News 2001-1

Padilla Wins Council Approval for $250,000 in Beautification Funds for Pacoima, Lake View Terrace and Arleta Funding will also provide transitional employment opportunities

The Los Angeles City Council Wednesday approved $250,000 in funding to continue and expand successful community beautification and clean up efforts while also helping to provide transitional employment opportunities in the Northeast San Fernando Valley. Local nonprofit organizations, Pacoima Graffiti Busters (PGB) and Chrysalis, will work together on graffiti removal, street sweeping, sidewalk cleaning, refuse collection, landscape watering and maintenance. The funding will focus on Van Nuys Boulevard between Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Glenoaks Boulevard in Pacoima as well as Lake View Terrace and Arleta.

Pacoima Graffiti Busters was originally organized with the assistance of the office of Councilmember Padilla to address a persistent graffiti problem in the area. Since it was first funded, the organization has made a significant difference in the community by proactively looking for graffiti and then removing it as quickly as possible. Pacoima Graffiti Busters was recognized in 2004 by the Department of Public Works as the leading graffiti abatement organization in the city.

"This funding will allow us to build on our success. Not only will the Pacoima Town Center business district of Pacoima be maintained, the funding will ensure continued and expanded service in Lake View Terrace and Arleta. Furthermore, by partnering with Chrysalis employment opportunities will be provided to the most needy in our communities, said Councilmember Padilla. "This is critical funding for our neighborhoods," Padilla added.

Chrysalis, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to providing employment opportunities to economically disadvantaged adults, brings its expertise to the beautification effort through its Chrysalis Works Program. Chrysalis Works trains, mentors, and employs over 800 of Los Angeles' hardest-to-employ individuals each year through 4-6 month temporary apprenticeships while providing valuable cleaning services for local businesses. Chrysalis currently helps over 2,500 people a year to secure jobs and successfully reenter the workforce from its Pacoima, Santa Monica, and Downtown Los Angeles offices.

"Our organization's philosophy is that a steady job makes all the differences in a person's transition and we simply could not accomplish that task without support from the City and Councilmember Alex Padilla who are willing to work hand-in-hand with us to make it a reality," stated Adlai Wertman, President and CEO of Chrysalis.