Get Ready for June 2, 2024 Elections!

My name is Joe Carrabba. I have lived in Picfair Village since 2002 and Picfair adjacent (1300 block of Carmona) since 2000. I am originally from Texas and moved to LA in 1994 to go to Southwestern Law School. Worked in entertainment and practiced law for a short time but started selling real estate full time in 2007. I love my neighborhood! I know a lot of people say this but I feel we are truly lucky to live in such a wonderful neighborhood and it has been such a thrill to see it thrive over the last 20 years. The location is perfect, the homes have so much character with a broad range of homes and income properties, and the mix of long-time residents and more recent residents make it a special place. The main issues facing our neighborhood, like most neighborhoods in LA, is obviously safety. I would like to see our resurrected board address any glaring safety concerns the stakeholders have. Also traffic through the neighborhood is a concern, especially the southern part of our neighborhood. To further build community, I would like to see the board create opportunities for neighbors to meet and mingle with each other. Bringing back the street fair is a huge goal for me and I know a LOT of neighbors are eager to start up this amazing event again. I basically see myself as a first point of contact for neighbors who have any questions or concerns and have no problem making myself available. I know it’s not possible to address every concern or solve every problem neighbors have but it’s good to be able to voice them to someone, and I hope the newly installed board will serve that purpose.

1. What is your background?

Long time Talent Agent, Producer and Director. Writer of Books and Scripts. Involved in the Retail Food Industry.

2. How long have you lived in Picfair Village?

36 Years.

3. What motivates you to represent Picfair Village?

Interest in my Community and willingness to help my Neighbors.

4. What issues do you see are important to our neighborhood?

Everyone’s issues are my issues, but personally I would be interested in problem-solving and improving traffic issues within the Picfair area.

5. We know that having a strong community is important. How do you see building community?

Group participation is key. I believe the best outreach is events that are both fun and informative, or even make a physical difference. A trash clean-up day can be paired with a free lunch at a local restaurant, for example.

6. Is there a personal mission statement that you have as a board member? 

Outside of the above, I would like to get our local police, fire, vector control and other city services to be available at a neighborhood event.

7. Anything you want us to know about you that we didn’t cover?

I am a member of the P.I.C.O. Neighborhood Council, and a past member of the Picfair Village Association.

Hello Picfair Village!

My name is Cindy Levey and I have lived in Picfair Village for 20 years.

I am excited to submit my candidacy for Picfair Village Neighborhood Association (PVNA).

I have spent my career focused on building healthy communities with special emphasis on access to health care and services, health education and partnership-building. For the last 20+ years I was an executive at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center as a Community Benefit professional, helping the hospital build the programs, systems and partners to improve community health.

As my second and last child graduated high school in June of last year, I changed my professional trajectory. I have recently launched my own consulting practice: Forward Community Health Consulting, LLC. I now contract with health organizations in California and around the nation to support strategy-building, program planning and reporting for community health improvement activities. I love this new professional change and challenge; and believe that so many aspects of my leadership training and expertise are applicable to the PVNA. I have been married to Larry Braman for 23 years. Larry is a UCLA employee. Larry and I have two children: Judah (age 21) and Dava (age 19). Both are students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. I have always been interested in getting involved with the PVNA, but my previous life as a full-time mom, full-time employee, and active member of my synagogue (Temple Beth Am), made it difficult for me to engage in additional commitments. Now that my circumstances have changed and PVNA is holding elections, I am jumping at the chance.

It will be of no surprise that issues of concern and focus for me are crime and safety, as well as our city’s response to – and solutions for- the crisis for unhoused individuals and families, and how that crisis impacts our neighborhood.

That being said, the assets of Picfair Village outweigh these concerns exponentially. I love Picfair Village. Truly. I live on Ogden Dr. between Saturn and Pickford. I live amongst neighbors that care about each other immensely – we watch out for each other and we socialize together. Picfair Village was the perfect setting to raise a family – where my kids’ first solo outings as they got old enough were to Vons, Starbucks and Paper or Plastik; where they could walk or take the bus to school; and where they could learn to ride bikes and skateboard.

Because of the strong neighbor-bonds on our block, I am moved to suggest a community-strengthening initiative focused on getting to know your neighbors. There may be Picfair-ers who do not have previous experience with neighborhood-building. The more a neighborhood can build those bonds, the easier it is to keep people safe. On our block, we keep watch for each other, and communicate with each other when we see suspicious activity. We have each other’s backs. Focusing on community assets and post-COVID community-building goes a long way towards safe and happy communities. The additional (studied/researched) effects of breaking social isolation and improving mental health provides a fantastic opportunity and platform for a guiding direction for PVNA.

The application asks for a personal mission statement. That is a tall order! How about a slogan? Cindy Levey: Building on Community Assets to Strengthen Neighborhoods

This neighborhood has grown so much over the past 20 years. I want to be part of its next chapter. Thank you for this candidate opportunity.

Warmly,

Cindy Levey

1. What is your background?

Designer and Restaurateur.

2. How long have you lived in Picfair Village?

25 Years.

3. What motivates you to represent Picfair Village?

I love this neighborhood and want to rebuild the Association to get things done we need.

4. What issues do you see are important to our neighborhood?

I am all about community involvement – Street Fairs, Holiday events, and “meet and greets”. Working with Local Businesses, I would love to maybe bring back the Christmas Trolly for Xmas and also select (with CD 10) other events that celebrate our diverse community.

5. We know that having a strong community is important. How do you see building community?

Getting all the residents AND businesses together to exchange information and have fun – to make a strong bond so together we can work for many improvements.

6. Is there a personal mission statement that you have as a board member? 

I am here to help and also plan events, including a multi-block party.

7. Anything you want us to know about you that we didn’t cover?

I am a past Member of the Pico NC and the PVNA.

Darren E. Davis