Inside the new MLK Hospital

Construction is nearly complete on the new Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital and adjoining outpatient center in Willowbrook.

The project, which has been long-championed by Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, will include a hospital with approximately 130 beds, including a 21-bed emergency department and a critical care unit. It also will provide a range of healthcare and social services.

The new Outpatient Center, under construction next to the hospital, includes specialty and urgent care for those not needing an overnight hospital stay.

An Oasis in the Middle of Koreatown

Rosemary bushes, lush Japanese maple trees and succulent plants in large planters welcome new residents and visitors to the Normadie Terrance Apartments, a new 66-unit affordable housing complex in the heart of Koreatown.

The 79,265-square-foot energy and environmentally efficient facility, is part of Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chairman Mark Ridley-Thomas’ ongoing effort to substantially increase the number of affordable housing units in the Second District. Since 2009, Chairman Ridley-Thomas has overseen and supported the construction and completion of 15 affordable housing complexes for low-income residents in the district with an additional seven housing developments currently underway.

All of the affordable housing complexes are contemporary standouts, including the Normandie Terrace Apartments, which occupies the whole city-block between Normandie and Mariposa Avenue. Units in the newest complex are furnished with energy saving kitchen appliances, hardwood flooring and granite counter tops. Families can meet and children play in the community room, a large space bursting with colorful artwork on its walls, or use the computer lab with free Internet access. Social services are located on the first floor where resume writing workshops and money management classes are held. In the upcoming months, tenants will also be able to learn about nutritional eating and domestic violence awareness.

The new apartments are a welcome change for Seung Hee Kang, 42, who use to live in a three-bedroom, low-income apartment near Chinatown with his family of four.

“I’m married with three-kids, one boy and two girls,” said Kang. “I liked where I lived before, but this is better. Living in the apartments here is very convenient because I’m Korean and the apartment is in Koreatown. We are able to walk to the Korean market, my daughter’s school is nearby and learning ballet at the nearby studio, and my church is nearby.”

Located less than a mile from the Metro train station at Wilshire Boulevard and Normandie Avenue, tenants have easy access to public transportation. The units are available for families earning approximately $17,400 to $57,660 per year. In addition, 33 of the units at the complex are designated for families earning less than $25,000 a year.

The John Stewart Company, one of the largest affordable housing providers in California, is managing the units. The company received more than 3,500 applications for a unit in Normandie Terrace from eager residents hoping to find an affordable and decent place to live.

“There is a great need for affordable housing in our county—one of the country’s most expensive areas in which to live,” said the supervisor. “This project stands as a shining example of what redevelopment can accomplish – a facility that is not only beautiful but includes amenities and services that will help tenants to thrive.”

Architectural sites – Compton City Hall

Compton is one of the oldest cities in Los Angeles County, having incorporated 125 years ago this month, on May 11, 1888.  Its civic center, located in the heart of the Hub City, boasts of architecture that nonetheless is eternally modern, including Compton City Hall and the iconic Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial.

Tackling Bullying and Increasing Autism Awareness

More than 400 business leaders, corporate executives, nonprofit leaders, elected officials, advocates, activists and parents attended the Special Needs Network’s 7^th annual Legislative Breakfast to discuss gun violence prevention.

The Special Needs Network, a nonprofit grassroots organization responding to the crisis of autism and other developmental disabilities in underserved communities, holds the legislative breakfast for the broader Los Angeles community to hear about important pending state legislation that impacts families and communities. This year the focus was on legislation related to the expansion of services for mental and developmental health and gun control.

The conference, titled From Newtown to Our Town: Gun Violence and Keeping Kids Safe, featured remarks by Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chairman Mark Ridley-Thomas, who spoke about the need to change our society’s acceptance of violence.

“Reducing gun violence requires all hands on deck,” said Chairman Ridley-Thomas. “It will require prevention, intervention; but in the final analysis – it will require a shift in our normative behavior.  As Dr. King once said – “we still have a choice today, nonviolent coexistence or violent co-annihilation.”

Among  the proposed initiatives  considered at the conference are ones to bolster efforts targeting the stigma associated with mental illness and mental health treatment,  as well as enhancing enforcement of existing laws that regulate the possession, sale and purchase of high caliber, high capacity weapons, mak ing  policies proscribing the sale and possession of ammunition,   expanding background checks and increasing the enforcement of existing laws.

“We want to work with our children and our families to make sure that every child in every classroom in every school is safe,” said Monica Garcia, president of the Los Angeles Unified School Board. “And we know that the most powerful tool for all of us is good and healthy relationships in and outside our homes, in and outside communities. Making sure everyone has a weapon is not the way to do it.”

California already has some of the strictest gun laws in the nation, but there are several bills pending in the state legislature, including one sponsored by Sen. Kevin de Leon , that would require anyone wishing to purchase ammunition – not a firearm –  to pass a background check. In addition to gun control legislation, other bills dealing with special needs were discussed.  Areva Martin, president and founder of the Special Needs Network noted that there are currently six autism bills making their way through the California legislature that deal with the issue of equity and diversity in helping African American and Latino children with diagnoses and resources. Last week the Center for Disease Control issued a new report confirming that the autism incident rate is now one in 50, up from last year’s rate of one in 88.  “It is not acceptable that African American and Latino kids are getting diagnosed with developmental disabilities at first grade, second grade, or third grade.  Our kids need to be diagnosed when they are eighteen months old so that those critical early intervention services can be provided,” said Martin. “We also know that kids with and without a diagnosis are bullied and subjected to unusually high level of violence which has a life-long influence on them. We are here today because we have the power to change this.”

Chairman Ridley-Thomas sounded an optimistic note, maintaining that as more people become educated on both gun violence prevention and on autism, reforms will soon follow.

“Tragedy often binds us together,” said the Supervisor. “But let faith and hope be our collective guide as we push forward so that tomorrow is a brighter day.”

Meet the Staff

	Nedra Jenkins Chief Deputy 500 W Temple Street, Room 866. Los Angeles CA 90012 work Phone: (213) 974-2222work Email: NJenkins@bos.lacounty.govINTERNET
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Biography Nedra Jenkins comes to the Second District from the County Counsel’s office, where she was principal deputy. She brings a wealth of litigation experience, community engagement and civic involvement to the position of chief deputy. Ms Jenkins has represented the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in matters regarding employment law and contract litigation, as well as the Department of Children and Family Services. Appointed to serve on the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission by City Controller Laura Chick, Ms. Jenkins has a distinguished record of public service. She is a past president of both the Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, Inc. and the Hariett Buhai Center for Family Law; she was recognized as one of Southern California’s rising stars by Law & Politics magazine and is also a member of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses. Ms. Jenkins earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and a Master of Arts degree in social science through a four-year joint degree program at the University of Chicago, and she is a 1994 graduate of UCLA School of Law.

	Vincent Harris Senior Advisor and Special Assistant 500 W Temple Street, Room 866. Los Angeles CA 90012 work Phone: (213) 974-2222work Email: VHarris@bos.lacounty.govINTERNET
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Biography Vincent Harris has served in a variety of administrative, policy and political capacities over the course of his public service career. As Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas’ former Chief of Staff during his tenure in the State Legislature, Mr. Harris provides policy continuity and broad understanding of the State’s budgetary and legislative processes to the Second District staff. During the 2008 Presidential Primary, Mr. Harris served as Deputy State Director of Barack Obama’s California campaign. Prior to working for Ridley-Thomas, Mr. Harris was Deputy Chief of Staff for California Governor Gray Davis. He also served as Senior Policy Advisor and Chief of Staff for the late Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald (37th District) when she served in the U.S. House of Representatives and California State Assembly. Raised in the Second District, the Los Angeles native earned his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in history from UCLA. Responsibilities: Municipal, special district, state and federal issues Local, state and federal elections Labor relations Census

	Peter Hong Senior Deputy for Agency Review and Support 500 W Temple Street, Room 866. Los Angeles CA 90012 work Phone: (213) 974-2222work Email: phong@bos.lacounty.govINTERNET
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Biography Peter Hong joined the supervisor’s staff from the Los Angeles Times, where he worked for 15 years of his 20-year journalism career. Hong’s commitment to the Second District began in 1994, when he joined the staff of the paper’s City Times section, formed after the 1992 civil unrest to serve the communities of central and south Los Angeles. As a reporter for the Times’ Metro staff, Hong’s work penetrated the complexity of race relations and the cultural identity of Los Angeles, illuminating both tragedies and triumphs. He wrote on the broader social conditions underlying such problems as hate crimes in Hawaiian Gardens and violence between black and Latino students at Locke High School. He also wrote features on Los Angeles-area success stories like the renaissance of the West Adams neighborhood and phenomenal national success of locally produced sriracha hot sauce. Hong has written numerous Op-Ed and analytical pieces on education, economics, foreign affairs, environmental policy and was the lead Times reporter on the Phil Spector murder trial. His final beat for the Times was as a Business reporter, covering the housing crash and foreclosure crisis. His frequent front-page stories correctly reported both the bursting of the housing bubble and the market’s recent bottom. Prior to joining the Times, Hong was a reporter for the Washington Post and the Washington bureau of Business Week magazine. He began his career as a Desk Assistant in the Washington Bureau of ABC News. Hong was graduated from Occidental College with a degree in politics in 1987. He was a Thomas J. Watson fellow in Korea and Poland in 1987-1988. He has been a national board member of the Asian American Journalists Association and a trustee of Occidental College. Responsibilities: Metro Expo Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Public Works Probation

	Dorinne Jordan Senior Deputy for Budget Accountability and Advocacy 500 W Temple Street, Room 866. Los Angeles CA 90012 work Phone: (213) 974-2222work Email: djordan@bos.lacounty.govINTERNET
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Biography Dorinne Jordan joined the office of Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas in February of 2009 as the Second Supervisorial District’s Budget Deputy. In this role, she is responsible for all aspects of the budget including policy development, budget implementation, and the development of plans for reallocation of funds. Ms. Jordan also acts as his liaison to all County departments on budgetary matters. Ms. Jordan comes to the Second District with significant private and public financial and budgetary experience. For three years she leant her expertise to private developer Newhall Land as their Senior Financial Analyst where she managed financial models for land valued at $6 billion. Prior to working at Newhall Land, Ms. Jordan worked as a budget analyst for the County’s Chief Administrative Office, now known as the Chief Executive Office, and was responsible for budget development and management for eight County departments valued at more than $400 million. Ms. Jordan received her Bachelor of Arts from Barnard College at Columbia University and a Masters of Business Administration from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management. Responsibilities: County-wide Budget Assessor Auditor-Controller Treasurer-Tax Collector

	Lisa Richardson Senior Deputy for Communications Communications 500 W Temple Street, Room 866. Los Angeles CA 90012 work Phone: (213) 974-2222work Email: lrichardson@bos.lacounty.govINTERNET
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Biography Lisa Richardson is an accomplished communications professional whose 24-year career includes 18 years as a journalist with the Los Angeles Times, departing as a member of the Editorial Board. She has covered education, social services, health care, immigration and written award-winning work on race relations. She also has helped nonprofit organizations, community groups and underrepresented voices gain access to the newspaper by shepherding opinion pieces and letters to publication. A native of Boston, Mass. Lisa received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Dartmouth College, and studied Spanish art, politics and literature at the University of Granada and the University of Salamanca.

	Brenda Robinson Senior Deputy for Human Services and Advocacy 7807 S. Compton Ave., Rm. 200. Los Angeles CA 90001 work Phone: (213) 974-1645work Email: BRobinson@bos.lacounty.govINTERNET
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Biography Brenda Comer Robinson comes to Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas’ office from the Children’s Law Center of California, where she served as a supervising attorney for eight of her twelve years on staff.  She has a stellar reputation in the child welfare community.  She has presented at numerous conferences, trainings and other forums for professionals in the child welfare system.  She brings extensive experience in serving on various committees involved in creating strategic alliances while working through policy issues. Prior to joining the law center, she had her own firm specializing in dependency, family and probate law.  Along with her law partner, she helped to create the Domestic Violence Project for the Prototypes Crisis Centers.  Before stating her own practice, she previously served as in house counsel for the Los Angeles International Church of Christ (LAICC). She moved to Los Angeles from Denver to create a nonprofit organization to serve the health needs of South Los Angeles.  In partnership with the LAICC, she formed and served as the Executive Director for Hope for Kids (Hope LA), a nonprofit health organization that partnered with the MLK mobile health unit to provide health education and immunization programs and services to families and youth inSouth Los Angeles. She received her undergraduate degree from Howard University and her law degree from Golden Gate University School of Law.

	Dan Rosenfeld Senior Deputy for Economic Development, Sustainability and Mobility 500 W Temple Street, Room 866. Los Angeles CA 90012 work Phone: (213) 974-2222work Email: drosenfeld@bos.lacounty.govINTERNET
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Biography Dan Rosenfeld is Senior Deputy to Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, with responsibility for economic development, land use, sustainability and transportation issues. Mr. Rosenfeld has alternated in his career between public and private-sector service, working previously as Director of Real Estate for the State of California and City of Los Angeles. In the private-sector, Mr. Rosenfeld served as a senior officer with The Cadillac Fairview Corporation, Tishman-Speyer Properties, Kilroy Industries and Jones Lang LaSalle. He was a founding member of Urban Partners, LLC, a nationally recognized developer of urban infill, mixed-use and transit-oriented real estate. Mr. Rosenfeld is a graduate of Stanford University and the Harvard Business School. Responsibilities: Regional Planning Public Works Community Development Commission

	Randi Tahara Senior Deputy for Board Operations 500 W Temple Street, Room 866. los Angeles CA 90012 work Phone: (213) 974-2222work Email: rtahara@bos.lacounty.govINTERNET
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Biography Randi Tahara has extensive experience in the field of criminal justice and public safety serving as a Supervisor’s Deputy for over 16 years. Ms. Tahara currently serves as the Supervisor’s Board Operations Deputy where she is charged with ensuring smooth and effective operations at the weekly Board meetings. Additionally, she serves as the Arts Deputy and as a liaison to the Asian Pacific Islander communities. Ms. Tahara earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from California State University, Long Beach, and possesses numerous certificates in County management courses and in the law enforcement field. Responsibilities: Animal Care and Control API Community Arts Board Operations Deputy Fire Department

	Yolonda Vera Senior Deputy for Healthcare Services and Advocacy 500 W Temple Street, Room 866 Los Angeles CA 90012 work Phone: (213) 974-2222work Email: yvera@bos.lacounty.govINTERNET
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Biography Yolanda Vera has an extensive background in civil rights with a dedicated focus on health related matters. Her legal work included positions with the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, the National Health Law Program, and the Western Center on Law and Poverty. Most recently as the Director of LA Health Action, a California Endowment-funded non-profit dedicated to improving the health of low-income Los Angeles County communities, Ms. Vera took the lead to preserve and improve healthcare throughout Los Angeles. Ms. Vera has served as a board member of the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California and the Child Health Initiative of Greater Los Angeles. She was previously appointed by Los Angeles City Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to the Board of Civil Service Commissioners. A resident of Los Angeles, Ms. Vera earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in English from Loyola Marymount University, and a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from the UCLA School of Law. Responsibilities: Health Services Mental Health Public Health Links: L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas names healthcare deputy (L.A. Times) Supervisor Ridley-Thomas Announces Selection of Yolanda C. Vera to Serve as Health Deputy(PDF)

	Alex Johnson Assistant Senior Deputy for Education & Public Safety 7807 S. Compton Ave., Room 200. Los Angeles CA 90001 work Phone: (213) 974-1645work Email: AMJohnson@bos.lacounty.govINTERNET
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Biography Alex M. Johnson currently serves as the assistant senior deputy for education and public safety in the Office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. In this role, he handles development, oversight, implementation and integration of the Supervisor’s education and public safety policy priorities and initiatives. Prior to this position he served as an attorney in the General Counsel’s office for the New York City Department of Education where he provided counsel to school leaders and departmental executives, as well as managed complex civil litigation, policy matters and special disciplinary proceedings as part of a teacher quality initiative.  He taught as an adjunct lecturer at Lehman College, one of twenty-three colleges in the City University of New York system. He is a former Assistant District Attorney in the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office where he served in the Domestic Violence Bureau and convened numerous grand jury proceedings and won numerous bench and jury trials.  He gained policy experience working as a legislative aide for Georgia State Representative Douglas C. Dean and in the Washington, D.C. offices of Congressional Representatives Juanita Millender McDonald (deceased) and Julian C. Dixon (deceased).  During the 2000 Democratic National Convention, he served as a project manager for the convention committee where he managed one of sixteen community outreach projects. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, cum laude, from Morehouse College and a Juris Doctor from The American University, Washington College of Law. While at American University, he served as an Articles Editor on the Administrative Law Review (ALR); as a Marshall-Brennan Fellow where he taught constitutional law and criminal law to local high school students; and also received an Equal Justice Fellowship which provided the opportunity to work for the Appeals Bureau of the Public Defender Service of the District of Columbia.  During his tenure in law school he represented non-profit corporations in matters that required engagement in the civil, regulatory and political arenas. He is the author of Beyond Higher Education: The Need for African-Americans to be “Knowledge Producers,” which was published in Spring 2005 edition of The Modern American. He is a native of Los Angeles and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce.  He resides in the Second District.

	Karly Katona Assistant Senior Deputy for Environmental Sustainability 500 W. Temple Street, Room 866. Los Angeles CA 90012 work Phone: (213) 974-2222work Email: KKatona@bos.lacounty.govINTERNET
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Biography Karly Katona is the Assistant Senior Deputy for Sustainability for the Office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.  She provides policy and programmatic support on a range of environmental and economic development issues and serves as the Office’s liaison to the Departments of Regional Planning, Public Works, Parks and Recreation, and Beaches and Harbors.  She also interfaces on behalf of the Second Supervisorial District with the County’s Public Library Department and the Community Development Commission. Before joining Supervisor Ridley-Thomas’ staff, she served as a Deputy to Supervisor Yvonne B. Burke and was responsible for handling a range of policy issues and constituent affairs. Prior to serving the Second Supervisorial District, she completed a Coro Fellowship in Los Angeles.  During the year-long fellowship, she worked with a variety of businesses and organizations that impact pubic affairs in Los Angeles, including the American Diabetes Association, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the County of Los Angeles, and the public affairs firms Rose and Kindel and the MWW Group. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of California at Berkeley earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies and completing a minor in Public Policy.  Karly has also earned a Master of Arts degree in Public Health from the University of California at Los Angeles.

Downtown Office Deputies

Exposition Park Office Deputies

Florence-Firestone Office Deputies