In a tough month for Southern California, L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky claims that infrastructure investment and land use policies lessened the damage of the fires in the county -- more so than in other Southern California counties.
"The reverse 911 system, which we have in Topanga, worked well. Coordination between fire and law enforcement officials worked out, mutual aid worked out, and our air support proved to be worth its weight in gold. We have invested millions of dollars in the aircraft-the ones we own and the ones we lease. And if you compare that to other counties in the region, we were able to respond quickly and overwhelmingly within the first hours of a fire outbreak, while providing mutual aid to do the job that we needed to do."
"We have been very careful in what we have permitted and where we permit it. Where we believe the property has sufficient resource value, we should keep it as open space for all time."
County Supervisor Yaroslavsky goes on to discuss the city of Los Angeles' implemantation of SB 1818, a density bonus program for affordable housing, and the planned development for Universal City.
FULL STORY: Yaroslavsky Discusses Affordable Housing, Fire Prevention, Universal City
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