Called CicLAvia, it’s L.A.’s version of Ciclovía—Spanish for “bike path”—the weekly street closure in Bogotá, Colombia, that has become a byword for car-free streets.

This will be the fourth Sunday in less than two years when 10 miles of roads across parts of East Los Angeles and Downtown will become free—absolutely free—of motor vehicles.

Instead, from 10 a.m. through 3 p.m. on April 15, certain streets stretching from Boyle Heights to Downtown and MacArthur Park to East Hollywood will be open exclusively to cyclists, runners, skaters and walkers. (Check the attached map for details.) The only other time this will happen again this year will be on Sunday, October 9.

This isn’t just an event for anyone who prefers human locomotion to the vehicular variety, whether occasionally or permanently. It’s also meant “to rediscover the roadways and neighborhoods that too often go unnoticed in a car,” according to the organization’s website.

Major themes include:

•A Successful Sales Philosophy

•Effective Sales Management

•Personal Development for Sales Professionals

This book provides the tools and knowledge required by a highly successful sales winner. It is a useful tool for any salesperson or management team that wants to propel their business and sales experience forward.

Harvey brings together personal experience as well as proven methods and more than 50 years as a successful salesman andsales consultant. The book is comprised of the best of 20 years of monthly columns published in California Alarm Association magazine THE MIRROR.

Harvey Eisenstadt shares his knowledge through Step Up to Sales Success and conducts sales and management workshopsthroughout the United States.

Visit www.hjesales.com for more information.

To purchase the book and for information on scheduling Harvey Eisenstadt

for sales, management or keynote presentations,

contact Syncomm Management Group at 800-490-9680 or info@snnonline.com

Business Success Roundtable Speakers Series Presents:

Federal I-9 and E-Verify Employment Issues

Featuring Attorney Martin Simone

U.S. law requires companies to employ only individuals who may legally work in the United States – either U.S. citizens, or foreign citizens who have the necessary authorization. This diverse workforce contributes greatly to the vibrancy and strength of our economy, but that same strength also attracts unauthorized employment.

E-Verify is an Internet-based system that allows businesses to determine the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States. E-Verify is fast, free and easy to use.

Unfortunately, E-Verify has a significant error factor and is therefore not the best way employers can ensure a legal workforce.

California recognizes the deficiency in the system and therefore does not require California employers to use E-Verify, notwithstanding the requirement that employers must determine employee legal status.

Martin Simone will discuss ways of being compliant with federal regulations without using E-Verify; how to avoid mistakes in hiring and firing; and, how to provide a defense against federal prosecution.

Date: April 13, 2012

Time: 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 am

Cost: $20. Includes buffet breakfast Location: Marie Callender’s Restaurant

To attend, call the Chamber at (818) 349-5676

Citing a federal medical privacy law, the Los Angeles Fire Department announced Tuesday it would no longer provide the public with basic information about fires, medical calls, traffic accidents or other emergencies it responds to.

LAFD public information officers contacted by City News Service Tuesday about various fire calls — including a vehicle shearing a fire hydrant in North Hills and a collision between a food truck and a car in downtown Los Angeles that sent two people to hospitals — said they were not permitted to provide any information, including the locations of the crashes. In the case of the downtown collision, a spokesman refused to even confirm a wreck had occurred, even though footage of the crash had already been shown on at least one television news station.

The policy apparently took effect Sunday, when the LAFD began omitting the addresses from media alerts it circulates about fires or other incidents to which crews are dispatched. For example, a media alert issued Saturday by the LAFD specified that fire crews had responded to a fire at 936 W. 49th St. By Sunday, the department’s media alert about a reported fire in a three-story apartment complex included no address or general location of the blaze.

LAFD Chief Brian L. Cummings issued a statement late Tuesday saying the department — which has been under fire in recent weeks over its reporting of response times — was following orders issued by the office of City Attorney Carmen Trutanich, a candidate for county district attorney.

City Attorney’s Office officials could not be reached for immediate comment.

Cummings said the department is subject to the Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, commonly known as HIPAA, “and is only permitted to release Protected Health Information for the purposes of treatment, billing and operations under the HIPAA Privacy Rule, without the patient’s permission.”

“The department is currently seeking written advice from the city attorney relative to the release of incident-specific PHI to a variety of internal and external sources including elected officials, commissions, the media and associated stakeholders,” Cummings said. “The city attorney has preliminarily opined that the department should immediately cease the practice of releasing PHI to any source not specifically authorized under the Privacy Rule’s treatment, billing and operations exemption.

“I realize that this practice will significantly impact the manner in which the department provides updates and notifications to a wide variety of stakeholders,” he said

2. If I am ambitious enough to invade your home while you are there – you may want to consider “answering” my door knock through the door – “Hello – who are you – no, I don’t want any – go away or I’ll call the police” And I will go away. So DO NOT OPEN IT! But if I hear your voice speaking with me – I will move on to another home that may let me in!

3. Maybe I will work with someone claiming to sell magazine subscriptions – I always know when someone is home or not – by knocking on the door!

4. I look to see if your trash cans are put out on trash day – or I’ll look to see if anyone has taken in the trash cans by nightfall – a dead giveaway that no one is home!

5. Those car keys you left in the ignition or on the hook in the garage – allows me to drive away from your house in luxury with your property – and your car.

19126 Singing Hills Drive, Northridge, Ca 91326

Time: 7:00 am Breakfast, Networking, and meeting the candidates

Debate Begins: 8 am

Cost: No cost for the first 100

RSVP’s; $20 thereafter with resevations; $25 at the door

RSVP Today: (818) 349-5676

Co-Sponsors:

DS Honda Construction

Financial West Group

Protection Alarms

Community Connection

Moderators:

Pegi Matsuda, Publisher

San Fernando Valley Business Journal

Dana Bartholomew, Writer

Los Angeles Daily News

David Honda

DS Honda Construction

Dennis deYoung

Financial West Group

The Candidates:

Two Republicans; Mark Reed & Susan Shelley

Two incumbent Democrats; Brad Sherman & Howard Berman

To RSVP call the Chamber at 818-349-5676

The LAPD reported that during the last week a spike has occurred in residential and commercial burglaries in the Topanga Division area. And while clusters of the crime have been noted in the West Hills and Woodland Hills communities, burglaries have also been reported up and down the Topanga Canyon corridor, including Chatsworth.

“Businesses are being broken into. Stolen vehicles … warehouses where people go in and steal water regulators [which thieves then sell for $100 to $150 or recycle for use as copper metal]

LAPD recommended that residents take a number of precautions to protect their valuables, including personal items, heirlooms, vehicles and business equipment and products:

•When leaving home, lock or secure all doors and windows;

•When travelling, notify the post office and newspaper to suspend deliveries, to be retrieved later. Inform a friend or neighbor of any absence and ask them to keep an eye on the residence and notify the police of any unusual or suspicious activity in the area;

•Set porch light or lights inside the home on a timer so it looks like someone is home during the evening;

LAPD also recommended that when residents park at shopping centers, parking lots or streets to “not park [far] away. Park close to the front, in a safe area where there’s light. Keep your car locked and don’t leave [personal items like] purses, wallets, iPods, laptops … in plain sight.”

The LAPD also has reprised its “Lock it, Hide it, Keep it” campaign this season. This applies to homes, businesses and vehicles. The phrase is a helpful way to remember to lock your doors, hide valuables from sight (and draw the shades if at home or office to prevent them from being seen) and when shopping, park in well-lit areas and lock purchases in your trunk.

An increase in burglaries might come as a surprise to Chatsworth residents, particularly those who have lived in the community for some time.

“Chatsworth’s [historically been] a very safe, well-rounded community, where business owners know each other, everyone knows each other. But people are constantly coming in from surrounding communities and stealing.”

PROTECT YOUR VALUABLES!

This is a friendly reminder of ways to keep your personal belongings safe!!

LOCK IT-HIDE IT-KEEP IT!

Do not keep valuables inside your vehicle clearly visible, secure them in your trunk.

 Lock and secure doors and windows.

A Steering Wheel Locking Device is highly recommended.

Be aware of your surroundings.

 The Police Department does our best to keep you and your valuable items safe; by you following a few safety tips, YOU may also prevent a thief from committing a crime.