#mayoralcandidate

A black tar roof means many things. In a city, most of the rooftops are made of black tar, which can increase the average temperature of a summer day by 15 degrees Fahrenheit. On a 90 degree day, a tar rooftop can easily reach 180 degrees Fahrenheit-- and that heat affects the inside temperature of the building to be 115 degrees. On the same day, a tar roof with white paint will only reach about 100 degrees Fahrenheit, therefore lowering the temperature on the inside of the building to 80 degrees. This not only saves up to 40% of an electricity bills cost, it reduces smog, and reflects sunlight back into the atmosphere for a cooler climate. White Roof Project organizes block-by-block to green the skylines of city neighborhoods. This grassroots solution should serve as a national model for environmental justice. Los Angeles would benefit from such a program for a cooler, brighter future. To learn more, check out their website www.whiteroofproject.org, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/roofproject or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/roofproject.

Community gardens are maintained and overseen by members, and membership is open to all community applicants. Space for these gardens is either LACGC-owned or acquired through short-term leases of public or private land. Maintenance of vacant lots on both public and private property is costly and leasing the space for community gardens is a cheap way to maintain the land. The LACGC notes that community gardens bring benefits to communities such as cooperation between members, self-reliance, poverty reduction, and improving the LA River and Ballona Creek watersheds.  The LACGC addresses the problem of child obesity in Los Angeles through its Little Green Fingers program, which creates community gardens specifically for low-income families in order to provide fresh produce, to teach nutrition education, and to contribute to healthier lifestyles. The program's initial costs are funded by a grant from First 5 LA, but seeks sponsorship and contributions for its continuation and expansion. A newsletter posts available educational opportunities such as workshops, events, seminars, and activities that are open to the community. The LACGC holds meetings each month at one of its community gardens.  To find out more, visit LACGC's homepage at www.lagardencouncil.org -or like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LACGC -or follow them on Twitter at www.twitter.com/LAGardens