Uncategorized

For the most part, the people that read Streetsblog are either car-free or something close to it.  Those that are car-free can skip this one, but for those of you that, like me, still own a private automobile, here's the challenge.  Sometime during Earth Week, skip the car for one activity that usually involves a car trip.  If you think you've come up with a creative way to skip the car, please let us know in the comments section.

I just got a call inviting me on 889.9 F.M. ,KCRW's, Which Way L.A.  later this evening.  The show starts at 7:00 P.M., but KCRW agreed to share the audio with me, so I can post the entire interview here tomorrow.  The topic of our conversation is going to be the state of Los Angeles' streets, and what's being done about making them better and fixing them.

In Food, Inc., an Academy Award Nominee for Best Feature Documentary, filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, herbicide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won't go bad, but we also have new strains of E. coli—the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults.

Thanks to everyone that made Friday night such a spectacular one for Los Angeles Streetsblog at our first party and fundraiser at the legendary Los Angeles Eco-Village.  Over sixty revelers attended and got to enjoy good food, good drink, good music, a Streetfilm, and the best company one could hope to find anywhere.  We exceeded our high estimate for attendees, over sixty three people packed the courtyard (and that's a non-inflated number) and we raised over $1,700; demolishing our goal of $1,500.

Next week promises to be a very busy one for Streetsblog, and since I'm going to be tied up today finishing the arrangements for the fundraiser, I thought I'd give you a preview of some of the stories we're working on.

The beer is chilled and sitting in the (gasp) car.  The sponsors are lined up for the raffle.  Heck, there's even rumors that we're going to have a band for part of the evening.  Tomorrow night from 6:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. is the first Streetsblog fundraiser at the Eco Village, 117 Bimini Place.  Anyone not familiar with the Eco-Village should click on this link for directions, and note that it's a couple of blocks away from the Beverly/Vermont Red Line Station.  The suggested donation is $25, but feel free to give whatever fits in your budget.

If you're a student looking to get more involved in Los Angeles' Livable Streets Movement, have I got a deal for you.  I'm looking for help to expand the Streetsblog empire in Los Angeles and I have a couple of research projects for which I need some help.  At this point, Streetsblog can't offer pay, although maybe if this summer's fund raising goes well that situation might change, but here's three things that I can offer you:

Possibly doing to the religious events, and possibly because this is one of those week's that span two months, this week is a little slow to start.  But there's a lot of fun events on Saturday to look forward to, including the birthday party for the Valley Bikery.

After you take a couple of days to recover from the Street Summit and the after parties, get ready for some big meetings of the Metro Board and the City Council Transportation Committee.  Then after a hard week's activism, you can relax a little with the Tweed Ride on Saturday.