It's January 19th...welcome to the "Lunar New Year" edition of "NoHo Strong!" With the Lunar New Year starting this Sunday, we thought we'd give a little attention to "The Year Of The Rabbit!"

The rabbit is the symbol of longevity, peace, and prosperity in Chinese Culture, thus 2023 is predicted to be a year of hope.

Boy...doesn't that sound wonderful!!

A Word...Or Two...Or Three...

by ds stringer, CEO

I'm "Flooded" With Emotion...

The deluge of rain...that's been the main subject of conversation for the past couple of weeks. Because of the copious amount of rain, we had floods all over...streets that have never flooded before were drowning in literally feet of water.

That makes sense to me, considering we experienced storm after storm.

But, since I was a little girl, certain streets have flooded all the time, with just a smallest rain shower. When i worked in Orange County, the same street flooded every time there was even the tiniest bit of rain. And where I currently live in Los Angeles, the same street floods...and so on...and so on....

I just don't understand this. I'm not sharing my age here, but trust me, I've been around and have been living or working in these areas for a good, long time. Long enough for the street(s), or sewer systems, or whatever the problem is to be rectified. Because it has been left just as it is...the street in my current neighborhood is severely damaged now and is very hard on the tires and car suspension every time I drive on it. And...it's not so easy to avoid this particular street, since it's the main thoroughfare to get to my place.

Again...just don't get it. I'm pretty sure money isn't the issue. These situations have existed FOR YEARS!! Decades even...so...why can't we get this repaired?

One more thing...when I think about the giant sink hole in Chatsworth...that frightens the heck out of me. Are these streets going to be damaged enough that somethingg like this happens here??

Maybe THAT situation will hasten repairs on all the problem streets that flood at a few drops of rain...

I sure hope so...

On behalf of the Universal City/North Hollywood Chamber of Commerce...

Dorothy Stringer

Dorothy Stringer
CEO

We placed an article in our newsletter last week regrading a joint venture our UCNH Chamber of Commerce and the Toluca Lake Chamber of Commerce were producing; a comedy show at the Comedy Chateau on Lankershim Blvd./North Hollywood

Unfortunately, the Toluca Lake Chamber has informed us that this show needs to be postponed. We regret any problems this may have caused.

If you need to receive a refund for any pre-sale tickets you may have purchased please contact Toluca Lake Chamber at (818) 761-6594

RELIEF FROM THE ASSESSOR

ASSESSOR OFFERS RELIEF TO THOSE HIT BY STORMS

Filing a Misfortune & Calamity Claim Jumpstarts the Process

Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang is reminding property owners in the path of the recent torrential rainstorms that they may be eligible for tax relief.

“The recent spate of winter storms have caused significant damage and in some cases devastating losses," Assessor Jeff Prang said. “I want to remind property owners that you may be eligible for property tax relief that could save you money on your taxes as you move forward.”

By filing a claim for Misfortune & Calamity relief within one year of the incident, properties that have sustained a minimum of $10,000 in damage or destroyed entirely may be eligible for a refund of taxes already paid and lower annual tax bills until the property is repaired or rebuilt.

Claim forms for Misfortune & Calamity relief can be accessed by calling the Disaster Relief Hotline at 213/974-8658 or online at assessor.lacounty.gov/disaster-relief or connect on social media @LACAssessor.

Penalty Cancellation Relief

The Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector is aware that property owners impacted by the storms and first responders may not be able to pay their second installment of their 2022-23 Annual Secured Property Taxes by the delinquency date of April 10, 2023, and will be subject to a 10% penalty.   Those constituents may file for a penalty cancellation at https://ttc.lacounty.gov/penalty-cancellation-request-2/ or submit a paper request by calling (213) 974-2111, TTY (213) 974-2196 or (888) 807-2111.

Also, Assessor Prang encourages residents to use the County’s general information phone number of 211 or online at https://lacounty.gov/recovery/ to get information about other services offered during the recent slate of heavy storm weather.

YOU PUT THIS ON YOUR CALENDAR, RIGHT?

In less than a week, you can mix, mingle, eat some great food, help us with our monthly fundraiser...and meet Miss Lauren Trotter. Lauren is bringing knowledge and experience to our mixer and wants to educate YOU in the major problem of sex trafficking! It's happening in YOUR neighborhood...young girls and boys are being enticed and grabbed more often than you think. For example, 1 in 5 youth 14-18 in Los Angeles County will experience being exposed to sex trafficking. So...if you don't think this is an important topic...you're wrong.

Please join us at Pit Fire Pizza on Wednesday, January 25th, starting at 6 PM...but...DON'T FORGET!!! Our monthly ALL DAY fundraiser is also happening on January 25th!! Whatever you order, 15% of your order total comes back to our Chamber! SO...please spread the word and order for lunch...come for the mixer!!

The education you receive at this mixer may save YOUR young person!

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS...

The City of Los Angeles is collecting feedback to identify community needs for mobility and public realm investments along the Ventura corridor. We want to gauge community support for policy goals such as access for all, safer streets, improved air quality, climate resilience, and public health. The goal is to develop a list of mobility and right-of-way investments that is consistent with community-defined needs and advance policy goals. Share your thoughts for a chance to win a $20 raffle prize! http://tinyurl.com/venturaSP
For more information, visit the City Planning Ventura-Cahuenga Specific Plan Amendment Home Page or check out the Ventura-Cahuenga Specific Plan Amendment Fact Sheet & FAQ

IT'S THURSDAY...SO...

You know what Thursday means...right?

Today we want to put the focus on our latest Chamber member, Kalaveras Mexican Restaurant, the newest addition to not only our Chamber, but to North Hollywood as well!

Kalaveras is quickly growing all over the Southland!!

Now we have them here! With a unique twist on Mexican food, plus a generous happy hour and entertainment on the weekends, no doubt Kalaveras is going to become a NoHo favorite very soon...and definitely a business we are so happy to welcome to our Chamber family!

Kalaveras is located at:

5300 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood
818-358-3430

DOES "SHE" INSPIRE YOU?

The United Chambers of Commerce are holding their 9th Annual Inspirational Woman's Luncheon on May 11th. Do you know an inspirational, strong, amazing woman that you would like to nominate? Nominations are open through March 10th by noon.

Please call United Chambers at (818) 981-4491 to nominate someone or for more information.

STAY TUNED!!!

Our "Tax Time Pizza Party" is back!! Don't want to even think about taxes? Well, neither do we, but we make the pain of tax preparation a little less aggravating with this event...who doesn't like pizza, right? Huh...wait...if we mix pizza with our tax experts from our Chamber, giving you info and answering your questions..that might actually be fun! And where else do you have a pizza party? Pit Fire Pizza of course!!

So, stay tuned...we're finalizing the date as we speak, but for sure next month (February) we'll be sharing pizza and tax info!!

Questions? Contact the Chamber office at 818-508-5155

TODAY IS "NATIONAL 'GET TO KNOW YOUR CUSTOMERS' DAY"

We know our Chamber businesses treat their customers like gold...but today is the day where maybe you can take a little bit of extra time to get to know your customers better! It certainly can't hurt and will probably end up being a fun endeavor, finding out some cool and interesting facts about your patrons!

Good luck and enjoy!!

From pizza, to Mexican food, to the lunar New Year...and flood relief...and everything in between...! Another successful newsletter is in the bag!! And yep, we're already going through the articles we'll have for you next week...and don't forget the big announcement of the "Tax Time Pizza Party" date!!

So, until next week...

That's All Folks!!