Task Force
The following letter was previously sent to Mayor Eric Garcetti and Councilmember Mike Bonin, and has been reprinted here with permission.
Dear Mayor Eric and Councilman Mike,
I want to share what I would consider an amazing demonstration of the coordination and initiative of the LA city, county and state agencies in coordination with the local homeless services task force volunteers to address the community concerns of the homeless encampments.
The local concerns were understandably high as an aftermath of the recent Palisades wildfire. I was particularly pleased to see the role that the LA City Recreation and Park Rangers played in this effort. This joint agency effort was organized by Westside Police Commander Captain Jonathan Tom with the assistance of RAP Ranger Chief Joe Losorelli.
The group assembled at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, June 1, at the Will Rogers State Beach parking lot and deployed in to preassigned forested areas to locate and work with the homeless encampments. The task was to provide the encampment occupants with alternate shelter opportunities and to remove the accumulation of trash as a fire safety precaution.
It was a proud moment for me to see the public service sector in action. As a resident of the Pacific Palisades community, I commend the participants and their organizations for their service.
Joe Halper
Accepting Donations
I want to thank the Palisades residents, runners, kids and all the volunteers for helping with the Palisades Will Rogers 5 & 10K Run and Kids Fun Run.
For the last two years, Races No. 43 and No. 44 have been canceled. Last year it was canceled because of the COVID-19 virus shutdown. This year, we had to cancel because of the city’s unwillingness to issue a permit with unconditional restrictions until June 15.
I understand the reluctance to issue the 2021 permit for bureaucratic reasons, but there is too much to do in the short time that would be allotted that would allow us to put on a 44th Palisades Will Rogers 5 & 10K and Kids Fun that runners would be proud of and appreciate. Therefore, the 44th race was canceled.
Residents can still help celebrate the 44th race by making a donation. With all that has happened with the race the last couple of years, we want runners and residents to give by donating to their favorite race to help people in need through the Palisades Optimist Club. They need our support more than ever.
All donors of $20 or more can pick up a specially designed T-shirt, which will be distributed with a family donation. T-shirt pick up details will be included with the donation receipt. (Visit palisades10k.com.)
Who knew that 44 years ago the PWRR would grew from such humble beginnings to one of the premier races on the West Coast? Thank you all for your past and future support.
Brian W. Shea
Race Director & Founder
Palisades Will Rogers 5 & 10K Run Foundation
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