Selected City Council actions affecting Central Los...

Selected City Council actions affecting Central Los Angeles in the past week.

CITY COUNCIL

WATTS TOWERS: Approved hiring a director for the Watts Towers Arts Center at 107th Street and Graham Avenue in Watts. The position has been vacant since September, when director John Outterbridge retired. To fill the position, the council had to exempt it from the citywide hiring freeze.

JOBS PROGRAM: Councilman Mike Hernandez introduced a proposal requesting city administrators to seek ways to continue the Youth Service Academy Program, which provides training and jobs to disadvantaged students. Funding for the program, initially provided by the Department of Water and Power, is running out.

INNER-CITY ARTS: Approved spending almost $25,000 to restore the playground area at Ninth Street School in Central Los Angeles. The grounds were damaged by the installation and removal of two classroom trailers used for the Inner City Arts Program for children whose parents work in the Downtown area garment district. The program is seeking a permanent site.

VILLA APARTMENTS: Approved a $2.1-million loan to the Villa Esperanza Limited Partnership to build a three-story apartment building and child-care center at Maple Avenue and 28th Street for low-income families.

CHRISTMAS PARADE: Approved the temporary closure of Figueroa Street between Avenue 53 and Avenue 61 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 6 for the Highland Park Christmas Parade.

HOW THEY VOTED

CIVIL UNREST: Approved accepting $2.9 million in federal funds to conduct the Los Angeles Civil Unrest Project. The money will be awarded to public and private agencies to provide job training and employment for residents affected by the riots. Passed: 11-0. Voting yes: Richard Alatorre, Joan Milke Flores, Hernandez, Mark Ridley-Thomas and Rita Walters.

HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS: Approved a proposal by Hernandez to speed up the cleanup of homeless encampments. Officials are to report to the council within 30 days with a Homeless Cleanup Authorization Policy. Passed: 11-0. Voting yes: Alatorre, Flores, Hernandez, Ridley-Thomas and Walters.

HOMELESS SHELTERS: Approved accepting an additional $40,000 in federal funds to operate emergency winter shelters for the homeless in South Los Angeles and other areas of the city. Approved spending up to $20,350 to purchase 450 cots for the program. Passed: 10-0. Voting yes: Alatorre, Flores, Hernandez, Ridley-Thomas and Walters.