Randy Young Honored by CD 11, PPCC for “Decades of Service”
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
Pacific Palisades Community Council gathered to meet in-person on June 22 for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic—a meeting where Councilwoman Traci Park addressed audience and board members.
The meeting, which took place at Palisades Branch Library, was also streamed via Zoom, for those who wished to attend virtually.
“We know we can meet in person or in hybrid again,” PPCC Chair Maryam Zar shared after the meeting, “and may try once a quarter to have a gathering with an important speaker/presenter for an in-person/hybrid meeting at the library.”
Park spoke on a number of topics, including her time in office so far (including her work alongside Brentwood, Pacific Palisades and West LA Field Deputy Michael Amster), committee assignments and wildfire.
She shared that the it has been a “really interesting six months,” which have been “the fastest and shortest” of her life.
When it comes to people experiencing homelessness, Park said she is “very concerned” about seeing a rise in Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s 2023 Homeless Count numbers, which are expected to be released soon. Park shared she is working alongside LAHSA, as well as St. Joseph Center, to adjust resources throughout the city.
Speaking on Los Angeles Police Department, Park shared that, due, in part, to rate of attrition, forces are projected to be “critically low,” so she will continue to monitor how that affects things like response times in CD 11.
Park addressed a recent motion she presented to City Council aimed to tighten regulations on RV sales and leasing in public rights-of-way in response to “van-lords” who rent out RVs.
“Park is asking for an amendment to Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 80.73.1, which currently prohibits reserving any street, parking space or other public space for business activities related to new and used vehicles, but does not explicitly cover RVs,” according to an emailed statement from her office on May 17. “Park’s proposed amendment seeks to include RVs in the types of vehicles prohibited from conducting business in public rights-of-way and affirm RV lessors’ responsibility to adhere to state codes, including Section 18027.3 of California’s Health and Safety Code and Section 14604(a) of California’s Vehicle Code.”
Park shared that she is also working alongside more than a dozen area agencies and departments to tackle wildfire prevention and suppression, including evaluating areas for fire risk.
For the remaining time, Park took questions from board and audience members, finishing with a question from PPCC Area 5 Representative Kimberly Bloom who asked about the future of a dog park in the Palisades. Park responded that she expects to have “exciting stuff to talk about” related to the proposed dog park in late July or August.
Park directed constituents to sign up for her weekly newsletter, which is available at councildistrict11.lacity.gov and provides updates about Council District 11 once per week.
Randy Young Honored
At the end of her presentation, Park and Zar, on behalf of the PPCC board, thanked Randy Young for his service to Pacific Palisades and the council—which Park described as an “incredible legacy,” including protecting the beauty and history of the Palisades.
“We thanked and bid a fond farewell to Randy Young—for his decades of service to the Palisades and PPCC—with a certificate from CD 11 and an engraved paperweight from the board,” Zar shared.
Young, who previously led PPCC as chair in 1992-94, has most recently served as treasurer from 2022-23, a position that will soon by filled by current PPCC Vice Chair Jenny Li.
“I am not worthy,” Young said of the honors. “This is how I keep my sanity—serving community,” adding that he feels that everyone should put aside time to give back.
The next two PPCC meetings are slated to take place on July 27 and August 24.
For more information, visit pacpalicc.org.
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