Newsletter of the Park LaBrea Residents AssociationADVOCATING FOR THE RESIDENTS

V.26.6 JUNE 2014

Park La Brea

“Town Hall Meeting”June 18, 2014 at 7:00 PM

PLB Activity Center Theater(475 S. Curson Ave, West)

Sponsored by: The Park LaBrea Residents Association

If you have concerns about your Quality of Life in our community and would like to both hear from and question PLB Management then come to our Town Hall Meeting.

PLB Management’s top executives and Benjamin Seinfeld, Field Deputy for Councilmember Tom LaBonge (4th District), will be present to dialogue with you.

If you want to make Park La Brea a better place this is a golden opportunity to have Your Voice Heard.

If we work together we can make Park La Brea the community we want it to be.

[Questions – Can be submitted in advance via the PLBRA Web site: www.plbra.org or at the meeting by utilizing a Question Card. A limited number of questions will also be accepted orally at the meeting.]

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ABOUT USPLBRA Officers:

President: Bernie Clinch

Vice President: Michael Edelstein

Secretary/Treasurer: Donald Harris

PLBRA Office:

Tower 39 Lobby Office 401 S. Burnside Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90036

Tel: 323-934-1177

e-mail: plbra@ca.rr.com

PLBRA Newsletter:

Advertising & Editorial plbra@ca.rr.com

Printing: Kal Tobe Press Inc.

PLBRA Web Site:

www.plbra.org

Town Hall MeetingPLB Management has confirmed that a meeting between PLB Management and residents, to discuss matters of concern, will take place on Wednesday, June 18th at 7 PM in the PLB Activity Center Theater.

SurveysTraffic Survey – PLB Management reported that during the period May 19 -21 a traffic entry/exit flow survey was conducted at the property.

Resident Transportation Survey – During the month of June PLB Management advises that residents will be surveyed as to parking and traffic flow within Park La Brea as well as mode of transportation utilized. Subject survey will be similar to the Resident Satisfaction Survey conducted earlier this year.

Humberto MartinezPLB Management announced that a new management member Humberto Martinez, Facilities Representative, has joined the PLB Management Team. Mr. Martinez will supervise the Fire, Life and Safety program at Park La Brea. He will also have expanded responsibilities to include Elevator Management, Building Inspections and other facilities related duties. He will be on duty weekends to facilitate move-ins/move-outs as well as coordination of elevator maintenance with ThyssenKrupp.

Work in ProgressTower 49 (535 S. Curson Ave) – the Washer/Dryer project is on schedule.

Tower 33 (360 S. Burnside Ave) – the Elevator Modernization Program is on schedule.

Tower 37 (400 S. Burnside Ave) – the Habitability Report for the Elevator Modernization effort to come is on schedule.

Good News...

Starting in 2015 Park La Brea will be doubling the Elevator Modernization Program to Four Towers per year.

For additional information on this topic contact the PLBRA Office(323) 934-1177 or go to www.plbra.org

PLB Management / PLBRAMeeting Notes

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Outdoor Movie at Park La Brea The first outdoor movie of 2014 will be shown at Alandele Circle on Saturday, June 21 at 8:00 PM.

Frozen (Sing-Along Version) PG(Running time - 102 minutes)

Prior to the screening, starting at 6:00 PM, their will be music, family games and an opportunity to purchase BBQ provided by the Curson Café.

Improved Means to Manage Service Orders

Park La Brea would like to thank our residents for participating in the Kingsley Performance Rating Questionnaire. We had a great response to the questionnaire and as a result have been given clear direction on ways we can improve service to our residents.

The issue that seems to inspire the most feedback is the difficulty residents experience when attempting to contact our Service Department. Calls often go to voicemail and residents are not sure if their message was acknowledged. Park La Brea Management recognizes this as a deficiency and is committed to fixing it.

In light of this input, we have identified a better way to manage your service requests. We have employed a commercial Answering Service to receive all resident service requests thus ensuring that residents will always be talking to a live associate when calling to request a repair. These associates have been specially trained to field maintenance requests and have been trained specifically for Park La Brea. This new protocol will help speed up the scheduling and completion of service orders. Park La Brea Management implemented this change on Monday April 7, 2014 and to date it has been working very smoothly. As always, the Service Department phone number is (323) 549-5599.

MAY 21, 2013PLB ACTIVITY CENTER 7 AM – 8 PM

VOTE June 3, 2014PLB ACTIVITY CENTER 7 AM - 8 PM

Statewide Primary

Election

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FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK:Possible Rent Reduction due to the Washer/Dryer Project

If you have lost a significant amount of your closet space as a result of the Washer/Dryer renovation work, here is what you can do in order to be properly compensated for your loss. Submit a claim to Park La Brea Resident Services requesting compensation for the loss of your closet space. Park La Brea will probably deny your claim. If Park La Brea denies your claim, then call the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD) at (866) 557-7368 to explain the situation and ask to open a claim for a “Reduction of Services.” LAHD will explain how to submit your claim and what attachments to include (e.g., copy of Lease, copy of recent Rent Statement, copy of PLB denial of your claim). Ask for your case number so that you can expeditiously follow up on your claim. If you need to follow up with someone at the Los Angeles Housing Department before an investigator has been assigned to your case, you can contact April Aguilar, who is one of their supervisory investigators, at (213) 252-1431. Your LAHD claim can also be filed online at: lahd.lacity.org. [First click on the Rent Stabilization Tab; then from the menu select File a Complaint and complete both the First Section and Section E (Reduction of Services) of the Complaint Form]

Consider filing a claim if you have lost a significant amount of closet space. If your claim is approved, your rent could be reduced by as much as $300/year ($25/month) for the life of your lease, plus you will get a lump sum amount that is retroactive to the date of the construction.

You have the right to be compensated for your loss of space and the whole process will take no more than three to four hours of your time.

Maintenance Tip of the Month

PLUMBING “Please help us to help you”

Sewer Lines are a shared commodity. Abuse will cause problems and potential inconvenience to you and your neighbors. Toilets - Please use toilets properly. Do not dispose of Q-tips, paper towels, feminine hygiene products, or any other "trash" in your toilet. Do not overload your toilet with toilet paper, baby wipes, etc. Garbage Disposal - Pre-scrap all food remnants from your plates, into a trash can, prior to rinsing them off in the sink. Do not put anything which is stringy, greasy, or boney; or any kind of skin or husk into the garbage disposal.

You can make a difference for your own unit and your neighbors. Courtesy of Bruce C. Manning Director of Maintenance, Able

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Dear Residents:

As many of you know, Park La Brea is in the process of updating our tower buildings to include electrical service, elevators, and installation of in-unit washer/dryers. One goal is to give you the option of having a washer/dryer in the comfort of your home. For some residents, this installation has resulted in modifications to a closet. Therefore, we have taken proactive measures to ensure your storage needs are met.

For those who need additional storage, we have made secure space in the basement of each tower available for your use. To use this storage space, call the Parking and Storage Department at (323) 549-5400 and we will happily assist you in gaining access.

Furthermore, we are offering free installation of additional shelving in the closets to maximize efficiency. To have this new shelving installed, file a work order by calling (323) 549-5599 and we will send a maintenance specialist to your unit as quickly as possible.

Under the Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance, certain capital improvements are eligible for rent increases while others may qualify for rent reductions. Park La Brea is working to implement these improvements as to not promote either.

We welcome your feedback at any time. If you have questions or concerns about this process, please feel free to contact us. Thank you for your patience throughout this process, and we look forward to continuing our work to provide you the best possible residential experience.

Park La Brea Management

A P A R T M E N T S

SPORTS THURSDAYS AT 7 PM

6/5 Chariots of Fire (1981) PG124 minutes - This is the story, told in flashback, of two young British sprinters competing for fame in the 1924 Olympics. Eric, a devout Scottish missionary, runs because he knows it must please God. Harold, the son of a newly rich Jew, runs to prove his place in Cambridge society.

6/12 Bend It Like Beckham (2002) PG-13112 minutes - Two daughters of orthodox Sikh families rebels against their parents’ traditionalism by pursuing careers in professional soccer.

6/19 The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962) NR104 minutes - A rebellious youth (Tom Courtenay) sentenced to a boy's reformatory, for robbing a bakery, gains privileges at the institution through his prowess as a long distance runner but he also undergoes a re-evaluation of his life situation.

6/26 Rocky (1976) PG119 minutes - Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), a small-time boxer gets a rare chance to fight the heavy-weight champion and he desperately wants to go the distance for his self-respect.

Movie Calendar

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June 2014

CONTEMPORARY FILMS SUNDAYS AT 2 PM

6/1 No Movie – Los Angeles Community Garden Council Event

(For more information go to: tinyurl.com/lacgc-movie)

06/8 Delivery Man (2013) PG-13105 minutes - After learning that he's fathered hundreds of children, former sperm donor David Wozniak discovers that dozens of his offspring now want to meet him.

6/15 Romeo & Juliet (2013) PG-13 118 minutes - Oscar-winning writer and "Downton Abbey" creator Julian Fellowes provides the screenplay for this version of Shakespeare's classic tale. The action unfolds in Renaissance Verona with Douglas Booth and Hailee Steinfeld playing the star-crossed lovers.

6/22 Labor Day (2013) PG-13111 minutes - What begins as a short ride turns into a life changing event for divorced single mother Adele Wheeler and her 13 year old son Henry, when they give a lift to a bloodied man.

6/29 The Monuments Men (2014) PG-13118 minutes - In a race against time, as the end of World War II approaches, a team of art historians and museum curators try to recover great works of art stolen by the Nazis regime before they are destroyed.

FAMILY FRIENDLY FILMSSATURDAYS AT 2 PM

6/7 Walking with Dinosaurs (2013) PG 87 minutes - Step back in time – way back – and frolic with dinosaurs in this incredibly realistic film that totally immerses you in a prehistoric world. While you're there, follow the exploits of a little underdog dino who goes on an epic adventure.

6/14 I, Frankenstein (2014) PG-1392 minutes - In this incarnation of the Frankenstein story, Frankenstein’s monster is being hunted through modern city streets by demons who want to uncover the secret of his longevity and use it to sustain their own immortality.

6/21 First Outdoor Movie of the Year:

FROZEN (Sing-Along Version)

Alandele Circle6:00 pm – Music & Games 8:00 pm – Movie Starts

Frozen (2013) PG 102 minutes - Anna, a fearless optimist, sets off on an epic journey - teaming up with rugged mountain man Kristoff - to find her sister Elsa, whose power to create snow has trapped the kingdom in eternal winter. (A Disney Animated Film)

6/28 Pompeii (2014) PG-13 105 minutes - In the days leading up to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, a slave on a ship headed for Naples is determined to get back home to save the woman he loves, as well as his best friend who is a gladiator trapped in the city's coliseum.

June 2014

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Movie Calendar

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Bridge Club. 323-571-2963. Meets Mondays and Thursdays, 12:30 - 3:30 pm, in the PLB Activity Center.

Chess Club. Harry LeMay, 323-935-4053. Meets Mondays and Saturdays, 10:00 am - 12:00 Noon, in the PLB Activity Center.

Community Garden. The Park La Brea Community Garden, located at the corner of Lindenhurst and Hauser, adjacent to Garage 6, provides small plots for Park La Brea residents to garden. For more information or to be added to the waiting list, email: newplot@plbgarden.com.

Debi Doodles Arts & Crafts After School Workshops. Debora Gillman, 323-549-5458. Tuesdays - June 10 and 24 at the PLB Activity Center, 4:00 - 5:30 pm.

Library. Joyce Bunten, 323-935-8474. Basementof Tower 34. Open every day, 2:00 - 4:00 pm.

Mah Jongg. Edith Weiner, 323-936-2827. Meets Mondays, 10:00 am - 1:30 pm, in the PLB Activity Center.

Plays That Shakespeare Didn’t Write. Elliott Witt, 323-272-4197. Meets Sundays, 2:00 - 4:00 pm, in the PLB Activity Center. The current play is Ah, Wilderness! by Eugene O’Neill to be followed by Rhinoceros by Eugene Ionesco.

Quilters. Mary Jane Hopkins, 323-938-4861. Meets every Friday, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm, in the PLB Activity Center.

Modified T’AI CHI for all ages. Karin Green, 323-938-7799, karinmg@ca.rr.com. Meets Tuesdays & Fridays, 8:30 am (Advanced), 9:00 am (Beginners). Burnside Circle around the fountain. Free.

Writers Circle. Robert Richter, 323-571-4994. Meets every other Tuesday, 7:00 pm, in the PLB Activity Center Conference Room. The next meeting will be June 10.

English as a Second Language (ESL) at Park La BreaThere are many opportunities at PLB and in our community for PLB residents who wish to study and practice English as a Second Language.

ESL Conversation Partner Program: At Park La Brea, resident native English speakers volunteer to partner with resident non-native speakers for one-to-one conversation. Those interested in volunteering and/or in seeking a partner, please see the contact information below.

ESL Conversation Group: Meetings where residents of all ages and languages meet for informal conversation. (There will be no Conversation Group meeting in June.)

For further information about these and other ESL programs in our area:Visit our website: www.EnglishConversationatPLB.wordpress.comContact: Zhita Rea, 323- 571-1603, zhitarea@hotmail.com or Susan de la Vergne, susan@susandelavergne.com.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES June 2014

$1.45 Shirt Laundry 30% Off Dry Cleaning

Phone # (323) 935-7275!"#$%&'()"*&+,()$-#.-/*

(Some Restrictions Apply)

Now Open SUNDAY 10:00 AM TO 3:00 PM

Leoni BongcasanManager

386 S. Burnside Ave. Tower #34 Lobby

(On Burnside Circle)Los Angeles, CA. 90036

EXP: 9/30/14

Know the neighborhoods where you live and work.

Check out the locations of police and fire stations, hospitals and restaurants or stores that are open late.

(Courtesy of the LAPD)

CURSON CAFÉ(at the Activity Center)

Gourmet Sandwiches, Organic Salads

and Great Organic Coffee. Frozen Yogurt served daily.

We use exclusively La Brea Bakery products.

(323) 930-2268

put your child on the path

to a lifetime of learning.

This summer,

kumon.com 1-800-ABC-MATH

Schedule your free placement test now at

Kumon of West Hollywood8539 West Sunset Blvd., Unit 22

West Hollywood, CA 90069310.975.8555 | kumon.com/west-hollywood

With the school year fresh in your child’s mind, summer is the perfect time to join Kumon. The Kumon Method lets children learn at their own pace, so they can grasp any concept regardless of age or grade level. Here your child will gain confidence that will last a lifetime. That’s learning for the long run.

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orth Am

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ights Reserved.

Sunday, June 15, 2014

CRIME PREVENTION TIP

WARNING:

Now Enrolling for Summer !

GRADES 2 - 12 • TEST PREP • HOMEWORK HELP

“Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week”

BONDED | INSURED | WORKERS’ COMP. | CPR CERTIFIED

Trust, Love & Care

In the event of an emergency

FIRST CALL 911then call

Park La Brea Patrol at

323-549-5508

CAREGIVERS USA, Inc.