The District 9 family is grieving the tragic loss of a well-known and respected South LA leader who died after contracting COVID-19. Leslie Hagan-Morgan was a prominent voice in District 9, a natural born leader and a man of action. 

Leslie served in many different roles within the District, including Boardmember for the CANNDU Neighborhood Council; program coordinator with Soledad Enrichment Action (SEA), one of South LA's leading gang prevention agencies; and also founded City of Youth, a local nonprofit. He was also very active politically serving as a Delegate for the CA Assembly’s 59th District.

“Leslie’s impact will live on through the work that he did across the District and the South LA communities he served,” said Councilmember Curren Price. “His leadership, passion and selflessness will be sorely missed.”

Also in mid-January, it was reported that longtime Exposition Park Department of Public Safety Officer Jesus Castillo passed away on Jan. 17 from complications associated with COVID-19. 

Officer Castillo was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, and a 20-year veteran of the Exposition Park Department of Public Safety. He is survived by his wife and three children.

Once again, Councilmember Curren Price is bringing FREE COVID-19 testing to the local community. Join St. John's Well Child and Family Center on Jan. 27 for another coronavirus testing opportunity from 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at Councilman Price’s District Office (4301 S. Central Ave.) 

The test is non-invasive and is safe for the whole family. To make an appointment, please contact Alicia Vargas (English) at (213) 400-0552 or Antonia Esparza (Spanish) at (213) 706-1740. For more information on coronavirus testing in Los Angeles, visit https://corona-virus.la/covid-19-testing

For additional resources available to the District 9 community during the COVID-19 pandemic, contact Councilmember Price’s District Office at (323) 846-2651.

On Jan. 13, Councilmember Curren Price donated 20 laptops for students and teachers at 49th Street Elementary School.

Administrators at the school had reached out to Councilman Price’s office with concerns that children and teachers were waiting too long for replacements from the school districts. The lack of resources led to a few teachers struggling to hold classes virtually. 

On Jan. 12, Councilmember Curren Price joined the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) in an online information session to discuss proposed safety upgrades at McKinley Avenue and 88th Place. 

This project, which is part of the Green Meadows neighborhood, would bring a traffic circle, 4-way stop, landscaping, signage and much more. Community members are encouraged to provide feedback through an LADOT survey that can be accessed here through the end of January. 

Missed the virtual presentation? Click here to view a video replay of the webinar in English or click here for Spanish. 

On Jan. 7, Councilman Curren Price joined trusted partners St. John's Well Child and Family Center and the Special Needs Network to kick off the #VaccinateSLA Event, providing an opportunity for frontline healthcare workers in LA County to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. 

The goal of the Vaccinate South LA initiative was to increase trust in the safety of the new vaccines among African American and Latino communities when the availability for the vaccine opens up to everyone at facilities like St. John’s.

The staff at St. John’s has been instrumental in combating the coronavirus pandemic in District 9, offering mobile testing, administering testing to students at Los Angeles Trade Technical College, and testing at local senior facilities and to homeless neighbors.

Click on the image below to watch coverage from the event featured on L.A. This Week.

No matter the challenges we have had to endure this past year, we will come out on the other side of this crisis stronger and braver, holding onto the ideals that even in our darkest hours, the shining examples of humanity could not be dulled. 

In a time when the world stopped, we kept going. From our efforts to combat the homelessness crisis to our response to COVID-19, we set our boots to the ground to help support the South LA community. 

Click on the image below to see some highlights from 2020, a year we will never forget.  

Team Price wishes you a Happy New Year and an abundance of good health, peace, love and prosperity. 

Sincerely,  

Although the way we celebrate the holidays this year is vastly different than ever before, nothing could stand in the way of Team Price’s yearly tradition of distributing toys and bikes to thousands of local children. This year, instead of being face to face, we held a first of its kind, drive-thru toy giveaway in District 9 on Dec. 19 at my District Office. The one thing that remains constant was the joy through the eyes of our children. Take a look at the photos here and you’ll feel the warmth and hope of the season. 

While our Winter Wonderland community event, where we distributed toys, baby clothes and groceries and which included social distancing protocols, was our main event of 2020, my staff and I were able to spread love and cheer to the community all month long. I want to express my sincere appreciation to our valued partners for their generosity, which allowed us to maintain a sense of normalcy in these perilous times. Thank you to Balfour Beatty, California Resources Corporation, Destination Enterprises, eaze, Fluor, HNTB, Northgate Gonzalez Market, Soledad Enrichment Action, TEC, Union Bank, and others for being there for our families. Through their support, we participated in the dissemination of thousands of toys, diapers, boxes of food, personal protective equipment and other supplies, across events districtwide this December. 

As we approach the end of a most-challenging year, we can reflect on a chapter that taught us a great many lessons while showcasing our resolve, perseverance and dedication to one another. Our strength was put to the test but it did not waver under the pressure, ensuring the foundation we have laid will continue to lift us up during the times we need it the most. 

Happy Holidays! Team Price wishes you and your family good health and happiness in the New Year ahead.

Sincerely,  

During the month of December, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) made several improvements along Avalon Boulevard in District 9. LADOT crews installed raised bus platforms at the boulevard's intersections including Manchester Avenue, Slauson Avenue, and 59th, 60th, 61st, and 76th streets. Installed adjacent to bus stops, these new platforms allow easier access for passengers who board and exit buses while also providing inclined sides for use by bicyclists, who may ride up and over the platforms, which are contiguous with the Avalon Boulevard bike lanes.

For more information on LADOT’s recent work toward enhancing the safety of Avalon Boulevard while helping to make it a better connected street, visit LADOT Livable Streets Avalon Boulevard Safety Project page.

Councilmember Curren Price on Dec. 16 joined the Los Angeles Department of Transportation at a new signal installation on Broadway Boulevard and 67th Street in District 9 as part of the Vision Zero program, which seeks to eliminate traffic deaths by 2025.

The signal activation near Bethune Middle School came as a result of a comprehensive traffic engineering study, which included data received from the Los Angeles Police Department on reported collisions in the area, as well as accidents that could have been prevented.

A community member was on hand with Councilman Price to flip the switch to turn on the intersection. The intersection was upgraded from a two-way stop sign control that is east and westbound to a traffic signal control, along with appropriate signage, red curbs, crosswalks and pavement markings. 

Our 2020 Central Avenue Jazz Festival, presented by Councilmember Curren Price, is now in the books. On behalf of team Price, we truly hope that you found the festival entertaining and educational. We appreciate your patience as we worked through the many challenges we encountered while producing this event during a pandemic. We reduced the size of the production and everyone was COVID tested. The environment was sanitized, disinfected and social distancing was practiced. Through it all, we were able to make it work but not without all of the incredible artists that put their trust in us to take the necessary precautions to provide a safe environment in which to perform. 

It comes as no surprise The Jazz Classics featuring Patrice Rushen with Ernie Watts, Marvin Smitty Smith, and Reggie Hamilton was the most watched performance. Master Class was in session, featuring four of the most elite musicians in the world. A special thank you to Patrice Rushen, a pioneer of the first Central Avenue Jazz Festival who returned to celebrate this momentous occasion.

Robert Glasper and Terrace Martin, two of the most sought after producers and musicians in the world, made their first appearance at the festival as a group. Their unique blend of Soul-Jazz and natural chemistry as musicians and "brothers" was the perfect combination for an intimate performance.

And kicking off the performances was Barbara Morrison and The Bu Crew. LA's favorite Jazz and Blues singer who never disappoints. When she sang classics from Bill Withers and Al Jarreau, we could imagine a choir of thousands singing along with her.

Last but not least, we hope you also enjoyed the “LA Currents” Angels Walk discussion and the re-broadcast of Central Ave Live! We regularly hear from Angelenos that they are unfamiliar with Central Avenue history so we hope these presentations have been a good introduction and may spark interest to learn more.

Now, we'd like to ask you to take a few minutes to complete a brief survey that will help us to improve next year. And we hope you will continue to help spread the word about the Central Avenue Jazz Festival by telling a friend or sharing our social media pages with your network of friends so we can be around for another 25 years.

Click on the image below to participate in the Central Avenue Jazz Fest survey.

Please visit www.centralavejazzfest.com where all of the performances are available for on-demand viewing for a limited time. And stay tuned for the official announcement of the opening of Central Avenue Angels Walk.