Disaster Relief Navigator, Eastside Extension update, and more

Mark your calendars, folks: CicLAvia has announced its 2025 schedule:

• -February 23: CicLAvia—West Adams Meets University Park: This new route, CicLAvia’s 58th event, connects La Brea and Vermont Aves along Jefferson Blvd, and on Vermont Ave between Jefferson and Exposition Blvds, 9am - 3pm
• April 21: CicLAvia—Koreatown Meets Hollywood, presented by Metro, 9am - 4pm
•  May 19: CicLAmini—Pico Union, new route, 10am - 3pm
• June 22: CicLAvia—Historic South LA Meets Watts, presented by Metro, 9am - 4pm
• August 17: CicLAvia—Culver City Meets Venice, presented by Metro, 9am - 4pm
• September 11: CicLAmini—San Pedro, 10am - 3 pm
• October 12: CicLAvia—Heart of LA, presented by Metro, 9am - 4pm (annual anchor route & fan favorite)
• December 7: CicLAvia—Melrose Ave, 9am - 3pm

Here's what we're reading this week:

L.A. City Council committee rejects rent freeze, advances eviction protection proposal "In a 3-1 vote, the Housing and Homelessness Committee approved a motion that would bar landlords from evicting tenants for a variety of reasons, including for nonpayment of rent or if an owner wanted to move into a unit. Such evictions would be prohibited only for tenants who were economically harmed by the fires, and the prohibition would last one year....The motion heads to the full City Council, where it’s unclear it has the votes to pass." (LA Times)

City Displaces Dozens of Street Vendors After Installing Blocks-Long Fence in MacArthur Park "It’s unclear when the fencing went up or how a chain link fence could prevent another tragic mass shooting. However, what’s clear as day is that there are no more street vendors selling pupusas, champurrado, or other street foods along Alvarado Street or around the MacArthur Park Metro station." (LA Taco)

Southern California Edison says its equipment may have caused Hurst Fire "Any utility or power company operating in California must file a notice with the state’s Public Utility Commission if there is reason to believe their equipment may have been the cause of a fire." (LAist)

Ted Cruz says he’s investigating California’s High-Speed Rail; this is what he’s done "As for the extent of Cruz’s investigation so far, CAHSR officials said, he has sent a letter." (KTLA)

All Quiksilver, Billabong and Volcom stores to close amid Chapter 11 bankruptcy "Costa Mesa-based Liberated Brands said in a bankruptcy filing this week it would shut down 124 locations. The company operates 35 stores in California, including locations in Camarillo, Commerce and Northridge." (LA Times)

California’s surge in EV sales has stalled — so what happens to its landmark mandate? "After three straight years of strong growth, sales have stabilized in California, raising questions about whether the state will fail to meet its groundbreaking mandate banning sales of gas-powered vehicles." (LAist)

Planning Department Releases Measure HLA Implementation “Standard Elements” Draft "The city is working to clarify exactly what minimum bus/bike/walk improvements are triggered by Measure HLA" (Streetsblog LA)

Planning Continues on Metro E Line Eastside Extension Project "Given a funding shortfall, much of the Eastside E Line project work this year will be focused on federal environmental clearance, which would make the project eligible for federal funding" (Streetsblog LA)

LA Disaster Relief Navigator connects wildfire victims to resources online "Mayor Karen Bass along with the Mayor's Fund launched the comprehensive site for personalized action plans, tailored to individual needs, based on fire zones." (CBS)

One of South LA’s Most Popular Black-Owned Restaurants Will Close Permanently "Post & Beam will shutter as the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza development moves forward" (Eater)

Scams, bidding wars and predatory landlords: One couple’s quest for housing after the fires "The devastating news kicked off a manic January for Smoyer and his husband, who joined thousands of other desperate refugees scrambling for housing. Smoyer’s quest for a long-term lease saw him claw his way across the region, darting from city to desert to ocean and encountering a cast of characters with questionable motives along the way." (LA Times)

Will LA fire victims join the crowded OC housing market? TL;DR - it's too early to tell (LAist)

With L.A. focused on fire recovery, Convention Center expansion is now in doubt "Szabo said he and other analysts are looking at a number of possible strategies, including starting construction, pausing during the Olympics and then resuming once the events are over. Another possibility, he said, would be to kill the project altogether." (LA Times)

After shuttering in the pandemic, an ArcLight theater gets a second act Still waiting on the Cineramadome (LA Times)

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