Dodger Nights at Mar Vista Rec with Traci Park!

Couple of nights watching the Dodgers outdoors. Traci Park’s office sponsored raffles, we enjoyed the beer garden, taco truck, shared official Dodger Peanuts and cheers from Mar Vista fans. Thank you Council Member Traci Park for sponsoring this really fun evening.

Fall Festival and Blood Drive

FALL FESTIVAL + BLOOD DRIVE
Mar Vista Community Council had a booth at the Mar Vista Rec Fall Festival, and we sponsored a blood drive through Lifestream Blood. It was a beautiful Saturday filled with kids and families. The blood drive produced good numbers. MVCC gave safety vests that were the fashion statement of the day, rice krispy treats, chips ahoy, animal crackers, and goodie bags for kids that included play doh, a fun lighted ring, and bubbles!

Porchfest came to Mar Vista! Fun was had by all!

So many porches...so much great music!
Porchfest in Mar Vista was a wonderful show of community and talent. For two days, musicians of all sorts performed throughout our neighborhood and spread joy, music and positivity. It was an awesome two day event that showcased our local creative minds, and brought neighbors together tapping their toes to the rhythm.

Check out Traci Park's video - Mar Vista Community Update

Community Update-Mar Vista Edition, Oct. 18th, 2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h24JJ4hh9w

check out the Mar Vista Rec Center Fall Brochure

Click here for the Mar Vista Recreation Center Fall Catalog

October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month!

October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month and we've got canine buddies (and feline friends) who are ready to be a part of your family!

There are currently more than 2,000 pets in our six LA Animal Services who are available for adoption. To encourage the community to adopt a pet, we're offering reduced adoption fees for dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens on Saturday, October 12 and Sunday, October 13. Please open your heart and home to an amazing dog or cat. Adoption fees for dogs are $51 (not including $20 license); puppies: $75; cats: $12.50; and kittens: $25.

If you can't adopt, consider fostering a pet. When you adopt or foster a dog or cat, you not just save the life of that animal, but you will also free up a space for another dog or cat in need. 

Porchfest is coming! Nov. 1st and 2nd

visit Porchfestla.com
for maps and info

Make life easier. Order a wreath or tree and have it delivered right to your door!

Support LAPD Pacific Boosters with a Festive Wreath or Tree Delivered right to your door!

Mar Vista Crime Report

Crime Trends, News, & Prevention Tips

August has been the third consecutive month where property crimes have decreased, largely due to less vehicles broken into, and property taken. Also, there have been 13 or 14 burglaries a month compared to the 17 to 22 burglaries per month the first half of the year. The violent crimes have mostly disputes between people who know each other, whether domestic violence or a neighbor or roommate dispute.

Still, be mindful of protecting yourself and your neighbors against residential burglaries.

To help deter a residential burglary, when leaving your residence for the evening, turn on the lights in the front room and close the shutters/curtains giving the impression someone is home. If there is a television in that front room, turn it on with the volume higher than usual to deter potential burglars approaching your home. Play music if you have a stereo system. Burglary crews are disabling the electric panel in the backyard to cut off alarm systems and disable home security cameras.

Consider hiding your electric panel by placing something in front of it, such as a ladder covered with a tarp in front of it, or pot with a plant. Place Beware of Dog signs on the side gate. Visit the local pet shop to purchase a large dog leash to tie on the side gate handle to give the impression of having a dog.

Pacific Division Contacts

Waived Adoption Fees for Big Dogs and Grown -up Kitties

Tuesday, Sept. 02,2025-Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. 8:00-am - 5:00 pm

There are more than 1,700+ animals in the six LA City shelters who are waiting to be adopted into a new, loving home. With our shelters operating at over capacity, LA Animal Services is partnering with the Paula Kent Meehan Pet Care Foundation to offer waived adoption fees for some special dogs and cats during the Big Dogs and Grown-up Kitties Adoption Event happening September 2-30, 2025.

With medium- and larger-sized dogs making up the majority of the LA Animal Services’ dog population, and the number of adult cats that are making their way into our shelters, the waived adoption fees are for:

• Dogs weighing 40 lbs or more ($20 dog license fee for LA City residents still applies).
• Cats over 1 year old.

Furry friends adopted from LA Animal Services join their new families already spayed or neutered, vaccinated, licensed, and microchipped, and adopters receive a VCA Healthy Start Certificate, which provides up to $250 of follow-up veterinary care within the first 14 days of adoption. In addition, canine companions adopted from LA Animal Services are also eligible for free dog training classes at the Paws for Life K9 Rescue People & Pet Innovation Center in Mission Hills, CA. Contact Info@pawsforlifek9.org for more details.

View more animals available to adopt or foster by going to laanimalservices.com/pets

Center operating hours: Tuesday through Friday: 8am to 5pm; Saturday and Sunday: 11am to 5pm. Closed on Mondays and City-observed holidays.

Share Your Neighborhood Council Election Experience

Mar Vista Community Council knows our stakeholders experienced a LOT of frustration with the Election/Voting process. We were frustrated as well!

EMPOWER LA is asking for feedback regarding the experience. Please participate in the survey and let them know your thoughts on the exasperating process. Maybe we can get it better and easier for the next election. Fingers crossed. 

EmpowerLA is gathering feedback to better understand your experience during the 2025 Neighborhood Council election cycle, including input on what worked well and what can be improved. Whether you participated in the 2025 Neighborhood Council elections as a candidate, as a voter, or you didn't participate at all, we want to hear from you!

By sharing your insights, you will help us enhance future election awareness strategies and resources, which in turn will increase candidate and voter engagement. More importantly, you can help us innovate ideas to strengthen connections between Angelenos and their Neighborhood Councils.

The survey results, including raw data, will be incorporated into EmpowerLA’s post-election report. This report will be distributed via our newsletter and made available on our website.

Please complete this survey no later than Saturday, August 30, 2025.

2025 National Night Out at Mar Vista Recreation Center

Mar Vista Community Council had a booth at the 2025 National Night Out at Mar Vista Recreation Center on Tuesday, August 5th from 5-9 PM

The event was a success. We met many stakeholders, first responders, and a fun time was had by all. We gave out a ton of Safety Vests with our MV Logo, personal alarms, doggy poo bags, and first aid kits. The safety vests were the fashion statement of the event! There was ribs, pasta, mac and cheese, hot dogs and pizza. Blasting music and raffles added to the fun. Our Council Member Traci Park and her staff were meeting Mar Vistans and celebrating with the rest of us. Big thanks to Andrew Marton who helped organize the event with the Rec Center. And thank you to our First Responders who met the neighborhood and brought their sirens, helicopter, fire trucks, lights and great energy to Mar Vista. Thank you to Andrew, Greg, Charlene and Jennifer for swinging by and helping man the booth. Always appreciated. 

Martin Rubin's Memorial

A few of us attended Martin Rubin's Memorial this past Saturday. 

Charlene, Andrew, Stephen P and Carolyn attended Martin’s Memorial. 

Martin’s younger brother Jerry organized the beautful tribute. He had a lot of friends in attendance. We learned of Martin’s devotion and commitment to the goal of turning the Santa Monica Airport into a park for the community.

Matt Halden, Traci Park’s field deputy for Mar Vista spoke about Martin’s contributions to Mar Vista and beyond.

It was a beautiful day and an afternoon of sunshine and fond memories.  

Martin's brother Jerry at the microphone with friends and supporters of Martin's dream.

Matt Halden from Traci Park's office, Stephen Paddock - PLUM Chair, and Andrew Marton- Homeless and Safety Chair attended. Chair Charlene Samiley and Community Director Carolyn K. Honda were there as well, but were camera shy. 

Martin’s brother Jerry brought the last can of a box of Canada Dry that Carolyn brought Martin while he was in the hospital. Martin requested it. Jerry said that it meant so much when he saw the cans because they brought back so many memjories of childhood days with his brother. They both loved Canada Dry Ginger Ale. Cheers Martin!

Matt Halden, Traci Park’s field deputy for Mar Vista spoke about Martin’s contributions to Mar Vista and beyond.

It was a beautiful tribute on a beautiful day. 

Westside Regional Alliance of Councils (WRAC) Breakfast and Questions with Mayor Karen Bass.

Westside Regional Alliance of Councils (WRAC) Breakfast and Questions with Mayor Karen Bass.

Mayor Karen Bass attended a special in-person meeting of the Westside Regional Alliance of Councils (WRAC — MVCC is a member, (Andrew Marton and Carolyn K. Honda represented MVCC) along with all 14 neighborhood and community councils on the Westside of LA) on July 21st , 7 AM, at Belmont Senior Living Village in Westwood.  She candidly answered several questions about the City's budget crisis; public safety concerns; an investigation into the cause of the Palisades Fire; her position on Metro's Sepulveda Transit Corridor project (a station directly located on the UCLA Campus with direct access to the UCLA Purple subway/D Line are key components unanimously supported by WRAC and MVCC); the status of an independent audit of her Inside Safe program dealing with homelessness; and the City's plan to deal with encampments in connection with the World Cup in 2026 and the Olympics in 2028.  We thanked the Mayor for joining our meeting and sharing information with us.  

Pacific Area Crime Statistics & Information

Updated Crime Information

MVCC at Summer Venice Fest

We had a fun in the sun day at the Summer Venice Fest last Saturday. I woke my son up to help me set up our new pop up at 6 am. Couldn't have done it without him. We had lots of folks come to the booth, chat with us, grab some branded fun items  and they left with some info about MVCC. Our booth was set up with Council woman Traci Park's booth as our neighbor. She and her team engaged with the community as well. It was a good time with community friends-old and new, food and chats. Thanks to Delaram, Greg, and April for popping in and keeping me company throughout the day.

Ciclavia Sunday August 17th

Mar Vista has lost a longtime advocate and leader

Martin Rubin, Zone 2 Director for Mar Vista Community Council passed away on May 29 after a long battle with cancer.

Martin's community activism predates the birth of the Mar Vista Community Council (MVCC).

Martin and several neighbors were involved in forming the MVCC.   

After the formation of the MVCC, instead of running for a Board seat, Martin decided to help bring attention to the extreme air and noise pollution emanating from the private jet traffic at Santa Monica Airport (SMO).

He served as the Co-founder and Director of Concerned Residents Against Airport Pollution, for almost twenty years; giving him the experience of working with city, state, and federal officials as well as community leaders, activists, and the community-at-large.
 

Martin Rubin was not just an activist; he was a visionary who understood the intricacies of environmental issues tied to aviation and urban development. His efforts through CRAAP were pivotal in raising awareness about the detrimental effects of airport pollution on public health and the environment. Rubin’s leadership helped galvanize community members, local officials, and environmentalists to advocate for cleaner air and safer living conditions.

His passion for protecting the community from the adverse impacts of airport operations was evident in his tireless work. He organized numerous campaigns, rallies, and informational sessions to educate the public about the dangers posed by airport emissions, noise pollution, and other environmental hazards associated with aviation. His commitment to advocacy not only reflected his concern for the environment but also showcased his dedication to improving the quality of life for residents in Mar Vista and Santa Monica.

One of the hallmarks of Martin Rubin’s approach was his ability to build coalitions and foster alliances among various stakeholders. He recognized that a multifaceted issue like airport pollution required a collaborative approach. By bringing together residents, local government officials, and environmental organizations, he created a powerful network dedicated to enacting change.

Martin served as President of the North Westdale Neighborhood Association (NWNA) for eight years, and he then decided to run for Zone 2 Director for the Mar Vista Community Council. He felt it was incumbent to run because he knew he could do a more comprehensive job representing the interest of all stakeholders. 

Karen Bass, Traci Park and Ted Lieu visited Martin during his hospital stay. He was respected by many in our community for his dedication and love for Mar Vista and beyond. 

We will keep you posted on upcoming memorials for Martin.