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November
18, 2002 |
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Los Angeles City
Councilman Hal Bernson Receives 1st Annual Los Angeles City
Councilman Hal Bernson was presented the first annual “Julian C. Dixon
Award,” Nov. 18, during the closing session of Mobility 21, a
transportation summit that drew together the region’s elected officials,
transportation providers, business, labor and community leaders. Bernson was chosen as
“a leader in transportation (who has) made an outstanding contribution
to the transportation community.” The award was presented to Bernson by
MTA CEO Roger Snoble and LA Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO
Rusty Hammer. In addition to serving
as chairman of MTA’s Board of Directors as an appointee of Mayor James
Hahn, Bernson chairs the boards of Southern California Regional Rail
Authority (SCRRA) and the Southern California Association of Governments.
On the City Council, he is chairman of the Transportation Committee. In 1994, as a member of
SCRRA, Bernson was responsible for site acquisition and construction of
the Northridge Metrolink station, which was built in just 12 days
following the Jan. 17, 1994, earthquake. A native of Los Angeles
who has lived in the San Fernando Valley since 1957, Bernson was elected
to the City Council in 1979. His numerous legislative accomplishments
include strong involvement in earthquake education and preparedness. In 1980, he initiated
Earthquake Awareness Week in Los Angeles and, later, a special
children’s earthquake preparedness program. As chairman of the
Council’s Building and Safety Committee in 1981, Bernson authored
landmark legislation to rehabilitate 8,000 seismically unsafe buildings. Later, he organized the
city’s First International Earthquake Conference and was chosen to
represent the United States at the First International Earthquake
Conference in Beijing, China. For his work in this
area, Bernson received the Governor’s Award for Earthquake Preparedness
and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Special Award for Seismic
Education. Bernson and his wife,
the former Robyn Goewert, have two daughters, Nicole and Sarah. MTA-100 |
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