About a year ago I wrote all of you announcing that L.A. Streetsblog needed help from our community to keep our shop open. The response from all of you was overwhelming, and inspired us to push forward. Today L.A. Streetsblog is thriving, thanks to well over one hundred individual donors, the David Bohnett Foundation, and our friends at Flying Pigeon, GEK-Law, CicLAvia and Consensus Inc.

I’m writing today to thank you for your support, and for keeping L.A. Streetsblog successful over the last year.  As we embark on our first ever fundraising drive, I’m hoping you’ll help us again.  If you haven’t donated before, please consider doing so now.

We rely on the generous support of our readers to fund our reporting, video making, and commentary. Please donate today to help us meet our goal of $10,000 by June 30th. Together we can keep L.A. Streetsblog a strong online voice for livable streets.

Here’s some ways L.A. Streetsblog is already making a difference this year:

• By focusing on facts, and not conjecture or fear, we have helped control the debate as opponents of Westside transit projects, be it the Westside Subway, Expo Line or Wilshire Bus-Only Lanes, have attempted to halt the transit progress Angelenos want and need.  While opponents of these lines have tried to convince the media and elected officials that these projects are bad for the community, Streetsblog has made sure that facts and data are kept in the front of the debate.

• In January, cyclists throughout the city celebrated the signing of the surprisingly progressive Bike Plan.  The implementation of that plan is very important to our city,  and Streetsblog has kept the heat on City Planning and LADOT to keep the Mayor’s promise of 200 new bike facilities in the next five years.

• As the City Council debates leasing city owned parking garages and constructing a football stadium and events center downtown, Streetsblog has made sure that the transportation impacts of their decisions on these projects remain in the conversation.

• Streetsblog attracts readers and writers that make decisions in the city’s halls of power.  Already in 2011, L.A. Streetsblog has hosted pieces by L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and L.A. City Council Transportation Committee Chair Bill Rosendahl.

If you value our work, please donate today to support your online voice for more livable streets.  If you prefer to mail a check, make it out to “L.A. Streetsblog” and mail it to Damien Newton, 11539 National Boulevard, L.A. CA 90064.  All donations made via website or personal check are tax deductible.

Thank you!

Damien Newton
L.A. Streetsblog Editor
damien@streetsblog.org