Cárdenas Announces Over $5 Million in Community Project Funding to the City of Los Angeles and Pacoima Beautiful for Pacoima Wash Improvements
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY – Today, Congressman Tony Cárdenas (CA-29) presented $5.8 million in Community Project Funding checks to the Office of Los Angeles City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez and Pacoima Beautiful for improvements to the Pacoima Wash.
“For years, our community has rallied around the hope and dream of improving the Pacoima Wash, and today, we are one step closer to making that a reality,” said Congressman Cárdenas. “The over $5 million in Community Project Funding we delivered will make the Pacoima Wash better and safer for our community. Thank you to Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez and Veronica Padilla for working tirelessly on these projects and helping us deliver for our friends and neighbors. Together, we will continue to build a more beautiful Pacoima for our community.”
A $5 million check was presented to the Office of Los Angeles City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez to build a new pedestrian and bicycle bridge to provide safe and direct access to the future El Dorado Park. Currently, local students and neighborhood residents use a dangerous cut-through route that has caused numerous tragedies, including the most recent death of 14-year-old Elias Rodriguez.
“The Telfair Bridge is a reflection of years of work and collaboration that will bring a much needed project to the Pacoima community,” said Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez. “This bridge will unite a community currently divided by manmade infrastructure and will create a safe passage for members of the community to cross the Pacoima wash. Thanks to the advocacy of Congressman Tony Cárdenas, we now have the funding needed to begin construction on this multimodal bridge crossing at Telfair.”
In addition, a $800,000 check was presented to Pacoima Beautiful to support the first phase of the Pacoima Wash Vision Plan that goes from the 5 freeway to Haddon Street, eventually extending to San Fernando Road. The funding will support the creation of a multipurpose park and green space that will help create a healthier, more sustainable community.
“The pandemic emphasized the importance of parks and open space for our community,” said Veronica Padilla, Pacoima Beautiful Executive Director. “They are critical for physical and mental health; they provide respite during hot summer months, and they serve as a space for families and neighborhoods to gather. This project brings us one step closer to fulfilling our vision for the Pacoima Wash, this greenway will also add to the bike and pedestrian network and provide a safe traveling route. A big thank you to Congressman Cardenas for allocating this funding for the Pacoima Wash, thank you for believing in our vision and prioritizing our community that deserves to see beautiful parks and amenities just like other neighborhoods in Los Angeles County.”
For the first time since 2009, Congress passed Community Project Funding, money requested by Members of Congress to meet the needs of their district. Congressman Cárdenas submitted ten Community Project Funding requests to the Appropriations Committee, all of which were passed in the Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations federal funding package. The over $12 million going to the Northeast San Fernando Valley will support community improvement, housing for the homeless, job training, youth programs, mental health services and more.
For photos and videos of the check presentation, click here.
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