Damian Kevitt
Streetsblog LA
Safe Streets Advocates Stage Die-In at L.A. City Hall to Protest Record Traffic Deaths
More than 200 people attended last Saturday's die-in rally on L.A. City Hall steps. Attendees held 312 white roses, one for everyone who was killed by traffic violence last year in Los Angeles.
January 23, 2023
Friday L.A. Round-Up: Traffic Deaths Spike, COVID-19 Slow Streets, and 7th Street Lanes
New protected bike lanes on the way downtown, first COVID slow streets on the Westside, and LAPD reports a surge in speeding and traffic fatalities.
May 15, 2020
Councilmember Rodriguez Unveils New La Tuna Canyon Road Safety Improvements
La Tuna Canyon Road has received a safety upgrade including a road diet and 1.2 miles of new buffered bike lanes
December 14, 2018
Damian Kevitt on Hit-and-Run, Backlash, and World Day of Remembrance
Streetsblog L.A. recently caught up with Damien Kevitt of Finish the Ride and Streets Are For Everyone (SAFE). Kevitt spoke about his background, Finish the Ride, L.A.’s hit-and-run epidemic, and this week’s World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
November 16, 2017
Governor Signs A.B. 8, Creating Statewide Hit-and-Run Alert Network
Breaking News: Assemblymember Mike Gatto just announced that A.B. 8 was signed by Governor Jerry Brown! Official statements are anticipated soon from Brown and Gatto, but the hit-and-run alert system bill is now state law! Kudos to Governor Brown and Assemblymember Gatto! From Gatto's statement on Facebook:
September 28, 2015
LA City Council Gets Tough on Hit-and-Run Crimes: New Rewards and Alerts
Today, the Los Angeles City Council voted to approve two new city programs that aim to stem the tide of hit-and-run crimes. According to Los Angeles City Councilmember Mitch Englander, hit-and-run crashes killed 27 people in Los Angeles in 2014, and 80 percent of recent hit-and-run crimes remain unsolved.
February 10, 2015
Governor Vetoes One of Four Hit-and-Run Bills; Deadline for Others: Today
Governor Jerry Brown vetoed one of four hit-and-run bills passed by the California Senate and Assembly. A.B. 2337, by Assemblymember Eric Linder (R-Corona), would have increased the automatic driver's license suspension for a hit-and-run conviction from one to two years.
September 29, 2014
Gatto and Englander Stump State Legislation for Hit-and-Run Alert System
At a press conference on the steps of Los Angeles City Hall yesterday, state and local legislators joined forces with local non-profits to draw attention to efforts to stem the tide of hit-and-run crimes. The press conference focused on A.B. 47 - a proposal to create a new emergency alert system to notify the public to help apprehend hit-and-run suspects. The alert system would use existing state-controlled sign boards on state-controlled freeways, so it will require state legislation.
July 24, 2014
CA Bills to Crack Down on Hit-and-Run Drivers Sail Through Committees
Two bills focused on addressing hit-and-run crashes, authored by CA Assemblymember Mike Gatto, appear quickly on their way to being passed. A.B. 47, which would create an alert system on California highways to help the public assist police in catching drivers involved in hit-and-run crashes, sailed through the Senate Public Safety Committee Tuesday with a 6-1 vote. A.B. 1532, Gatto's other bill which increases fines and penalties for hit-and-run drivers, passed a separate committee.
June 26, 2014