Related Whittier Stories

04/01/08 April Is Healthy Parks Month

03/11/08 County Will Renovate Four Fire Stations And One Lifeguard Station In The Fourth District

02/20/08 New Graffiti Prevention Program To Launch February 23

02/13/08 County Grant Will Provide Homeless Families In Whittier With Housing And Services

02/06/08 Board Renews $50,000 Reward In Attempted Murder Case Of Whittier Sheriff's Deputy

12/19/07 Bridge Widening Complete On Stamy Road In South Whittier

12/19/07 Supervisor Knabe To Host Summit On Youth & Violence On January 11, 2008

12/14/07 Santa Returns To Whittier Parks

09/04/07 Park Projects Across The Fourth District Receive Grant Funds From The County

08/13/07 Summer Festival Coming Soon To South Whittier

Don Knabe. Working for Whittier.

Whittier Accomplishments

2008

Renovating Fire Stations in Whittier
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved the first phase of a project that will renovate fire and lifeguard stations throughout the County. Renovations are needed in over 90 of the County’s fire and lifeguard stations to meet code requirements and give female employees privacy when sleeping, dressing, and changing. Twelve facilities will be renovated in Phase 1 of the program, including Fire Stations 17 and 96 in Whittier.
 

Preventing Graffiti Vandalism in Whittier

Supervisor Knabe in partnership with Helpline Youth Counseling, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Cities of Downey, La Mirada, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, Whittier, and Unincorporated Whittier launched the Aware Teens Against Graffiti or A.T.A.G., which is an innovative delinquency prevention program that targets first time tagging and vandalism offenders between the ages of 9 to 15 and their parents. The weekend-long program focuses on the parents receiving an intensive two-day skill-building training, and the youth offenders participating in community service projects and group discussions while being supervised by law enforcement.
 

Providing Homeless Families in Whittier with Housing and Services

The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $1 million grant to the Whittier First Day Coalition, for a new transitional housing program in the City of Whittier. The Families Together Transitional Housing Project, which will be run by Whittier First Day, will provide transitional housing and intensive services to homeless families for up to two years. The funding for the project comes from the Fourth District’s allocation of County homeless funds, along with support and funding from the City of Whittier, foundations and the local business community.

Working to Reduce Violence
Supervisor Knabe and the Hispanic Outreach Taskforce hosted the inaugural Southeast Summit on Youth & Violence. The purpose of this summit was to bring forth a conceptual framework for reducing violence in our communities. This framework will focus on a strategy that encourages cooperative, coordinated efforts among elected officials, law enforcement, educators, community organizations, outreach and intervention workers, health and mental health workers, faith based representatives, businesses, government agencies, and local nonprofits all working toward the common goal of reducing violence levels in neighborhoods and communities.

Reward for Attempted Murder of Whittier Sheriff’s Deputy

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $50,000 reward, at the request of Supervisor Knabe, for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Emigdio Preciado, the primary suspect in the shooting of Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Schaap.

2007

New Funding for Park Projects
Supervisor Knabe dedicated $1.7 million in Proposition A Park funds to be used for various projects across the Fourth District. In Whittier, a portion of the money will be used for the installation of interpretive panels and interactive exhibits along the Whittier Greenway Trail and the planting of trees, shrubs and grasses.
 

Santa Comes to Parks in Whittier
Supervisor Knabe joined Mr. and Mrs. Claus and other special passengers on board the “Here Comes Santa” Holiday Train – an annual event that brings presents and fun in the snow to parks in the Whittier area.

Upgrading Traffic Signals in Whittier
Damaged traffic signals and equipment in Whittier is being replaced with new equipment. The $192,260 project is located at the intersection of Beverly Boulevard and Pioneer Boulevard, and involves the installation of conduits, conductors, pull boxes, retrofit kits and lamps to convert the existing out-dated, poorly functioning street light system to a more modern and reliable system.

Reward for Shooting of Sheriff’s Deputy in the City of Whittier
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $50,000 reward, at the request of Supervisor Knabe, for information related to the shooting of Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Schaap.

Synchronizing Traffic in Local Cities
A new Traffic Signal Synchronization Project has been approved for the cities of Bellflower, Cerritos, La Mirada, Long Beach, Norwalk and Whittier. The project will synchronize 35 traffic signals on Artesia Boulevard between Alameda Street and Valley View Avenue; 15 traffic signals on Central Avenue between El Segundo Boulevard and Victoria Street; and 36 traffic signals located on Whittier Boulevard between Paramount Boulevard and Valley Home Avenue. This project is part of the County’s ongoing program to enhance traffic flow and safety for drivers and pedestrians.

Providing South Whittier Residents Access to the Beach
Supervisors Knabe and Molina provided funds for the South Whittier Summer Beach Bus service, which allows the residents of South Whittier and other unincorporated areas in the vicinity to have the opportunity to climb aboard the Summer Beach Bus and go to Long Beach.

Creating Permanent Housing Opportunities for Homeless
Supervisor Knabe introduced a pilot program that will create permanent housing opportunities for dozens of homeless individuals and families. The primary goal of the Access to Housing for Health Pilot Project is to dramatically improve housing options for homeless men and women who seek care at County hospitals by connecting them with permanent housing opportunities once they leave the hospital.

2006

Provided funding for the Construction of the Parnell Park Senior Center.

Supports various community-based organizations like: Rio Hondo Chapter of the American Red Cross, Greater Whittier Youth Tennis Tournament, Whittier Public Library Foundation, Boys & Girls Club of Whittier, Hispanic Outreach Taskforce.

2005

Sponsored Here Comes Santa at Parnell Park.
 

Provided funding to save Probation Officer Bruce Sakamoto from being released due to the city’s budget restrictions.

2004

Contributed to the opening of a youth center operated by the Whittier Rio Hondo AIDS Project.
 

Funded building of a new youth boxing/community center that will serve underprivileged youth at the STAR Academy in Whittier.
 

Sponsored Here Comes Santa at Parnell Park.
 

Supported and Served on Advisory board for First Day of Whittier, a cutting edge transitional housing center.
 

Supported the renovation of Pio Pico State Park and Served on the Advisory board.

2003

Sponsored Here Comes Santa at Parnell Park.
 

Provided Funding for Pio Pico Historic State Park.

2002

Amigo Park Development Project.
 

Sponsored Here Comes Santa at Parnell Park.

2001

Sponsored Here Comes Santa at Parnell Park.
 

Amigo Park Redevelopment Project - New building, ball-field, landscape, irrigation, amenities, parking, Americans with Disabilities Act access.

2000

Sponsored Here Comes Santa at Parnell Park.