Los Angeles’s Metro Is Using Classical Music as a Weapon "The crisis Metro is facing is real, and it’s not just about ridership. Just in the first months of 2023, 21 people have died, mostly from overdoses, on the system. The Westlake/MacArthur Park station, just west of downtown, where classical music started playing last month, was deemed a 'hot spot' by a Metro report that showed 'open-air drug sales' happening on the aboveground plaza. Surveys also show that riders feel less safe riding the trains than they did before the pandemic, and women in particular are choosing not to ride because of it. Adding to the feeling of abandonment, service frequencies across the system aren’t reliable, creating long and sometimes unpredictable waits." (Curbed)
Aerial view looking southPaul Vu
Can the Tech Industry Learn to Be a Good Neighbor? "In Culver City, California, a tech boom has reshaped the urban fabric, and not everyone is happy about it." (Metropolis)
The fence around Echo Park Lake is coming down. The debate over it rages on "Soto-Martinez, who promised to remove the fence during last year’s election campaign, has described it as a symbol of the city’s 'largest policy failure on homelessness.' But he’s facing criticism from some in the neighborhood, who say the fence was essential to restoring order within the park, allowing families and seniors to return." (LA Times)
LA cuts revenue projections from new transfer tax by 25% "High interest rates have chilled real estate transactions across the city, as acquisition capital has become more expensive. And commercial developers, investors, brokers and others in the industry warned the implementation of the measure itself would freeze sales." (The Real Deal LA)
Why 2 major LA Metro rail projects were denied funding by California transit agency "A kind of 'ratings sheet' informs decision on funded projects and those rejected, including two key LA County rail projects denied grants" (SCNG)
The Lost Canals of Los Angeles: How Venice Beach went Wrong "Discover the fascinating history of America's Venice Beach in this video. Join us as we explore the life of Abbot Kinney, learn about the snowstorm that led to its creation, and the coin flip that changed Venice Beach forever. Discover the construction of the famous beach, how the canals worked, and why they became a nightmare. Find out what remains of the canals today and join us on a journey to retrace the lost canals under Venice Beach, Los Angeles roads." (It's History - YouTube)
View looking east on SunsetGensler
‘We’re losing our Abbey Road’: Famed L.A. music studio United Recording lays off staff "In a move that caused staffers (and musicians) additional discontent, Hudson submitted an application to the Los Angeles City Planning Commission to “pick up” the studio and relocate it to the interior of the Sunset Gower complex and demolish the original structure in favor of a 15-story building with creative office space and sound stages." (LA Times)
Bronzeville: The Rise and Fall of Little Tokyo’s Black Community "Charlie Parker brought bebop to Los Angeles with a band including the young Miles Davis when he played at Bronzeville’s Finale Club early in 1946, and luminaries such as heavyweight champion Joe Louis and movie stars Louise Beavers, Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, and Pearl Bailey were known to frequent the clubs to hear other legendary performers like Coleman Hawkins, Herb Jeffries, Marva Louis, and T-Bone Walker." (Rafu Shimpo)
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