The Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council (STNC) has been advocating for the people of Sunland-Tujunga since before its creation. And we are always advocating on a continuous basis. Sometimes, getting the City to do something can take years. There are motions, procedures, committees, rules, commissions, forms, wording, votes, red tape, etc. But I’m glad to report that we do have progress on some long-standing issues in the community. Have you seen the repaired streets at Tujunga Cyn. and Foothill? Or all of the resurfacing that’s been done east of Commerce and North of Foothill? Councilman Fuentes’ office staff have told me they are going to start repairing Hillhaven at Tujunga Cyn that has been funded and scheduled. The City is going to start work on the Oro Vista Passive Park (at Big Tujunga Cyn.) in July. We have over 35 homeless people that have been placed in long term housing and are off our streets. The Director of Sunland Park reports that the numbers of homeless in the park has dropped from 20-30 a day to 2 or 3 a day. Children are coming back to the playground. We have advocated for, and brought Starbucks, Panda Express, and Fresh and Easy, and other stores. We fought for Weatherwolde Castle and won! Our Land Use Committee created a very fair and equitable Floor Area Ratio (FAR, now called RFA), plan with the City to halt over-mansionization of our community but still allow enough space for a large family. Many other communities in the City of LA liked it so much they adopted it. It has become the ex-facto standard. It was our council’s turn to be audited this year and after 14 audits, we came through with flying colors. We are continually working to find an acceptable development for the K-Mart site. The Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council is a respected driving force in the City.

Your Neighborhood Council members are the SAME AS YOU. They are neighbors, business owners, home owners, renters, and/or attend meetings of local organizations or churches. They are 100% volunteers. They want a better community for their kids, family, and neighbors. The only difference is they have carved some time out of their busy schedules to help represent our community to the City. If you have some available time, please volunteer on a committee of something that interests you. The more people helping the better.

Mark Seigel is the newly re-elected president of the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council and a local locksmith. You can reach him at 818-430-5244 or email: mark.seigel@gmail.com