New soccer club coming to LA + Nonprofits teach bike safety in South LA

September 23, 2015 By Leave a Comment


Bicyclists in South LA don't have enough space to ride safely on the roads. (Intersections South LA)

Many say bicyclists in South LA don’t have enough space to ride safely on the roads. (Intersections South LA)

Goodbye, Chivas USA. Hello, Los Angeles Football Club!: The Los Angeles Football Club, a replacement for Chivas USA, is backed by figures including Magic Johnson and Nomar Garciaparra. The soccer club is looking to build a 22,000 seat stadium in Los Angeles. (Fansided)

Central Ave. bike count underscores need for better infrastructure: South LA’s sustainability efforts are hindered by a general lack of safety because pedestrians and bicyclists deal with lack of infrastructure while navigating the city. (LA Streets Blog)

How the Los Angeles’ homeless crisis got so bad: A state of emergency has been declared as Los Angeles’ homeless population rose 12 percent over the past two years. Officials have committed $100 million towards solutions. (LA Times)

 

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USC DPS makes preparations for rivalry week

November 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment


imageUSC’s Department of Public Safety will be employing all 242 officers and dispatchers to ensure safety of students and fans during the USC-UCLA game on Saturday. DPS officers will be working with the LAPD and private security to patrol the campus before the 7 o’clock game at the Coliseum.

Captain David Carlisle believes these security measures will ensure that students act responsibly before the game during the tailgates on and around campus.

And students are doing their part, as well.

Members of the Trojan Knights such as Chris Yoshonis have taken on the responsibility of guarding a duct-taped Tommy Trojan which has been a target for rival students.

And the constant presence of the Knight’s has even relieved the DPS of additional patrols on campus.

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Governor limits legal challenges to LA football stadium

September 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment


Listen to an audio story by Annenberg Radio News

imageThe SB-292 law limits the time period for legal challenges, just for the stadium project. This will protect AEG’s proposed stadium against competitors who might try to delay the project. The law also ensures that Farmer’s Field is built to be environmentally sustainable.

At the news conference for the bill signing, governor Jerry Brown talked about the millions of Californians who are unemployed. He said SB-292 will create new jobs and get residents back to work.

“We’re going to remove some regulations, speed things up; we’re going to protect the environment but we’re also going to do it in a practical way,” he said. “Because there are too damn many regulations, let’s be clear about that.”

John Perez, the speaker of the California Assembly, said Farmer’s Field will have a significant impact on unemployment.

“This project will create 23,000 new jobs, which will benefit California as a whole,” he said. “And at a time when our state still has the second highest rate of unemployment in the nation, we need to be doing everything possible to create new jobs here in California.”

Some remain skeptical about the stadium’s lasting employment projections and others are concerned about increased traffic.

But now all AEG and the city of LA need is an NFL team to play in the new stadium.

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The push to make downtown L.A. a real city center

November 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment


imagePhoto courtesy of Todd Jones Photography.

Downtown Los Angeles has long suffered an identity crisis. Bustling and noisy during the day but a ghost town at night, this “city center” is far from being the center of the L.A. Tourists flock to Hollywood, Beverly Hills and the beach. Few stray downtown for a day of sightseeing.

But AEG, the company who owns and operates the Staples Center and LA Live!, wants to change that. The latest push for downtown rejuvenation includes a proposal for a $725 million NFL stadium, and an expansion of the Staples Center. The big idea? Bring crowds downtown and keep them there. AEG’s Tim Leiweke says the company hopes to see completion of the NFL stadium in time for the 2016 Super Bowl.

Angelenos who live and work downtown have already witnessed a dramatic change in the past few years, as the city pays more attention to downtown and its potential for tourism and entertainment revenue. The first push saw the addition of LA Live! and the Marriott Hotel. So how do they feel about this second wave of development?

Listen to downtowners talk about a potential NFL stadium:

Greg Johnson, who is homeless and living on the streets downtown, says development means pushing out the homeless population and making way “for the rich.”

“All they’re doing is building for the rich,” said Johnson. “We can’t go to the stadium. We’ve got no money. We probably can’t even get a job there.”

The demographic shift has been dramatic in the last few years, according to Johnson. While the homeless population has swelled with African Americans, the new lofts and apartments downtown are being filled with White and Asian residents.

“They say, ‘taking back L.A.’,” said Johnson. “I never knew it was missing.”

However, Rev. Andy Bales, CEO of Union Rescue Mission on Skid Row, says that companies like AEG can have a positive impact on the problem of homelessness in Los Angeles.

“The first push actually brought a lot of attention to the fact that Skid Row exists,” said Bales. “This latest push probably could have the same effect. It brings more attention, but it also sounds like it could bring more jobs to the area.”

AEG has donated between $10,000 and $15,000 to Union Rescue Mission, according to Bales, and also occasionally offers sports tickets to residents of the homeless shelters. In 2006, Leiweke announced a gift of $250,000 to the Midnight Mission.

Making a difference will require more effort from the business community, said Bales, including a dedication to creating more permanent housing for the homeless population. But above all, says Bales, Los Angeles must experience a “change of heart” about homelessness.

“The biggest piece missing in solving the situation of homelessness in L.A. has been the business community,” said Bales. “That’s one of the reasons why we are the capital of homelessness. The City of Angels is the capital of homelessness. How embarrassing is that?”

Listen to the full interview with Union Rescue Mission CEO Andy Bales here:

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