The past two years have been unprecedented as the world copes with the COVID-19 pandemic. In the third district, Councilmember Bob Blumenfield has focused on providing direct help for residents and local businesses, including: 

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• Distributing 10,000 free cloth masks to constituents

• Opening one of the first COVID-19 emergency shelters for the homeless at Woodland Hills Recreation Center

• Providing $10,000 grants to local food banks and nonprofits for basic necessities

• Helping launch the West Valley’s testing and vaccination sites at Anthem and Pierce College, the biggest vaccination site in the city after Dodger Stadium. At Pierce alone 80,000 people receive their COVID vaccination.

• Supporting the Department of Recreation and Parks opening learning centers for children whose schools were closed.

 

Additionally, as a member of the city council he supported the eviction moratorium, distribution of over $17 million in rent relief in Council District Three, new rules to allow outdoor dining and carry-out with minimal permitting hassle, protection for workers in the devastated hospitality industry to keep their jobs, early morning grocery shopping hours for seniors during the worst days of the pandemic, and vaccination mandates or proof of negative tests for large events when science dictates. 

 

Councilmember Bob Blumenfield was the leader on the city emergency ordinance that lifted burdens off struggling businesses like streamlining onerous regulations. He also created a Food and Beverage Working Group consisting of local restaurant owners and local leaders to help create systemic changes, eliminate unnecessary requirements and help businesses thrive. These included simplifying various processes like allowing folks to submit many simple permits online and allowing certain tenant improvements without involving departments like Building and Safety.