Maven’s Morning Coffee

Good morning, readers. Welcome to the Maven’s Morning Coffee — a listing of the important headlines, news conferences, public meetings and announcements you need to know to fuel up and tackle your day.

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Today is Friday, June 24, 2011 and here is what’s happening in Los Angeles:

Headlines

• The Daily News editorial page calls out Councilman Paul Krekorian for grandstanding on the issue of neighborhood council reforms. According to the piece, the Second District rep has done little more than start a conversation about improving the city’s system of 95 neighborhood councils.
• Speaking yesterday at the fifth annual Delta Day at City Hall, Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry criticized the lack of African-American women in elected office, reports City News Service. “This city is about 230 years old. I’m only the second African-American woman to have ever been elected. That’s, to me, cause for alarm, not cause for celebration,” Perry said.
• Prostitution continues to be a problem in parts of the Eighth District, prompting a community meeting with police and council staff at the LAPD’s Southwest station, according to Intersections South LA. This year, 132 prostitutes have been arrested, but residents say tactics such as photographing suspected hookers and shining lights into occupied parked cars are making an impact.
• Los Angeles Unified School District officials are looking for the Department of Water and Power to give them a break on power rates, according to the Los Angeles Times. LAUSD is expected to spend $67 million on electricity in the next fiscal year, and that’s before the utility increases its rates. (link unavailable).

Pressers

9 a.m. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, police Chief Charlie Beck and Los Angeles City Councilman Eric Garcetti will be at the Lafayette Recreation Center to announce the expansion of the Summer Night Lights Program.

9 a.m. Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon will join Assemblywoman Fiona Ma at The Original Farmers Market to promote the “Eat Local, Buy California Grown Day” resolution.

10 a.m. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will join the Los Angeles City Council at City Hall to honor the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles for their Centennial Year.

11 a.m. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and actor Martin Sheen will participate in a walk from City Hall to the Ronald Reagan State Building in support of the Fair Treatment for Farm Workers Act.

1:30 p.m. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa attend the kick off of Kaiser Permanente’s “Operation Splash” at Downey Recreation Center.

Meetings

10 a.m. Los Angeles City Council, City Hall, Council Chamber

• Request to extend the LAUSD’s solar incentive program for an additional year
• Recognition of Cynthia Ruiz for her work on the Board of Public Works

Announcements

To have an event or announcement listed, please email the Maven here.