Damien Newton

Democratic opposition to the bill stemmed mostly from coastal cities that use regulations to discourage development and environmental groups that worry about the impact of new housing on local environmental projects.

For the sixth time in nine years, and the third year in a row, the Los Angeles Press Club named Streetsblog Los Angeles as the “Best Blog” at their annual awards banquet. The Streetsblog team submitted the work on the day of December 20 for the award. That day we posted some of our best work, including “How Do You Solve a Problem Like KDL” by Sahra Sulaiman, “With Healthy Streets Initiative Looking, City Departments Say Plans Aren’t Plans” by Joe Linton, “California Air Board Plan for Climate Calls for Much Less Driving” by Melanie Curry and the “end of year” podcast for SGV Connect by Chris Greenspon and Damien Newton.

On Saturday, the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority will host a ceremony to commemorate the completion of the light rail track system for the 9.1-mile, four-station Foothill Gold Line light rail project from Glendora to Pomona. The public is invited to the ceremony taking place this Saturday, June 24, at 9:30 a.m. at the D Street railroad crossing (north of Arrow Highway) in the city of La Verne.

In our first interview this week, Chris Greenspon interviews Nathan Allen, the owner of Underdog Bookstore in downtown Monrovia. In Nathan's own words, "Underdog Bookstore, targets specifically books by and about authors of color, as well as LGBT authors, who we consider underdogs, as well as local vendors." Allen explains the need to create safe spaces for youth, especially people of color and LGBTQ+, and provides an overview of life underdogs throughout the SGV.

Many of you have seen the tweet. On May 27, the city of Santa Monica tweeted a video of a machine smoothly and quickly laying down the concrete barrier for a protected bike lane. Just about everyone who saw it, from Councilmember Jesse Zwick to activists in New York and Australia, had the same verdict, “we need more of these wonderful machines.”

At last evening’s meeting of the Santa Monica City Council, Councilmember Phil Brock pulled his motion concerning the 17th Street protected bikeway that Santa Monica Next covered earlier. Both Councilmember Jesse Zwick and Mayor Gleam Davis separately took issue with the two major components of the motion. Brock, who clearly did not want the 17th Street issue to turn into a repeat of the debacle in Culver City, pulled the motion before Council debate was completed.

At tonight’s Santa Monica City Council meeting, Councilmembers Phil Brock and Oscar de la Torre are asking city staff to report “regarding bicycle and pedestrian improvements installed on 17th Street from Pico to Wilshire.” (Item 16b, read the agenda here.) 

This week’s SGV Connect is the second in our “Reclaimers” series, focusing on the efforts of a group of formerly homeless activists housed in formerly unoccupied El Sereno homes owned by Caltrans.

Streetsblog Los Angeles appears as a finalist in five L.A. Press Club award categories, including Best Blog, Best Online Journalist, and Best Audio Journalist

The state and the whole world was in chaos,” recounts Marta of the day she moved in to her reclaimed home. “So they didn't take us out. Governor Newsom told the CHP to stand down and not do anything when we reclaimed."