October Newsbites

***Annual BAHA Fall Festival - Sunday October 17*** 

At Roscomare Park starting at 3:00 pm.  We hope to see many members of our community there including youngsters dressed in costume—and any adults who wish to do the same!

***Cannabis Dispensary on Roscomare Update*** As  noted in the September Newsbites, the Department of Cannabis Regulation (DCR) currently issues temporary licenses with no public notice, no hearing, and no community input.  BAHA has been working diligently to get the DCR to deny the issuance of a temporary license and instead to proceed under what the DCR refers to as the “annual licensing process”.  At least then, interested parties will be able to present all of the serious issues for review in a formal manner prior to the issuance of any license.

Our Councilman, Paul Koretz, wrote a letter to us stating his concern about the potential fire dangers presented by the proposed location of the cannabis shop.  He concluded, “…..it would be beneficial for a re-evaluation of the potential hazards that this retail establishment may pose to the surrounding community.”  BAHA hopes that Mr. Koretz’s letter will be most helpful in our efforts and has sent the letter and other important info to the DCR.

BAHA has also learned that an established preschool is interested in the site and has indicated that they may make an offer to buyout the lease interest of the cannabis operator.  Furthermore, BAHA has been informed by the cannabis operator that they would prefer a cannabis store site in downtown Los Angeles to the current location, but that so far, the DCR has not allowed permit applications to request a location transfer.  BAHA has learned that there is proposed legislation currently being reviewed by the City Council to make such transfers easier.  If you haven’t written to the DCR yet please do.  For info on whom to write to please click here.

***Update on Jet Noise and Air Pollution*** The opening brief for the Save our Skies LA (SOSLA) lawsuit against the FAA has been filed. There have been discussions with Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy / Mountains Recreation Conservation Authority about the possibility of their submitting either a friend of court brief or letter to the Court in support of the arguments raised by the lawsuit.    This could be helpful in convincing the Court and the FAA to make the requested changes in flight patterns.  It is hoped that TreePeople will also write a letter/brief.

More money is needed to pay for the remaining legal costs of the lawsuit, which will include drafting the reply brief and communications with the Court and DOJ/FAA, and oral argument.  Their new and final goal is $30,000.  This has to be a community effort; contributions are needed, and they are tax deductible.  Contributions can be made at https://sosla.org.

***Los Angeles City Council Redistricting*** 

The Los Angeles City Council Redistricting Commission will continue to discuss the proposed draft map K2.5 which was moved forward by the Commission on September 30th.To provide feedback click here. The next meeting will be tomorrow, Saturday, October 9th (10:00 a.m.) Zoom Link  other meetings are:

• Saturday, October 9th (10:00 a.m.) Zoom Link
• Wednesday, October 13th (6:00 p.m.) Zoom Link
• Saturday, October 16th (10:00 a.m.) Zoom Link
• Thursday, October 21st (6:00 p.m.) Zoom Link, Adoption of Final Map
• Thursday, October 28th (6:00 p.m.) Zoom Link, Adoption of Final Report

BAHA will be commenting to keep Bel Air whole (which some former plans did not) and extend the eastern boundary of CD5 to Hazen, Bowmont, and Coldwater along the same district division lines used by LAPD and LAFD.

***I-405 Sepulveda Pass ExpressLanes*** Scoping Period Extended. An environmental study has started to evaluate converting the existing carpool lanes along the I-405 to dynamically-priced ExpressLanes between I-10 and US-101. Our councilmember Koretz is against it as are BAHA and BABCNC. Please continue to submit your public scoping comments on project alternatives even though it is past October 1st. To provide your comments, click here.

***Sepulveda Transit Corridor*** Community Update Webinar Online: October 26, 2021, from 11:30AM to 1:30PM. Learn about the options being considered. Registration Information. Are other options needed?

***SB 9 and SB 10 Update***The Governor has signed these two bills and they are now law.  The November issue of Newsbites will have a brief discussion on potential impacts of these laws on our area.

***Mark Your Calendars*** The annual BAHA Holiday Lights Celebration is set for Sunday, December 5th at Roscomare Park, from 3-5 pm. We hope you will make plans to be with us to enjoy this festive holiday celebration!!