Education and Neighborhoods

Education and Neighborhoods Committee

Councilman Richard Alarcón chairs the Education and Neighborhoods Committee of the City Council. The two other members are Councilwoman Janice Hahn and Councilman Dennis Zine. 

The Education and Neighborhoods Committee meets bimonthly (2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month, 8:45 a.m., Room 1060). Please check the City Council website for updated information.

The Committee oversees all issues related to education and neighborhoods, two significant areas that affect the residents of the City.

During his tenure as a City Councilmember, Councilmember Alarcon has spearhead key projects and policy with the Education and Neighborhoods Committee. 

Neighborhoods and Neighborhood Councils

The Neighborhood Council Review Commission Report: In October, Councilmember Alarcón held a series of four public hearings to receive feedback on “The Neighborhood Council System: Past, Present and Future,” a report released in early October by the Neighborhood Review Commission (NCRC). The report, which took over a year to compile, was mandated by the City Charter.

From November until now the Education & Neighborhoods Committee has considered items within the report and moved them on to other Committees or to the full Council or asked for further reports on the recommendations.  By the end of February all 73 recommendations from the NCRC report have been considered by the Committee and either approved by Council or await further reports.

Education

Before Councilmember Alarcon entered public service, he worked as a teacher.  It is with this background that he has tackled important education issues in Los Angeles with an eye towards increasing graduation rates, improve student achievement and ensuring that all students have a safe environment in which to learn.

Councilmember Alarcon is also the co-founder of the Valley Education Collaborative, an organization working to support schools in the Seventh Council District.

Child Safety

One of Councilmember Alarcón’s main issues is that of protecting the safety of children.  He has an aggressive program to increase school safety, including installing speed humps and crosswalks near schools and parks.

You can see photos from the activation of a SmartWalk crosswalk by Richie Valens Park HERE.