Robert Chacon
At nearly 4,100 square miles, Los Angeles County's geographic and
demographic scopes are imposing, especially for residents who want to
participate in county government proceeding beyond viewing the weekly
Board of Supervisors meetings on television.
In order to assist the county's more than 10 million far-flung
residents living in 88 cities and 134 unincorporated communities,
Supervisor Michael Antonovich, whose district includes Glendale and
Burbank, is pushing the board to approve implementing
videoconferencing technology at sites in each of the five
supervisorial districts. The board approved a motion Tuesday
directing the Chief Administrative Office to provide a progress
report on the feasibility of the project.
"The supervisor believes that everyone in our county should be
afforded the right to participate in county government," spokesman
Tony Bell said. "If you live in the county, there are areas that
cannot be easily traveled in order to attend our meetings in downtown
every Tuesday."
Antonovich had proposed last year holding meetings in different
regions of the county, but the proposal was determined to be
unfeasible, Bell said.
Videoconferencing sites could be set up at city halls, for
example, in order for residents to give public comments, Bell said.
Congressmen focuses
on Armenian issues
Rep. George Radanovich's district includes Fresno County, which
has a sizable population of American-Armenians -- author William
Saroyan penned his novels there -- and his efforts are reflecting the
demographics of the community.
On Thursday, Radanovich announced that he co-sponsored legislation
with Rep. Joe Knollenberg of Michigan in the House of Representatives
to bring attention to what he calls a potentially hazardous policy
decision regarding a new railroad in the South Caucasus region of
Europe. The proposed railroad would connect Baku, Azerbaijan,
Tbilisi, Georgia and areas in Turkey, but would intentionally bypass
Armenia. The move would force Armenian people into further economic
isolation, he said.
The South Caucasus Integration and Open Railroads Act of 2005
would prohibit U.S. funding of the project.
"U.S. policy should be inclusive not exclusive," said in a
statement. "For too long we have turned a blind eye to Armenia's
genocide and now with the proposed rail link bypassing Armenia, these
people would again be unjustly isolated."
A functioning rail line, which links the different regions,
including Armenia, already exists, but the governments of Turkey and
