Friends:

Back in 2013, I introduced constituents in the great 13th Council District to The Mitch Plan. The docu-ment is a set of goals to enhance the look and feel of our neighborhoods and make our district the very best: improving our quality of life and providing a safe, enjoyable visitor experience to some of the most vibrant neighborhoods in all of Los Angeles.

My thirty-year history with the 13th District, and my experience working with boots-on-the-ground as a volunteer and public servant, informed my approach. Ive only been in office for two years, and we are already seeing much of our plan realized, and are prepared to push ahead in the coming year.

Heres a snapshot of what we accomplished together in since I took office. Moving forward, you can also sign up for my weekly updates that will be sent directly to your inbox. I want to thank you for your support and with your help, we will accomplish even more as we round out the year!

Warm regards,

Councilmember Mitch O'Farrell

TACKLING THE ISSUES COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENTS

Councilmember Mitch OFarrell is committed to making our neighbor-hoods cleaner, safer, and more inviting. During his first two years in of-fice, Councilmember OFarrell partnered with LA Conservation Corps to fund a Clean Team for community cleanup projects. The community improvement initiative maintains each part of the district, five days per week. OFarrell also introduced a motion that will create an Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD) along the Los Angeles River. The legislation is not a new tax, but rather it allows local officials to direct a portion of future property taxes for community improvement projects along the LA River. These projects include affordable housing, habitat restoration, and improved infrastructure. OFarrell is also committed to improving parks for 13th District families. During his first two years in office, OFarrell completed a rehab of the boathouse at Echo Park Lake, dedicated a newly renovated Seily Rodriguez Park in East Hollywood, helped redesign a pocket park on Carlton Way in Hollywood, and opened the Hollywood Pool. The Councilmember also worked with City depart-ments to enhance public safety at various parks, such as adding camer-as, fencing, and gates to secure parks after hours.

ECHO PARK Residents approve game day parking restrictions

RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT

Councilmember Mitch OFarrell is working to maintain the established charac-ter in our neighborhoods while discouraging out-of-scale developments. OFarrell worked with the Department of City Planning on revising the Qualify-ing Conditions --or Q conditions-- along the commercially zoned areas that front the Los Angeles River in Elysian Valley. OFarrell also introduced a mo-tion that earned broad support from his colleagues to reform the small lot ordinance in the City. In the Beverly/Temple/Beaudry neighborhood, OFarrell is implementing an overlay district to attract more pedestrian-friendly busi-nesses. AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Councilmember OFarrell has spent his first two years in office aggressively pursuing a solution to our affordable housing crisis, and is working on policy that would require developers to build low-income units or pay into the city's Affordable Housing Trust Fund in exchange for zoning changes, variances, or other exceptions that increase the value of the project. OFarrell is also actively working to provide more supportive services to our homeless population. OFarrell signed a two-year contract with People Assist-ing the Homeless for $75,000 to provide street outreach, housing, and sup-portive services to people experiencing homelessness in CD13. OFarrell also released $1.5 million in funds to renovate the Center at Blessed Sacrament to support its homeless services and transitional housing program; dedicated $150,000 in funds to the Los Angeles Youth Network for its homeless youth program; and is working to dedicate $25,000 in funds for the Los Feliz Home-less Coalition.

HOLLYWOOD OFarrell cuts ribbon on LA Youth Network homeless facility