This week, the Los Angeles Department of City Planning released a draft ordinance which, if enacted, would prohibit new oil and gas extraction within city limits while gradually phasing out existing operations.
“Oil drilling has long been a part of our past, but today, we’re sending a clear message: dirty energy production has no future in Los Angeles,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti in a statement. “Earlier this year, I stood alongside fellow elected officials, activists, and community leaders to sign a directive to phase out oil and gas drilling in the City – and today, thanks to the tireless work of the Department of City Planning and City Attorney’s Office, we are one step closer to getting toxic fumes out of our frontline communities. I welcome Angelenos to play a role in shaping this ordinance and look forward to signing this once-in-a-lifetime legislation.”
According to the Planning Department, Los Angeles has 26 oil and gas fields and over 5,000 oil and gas wells, although not all are active.
More information is available here.
Rendering of a people mover station in Downtown InglewoodMetro
Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced the awarding of $2.2 billion in grants through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program. One notable L.A. project was among the recipients.
The Inglewood Transit Connector, a proposed automated people mover system, is set to receive $15 million from the latest round of funding. The roughly 1.6-mile, monorail-like system would link the Crenshaw Line's Downtown Inglewood Station to the Kia Forum, SoFi Stadium, and Intuit Dome, the future home of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Don't look for a groundbreaking quiet yet, though. While Inglewood officials have raised more than $300 million for the project, the total cost of the people mover has been estimated at $1.4 billion.
Here's what we're reading this week:
They worried about long-term housing for their disabled son — until they built an ADU "After seeing the explosion of accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, throughout Los Angeles — small-scale homes, or granny flats, built on single or multifamily home lots — Villicana wondered if Adrian, who attends an adult day program, could live with a caregiver in a similar house in their backyard." (LA Times)
Angelenos Continue To Save Water, But More Heat And La Niña Loom "In July, L.A. residents achieved another record month of water savings, reducing water use 11% from the same month last year. Another indication Angelenos are paying attention: water waste complaints to LADWP went up again in July, leading to 117 citations and several monetary fines, according to LADWP." (LAist)
The ‘nuclear option’ in L.A.’s war to rein in the mighty car, make streets safe "Los Angeles City Clerk Holly Wolcott cleared the way this week for a 2024 voter initiative that fast tracks the city’s own ambitious traffic plan to create hundreds of miles of more walkable and bikeable streets by implementing it every time roads are repaved. The Los Angeles City Council must now decide whether to send it to voters or adopt it outright." (LA Times)
View of station platform from mezzanine at Grand Avenue Arts/Bunker Hill StationMetro
New photos offer a sneak peek into artwork installed at future Grand Av Arts/Bunker Hill station "An abstract geyser of color leaps up the wall in the Metro Art commissioned artwork High Prismatic by Pearl C. Hsiung. The artwork was inspired by the dynamic, ever-shifting cultural and geological landscape of downtown and the Bunker Hill neighborhood. " (The Source)
Did LA’s Supportive Housing Bond Fail? "Six years after Prop HHH was passed, the fund appears to be delivering on its housing construction goals in the 10-year timeline. But the measure is being routinely criticized on all sides for delays, rising costs, and being an inadequate fix to LA’s homelessness crisis." (Shelterforce)
