee, and may even give a short talk on the Bike Plan.

This is an easy way to see what Bikeside and our collaborators are up to, and to get involved. Come out and get engaged!

To RSVP via twitter visit http://twtvite.com/BikesideSPEAKS
To RSVP via facebook visit http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=126622544017986

If you’d like to help out, email Alex at alexcthompson@gmail.com and we’ll plug you in.

(please note, Bikerowave will be closing earlier than usual in order to accommodate Bikeside. Stands will be available outside for emergency repairs only.)

Skylight Books and Downtown Farmers Market will offer the free pamphlet

Los Angeles, Ca. (May 13, 2010) – Yasmin, Richard, and Jackie of the Santee Debate Team announced today that they are making a pamphlet about their recent bike tour of the Backbone streets of Vermont, Wilshire, Crenshaw, Venice, Exposition, Figueroa, and La Brea. The pamphlet is a service project to increase awareness that fossil fueled vehicles cause climate change.

The Backbone streets are major traffic arteries extending to all parts of LA, and could be used for bikes as well as motor vehicles. However, the Global Debate Team and Jeremy (that’s me), their guide from the LA Bike Working Group, have determined that those streets are unfriendly to cyclists and need more bicycle infrastructure and traffic calming.

The pamphlet includes students’ views and a map of the Backbone. It will be available at Skylight Books, 1818 North Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA as of May 13.

The pamphlet will also be available at the City Hall Farmer’s Market at 200 North Spring Street.

THE GLOBAL DEBATES

As a result of their participation in the Global Debates, Santee Education Complex will be highlighted throughout the UN Foundation website and be eligible to win prizes that include a $2,000 UN Foundation school grant and a trip to the Open Society Institute’s Youth Forum in the Netherlands.

BACKGROUND

Since their inception, the UN Foundation Global Debates have been held in more than 90 countries. From Moldova and South Africa to Los Angeles and Mississippi, this program continues to grow, educating and activating new communities of students and teachers from around the world. As Ambassador Susan Rice and other UN leaders remind us, young people are ready to serve and take action. By engaging students and their teachers on issues of poverty reduction, global health, climate change and more, the UN Foundation is inspiring young people to be a positive force for change in the world. More information is available online at http://www.unfoundation.org/our-impact/engaging-youth/the-global-debates.html

The United Nations Foundation is an advocate for the UN and a platform for connecting people, ideas, and resources to help the United Nations solve global problems.  www.UNFoundation.org

CONTACTS
Nick Richert, Santee Education Complex, English Teacher, Debate Advisor 310-428-4222
Amber Young, Santee Education Complex, Math Teacher, Debate Advisor 310-256-6267
Skylight Books (323) 660-1175

Last year an AIA survey revealed that there are at least 850 architects – more than one percent of total membership – who are serving in an elected or appointed role. The Architects serve as Mayors, Council Members, Comissioners and Board Members. They advocate for higher living standards, the creation of a sustainable environment, quality of life, and the greater good of the public. These Architects use insight, talent, training and experience to contribute meaningfully, beyond self, to the improvement of the community and human condition.

The AIA released a bulletin on these Citizen Architects and made some visionary statements to provide for the future of civic minded Architects:

Citizen Architect Program

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) believes that society and the profession benefit from civically engaged architects, and that these members should be actively supported at all levels of service.

“The Citizen Architect uses her/his insights, talents, training and experience to contribute meaningfully, beyond self, to the improvement of the community and human condition. The Citizen Architect stays informed on local, state and federal issues, and makes time for service to the community. The Citizen Architect advocates for higher living standards, the creation of a sustainable environment, quality of life, and the greater good. The Citizen Architect seeks to advocate for the broader purposes of architecture through civic activism, writing and publishing, by gaining appointment to boards and commissions, and through elective office at all levels of government.”

Most recently in the face of global financial crisis the AIA has been advocating for policies to revive the economy and and build a foundation for a sustainable community for long term growth. It’s Rebuild and Renew Blueprint for Long-Term Prosperity outlines goals to jump start the economy without making the same tragic mistakes that resulted in the failure today :

Make Financing Available for Design and Construction Projects

*Extend the Term Asset Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF) through 2010.
*Allow Public Private Investment Programs to Finance Sound Construction Projects.
*Eliminate Disincentives on Global Investments in U.S. Commercial Real Estate.
*Encourage the Use of SBA Lending Authority to Help Small Owners Address Equity Issues.

Provide Relief to Small Businesses

*Allow Sole Practitioners to Claim the Deduction for Qualified Architectural and Engineering Firms.
*Streamline Onerous Recovery Act Paperwork and Reporting Burdens on Small Businesses.
*Reform Retainage Rules on Architects and Engineers.
*Repeal the Three-Percent Withholding Requirement.
*Extend COBRA Benefits.
*Hire Underemployed and Unemployed Design and Construction Professionals to Help Speed Recovery Act Implementation.

Make Tax Policies Work for Recovery

*Expand and Improve the Energy Efficient Commercial Building Tax Deduction.
*Extend the First-Time Home Buyer Credit.
*Make Permanent the Shortened Cost Recovery Period for Retail & Restaurant Improvements.
*Extend and Expand the Five-Year Carryback of Net Operating Losses for Small Businesses

Rebuild our Infrastructure for the 21st Century

*Enact a Five-Year Reauthorization of the Federal Surface Transportation Program.
*Build 21st Century Green Schools.
*Invest in World-Class Labs and Classrooms at Colleges and Universities.
*Promote the Revitalization of Historic Properties.
*Reduce Delays by Streamlining Building Permitting.
*Help Communities Plan Their Futures.

Build the New Green Economy

*Create Incentives for Mixed-Use, Transit-Oriented Development.
*Promote Green Affordable Housing.
*Provide Innovative Funding Streams Funding for Green Retrofits.
*Educate the Workforce of Tomorrow in Sustainable Design.

Though I’m only an Associate AIA I’ve been committed to participating in my community and local government process to ensure that it will excel comparatively to other internationally ranked cities in the future. There is no reason for Los Angeles and it’s communities to fail when such a density of design professionals, schools and organizations exist to service outside locations. Why shape the futures of others when we need work on our own?

Some of the specific demands of the Rebuild and Renew Blueprint result in some tough battles ahead against staunch supporters of the status quo. I picked out a few that are important to me and my community:

**Despite the best efforts of many agencies, billions of dollars of Recovery Act funding has not been obligated because of the sheer size of the program. Worsening the problem is the fact that many agency contracting officers lack specialized understanding of design and construction procurement. Congress should encourage agencies to contract, on a temporary basis, with design professionals currently out of work or underemployed to help ensure that Recovery Act funding for infrastructure projects is distributed expeditiously and effectively.

**The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has released legislation, the Surface Transportation Authorization Act, that would make major strides in moving our country towards a 21st Century transportation system. Delaying action on comprehensive transportation reform traps our communities in a failed system that threatens our economic and environmental well-being. Congress needs to act now to make sure that federal transportation policy truly helps us rebuild and renew our country.

**In order to fully maximize the ability of citizens to shape their futures, Congress should require that metropolitan planning organizations and state DOTs hold interactive public design workshops facilitated by planning and design professionals as a part of their planning processes. Congress also should pass S.1619, the Livable Communities Act, to help communities of all types and sizes plan in ways that reduce congestion, promote transportation choice and ensure affordable housing.

**Slow building permitting processes unnecessarily delay projects and slow economic growth. Congress should provide incentives to communities that streamline their permitting processes, including the use of e-permitting, and allow Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant monies to be used for permit streamlining for green building projects.

**Investing in green building retrofits through innovative financing mechanisms not only improves energy independence and protects the environment; it also creates jobs. Congress should pass legislation that would allow the Department of Energy to use their existing bonding authority to back Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) bonds, municipal bonds whose proceeds are lent to commercial and residential property owners to finance energy retrofits.